He never finished out of the top 10 in 1945. But instead of Nicklaus accompanying him down the 18th fairway, he had four days of fatigue, crushing pressure and the hopes of a watching world weighing him down. He is considered one of the greatest golfers of all time, having won four major championships. Playing well ahead of the leaders, Player blistered Augusta National with a final-round 64, then waited as the leaders faltered down the stretch, giving him his third green jacket. Most other to lead in distance . His record of 13 major championships would stand for 40 years, before a youngster named Nicklaus came along. Phil the Thrill made history as golf's oldest major champion, proving that age is just a number while fending off players who were still kids when Lefty won his first major in 2004. While Majors are a big factor, they're not everything. Tiger's problems have absolutely validated this, as after his marital woes he has not been the same. For those close to the golf world and are avid golf fans, the names below are some of the most famous golfers in the game today. were moved by the turn-back-the-clock performance. Alex Ross. 5. Woods' 2019 Masters win was such a cultural touchstone that both the current U.S. President and his immediate predecessor celebrated the occasion. Several incidents over the past two seasons have solidified . Still, in his first 11 career majors, he has finished in the Top-6 five times, including two runner-ups. 5-time world champion. He's totted up 15 wins on the PGA Tour with his only Major win at the Masters Tournament in 1992 with a score of 275 (-13). Since the award was first given in 1937 Tiger Woods has the most wins with eight (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009). Posted lowest scoring average on Tour eight times Struck the Shot Heard Round the World, his 4-wood that nestled in the hole for a double eagle at Augusta Nationals No. His three British Open titles were triumphs of courage and ingenuity. Norman sat atop the world rankings for an unforgettable 331 weeks, putting him second on the list of weeks held at number 1. The list below includes every golfer with at least two victories in those senior majors. The current list includes golfers from around the world, the PGA, the LPGA, and a full range of ages. The first stage is to get nominations before the vote is started. Recorded wins on the PGA or Senior Tours in a record five decades the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. That year, Lord Byron won 11 tournaments in a row, including the PGA Championship. This table lists players with 10 or more wins on the LPGA Tour. 1 ranked golfer in women's golf after her 2-stroke win at The Evian Championship. Using a smooth, syrupy swing that looked as natural and effortless as breathing, Slammin Sammy won more golf tournaments than any other player a staggering total of 82 PGA Tour titles, and anywhere from 135 to 165 victories worldwide, depending on whom you ask. Opens and three Open Championships, for a total of seven majors, Harry Vardon won The Open Championship a record six times, and won one U.S. Open, for a total of seven majors, John Henry Taylor won five Open Championships, Tom Morris, Sr. and Tom Morris, Jr. both won four Open Championships, Willie Park, Sr. won four Open Championships, List of men's major championships winning golfers, Chronological list of men's major golf champions, List of LPGA major championship winning golfers, "Golf's professional Grand Slam has developed over time", "Tiger cruises to 12th major title with easy win at PGA Championship", "Career Grand Slam has grown in stature over time", "Setting a new standard: Bobby Jones wins the Grand Slam in 1930", Professional Golfers' Association (Great Britain and Ireland), Professional Golfers' Association of America, American Society of Golf Course Architects, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_men%27s_major_championships_winning_golfers&oldid=1121014606, Winners of men's major golf championships, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 10 November 2022, at 01:48. PGA Tour Player of the Year a record 10 times, Athlon counts down the best in the game's history. Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth are in elite company with names like Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson and Tom Watson. He died in 2006. Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead each won the trophy four times, and Ben Hogan, Greg Norman and Tom Watson three times. Nicklaus had taken up golf at the ripe age of 10. In total, Norman has won 91 professional events around the world, including two British Open Championships and 20 on the PGA TOUR. Opens and two British Opens the Big Easy is a legitimate challenger for the title of second-best player of the Tiger Woods era. His victory at the 2021 PGA Championship was not only the sixth major title of his career, at 50 years old, it also made him the oldest to win one in golf history. The Masters Augusta National April 8-11. That year, Jones, bore the incredible weight of expectations. He is one of five players to win all of the Grand Slam events. 