Great is a word often used, mostly incorrectly. Let me explain. First, let’s define Great:
As an adjective: of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above normal or average
As a noun: a great or distinguished person: examples, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Winston Churchill and Sir Isaac Newton. So, with that definition and those examples, lets get to the golfers, both past and present. No, let me back up a bit, the subject of today’s Blog is the result of listening to fellow commentators - not only in golf - but in all sports erroneously describe golfers and athletes as great.
My question is how can there be SO many great players? So, today I am going to give my list of great golfers, and I will give my reasoning for them being great. So here goes.
Bobby Jones, the only amateur on the list, winner of 13 Major championships. Jones retired in 1930, having won the Grand Slam at the age of 28. Jones was victorious in 13 of the 20 Majors he played.
Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 professional Majors and 73 US PGA Tour events.
Tiger Woods, winner of 14 Majors and 65 US Tour events.
Sam Snead, winner of 7 Majors and 82 US Tour events.
Walter Hagen, winner of 11 Majors and 44 US Tour events.
Ben Hogan, winner of 9 Majors and 64 US Tour Events.
Gary Player, winner of 9 Majors and 24 US Tour events.
Tom Watson, Winner of 8 Majors and 39 US Tour events.
Arnold Palmer, winner of 7 Majors and 62 US Tour events.
Gene Sarazen, winner of 7 Majors and 39 US Tour events.
Lee Trevino, winner of 6 Majors and 29 US Tour events.
Byron Nelson, winner of 5 Majors, and 52 US Tour events. Nelson won 11 times in a row on the US PGA Tour in 1945 in a year that he racked up 18 wins in all. Nelson retired from competitive golf in his early 30’s.
Seve Ballesteros, winner of 5 Majors, 9 US Tour events and 49 European Tour events.
Nick Faldo, winner of 6 Majors, 9 US Tour events and 27 European Tour events.
Billy Casper, winner of 3 Majors and 51 US Tour events. Casper is often over looked, but you need to remember, his career was from 1957-1975, which are the peak years of Palmer, Player, and Nicklaus. The case is often made for present day players to be “great” and their lack of wins is based upon these players playing during the Tiger Era. Casper amassed 51 wins during the peak of three GREAT players.
Greg Norman, winner of 2 Majors, 20 US Tour events, and 14 European Tour events. Norman dominated the worldwide golf scene for a solid 10 years, from the mid-1980’s to the beginning of the Tiger era.
So, who has been left out? I can see the wheels turning!!!
Vijay Singh
Phil Mickelson
Ernie Els
Yes, these three are on the outside looking in at this time, but all are still playing and can still “qualify” to become great players. But, what does it take? In my opinion, when you win 6 Major championships, you are in. Win a combined 50 events on the US and European Tours alone with a minimum of 3 Majors - you are in.
Of the three names listed above, Singh is the closest, with 3 Majors and 47 combined wins, Vijay will someday make it I believe.
Ernie Els is close too, he has 3 majors, and 43 combined wins. Ernie is close for sure, but needs a couple of good years to make the list.
Mickelson also has 3 Majors, but only 34 US Tour wins and 2 European wins, he has a long way to go.
So, that is my list, my criteria, and I feel pretty confident that the players on my list qualify on just about anyone else’s list too.
I would guess that only Billy Casper was a surprise to anyone, and I think I qualified his selection very well, so there should not be any dissenters regarding Casper.
Greg Norman lacks some of the numbers, but Greg was great, trust me.
OK, there is my list, read ’em and weep!!!