They're tied with 73 PGA Tour victories, but a comparison between Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods shows a separation in how they got to be tied for the next-best mark to Sam Snead's leading 82.
Nicklaus' record shows more variety and scope in how it was achieved. His 73 wins were done in 35 events, played over 49 courses. His total reflects a more wider-ranging schedule than Woods, a schedule that had very few limited-field/no-cut events to feast upon; Jack won just six of such tournaments.
Woods took strong advantage of limited-field events, with 22 victories, most of them of the World Golf Championship type. Woods' 73 wins were done in 26 events done over 43 courses.
Another telling Woods stat is that he built his record by dominating a small group of events; nearly half his victories, 35, have taken place in just six tournaments: Arnold Palmer Invitational, WGC Bridgestone/NEC Invitational, Buick Invitational, BMW/Western, Memorial and WGC American Express Ch. Nicklaus' best domination took place in the Masters, PGA Championship and Tournament of Champions.
Woods has won 12 multiple-course events to Nicklaus' 7, and in playoffs he's gone 11-1 to Nicklaus' 14-10.
And in an anecdote that says a lot about how Nicklaus' career has been the main motivation for Woods, even beyond Jack's 18 majors, Woods seemed to gain more motivation to win if an event had special meaning for Jack. Woods won each time Nicklaus played a farewell major: the 2000 U.S. Open and PGA and 2005 Masters and Open Championship. And, of course, Woods victory No. 73 came at Jack's event, The Memorial.
Masters (6): 1986, 1975, 1972, 1966, 1965, 1963
PGA Ch. (5): 1980, 1975, 1973, 1971, 1963
Tournament of Champions (5): 1977, 1973, 1971, 1964, 1963
Sahara Invitational (4): 1969, 1967, 1966, 1963
U.S. Open (4): 1980, 1972, 1967, 1962
Bing Crosby National Pro-Am (3): 1973, 1972, 1967
Open Championship (3): 1978, 1970, 1966
The Players Ch. (3): 1978, 1976, 1974
Portland Open (3): 1965, 1964, 1962
Walt Disney World Open (3): 1973, 1972, 1971
Byron Nelson Golf Classic (2): 1971, 1970
Doral-Eastern Open (2): 1975, 1972
Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic (2): 1978, 1977
Memorial Tournament (2): 1984, 1977
National Team Championship (2, with Arnold Palmer): 1971, 1970
Philadelphia Golf Classic (3): 1978, 1965, Whitemarsh Open 1964
Westchester Classic (2): 1972, 1967
Western Open (2): 1968, 1967
American Golf Classic (1): 1968
Andy Williams-San Diego Open (1): 1969
Atlanta Golf Cl. (1): 1973
Colonial National Invitation Tournament (1): 1982
Greater New Orleans Open (1): 1973
Hawaiian Open (1): 1974
Memphis Open (1): 1965
Ohio Kings Island Open (1): 1973
Phoenix Open (1): 1964
Sea Pines Heritage Classic (1): 1975
Kaiser International Open (1): 1969
Seattle World's Fair Open (1): 1962
Palm Springs Golf Classic (1): 1963
Thunderbird Classic (1): 1965
U.S. Professional Match Play Ch. (1): 1972
World Open (1): 1975
World Series of Golf (1): 1976
Atlanta C.C.: 1974 The Players Ch., 1973 Atlanta Golf Cl.
Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club: 1986, 1975, 1972, 1966, 1965, 1963 Masters
Baltusrol G.C. (Lower), Springfield, N.J.: 1980, 1967 U.S. Open
Bermuda Dunes (Calif.) C.C.: 1963 Palm Springs Golf Cl.
Beverly C.C., Chicago: 1967 Western Open
Broadmoor G.C., Seattle: 1962 Seattle World's Fair Open
Canterbury G.C., Cleveland: 1973 PGA Ch.
Colonial C.C., Fort Worth: 1982 Colonial National Invitation Tournament
Colonial C.C., Cordova, Tenn.: 1965 Memphis Open
Columbia Edgewater C.C., Portland: 1962 Portland Open
C.C. of North Carolina, Pinehurst, N.C.: 1972 U.S. Professional Match Play Ch.
Cypress Point, Calif.: 1973, 1972, 1967 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am
Dallas Athletic Club: 1963 PGA Ch.
Desert Inn C.C., Las Vegas: 1964, 1963 Tournament of Champions
Doral Resort (Blue), Miami: 1975, 1972 Doral-Eastern Open
Eldorado C.C., Indian Wells, Calif.: 1963 Palm Springs Golf Cl.