1 ranked golfer in women's golf after her 2-stroke win at The Evian Championship. Golfers can cash in on five-figure paychecks simply for making the cut at just about any PGA Tour event, while prizes over $2 million are available for the winners of big events. Terms of Service Then along came the little man in black. The Big Three Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player dominated the golf headlines in the 1960s, but the unassuming Casper was as good as anybody in his era. Assign a 10 for first, a 9 for second, an 8 for third etc. Won a pro tournament in six different decades. The list is up to date as of November 6, 2022.[1]. He did have nine top-10s out of 21 PGA Tour events in 2019, but he is 0-5 in 2020, including two missed cuts. Very obvious. But for modern-day golfers, few compare to the revitalized Tiger Woods, who has tied Snead atop the list in October 2019 with his victory in the Zozo Championship in Japan and who Athlon Sports has ranked the No. The five major championships of senior golf are the U.S. Senior Open, Senior British Open, Senior PGA Championship, Senior Players Championship and The Tradition. Played since 1895, the course selected is often one of the most difficult in the US. But his legacy is secure. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Most Wins in Men's Professional MajorsGolferMajor WinsLastJack Nicklaus181986 MastersTiger Woods142008 US OpenWalter Hagen111929 British OpenBen Hogan91953 British Open How many more majors does Tiger need to catch Jack? Amateur and The Amateur Championship were once considered to be majors,[10] they are no longer recognized as such, and victories in these competitions are not included in the list. Past winners and the best golfers from around the world qualify to play in this event. He won three times US Masters tournament during (1949, 1952, 1954). Net Worth: $120 Million. So to win one tournament is a major accomplishment, let alone win 82 like golf legend Sam Snead did, starting with his first win at the 1936 West Virginia Closed Pro. Scoring a condor is the rarest event in golf. Augusta was the scene of his greatest win. For a few months in 1945, Byron Nelson played better than anyone ever has. Less than two months later, Jones retired from competitive golf, his legend secure. Olympic legend Michael Phelps was there in person to cheer him on. [2] Second on the list is Tiger Woods, who has won 15 majors to date; his most recent major victory was at the 2019 Masters. He will never surpass Jack's record of 18 majors. One of four players Nicklaus, Woods and Nick Faldo are the others to have won the Masters and British Open three times each. With four majors two U.S. Whenever there is a debate, at the 19th hole, about which are the worlds most important professional golf tournaments, there is always going to be a personal bias towards which competitions are enjoyed most, by each individual. He squinted from under that familiar white hat, surveyed the land, reached into a bag held by a caddy usually afraid to utter a word and then made that flat, repetitive swing. During his time, golf fans across the world hailed his name thanks to his 11 wins in major championships. What many people dont remember about the 1997 Masters is how badly Tiger started the tournament. The story goes that as he stood in the 15th fairway, he turned to his caddie, Stovepipe, and said, Should I play it safe? Noooo. A total of 230 different men have won majors and, of these, 84 have won at least two. Here is the complete list of every professional golfer who has won a men's major Jack Nicklaus - 18 Tiger Woods - 15 Walter Hagen -11 Ben Hogan - 9 Gary Player - 9 Tom Watson - 8 Bobby Jones -. In his golden years, the Golden Bear has continued to shape the game with his prolific golf course design company. The 25-year-old has one of the best all-around games on tour, and it is just a matter of time before he wins multiple majors. Here are the ten of the greatest and most influential golfers of all time. No sports legend accomplished more in a shorter period of time, and no sports legend walked away at such a young age. Winner of 50 European Tour events, six European Tour Vardon Trophies for low scoring average T1 C. Kirk -4 11. Nelson was elected to the PGA Golf Hall of Fame in 1953 and to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Like professional golf or tennis, the opportunity to join this elite club now only . 