Mitt Romney: Jack Nicklaus Is 'Greatest Athlete Of The 20th Century'

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney swung through Westerville, Ohio on Wednesday, where he had golf legend Jack Nicklaus teed up to sing his praises.

After Nicklaus lauded Romney as a leader who could spur "real recovery" and bring the nation back to “the America we were,” Romney returned the praise, calling Nicklaus the "greatest athlete of the 20th century."

The competition for this title is tough, and some might question Romney's qualifications to bestow any honor regarding the world of "sport." While Romney's public dalliances in this arena have been painfully awkward at times, he actually has support on this statement from a more reputable source.

In 1999, Sports Illustrated magazine gave Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 major championships, the award for "best individual male athlete of the 20th Century," the key word there being "individual," meaning not part of a larger team. Romney, who apparently fancies himself a golf enthusiast of sorts even if he doesn't actually play, made no such distinction.