Golf: The top 10 greatest players of all time?

Golf has produced some exceptional players over the years and we have selected our top 10 of all time.

The elegant game of golf is so hard to predict at times. At elite level, it is so difficult to stay at the top, especially with the technology which is now involved within the sport.

Players are now able to drive the ball on average 400 yards and more, which would have been unheard of around 60-70 years back, with the likes of Dustin Johnson and Bryson Dechambeau accomplishing this regularly on today’s tour.

Dechambeau, who is currently ranked number nine in the world broke the record for the average longest drive over the course of a season last year. He was driving the ball a staggering 322.1 yards on average.

However, that being said, its not about who can drive the ball the longest. Its about technique, skill and having that winning mentality to get you over the line in major competitions.

We will now take you through who we believe deserves to be included on the top 10 list of best golfers of all time, as well as one special mention, who narrowly misses out.

Special mention (Walter Hagen)

Despite being third behind Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus in terms of major wins, Hagen just misses out on our top 10 list.

Haegen, who was born in New York, in 1892 turned professional in 1912 and claimed 57 professional wins, including an impressive 11 major victories.

He has won the PGA Championship on five occasions, The Open Championship four times and the U.S Open, twice.

Unfortunately, Hagen passed away aged 76 on October 6th, 1969 in Traverse City, Michigan.

He will be remembered as one of the best golf players of all time and was rewarded for his success on the course by being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in 1974.

10. Phil Mickelson

At number 10, we have American golfer, Phil Mickleson. The 50 year-old has 54 professional wins under his belt overall and five majors, which includes winning the PGA Championship once, The Open Championship once — and the Masters three times, in 2004, 2006 and 2010.

Amazingly though, Mickleson has never been ranked the number one golfer in the world. Since turning professional in 1992, his highest ranking came in February, 2001 — when he was ranked 2nd in the world.

Mickleson is a fantastic character to have on the course, known for his exquisite chipping and unique swing, who’s nicknamed ‘lefty,’ due to the fact he is one of few left-handed golfers on the PGA tour.

Some of Mickleson’s achievements includes being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012, and claimed the Haskins award three years on the trot, in 1990, 1991 and 1992, when playing golf for Arizona State, in college — which recognises the best collegiate golfer in the United States, which is golf’s answer to college football’s Heisman trophy.

During his career, Mickleson has spent a whopping 700 weeks in the top-10 and is one of only 12 players to win three out of four majors. The California-born golfer is currently ranked 86th overall in the PGA tour.

9. Ben Hogan

Hogan is another outstanding golfer. Born in Stephenville, Texas, he was nicknamed ‘The Hawk,’ and earned 69 professional wins, after turning professional in 1930.

He was known for his incredible ball-striking skills and won a total of nine Majors. Hogan won The Open Championship once, the PGA Championship twice; the Masters twice, and the U.S Open on four occasions.

The most impressive feat for Hogan, was when he won The Open Championship, the U.S Open and the Masters all in the same year — 1953.

Hogan’s long list of achievements includes being the PGA tour leading money five times, winning the PGA player of the year, on four occasions — winning the Vardon Trophy three times, and was named the Associate press’ male athlete of the year, in 1953.

Following his triumphs on the golf tour, Hogan was inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame, in 1974. He died in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 25th 1997, aged 84.

8. Nick Faldo

At number eight, we have the brilliant Nick Faldo. The Englishman, who was born in Hertfordshire, in 1957, was eye-catching to watch on the golf course and was known for his tremendous putting, as he possessed magnificent coolness and composure.

Since turning professional in 1976, Faldo went onto record 43 professional victories, including six majors. He won The Open Championship on three occasions, and the Masters, three times — including back-to-back wins in 1989 and 1990.

Faldo’s long list of achievements is endless. He was named European Tour rookie of the year in 1977, PGA player of the year in 1990 — he won the BBC Sports Personality of the year, in 1990 and earned an MBE for his incredible success in the sport, in 1998.

The 63 year-old was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in 1997 and has since gone onto become a television commentator for major golf tournaments.

In 2006, Faldo was the lead analyst for CBS Sports and in 2012, he teamed up with the BBC for The Open Championship tournament, which was won by South African golfer Ernie Els, who netted a score of seven-under par.

7. Tom Watson

The remarkable Tom Watson. A fantastic character, who always played with a smile on his face. The now 71 year-old has 70 professional wins under his belt, which includes eight major tournaments since turning professional, in 1971.

Watson won the U.S Open in 1982, the Masters tournament twice — in 1977 and 1981, and The Open Championship, on five occasions.

Watson’s list of achievements is nothing short of remarkable. He has won the Bob Jones Award once, in 1987, the Old Tom Morris award, in 1992, the Payne Stewart Award, in 2003, the Charles Schwab Cup, twice.

He was also victorious in claiming the Vardon Trophy three years on the spin — in 1977, 1978 and 1979, as well as being the PGA Tour leading money winner on five occasions and was awarded the PGA Player of the Year award six times in total, including four years in a row — in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980.

Watson has also played in four Ryder Cups, captaining the American side to victory in 1993 at the Belfry, in England. He also captained the 2014 US Ryder Cup team, but they suffered defeat to Europe at the Gleneagles Hotel, in Scotland.

The American’s outstanding golfing achievements meant he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in 1988.

6. Seve Ballesteros

The majestic Seve Ballesteros. The Spaniard was one of the most likeable characters on the golf tour and had an impressive 90 professional wins, supplemented with five major tournament victories.

