Jack Nicklaus has responded to Gary Player’s recent declaration that the South African is the third greatest player of all time behind the Golden Bear and Tiger Woods.

Nicklaus says Gary Player’s controversial opinion was “a pretty good assessment”.

Player, a nine-time major champion with more than 160 professional wins worldwide, last week told Golfweek that he ranks himself third among the best golfers to ever lived.

The 90-year-old South African said it was “without question” that the Golden Bear was number one, with Tiger Woods second.

Player said his assessment was based purely on the record books.

His comments were shared widely and debated fiercely, with several pointing it out it was a touch insulting that he put himself ahead of Arnold Palmer, Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan.

Even Walter Hagen won three more majors than Player.

Men’s major championship winning golfers

Rank	Golfer	Winning span	Masters	U.S. Open	The Open	PGA	Total
1	Jack Nicklaus	1962–1986	6	4	3	5	18
2	Tiger Woods	1997–2019	5	3	3	4	15
3	Walter Hagen	1914–1929	0	2	4	5	11
4	Ben Hogan	1946–1953	2	4	1	2	9
4	Gary Player	1959–1978	3	1	3	2	9
6	Tom Watson	1975–1983	2	1	5	0	8
7	Harry Vardon	1896–1914	0	1	6	0	7
7	Bobby Jones	1923–1930	0	4	3	0	7
7	Gene Sarazen	1922–1935	1	2	1	3	7
7	Sam Snead	1942–1954	3	0	1	3	7
7	Arnold Palmer	1958–1964	4	1	2	0	7

Nicklaus has now responded.

And it appears he is in agreement with his good friend.

“Pretty good assessment,” he told the Palm Beach Post. “Not about me, but about him.”

Nicklaus, who now lives 20 miles from Player in Florida, described his old rival as “a wonderful guy”.

“He’s played more golf than probably anybody, too. He plays golf every day. He’s a wonderful guy. He’s lived life to the fullest. He still plays very well. He just enjoys it.

“He’s given back to so many. He’s just a good guy.”

Nicklaus holds the record for most major titles, winning 18 before he retired from the sport.

Woods revolutionized the game, winning 15. Many believe Woods would have passed Nicklaus’s record had his career not been disrupted by several injuries and surgeries.

Player previously said Woods would have won more had he not tinkered with his golf swing in 2000. That year, Woods won the US Open by 15 shots but began working with Hank Haney.

Now 49, Woods is currently recovering from the seventh back surgery of his illustrious career.

He has not announced a timeline for his return and is unlikely to play again, if at all, until 2026.

Woods is not in the field for the Hero World Challenge or the parent/child PNC Championship.

This week the president of the PGA Tour Champions, Brady Miller, said the over 50s circuit was more than prepared for his arrival next year.

Article originally appeared on: Golfmagic.com