Do off-course activities have any bearing on a GOAT discussion?
Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.
Jeeno Thitikul became the first repeat winner on the LPGA in 2025 after capturing the Buick LPGA Shanghai on Sunday. General fan interest in the LPGA is down this year compared to 2024 when Nelly Korda won seven times, and a cluster of chasers made each tournament compelling. I think we all believe that pro golf is better when it’s dominated by a single player or at least a few players with great games, personality and a take-no-prisoners attitude. What’s the best LPGA rivalry you can think of to rekindle that kind of excitement?
Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): Please, this is NOT a racist comment, but I don’t believe an LPGA rivalry consisting of two non-Caucasian players is going to rekindle interest… as good as so many of these players are. If Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson could find a way to get back into top form, that would be a compelling duo. But I’m not holding my breath on that. It’s a shame that, while we appreciate the depth of talent on the LPGA, we just aren’t watching like we used to.
Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): Unfortunately, the LPGA doesn’t currently have stand out rock stars (Nelly was it), it’s a blend of about 15 players who can win any given week. Thitikul is the number one player in the world at this moment, but Nelly is a superior player (better closer), I think she has a bounce back in 2026. I’m impressed with Lydia Ko and her longevity, ranked 4th in the world, but I don’t think she has the same intimidation factor that she once had. Charlie Hull is about as close as you can get to a draw today, she’d be my pick to create a rivalry with another player, ranked 5th in the world and gives a good presser. If she can rattle of a multi win season, I think that will help spark a rivalry and boost LPGA Tour ratings.
Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: The LPGA Tour is one that doesn’t gain traction through a two or three-player rivalry. Equity has been a more successful product. The LPGA is better when there is a larger ‘top’ category, more like 6 or 8. Given the mental challenge of remembering so many names from other countries, the rarity of TV exposure, and the lack of North American media attention following the results, it takes effort to stay engaged. Most people lean toward higher-profile sports, which is a shame because the skill level is incredible. A big problem with the ladies is the players’ lack of enthusiasm.
TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): Well, it has to be Nelly to start, which will get the US golf fans excited. The only other golfer that really moves the needle from a popularity off the course standpoint is Charley Hull, who has played her best golf in the past few months, so maybe a Nelly-Charley rivalry is what the Tour needs in 2026.
Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): To have a good rivalry, fans must have a reason to cheer for one over another. While incredibly talented, most LPGA players are robotic and colourless, so it’s hard to get excited about any of them, let alone find two who rise above the fray and have a passion to compete head-to-head on a regular basis. Perhaps the LPGA should consider creating teams based on nationality. That would generate some intense fan engagement.
Once the Ryder Cup is over, many golf fans tune out professional golf in favour of baseball playoffs, hockey or football, even though the DP World Tour and the LPGA have yet to crown their champions. And Silly Season events such as the Hero World Championship, PNC Challenge, Skins Game and Grant Thornton Invitational are still on the schedule. Is there one particular Fall event that stands above the rest to put on your watch list?
Deeks: I can’t say that there is. But like so many golf fans, I find I just concentrate on the majors (men’s and women’s), and the Ryder and the Solheim. The rest is fine to watch, if I have nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon.
Loughry: This may sound corny, but I’ve always felt this way. For me it’s the Australian Open. A good part of that is to watch it being played on some of Australia’s best courses with a half descent field (IMO they should have 8 of the top 100 play in this event). Australians are absolutely golf crazed, and they do appreciate and respect players and the game. They deserve the same appreciation and respect but sadly their nation has been neglected for decades by players and events.
Schurman: I love the Insperity Greats of Golf and the Parent/Child. Other than that, I would rather the tour ended at Atlanta and resumed near the Super Bowl.
Rule: I do love watching the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, and despite the weather this year, it was still a good watch. After that event, I don’t have any marked on my calendar as must watches. Time to concentrate on baseball playoffs for the time being!
Mumford: I try to watch them all but have less interest in the made-for-TV variety. The Grant Thornton tournament stands out as the only mixed event on the calendar, as does the PNC parent-child clash. The DP World Tour Championship in mid November is the only one I would deem a must-watch event.
Jack Nicklaus is in the news again as he sues former business partner Howard Millstein. Tiger Woods is also in the news as he recently had another back surgery. Neither player can do anything to improve their playing record, but off-course activities often tarnish or burnish a player’s legacy. Both players are often touted as the GOAT. Has anything changed your view of either player to tip the scales in favour of one over the other?
Deeks: Interesting question. My respect for Jack’s career and legacy of good sportsmanship has always put him (and Arnold) at the top of my list, but my respect for Jack’s personal integrity took a nose-dive when he endorsed Donald Trump for President a year ago, with a fawning statement of praise that made me sick to my stomach. (Ditto Bobby Orr.) I know Tiger is a golf buddy of Trump’s, so I put him in the same basket. In terms of golf achievement, Jack and Tiger are 1-2 in my books. But on the all-round hero scale, they’re way down my list now. (PS. I’m very sorry that Jack is having major business issues again. This isn’t the first time, but at age 86, it’s got to be very stressful.)
Loughry: Nicklaus won more Majors. That’s my barometer. But Tiger was more talented, and if he had stayed healthy, may (likely) would have won a few more Majors. But for me, Nicklaus gets the nod (and know I’m a huge fan of Tiger the player).
Schurman: Tiger has suffered an unimaginable career, one marred by injuries. But many other excellent players had similar disruptions, so it is what it is. Jack is the GOAT. He had various setbacks, but none like Tiger. Had Tiger enjoyed a 25-year, injury-free career, no doubt he would have passed Jack, but he didn’t. We can only compare what we can verify. Anything off the course has nothing to do with their record. If you don’t like it, shoot a lower score more times in events that matter. Jack did; Tiger didn’t.
Rule: No, because I just consider their golfing accomplishments when any GOAT discussions are to be had. Nothing off the course will ever tarnish their on-course greatness in my mind. They are two separate conversations.
Mumford: Majors give us the best evaluation of a player’s greatness because all of the current best players are battling one another at the same time. On that count, Jack’s 18 beats Tiger’s 15. However, we don’t have any way to know if Jack was better than Tiger in head-to-head competition because they never played each other. There’s no doubt that both were the best of their time, as was Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and Harry Vardon. All of the off-course stuff and other accomplishments add to or detract from a player’s legacy and make for fun discussions, but Greatest of All Time is impossible to know. Greatest of His Time is the closest we can come.
