--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The biggest rival I had in my career was…" description: "\"The biggest rival I had in my career was me. I couldn't control Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson or Lee Trevino. The only person I could control ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/jack-nicklaus-1429_arnold_the-biggest-rival-i-had-in-my-career-was_1146023.png" --- # The biggest rival I had in my career was me. I couldn't… ![“The biggest rival I had in my career was me. I couldn't control Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson or Lee Trevino. The only person I could control was me.” quote by Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/jack-nicklaus-1429_arnold_the-biggest-rival-i-had-in-my-career-was_1146023.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/jack-nicklaus-1429_arnold_the-biggest-rival-i-had-in-my-career-was_1146023.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/jack-nicklaus-1429_arnold_the-biggest-rival-i-had-in-my-career-was_1146023.png) > “The biggest rival I had in my career was me. I couldn't control Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson or Lee Trevino. The only person I could control was me.” [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑competition is the only true rivalry; external opponents are beyond personal control. **In simple terms:** Your biggest opponent is yourself. Key Takeaway Focus on self‑improvement. Themes self‑discipline competition personal growth Mood reflective determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - training - career decisions - mental health - performance pressure Key Concepts psychology self‑awareness goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure progress against yourself? - What habits limit your self‑control? A Different Perspective External factors can still influence outcomes despite personal control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arnold/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arnold-palmer/) [Biggest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest/) [Biggest Rival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-rival-2272278/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Couldn Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couldn-control-576750/) [Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gary/) [Gary Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gary-player-219972/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lee/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lee-trevino-224068/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Rival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rival/) [Rival Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rival-career-3217196/) [Tom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tom/) [Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watson/) ## Related quotes > [I couldn't control Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson or Lee Trevino. The only person I could control was me. The only person I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-couldn-t-control-arnold-palmer-gary-player-tom-watson-or-lee/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Well, the biggest rival I had in my career was me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/well-the-biggest-rival-i-had-in-my-career-was-me/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Gary Player and others have said all of us should all give Arnold Palmer a percentage of our earnings because without you there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-rose/gary-player-and-others-have-said-all-of-us-should-all-give-arnold/) [Charlie Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-rose/) > [I grew up watching Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-sims/i-grew-up-watching-lee-trevino-jack-nicklaus-arnold-palmer/) [Molly Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-sims/) > [ I always look to see what Arnold \[Palmer\] shot; it's a habit. We will always compete against each other. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-always-look-to-see-what-arnold-palmer-shot-it-s-a-habit-we-will/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [There isn't a flaw in his golf or his makeup. He will win more majors than Arnold Palmer and me combined. Somebody is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/there-isn-t-a-flaw-in-his-golf-or-his-makeup-he-will-win-more-majors/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I first saw Arnold Palmer when I was just a kid and he came to Columbus to play in a tournament. I watched him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-first-saw-arnold-palmer-when-i-was-just-a-kid-and-he-came-to/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [When people pick the best drivers of all time, nobody ever picks Lee Trevino. But when he played, like at Tanglewood at the '74…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-miller/when-people-pick-the-best-drivers-of-all-time-nobody-ever-picks-lee/) [Johnny Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-miller/) > [GOOD LUCK TOMORROW BOYS LETS BEAT OUR BIGGEST RIVAL LETS GO WILDCATS!!! (;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/good-luck-tomorrow-boys-lets-beat-our-biggest-rival-lets-go-wildcats/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Then Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus come in. I'll caddie for Jack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/then-lee-trevino-and-jack-nicklaus-come-in-i-ll-caddie-for-jack/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [Here was my first lesson on the resolutely maintained untidiness and ill-health of the English upper orders. In baggy evening dress and old before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/here-was-my-first-lesson-on-the-resolutely-maintained-untidiness-and/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [Biggest rival is Kaillie Humphries of Canada, and we are actually training partners. She was at my wedding, and I consider her a close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elana-meyers/biggest-rival-is-kaillie-humphries-of-canada-and-we-are-actually/) [Elana Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elana-meyers/) > [As a young boy, all we used to watch was the Premier League at that time. I know the FA cup is quite important.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-essien/as-a-young-boy-all-we-used-to-watch-was-the-premier-league-at-that/) [Michael Essien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-essien/) > [Congratulations boys beating our biggest Rival 103-56](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-boys-beating-our-biggest-rival-103-56/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[Jack Nicklaus\] was the first to bring in course management. He could go to a course and tell you within one stroke what was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/jack-nicklaus-was-the-first-to-bring-in-course-management-he-could-go/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) ## More by Jack Nicklaus > [My kids all do love to hunt and fish. When they get together, I think that's what they get together more for than anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/my-kids-all-do-love-to-hunt-and-fish-when-they-get-together-i-think/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I've said many times before that Pebble Beach is a wonderful thinking-man's golf course. That is why it is such a great U.S. Open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-ve-said-many-times-before-that-pebble-beach-is-a-wonderful-thinking/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I came back and in '63, I was at the British Open, trying to win my first British Open. And I had what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-came-back-and-in-63-i-was-at-the-british-open-trying-to-win-my/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [My workout was playing other sports and I always played tennis, football, basketball, threw a baseball - I was always doing something to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/my-workout-was-playing-other-sports-and-i-always-played-tennis/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I guess that's why they call it Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-guess-that-s-why-they-call-it-hell/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [If you want to hit it farther, hit it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/if-you-want-to-hit-it-farther-hit-it-better/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I wish I had kept my damn mouth shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-wish-i-had-kept-my-damn-mouth-shut/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [You have to watch your handicap. My son Steve says, "Never make a putt you don't have to."