World’s Golfing Greats or World’s Greatest Golfers

Woods, Palmer, Nicklaus, Player.  Ring a bell?  These men are the big names in the world of golf.

The game of golf is made famous not only by the sports itself but more of its great players.  Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, WillieAnderson, Tom Watson and Nick Faldo are just few of those world-renowned players who made golf popular worldwide. These golfers became great because of their skillful swings coupled with the strength of their bodies, minds and characters.Great golfers are adjudged based on their victories in numerous tours and championships.  These include the Masters Championships, the U.S. Open Championships, The Open Championships, and the PGA Tour, among others.Year after year, these are awaited by golf fans around the world as these cement one player’s supremacy over the others.

To profile some of golf’s best players is an enduring task. There are myriad of great golfers to choose from. This is just an attempt to chronicle the careers ofsome of the golfers and why they are considered “golfing greats.â€

Tiger Woods is described as the number one golfer of all time because of his numerous victories, the scale of his comebacks and the record-breaking margins of histriumphs.  As of 2004 session, Woods already has in hand 40 tour victories and 11 major championships. A golf phenomenon, Woods was the youngest winner of U.S. Junior Amateur at age 15, the U.S. Amateur at age 18, the Masters at age 21, and above these, the youngest grand slam winner at age 25.

Arnold Palmer paved the way for the numerous opportunities for professional golfers. He is considered one of the most popular and charismatic golfers of his time.  He won 72 worldwide tours and eight major championships including the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open and the U.S. Amateur. Because of his popularity, Palmer was adjudged as “the richest athlete” in the 70s because of his several product endorsements. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

Jack Nicklaus was dubbed as the most accomplished player in the history of golf’s major championship. He earned 113 worldwide tour victories (including PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour) and 20 major professional and amateur championships. At age 26, he had his career grand slam and had his final major championship at age 46.  Nicklaus was elected in the World Golf Hall of Fame also in 1974.

Gary Player was nicknamed “The Black Knight.”  He garnered a total of 163 worldwide tournament victories and nine major championships throughout his career. He got the title “The International Ambassador of Golf” since he was believed to have traveled the whole world to join in golf tournaments. Outside golf, he worked for the improvement of the lives of his fellow South Africans.  Player also designed more than 200 golf courses worldwide and a breeder of horses. In 1974, he was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Willie Anderson was considered to be the first person to win four US Opens (1901, 1903, 1904 and 1905) and four Western Opens (1902, 1904, 1908, 1909).  These victories made him the second-biggest professional golfer in the U.S. during his time.  He was a great golf instructor before he died in 1910 at age 30. He was inducted into the World Golf of Fame in 1975.

Tom Watson acquired a total of 45 tour victories and 8 major championships, including the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.  He is a five-time PGA Tour money leader, three-time PGA Tour Vardon Trophy Winner and sixth-time PGA Tour Player of the Year.  Watson pursued his career as a professional golfer after he secured a degree in Psychology from Stanford University. He was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988.

Nick Faldo won the PGA Tour six times and the European Tour 30 times.  He won the Masters Championship in 1989, 1990, and 1996 and the British Open in 1987, 1990, and 1992.  He was adjudged as Europe’s all-time best golfers. Jack Nicklaus inspired his career in golf when he saw Nicklaus’ game when he was 13 years old.  Faldo’s interest now is in designing golf course and golf academies. He now enjoys being a golf broadcast commentator.

Other famous golfers are Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Harry Vardon, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Lee Trevino, Seve Ballesteros, James, Braid, Greg Norman, Byron Nelson, J.H. Taylor, Peter Thomson, Vijay Singh, and more.  The list would go and on.  Whoever you think is the greatest; one thing is for sure: these men played great games with tremendous class and absolute sportsmanship. That is why they are considered “World’s Greatest Golfers.”