Jack Nicklaus is the best golfer of all time, but the man he labeled as era-defining back in 2023 will undoubtedly raise some eyebrows.

Nicklaus won 18 major championships during his time in the game – more than any other player in the sport’s history.

Quite incredibly, the now 85-year-old recorded 19 runner-up finishes in the majors as well! He really was as dominant as they come.

Nicklaus officially retired from playing back in 2004, but to this day, he’s still one of the most highly respected voices in the game.

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Over the past few years, Nicklaus has made some incredibly bold predictions and statements.

However, something he said two years ago really did take the biscuit as his boldest of the lot.

The golfer Jack Nicklaus said was era-defining now plays on LIV

Nicklaus made it clear recently that he thinks Scottie Scheffler is the best player in the world.

However, he held a different opinion on the matter a couple of years ago.

Back in 2023, Nicklaus was asked to name one player who he believed was the era-defining player in the game at the time.

Just after Jon Rahm won The Masters in 2023, Nicklaus was asked who he thought the standout player was in the game at that time, during an exclusive interview with the New York Times.

“Rahm would be the closest,” he said.

“I have followed Rahm’s play from when he first started,” Nicklaus said.

“I’ve always thought that he plays very smart golf. He played much the way I did: left to right, and played much for the power game. I like what he does. I like the way he goes about it. He’s got a little bit of fire in him. He can get mad, which is OK because it usually helps him. Some guys get mad and it destroys them, but it seems to help him.”

Jon Rahm’s major record since his Masters win in 2023

Rahm’s move to LIV at the end of 2023 has unquestionably affected his ability to win major championships.

He was in contention at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow back in May but he fell away when it mattered the most.

Here are his results since his last major win at The Masters in April 2023.

Rahm simply has to start contending regularly in the majors again. He’s too good not to feature in the four biggest tournaments on the planet.

Had he remained on the PGA Tour, perhaps he would be the lead challenger to Scottie Scheffler’s dominance right now but unfortunately, we will never know.