Firestone C.C. (South), Akron, Ohio: 1968 American Golf Cl., 1976 World Series of Golf, 1975 PGA Ch.
Harbour Town G.Links, Hilton Head, S.C.: 1975 Sea Pines Heritage Cl.
Indian Wells C.C., Palm Springs: 1963 Palm Springs Golf Cl.
Inverrary G.&C.C. (East), Lauderhill, Fla.: 1978, 1977 Jackie Gleason Inverrary Cl.; 1976 The Players Ch.
Jack Nicklaus G.Center, Mason, Ohio: 1973 Ohio Kings Island Open
LaCosta C.C., Carlsbad, Calif.: 1977, 1973, 1971 Tournament of Champions
Lakewood C.C., New Orelans: 1973 Greater New Orleans Open
Laurel Valley G.C., Ligonier, Pa.: 1971, 1970 National Team Ch.
Muirfield, Scotland: 1966 Open Championship
Muirfield Village G.C., Dublin, Ohio: 1984, 1977 Memorial
Oak Hill C.C. (East), Rochester, N.Y.: 1980 PGA Ch.
Oakmont (Pa.) C.C.: 1962 U.S. Open
Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland: 1978, 1970 Open Championship
Olympia Fields (Ill.) C.C.: 1968 Western Open
Paradise Valley (Ariz.) C.C.: 1967, 1966, 1963 Sahara Inv.
Pebble Beach (Calif.) G.Links: 1973, 1972, 1967 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, 1972 U.S. Open
PGA National G.C. (now BallenIsles), Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.: 1971 PGA Ch.
Phoenix C.C.: 1964 Phoenix Open
Pinehurst C.C.: 1975 World Open
Portland G.C.: 1965, 1964 Portland Open
Preston Trail, Dallas: 1971, 1970 Byron Nelson Golf Cl.
Sahara-Nevada C.C., Las Vegas: 1969 Sahara Inv.
Sawgrass C.C., Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.: 1978 Players Ch.
Silverado C.C., Napa, Calif.: 1969 Kaiser International Open Invitational
Spyglass Hill, Pebble Beach, Calif.: 1973, 1972, 1967 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am
Tamarisk C.C., Rancho Mirage, Calif.: 1963 Palm Springs Golf Cl.
Torrey Pines (No./So.), La Jolla, Calif.: 1969 Andy Williams-San Diego Open
Waialae C.C., Honolulu: 1974 Hawaiian Open
Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.: Walt Disney World Open—Magnolia 1971; Magnolia and Palm 1973, 1972
Westchester C.C., Harrison, N.Y.: 1965 Thunderbird Cl., 1972, 1967 Westchester Cl.
Whitemarsh (Pa.) Valley C.C.: Philadelphia Golf Cl. (Whitemarsh 1964), 1978, 1965
Bing Crosby National Pro-Am (3): 1973, 1972, 1967
Walt Disney World Open (2): 1973, 1972
Palm Springs Golf Classic (1): 1963
Andy Williams-San Diego Open (1): 1969
Tournament of Champions (5): 1977, 1973, 1971, 1964, 1963
World Series of Golf (1): 1976
Note: The U.S. Professional Match Play Ch. in 1972 was played at the same time as the Liggett & Myers stroke-play event.
Arnold Palmer Invitational (7): 2012, 2009, 2008, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
WGC Bridgestone Invitational/NEC Invitational (7): 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2001, 2000, 1999
Buick Invitational (6): 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 1999
BMW Ch./Western Open (5): 2009, 2007 2003, 1999, 1997
The Memorial (5): 2012, 2009, 2001, 2000, 1999
WGC American Express Ch. (5): 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002, 1999
The Masters (4): 2005, 2002, 2001, 1997
PGA Ch. (4): 2007, 2006, 2000, 1999
Buick Open (3): 2009, 2006, 2002
Open Championship (3): 2006, 2005, 2000
U.S. Open (3): 2008, 2002, 2000
WGC Accenture Match Play Ch. (3): 2008, 2004, 2003
Disney Oldsmobile Cl./National Car Rental Cl. (2): 1999, 1996
Ford Ch. at Doral (2): 2006, 2005
Mercedes Ch. (Tournament of Champions) (2): 2000, 1997
Tour Championship (2): 2007, 1999
AT&T National (1): 2009
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (1): 2000
BellSouth Classic (1): 1998
Canadian Open (1): 2000
Deutsche Bank Ch. (1): 2006
GTE Byron Nelson Cl. (1): 1997
Las Vegas Invitational (1): 1996
The Players Ch. (1): 2001
Wachovia (Quail Hollow) Ch. (1): 2007
WGC CA Ch. (1): 2007
Augusta (Ga.) National G.C.: 2005, 2002, 2001, 1997 Masters
Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando: 2012, 2009, 2008, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Bethpage (Black), Farmington, N.Y.: 2002 U.S. Open
Capital City Club (Crabapple), Woodstock, Ga.: 2003 WGC American Express Ch.
