Michael Jordan is no stranger to GOAT debates.
The six-time NBA champion is constantly compared to the likes of LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when fans and media debate who the greatest basketball player of all time is. It’s a fiercely argued topic, and one that has raged for the last decade.
Golf has its own GOAT debate, featuring two leading contenders. Modern consensus says Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of all time, especially after his comeback win at The Masters in 2019.
However, Jack Nicklaus has the record for the most major championship wins, so the “Golden Bear” has a strong case for being higher on the pantheon of golfing greats than Woods.
Jordan, an avid golf fan, weighed in on this debate, saying there’s something that people are missing when discussing who the greatest is.
Michael Jordan’s take on the golf GOAT debate between Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus
As technology advances, sports change, and that’s true in golf perhaps more than any other sport.
Golfers can now comfortably hit the ball over 300 yards, a phenomenal achievement decades ago, which means courses are having to be adjusted to the modern game.
That’s why Jordan said there’s no sense in comparing Woods and Nicklaus, who he thinks are effective playing different sports.
Speaking on Cigar Aficionado in 2021, Jordan explained: “First of all, you’re never gonna say who’s the greatest of all time. For me, that’s more for PR, more for selling stories and getting hype.
“Jack (Nicklaus) and Tiger (Woods) never played against each other. They never played in the same tournament, they never played with the same equipment, they never played with the same length of golf course.”
“I never played against Wilt Chamberlain, I never played against Jerry West. To now say that one’s greater than the other is being a little bit unfair, you know. I think when you see the similarities, and you understand it.”
“One way of looking at it is how much impact did each player have? Change or evolve the game – Jack during his time, or Tiger during his time? Now obviously, Jack won more, but Tiger evolved it where he crossed a lot of boundaries.”
Jordan is close friends and both Woods and Nicklaus, so it’s good for his relationships that he was able to find some middle ground with this answer!
What Michael Jordan’s golf handicap is
Even in his NBA prime, when he won six NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan was heavily invested in his golf. He even owns many of his own golf courses, most notably The Grove XXIII, a nod to his iconic 23 jersey number.
Jordan has been seen supporting Team USA at Ryder Cups, including during the 2025 event at Bethpage Black in New York. But is Jordan a good golfer?
In short, yes! His handicap has been reported to be +1.3, far better than most celebrity golfers.
Jordan has had three decades of experience and a 3,500 sq ft putting green in his backyard, so he’s had plenty of opportunity to bring his score down!
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