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/you-have-to-watch-your-handicap-my-son-steve-says-never-make-a-putt/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Whether it's pool or Ping Pong, I can't stand to have my kids beat me. Especially Ping Pong! And when they beat me, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/whether-it-s-pool-or-ping-pong-i-can-t-stand-to-have-my-kids-beat-me/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [If you'd asked me at 30 where I'd be during the Masters when I was 46, I'd have pictured myself on a boat fishing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/if-you-d-asked-me-at-30-where-i-d-be-during-the-masters-when-i-was-46/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [There are no maladies in my golf game. My golf game stinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/there-are-no-maladies-in-my-golf-game-my-golf-game-stinks/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [That's sort of overkill. We've had 70 years of the Ryder Cup, and it's gotten along just fine. The pendulum will swing back without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/that-s-sort-of-overkill-we-ve-had-70-years-of-the-ryder-cup-and-it-s/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Golf really excites me only when the course is difficult and challenging. I love competing. The pressure of competition against fine holes and fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/golf-really-excites-me-only-when-the-course-is-difficult-and/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [A perfectly straight shot with a big club is a fluke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/a-perfectly-straight-shot-with-a-big-club-is-a-fluke/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) [Explore all 242 Jack Nicklaus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) ## More Arnold quotes > [“Things are more like they are now...than they have EVER been before!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uncle-arnie-mamath/things-are-more-like-they-are-now-than-they-have-ever-been-before/) [Uncle Arnie Mamath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uncle-arnie-mamath/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger looks like a brown condom full of walnuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/arnold-schwarzenegger-looks-like-a-brown-condom-full-of-walnuts/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [How would Elvira run the state of California? Well, there isn't much I could do that is worse than what Arnold Schwarzenegger has done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/how-would-elvira-run-the-state-of-california-well-there-isn-t-much-i/) [Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/) > [The steroids I did were on a very, very low dosage. I didn't want to take a lot of that. I didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/the-steroids-i-did-were-on-a-very-very-low-dosage-i-didn-t-want-to/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [“Arnold went into treason as into a business, surveying the ground and estimating the possible profits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-doren-carl-c/arnold-went-into-treason-as-into-a-business-surveying-the-ground-and/) [Van Doren Carl C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-doren-carl-c/) > [I recently read that Arnold Schwarzenegger collects Hummers. Now we know why Maria's face is frozen in that puckered position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-wilkerson/i-recently-read-that-arnold-schwarzenegger-collects-hummers-now-we/) [Brad Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-wilkerson/) > [I'd like to talk to Arnold Schwarzenegger, 'cause I live in California and I just want to see that canned, chemical filled body in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-d-like-to-talk-to-arnold-schwarzenegger-cause-i-live-in-california/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he's running for governor. He's got a great slogan - 'Vote for me, or I'll make 'Kindergarten Cop II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/arnold-schwarzenegger-announced-he-s-running-for-governor-he-s-got-a/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [There's no one in the world close to Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is a phenomenon. He's brilliant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/there-s-no-one-in-the-world-close-to-arnold-schwarzenegger-he-is-a/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [If I would do another 'Terminator' movie I would have Terminator travel back in time and tell Arnold not to have a special election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/if-i-would-do-another-terminator-movie-i-would-have-terminator-travel/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger blew away dozens of cops as the Terminator. But I don't hear anybody complaining about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/arnold-schwarzenegger-blew-away-dozens-of-cops-as-the-terminator-but/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [Remember Hey Arnold? Rugrats? CatDog? RocketPower? Kenan & Kel? The Amanda Show?.. God I miss those days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-hey-arnold-rugrats-catdog-rocketpower-kenan-kel-the-amanda/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Arnold Schwarzenegger made his tax returns public, \[and\] now there's a problem about him stretching the truth. Apparently under occupation he put down 'actor.' ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/arnold-schwarzenegger-made-his-tax-returns-public-and-now-there-s-a/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger is in trouble after tapes surfaced of him saying negative things about other Republicans. Actually the Schwarzenegger tapes surfaced last year, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-in-trouble-after-tapes-surfaced-of-him/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Everybody said you're never going to win this whole Classic. You're not strong enough. You're big, you're athletic, you're fast - but you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hafthor-bjornsson/everybody-said-you-re-never-going-to-win-this-whole-classic-you-re/) [Hafthor Bjornsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hafthor-bjornsson/) [Browse all 128 Arnold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arnold/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The biggest rival I had in my career was me. I couldn't control Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson or Lee Trevino. 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