Gary Player is never shy to speak his mind and that is what makes him such a captivating person to listen to when he is giving his opinions on the game.
Player is one of the greatest golfers ever to have graced our wonderful game, with 159 professional victories to his name worldwide, including nine major championships.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Jack Nicklaus is the greatest of them all, certainly as far as his major win tally is concerned, with a record 18 to his name.
Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus enjoyed a great rivalry on the golf course in the 1960s and 1970s, but they were really close friends off it as well.
Player got the better of Nicklaus plenty of times during their prime years, but the American obviously had the last laugh, especially in the majors.
Despite their close friendship, the South African always gives his honest opinion when asked about Nicklaus as a golfer.
Player admires the 18-time major champion more than any other golfer he came up against, but there was one player who was even better than the great man according to the man from South Africa.
Advertisement
Player made an appearance on The Golfer’s Journal and discussed a wide range of topics concerning the professional game.
As the conversation turned to Jack Nicklaus, Player claimed that the Golden Bear’s incredible mentality was what made him such an elite golfer.
“Tom Weiskopf was a better golfer than Nicklaus. He really could play. But he won one major because he did not have it! He had the technique but he did not have it (mentality),“ Player said.
“He still did extremely well, but he was not in the category of many majors. He won one major. With his technique he should have won 15. You can see that throughout life. You meet people in business, in marriage and it’s very interesting, to see how that mind works.
Advertisement
“I always tell people that all I hear about today is long-hitting. It’s an asset but it is not a necessity. What is a necessity is a special mind and to be a great putter. Driving, these pros hit eight of them a day, but they hit 29 putts, yet all the emphasis is put on driving.
“Tiger Woods won as a golfer because he was the best putter!“
Weiskopf won 16 PGA Tour titles during his career, including a solitary major championship after he triumphed at The Open in 1973.
As Player said, he undoubtedly should have won more majors, such was the quality of his ball-striking.
However, Gary Player suggesting that Tom Weiskopf was a better golfer than Jack Nicklaus is surely a huge exaggeration.
Advertisement
Of course, Nicklaus arguably had the strongest mentality, but there were not many golfers who were better ball-strikers than him, and there definitely wasn’t anyone who putted better under pressure.
Sure, Weiskopf should have won multiple majors, but he never was in the same league as Nicklaus, either mentally or as a golfer.
