JACK NICKLAUS’ 24 YEARS BETWEEN FIRST AND LAST MAJOR WIN

Twenty-three years, nine months and 27 days to be exact – the time between Nicklaus’ 1962 US Open triumph and his victory at Augusta in 1986 (below). He was 22 when he defeated Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole play-off at Oakmont to win his first Major. Eighteen years later, he lifted a fourth US Open, before adding a 17th Major with victory at the USPGA Championship – which many assumed would be his last.

At the 50th Masters, no one gave him a chance against the younger stars – the likes of Seve, Norman and Langer. With ten holes left to play in the final round, he was six off the lead. Then came the heroics – the birdie blitz, home in 30 shots and Langer helping the 46-year-old ‘Olden Bear’ into a sixth Green Jacket.

When Woods won The Masters in 1997, he was 21. Should he claim another Major next year, he’ll eclipse Nicklaus’ record. It’s possible – the game’s greats never lose it, as Tom Watson also showed at Royal Troon in 2009. Had he held on to win a sixth Claret Jug at the age of 59, there would have been 34 years between his first and last Major.

Assuming Woods doesn’t rewrite this particular record, you imagine no one ever will. It’s a young man’s game now. Of the 80 Majors contested since the turn of the century, only six champions were in their 40s.