"The day of a lifetime": Tiger Woods recalls playing with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer at his first Masters Tournament

By Lathika Krishna

Modified Jan 27, 2025 01:28 GMT

GOLF: SEP 21 Presidents Cup - Source: Getty — Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer, Presidents Cup (Image via Getty)

Tiger Woods' illustrious career has been filled with many iconic moments. However, the PGA Tour sensation cherishes one memory that stands out from the rest. In a Sirius XM PGA Tour special episode titled Jack: In Their Own Words, released on Jack Nicklaus' 85th birthday on January 21, the 15-time major championship winner recollected a day spent alongside Nicklaus and the late Arnold Palmer.

In 1995, Tiger Woods made his debut at the prestigious Masters Tournament. The practice round on Wednesday saw the three legends play a friendly betting game called Skins. However, the three golfers constantly one-upped each other, and it all came down to the very last hole at Augusta National.

Arnold Palmer won the bet. Nicklaus and Palmer decided to hit up the infamous Par 3 course at Augusta National and invited Woods to join them. The then 19-year-old prodigy wasn't able to get a tee time, but the two golfing seniors made it happen. The day ended up being one of Woods' best memories.

Here's what Woods had to say about the day for Jack Nicklaus' 85th birthday last week (via Sirius XM PGA Tour):

"When I was 19 playing at my first Masters, and I got a chance to play with him and Arnold in a practice round on Wednesday, and we’re playing Skins. I don’t have any cash. So, we’re out there playing for cash and I win a few, he wins a few, Arnold wins a few. It ended up coming down to the last hole. Arnold makes a bomb on us and he wins all the skins."

"Jack needles Arnold a little bit and then as they’re walking off, he said that, ‘we’re off to the par 3 course. Wanna join us’. And I said, ‘Well, I’m scheduled to go off later. I can’t get an earlier tee time.’ And they said. ‘Just follow us.’ So, they went over there and said, ‘Hey we’re gonna play’. So we walked right up there and they said, ‘Next on the tee, Arnold, Jack, and me.’ So we played nine more holes, and that was the day of a lifetime for me."

In the special episode, Woods described the camaraderie and lighthearted fun the three golfers shared. For the TGL co-founder, the day was more than just a practice round. It was also the day he got to soak in all the wisdom and knowledge that Palmer and Nicklaus had to offer.

How many majors have Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus won?

Tiger Woods bears 15 major championship titles to his name. He won his first major at the 1997 Masters at the age of 21 years old by a 12-stroke margin from Tom Kite. The 82-time PGA Tour winner won his last major tournament at the 2019 edition of the Augusta Masters.

Jack Nicklaus won his very first major title at the 1962 US Open in a gruelling playoff against Arnold Palmer. With 18 major victories under his belt, the 85-year-old legend won his last major at the 1986 Masters by one stroke from Tom Kite and Greg Norman.

Here's a look at the breakdown of Woods and Nicklaus' major championship titles:

Masters