Jack Nicklaus once placed Tiger Woods among golf’s greatest figures when he revealed his personal “Mount Rushmore” of the sport. Alongside Woods, Nicklaus named Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and himself as the four players who best represent golf’s history and lasting impact.

Nicklaus shared his picks in a video filmed for Golf Digest in August 2024 which was recently reshared by the magazine on X. Using the idea of Mount Rushmore as a reference to the granite sculptures of four former U.S. presidents carved into a cliffside in South Dakota, Nicklaus applied the concept to golf’s most influential names. Explaining his choices he said

“Probably be Bobby Jones. Probably be Ben Hogan. Probably Tiger Woods. I’d like to join him. Myself as four,” Nicklaus said.

The list brings together multiple eras of the game. Together, the four golfers have won 49 major championships. Nicklaus and Woods account for 33 of those with Hogan adding nine and Jones seven.

Bobby Jones was placed first on Nicklaus’s list. Considered the greatest amateur golfer of all time, Jones won 13 major championships and completed the Grand Slam in 1930. He also co-founded Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament.

Ben Hogan was another clear choice. He won nine major championships and famously returned to top-level golf after a near-fatal car accident in 1949, going on to win six more majors.

Nicklaus also included Tiger Woods, whose impact on modern golf remains unmatched. Woods has won 82 PGA Tour events tying Sam Snead for the most in history and claimed 15 major championships. Although he has not competed since the 2024 Open Championship and is currently recovering from surgery, his influence on the game remains strong.

Rounding out the list was Nicklaus himself. The 18-time major champion won 117 professional events including 73 PGA Tour titles. His record for major championships remains the highest in men’s golf.

Tiger Woods reveals his own Mount Rushmore of golf

Tiger Woods has also spoken about his personal Mount Rushmore of golf and his choices reflect a deep respect for the game’s roots. While he included himself and Jack Nicklaus, Woods surprised some fans by choosing players from earlier generations for the remaining spots.

When asked to name the four golfers he admired most, Woods pointed to Sam Snead and Bobby Jones, two figures whose careers came long before the modern era.

“Well, probably Sam Snead, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus… and me,” Woods said. (via Express)

Snead enjoyed his greatest success in the 1940s and 1950s and remains tied for the most PGA Tour wins with 82. He also won seven major championships during his career. Jones, meanwhile, left a lasting mark as the game’s greatest amateur and helped shape golf’s early history.