The 5 Greatest Golfers of All-Time
The Greatest Golfers in the History of the Sport
Golf is a sport that has been around professionally for over a century now, and there are several players that have truly transformed the way we both watch and play the game.
Legendary golfer Tiger Woods
It can be truly difficult to come up with a list of the greatest golfers of all time, as there are many variables to consider.
For one, technology has radically changed the way golfers perform in the modern game.
Most players are now able to hit the ball over 300 yards, with their high iron approach shots checking into greens, something that was a rare feat prior to the year 2000.
The same year also presented a game-changing golf ball known as the Titleist ProV1.
Unlike a sport such as a basketball, where everyone on the court uses the same ball, golf can be dramatically impacted by the use of technology, and as such, it is one of the many variables to consider.
Nevertheless, these debates are here to be discussed not settled! Here is a list of the top 5 golfers of all-time, starting with number one!
What a swing! 😍
1. Jack Nicklaus
The most remarkable fact about Jack Nicklaus, and why he should be considered the greatest golfer of all time, is that he finished in second place in majors 19 times! Think about that for a moment.
Nicklaus not only won 18 majors in his playing career, but he finished in second place 19 times.
If that is not true dominance, I don’t know what is.
It is not as if he played in an era that did not have much competition either, as he played during the peak playing careers of Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer to name a few.
When Nicklaus won his sixth Masters title in 1986 at the age of 46, he did so over the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Tom Kite and Greg Norman. This also made him one of the oldest golfers to win a major.
From 1962-78 (a span of 17 years) Jack Nicklaus won at least two PGA Tour events annually.
He was a true model of consistency, playing at the highest level for decades, and it is difficult to put anyone ahead of him on golf’s all-time lists.
Could Tiger Woods pass Nicklaus some day? If Tiger were to surpass Nicklaus on the all-time majors list with 19 or 20 wins, you would be hard-pressed not to give him a bump to the top spot.
However, that is easier said than done, considering all of the adversities Tiger has faced in recent years.
2. Tiger Woods
When the dust settles on his playing career, Tiger Woods will easily go down as the best modern golfer to ever play the game.
As of 2023, he does not need to play in another event to remain the best modern golfer ever, and there is currently no one who could even come close to him in the decades to come.
People will look back at professional golf as having been comprised of two eras, before Tiger Woods and after Tiger Woods.
That is how much of an impact he has had on the game of golf, not only within the United States but globally.
Woods can accurately drive the golf ball a country mile and he also has a putting ability, unlike anything the world has ever seen.
When Tiger was playing in his prime in the early 2000s, no-one could compete on his level.
He arguably dominated the sport even more so than Nicklaus did in his prime, and he currently has 15 majors and 82 PGA Tour wins to his credit.
Out of all the remarkable feats in his career up to this point, one that truly stands out is a scoring average of 67.79 in the year 2000.
Woods literally averaged five under par every time he stepped out onto a golf course for an entire year.
He is a truly remarkable player that modern fans have had the treat of watching!
3. Sam Snead
Tiger Woods recently tied a record held by another all-time golfer when he won his 82nd PGA Tour event.
Similar to Nicklaus, Snead was a model of consistency throughout his playing career, winning over four different decades from the 1930s to the 1960s.
He is known for his silky-smooth swing, with many considering this one of greatest golf swings of all-time. It even helped propel him to seven major titles, too.
One lesser-known fact about Snead is that he is still the oldest player to shoot his age in a professional event, at the ripe old age of 67.
4. Ben Hogan
Just behind Sam Snead on the all-time greatest golfer list is Ben Hogan, another figure who transcended time for his effortless swing and his ability to work a golf ball around any course.
Hogan won a total of nine majors over the course of his career and he is still one of only five players to date to win a career Grand Slam.
What is remarkable about Hogan though, is that he was a feel player who rarely referred to yardages for shots.
He had an uncanny ability to gauge distances and figure out how much he needed to shape the golf ball to get it to where he wanted it to go.
Hogan overcame a lot of difficulties throughout his career, including a car crash during his prime years that nearly ended it altogether.
5. Arnold Palmer
One would be remiss not to include Palmer on the list of the greatest golfers of all time, regardless of his ability to charm.
Palmer certainly had an unorthodox golf swing that may have cost him a few tournaments here and there, but there is no denying his great career.
Palmer achieved 60 PGA Tour wins, 7 major championships and 15 consecutive years on the Tour with at least one victory.
He was very similar to Tiger Woods in the way he brought the game of golf to the masses, in a way few other players could.
Palmer played in his prime during the advent of television, and his personality helped bring the game of golf into more people’s homes with a greater appreciation of the sport.
Read our article about female golfing legends for more!
