Woods closing in on Nicklaus, but Jack still gives himself edge

Nicklaus leads Tiger by four in the major championship category.

Scripps Howard News Service

DENVER — Jack Nicklaus didn’t avoid the question and faced it like he would any tough par 4.

Who is better?

Nicklaus, in his prime, or Tiger Woods?

“If I didn’t say me, I wouldn’t be very smart,” Nicklaus said Thursday night. “If Tiger didn’t say Tiger, he wouldn’t be very smart. I think that’s about the only way you can say it. We both have the greatest respect for each other.”

In town to accept the Will Nicholson Jr. Award, presented by the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, for his lifetime contributions to the game, Nicklaus, 68, continued the comparison between him and today’s No. 1 player, Woods.

“If you would analyze our games, I think I our length is pretty comparable,” Nicklaus said. “I was a straighter driver. Our irons games are pretty comparable. I think Tiger is a better short iron and wedge player than I was. I think we’re pretty comparable as far as it relates to putting.

“I would think we’re pretty equal, but we both would like to think we would win.”

Nicklaus has won a record 18 major professional titles. Woods, who revealed Wednesday he will miss the rest of this season and undergo left knee surgery, has won 14 after winning the U.S. Open in a playoff Monday.

It was pointed out last weekend Nicklaus had 73 top-10 major finishes and Woods 28, one record Nicklaus probably will keep.