Before the 134th British Open began, one of Tiger Woods’s advisers mentioned to him that if he were to win here on the Old Course, his 10 victories in pro majors and his three U.S. Amateur titles would match Bobby Jones’s total of 13 majors won from 1923 to 1930.
With that boyish smile, Woods said, “Apples to apples.”
Jones, playing before there was a Masters and never in the PGA (he was an amateur), won five U.S. and one British amateur championships, as well as four U.S. and three British opens. Jack Nicklaus won two U.S. Amateur championships. If included as majors, that would bring Nicklaus’ total to 20.