Champions G.C., Houston: 1999 Tour Ch.
Cog Hill G.&C.C., Lemont, Ill.: 2003, 1999, 1997 Motorola Western Open, 2009, 2007 BMW Ch.
Congressional C.C., Bethesda, Md.: 2009 AT&T National
Cottonwood Valley, Irving, Tex.: 1997 GTE Byron Nelson Cl.
Desert Inn, Las Vegas: 1996 Las Vegas Invitational
Doral Resort (Blue), Miami: 2007 WGC CA Ch., 2006, 2005 Ford Ch. at Doral
East Lake G.C., Atlanta: 2007 Tour Ch.
Firestone C.C. (South), Akron, Ohio: 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2001, 2000, 1999 WGC Bridgestone Invitational/NEC Invitational
The Gallery at Dove Mountain, Marana, Ariz.: 2008 WGC Accenture Match Play Ch.
Glen Abbey G.C., Oakville, Ontario: 2000 Canadian Open
The Grove G.Cse., Hertfordshire, England: 2006 WGC American Express Ch.
Harding Park, San Francisco: 2005 WGC American Express Ch.
LaCosta Resort & Spa, Carlsbad, Calif.: 2004, 2003 WGC Accenture Match Play Ch., 1997 Mercedes Ch.
Las Vegas Hilton C.C.: 1996 Las Vegas Invitational
Medinah (Ill.) C.C.: 2006, 1999 PGA Ch.
Mount Juliet Estate, Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Ireland: 2002 WGC American Express Ch.
Muirfield Village G.C., Dublin, Ohio: 2012, 2009, 2001, 2000, 1999 The Memorial
Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland: 2005, 2000 Open Championship
Pebble Beach (Calif.) G.Links: 2000 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am, 2000 U.S. Open
The Plantation Course, Kapalua, Hawaii: 2000 Mercedes Ch.
The Players Stadium Course, Ponte Vedra, Fla.: 2001 The Players Ch.
Poppy Hills G.Cse., Pebble Beach, Calif.: 2000 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C.: 2007 Wachovia Ch. (Quail Hollow Ch.)
Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, England: 2006 Open Championship
Southern Hills, Tulsa, Okla.: 2007 PGA Ch.
Spyglass Hill, Pebble Beach, Calif.: 2000 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am
Torrey Pines (No./So.), La Jolla, Calif.: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 1999 Buick Invitational; 2008 U.S. Open
TPC at Sugarloaf (Stables and Meadows), Duluth, Ga.: 1998 BellSouth Classic
TPC Boston: 2006 Deutsche Bank Ch.
TPC Four Seasons, Irving, Tex.: 1997 GTE Byron Nelson Cl.
TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas: 1996 Las Vegas Invitational
Valderrama, Sotogrande, Spain: 1999 WGC American Express Ch.
Valhalla, Louisville, Ky.: 2000 PGA Ch.
Walt Disney Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.: Palm and Magnolia, Disney Oldsmobile Cl./National Car Rental Cl. 1999, 1996; Lake Buena Vista, Disney Oldsmobile Cl. 1996
Warwick Hills G.&C.C., Grand Blanc, Mich.: 2009, 2006, 2002 Buick Open
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (1): 2000
BellSouth Classic (1): 1998
Buick Invitational (6): 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003,1999
Disney Oldsmobile Cl./National Car Rental Cl. (2): 1999, 1996
GTE Byron Nelson Classic (1): 1997
Las Vegas Invitational (1): 1996
BMW Championship (2): 2009, 2007
Mercedes Ch. (Tournament of Champions) (2): 2000, 1997
WGC American Express Ch. (5): 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002, 1999
WGC Bridgestone Invitational/NEC Invitational (7): 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2001, 2000, 1999
WGC Accenture Match Play Ch. (3): 2008, 2004, 2003
WGC CA Ch. (1): 2007
Tour Championship (2): 2007, 1999
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