Jack Nicklaus (US) - Woods still has a long way to go to match the incredible record of the `Golden Bear'. Nicklaus completed the Grand Slam of golf not once but three times over, and his 18 Major wins still stand head and shoulders above anything achieved by any other player. With 73 top-10 finishes in Majors, as well as more than 100 wins worldwide, the 60-year-old American can still rightly lay claim to being the best golfer there has ever been - for now.

Ben Hogan (US) - Won nine Major titles in his career, amazingly taking six of them after a serious car crash in 1949 and accrued 39 top-10 placings in the big four events as well. Completed the Grand Slam with his only appearance in the Open at Carnoustie in 1953, and his quiet and serious nature on the course made him a formidable opponent well deserved of his Ice Man nickname. Still renowned for being the best ball-striker ever in the game, although Woods' supreme control evident in his record-breaking victories at Pebble Beach and St Andrews shows he is not that far behind.

Gene Sarazen (US) - The first player to complete the Grand Slam with his triumph in the 1935 Masters courtesy of his never-to-be-forgotten albatross two on the par-five 15th at Augusta. Took the American 13 years to complete the set after his USPGA win in 1922, and with only three additional Majors to his name, 24-yearold Woods should soon be overtaking him on current form.

Gary Player (South Africa) - Still going strong at the age of 64, earlier this year he missed out narrowly on becoming the first player ever to win in six different decades. Racked up nine Major successes and 44 top-10 placings in his prime and completed his Grand Slam with a win at Bellerive in the 1965 US Open. A fitness freak, even Woods will do well to match Player for career longevity.