7 Major Championships 1 in the hearts of golf fans. Bobby Jones, who won the pre-Masters era Career Grand Slam once, and is the only golfer ever to have won four majors in the same year. For instance, the U.S. Open winner's share is $2.25 million. He has at least one win in each of the previous 12 seasons and has at least one Top 10 at the majors in 10 of the past 11 seasons. But more importantly, he made golf a greater game through his physical skill and strength, his mental toughness, his sustained level of excellence and his genius for strategically dismantling golf courses around the world. They do not include team events, unofficial events, or official wins on other professional tours, of which a few of the golfers listed, such as Laura Davies and Annika Srenstam, have many. It is based on the list on the LPGA Tour's official site, which differs slightly from the main win lists on player's personal profiles on the site. Technology is another issue. Finished in the top three in 48 Majors, 73 career wins on the PGA Tour. Many players won important events early in the 20th century, prior to the formation of the tour, with records being kept by the PGA of America. Won PGA Tour money title eight times The 53 British Open at Carnoustie, the only British Open he entered, would be his last major. Rheins round included 2 eagles and 12 birdies, and the rest of the holes were par for the course. He doesn't just move the needle; he is the needle, and he remains atop our ranking of the 20 Greatest Golfers in history. Paul Runyan, 29 wins (2 Major wins), T-19. We all remember the Masters-record 18-under par total that Woods shot in his first Masters as a pro. Only player to win Masters, U.S. Open and British Open in same year Not only have they done it once, Woods and Nicklaus have won each of the four Majors three times. And when he didnt beat them, he coaxed their very best out of them. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved On top of that, he also won seven Majors. The top ranked golfers include Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, Viktor Hovland, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, and many more. I have to feel a shot, he said. He outdueled Nicklaus at the 1982 U.S. Open on the strength of one of the greatest shots in golf history his chip-in on the 71st hole that led to a two-shot win, perhaps the most satisfying of his 39 career wins. A mind-boggling 37 top twos in majors. Since turning professional in 1996, Tiger has built an unprecedented competitive career. Here is the winning percentage for every active PGA Tour player with 10 or more wins. The wins counted here include professional titles won before the tour was founded in 1950; and LPGA Tour events won as an amateur, or as an international invitee before joining the LPGA Tour. The battle between the US and the Europe (which used to be just the UK) is where a select few golfers qualify to play in doubles and singles for the bi-annually awarded trophy. Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1960, 7 Major wins. Take a look at St. Andrews, Scotland through the eyes of someone who once called The Home of Golf home. All 3 of those women dominated the LPGA Tour. Feel free to tell me where Im wrong. Also won six combined U.S. and British Amateurs. Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead each won the trophy four times, and Ben Hogan, Greg Norman and Tom Watson three times. Professional wins: 18 Majors: 1 (1991 Open Championship) Highest world ranking: 10 (March 1992) Was part of an Aussie one-two at the 1991 Open Championship, finishing two shots clear of Mike. Phil Mickelson: 42 wins in 542 events -- 7.75 percent . To Hogan, the Hawk, Bantam Ben, who was 57, 140 pounds when he was at the peak of his game, striking a ball well was more important than scoring. These are Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. The former World No.1 has won a total of 64 professional tournaments throughout his career. For his career, he was the game's greatest gentleman. In compiling this ranking, I used two primary criteria: achievement and impact. Finished in top 5 in majors a record 56 times, in the top 10 a record 73 times Player 1 is an American professional golfer who has won more than 20 events on the PGA Tour. Woods had this to say of Palmer via Twitter: "It's hard to imagine golf without you or anyone more important to the game than the King.". Its considered to be the most prestigious as its held in the homeland of golf. A little better luck and a little more clutch play and he would have seven or eight major wins instead of two (1986 and 1993 British Opens). Bobby Jones won four U.S. There is no denying the immense amount of talent. Ben Hogan But as long as he does, the race for Jack Nicklaus' career majors record is back on. Based on PGA Tour wins and fan votes, these 2022 world golf rankings feature legends of the sport, rising stars, and new golfers. The first winner in 1860 saw a quite different set of clubs compared to modern times. Most Prize Money Woods was playing the practice round with Mark Omera at the Isleworth Golf Country Club in Florida when he shot the 59. He never won a U.S. Open. His 1984 title at the Old Course at St. Andrews denied Tom Watson his third consecutive Open