Ballesteros won a total of two Masters tournaments, in 1980 and 1983, as well as winning The Open Championship on three occasions and was awarded the European Tour Player of the Year in 1986, 1988 and 1991, before being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in 1999.

He produced some magical golf at times and spent 61 weeks at world number one in 1986. Ballesteros retired in 2007 following a poor spell of form and was unfortunately diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour the following year, before he was awarded a lifetime achievement award for the second time, at the BBC Sports personality of the year, in 2009.

He passed away in his hometown of Pedrena, Cantabria, in Spain, on 7th May 2011, aged 54, after a three-year battle with cancer.

5. Sam Snead

Born in Ashwood, Virginia, Sam Snead had a phenomenal golfing career. Nicknamed ‘The Slammer,’ Snead won an astonishing 142 times on the professional stage, following his debut in 1934.

Snead won a total of seven major tournaments, including The Open Championship in 1946, as well as being triumphant at the PGA Championship and the Masters Tournament, winning both on three occasions.

His illustrious career, saw Snead win the PGA Golfer of the Year in 1949, and he was the PGA leading money winner in 1938, 1949 and 1950. He also went onto win the Vardon Trophy, four times and earned the PGA lifetime achievement award in 1988 for his contribution on and off the golf course.

In 1974, Snead was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. South African golfer Gary Player once said he had the ‘best golf swing’ of all time. He also gained praise from the great Jack Nicklaus, who labelled his swing, ‘perfection.’

Snead would retire from the golf tour in 1987. He passed away on May 23rd, 2002, aged 89, at Hot Springs, in Virginia.

4. Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer was a special golf player, nicknamed ‘The King’. He had 95 professional wins after making his debut in 1954, which included seven major Championships.

The Pennsylvania-born golfer won the U.S Open once, The Open Championship back-to-back in 1961 and 1962, as well as winning the Masters tournament a staggering four times — in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964.

Palmer’s list of achievements are sensational. He won the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1960, the Bob Jones award in 1971, the old Tom Morris award in 1983, the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement award in 1998, the Payne Stewart Award in 2000, the presidential medal of freedom in 2004, a congressional gold medal in 2009, as well as winning the Vardon Trophy on four occasions and being the PGA Tour leading money winner in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1963.

The American also won the PGA player of the year twice — in 1960 and 1962, as well as being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in 1974. Palmer passed away aged 87, on the 25th September, 2016, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and will continued to be honoured as one of the greatest players to compete on the PGA golf tour.

3. Gary Player

The impeccable Gary Player. When he was on form, ‘The Black Night’ was mesmerising to watch. After first appearing on the golfing scene in 1953, he won a staggering 160 professional events, including nine major Championships.

Player won the U.S Open in 1965, the PGA Championship in 1962 and 1972, as well as the Masters tournament and The Open Championship, three times apiece.

The South African golfer earned some phenomenal achievements over the years, which included being the PGA Tour leading money winner in 1961, earning the PGA Tour lifetime achievement award, in 2012, winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which he received from former United States of America president Donald Trump, on the 7th January this year.

Player was also inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in 1974 and remarkably still plays golf at 85 years of age. There is a reason he is nicknamed ‘Mr. Fitness,’ He is now living in Juptier Island, Florida, U.S Colesberg, in South Africa with his wife, Vivienne Verwey.

He is also helping to raise golf’s profile and has authored or co-written 36 books on the sport.

2. Tiger Woods

This was a difficult one, but Tiger Woods for me narrowly misses out on first place in our list. From all of the injury setbacks, ‘Tiger’ is still one of the fiercest competitors out on the golf tour and has won an outstanding 110 professional events, since making his debut in 1996, which includes 15 major tournament victories.

Woods has won both the The Open Championship and U.S Open three times apiece, the PGA Championship four times and the Masters tournament, on five occasions, with his last success coming in 2019, when he finished on 13-under par, showcasing his composure and finesse to win his first major in 11 years.

The 45 year-old from Cypress, California has had a swashbuckling career in golf and he has the achievements to show for it. Since winning the PGA rookie of the year award in 1996, he has gone onto win the FedEx Cup Champion twice and was honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2019.

Woods has also won the Byron Nelson Award and Vardon Trophy nine times each, been the PGA Tour leading money winner on 10 occasions, and the PGA Tour player of the year a staggering 11 times. His phenomenal achievements then saw him inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame this year. He is currently ranked number 47 in the world on the PGA golf tour.

1. Jack Nicklaus

So, we come down to our number one golfer and we have selected the sensational Jack Nicklaus. Nicknamed ‘The Golden Bear,’ the Ohio-born golfer has 117 professional wins under his belt since making his debut on the PGA Tour and the most major wins, 18 — three more than his closest rival, Tiger Woods.

Nicklaus has won The Open Championship three times, the U.S Open on four occasions, the PGA Championship five times and the Masters tournament, an unprecedented six times.

The achievements and awards he has won throughout his career have been astonishing, too. The 81 year-old won the Bob Jones award in 1975, the Payne Stewart Award in 2000, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. He also claimed the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2008, as well as winning a Congressional Gold Medal, in 2015.

He also won the PGA Tour leading money winner eight times, and claimed the PGA Player of the Year award, five times in total — 1967, 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976.

Nicklaus was also inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in 1974, following a glowing golfing career and now runs his own event on the PGA Tour, the Memorial Tournament, which was established in 1976, in Dublin, Ohio — at the Muirfield Village Golf Club.

The current prize fund for the competition is $9.3 million dollars. Spanish golfer Jon Rahm is the current champion, after posting a score of nine-under par, beating American Ryan Palmer by three shots.