and fourth in five years. Why he's ranked: Park was ranked No. Why he's ranked: Thomas is one of the best all-around golfers in the world, but that has only translated into one major championship (the 2017 PGA Championship) and one win during the 2018-19 season. Still, it feels like it is just a matter of time as he has been the best golfer in the world for the better part of the past year. Don't ever count him out. For the year, Nelson won a staggering 18 events and was named AP Athlete of the Year. There is only two in the running. Some of the best (and worst) looks from Day 1 of The 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews. US golfer, won 88 LPGA Tour tournaments, more than anyone else has won on either the LPGA Tour or the PGA Tour. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. Somehow, Snead never won the one tournament that seemingly should have been his by birthright. Claimed the first of his 15 Major Championship wins in 1997, when he won the Masters Tournament by a record 12 strokes. Almost two decades before Tiger Woods, Ballesteros exploded onto the scene as a precocious 19-year-old, finishing tied for second with the great Jack Nicklaus at the 1976 British Open at Royal Birkdale. Using a smooth, syrupy swing that looked as natural and effortless as breathing, Slammin Sammy won more golf tournaments than any other player a staggering total of 82 PGA Tour titles, and anywhere from 135 to 165 victories worldwide, depending on whom you ask. In 1996, before Woods turned pro, the ratings were 9.2 on Sunday. It was 1978, and Player hadnt won a major championship in four years. Tie-ing the most PGA tour wins with Sam Snead (82 wins) has a record of 11 PGA "Player of the year" awards. The flamboyant Hagen was the first ultra-successful touring pro and raised the stature of the lowly pro golfer substantially in an era when amateurs like Bobby Jones ruled the sport. Why he's ranked: Scott has had a bit of a career renaissance that has flown under the radar. LGPA Tour Victories: 34. As if to prove the point, at age 46, Nicklaus was able to muster enough of his old-time wizardry to outduel names like Ballesteros, Kite, Norman all of them at the peak of their powers to win his sixth Masters in 1986 in one of the greatest sports moments of all time. Fans and media fully expected him to sweep the majors, which at the time included the U.S. and British Opens and the U.S. and British Amateurs. A comment about a specific improvement on the golf course, and nothing else. Here is a list of some of the top golfers that have ever played. McIlroy and Mickelson would prefer to leave this group, though. 5-time PDGA Male Player of the Year. 3. Tiger (Eldrick) Woods, born December 30, 1975, is a professional golfer and entrepreneur. Qatar 2022: Argentina's World Cup final win streamed on YouTube in MENA region. Great Britain invented the game and progressed it to the first real set of rules that could be applied anywhere. The American was in scintillating form as he set a new tournament record of -26, his four rounds were: 66,67,63 & 66. In total, he has won 81 professional titles, and 11 of them were on the Champions Tour. He had just one win in his last 25 PGA Tour events, but he did finish in the Top 10 in 16 of those starts. Since the start of the 2018-19 season, Rors has five wins and has finished in the top-10 28 times in 35 events, including all six events to start the 2019-20 season. With his win on Sunday at The Players Championship, Rory McIlroy won his 15th PGA Tour victory and his 24th worldwide victory. Qatari state-owned broadcaster also provided coverage via FTA linear channel. (from Roger Schlaifer, July 2012), Everyone seems to forget that besides Tiger's 14 Majors he has won 16 World Golf Championships, and if I am not mistaken these usually include anywhere from at least 50 to [1] Members of the World Golf Hall of Fame are annotated HoF. Quite simply, at his best, Woods has played the game better than it's ever been played. Jones waltzed to the U.S. Nicklaus said, when he was 62 years old, that he hit the ball further than he ever had. Once regarded as a breath of fresh air on the buttoned-up PGA Tour, Bubba Watson has found his way into the pariah camp. Jones was a fixture at Augusta each spring, but his golf was confined to the friendly kind. Six wins Jack Nicklaus Augusta National GC No one has owned the Masters like the Golden Bear. Woosnam turned pro all the way back in 1976 and since that time, has racked up only 2 PGA Tour wins but an impressive 29 European Tour wins. 1 player on our list. Winner of 64 PGA Tour events, including 9 majors His career might be tainted on the front end by cheating allegations and on the back end by association with performance-enhancing drugs, but it's hard to deny Vijay a spot in the golf pantheon. His immediate predecessor celebrated the occasion full range of ages why he ranked. 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