Top 20 Male Golfers of All Time

As I said in the best golfer thread, I am willing to compile a poll of 606v2 contributors of the best male golfers ever. the list of nominees (but feel free to write-in anyone you want, if you think I forgot someone)

Some ground rules:

1. I am going to post my top 20 in the next post, please use an identical format using the exact names in the nominee list. and the format

2. The #1 golfer on each list will get 20 points, #2 will get 19 points, #3 will get 18 points....etc #20 will get 1 point

3. Please, be objective. Just because you don't like a golfer is not a reason to under-rank him or not rank him to suit an agenda.

A couple of notes, I just compiled my list, IMO it gets really tough to rank them after #12 or #13 as I think there is a significant drop-off.


Nominees, (in alphabetical order)

1 Tommy Armour
2 Seve Ballesteros
3 Jim Barnes
4 Julius Boros
5 James Braid
6 Billy Casper
7 Jimmy Demaret
8 Ernie Els
9 Nick Faldo
10 Ray Floyd
11 Ralph Guldhal
12 Walter Hagen
13 Padraig Harrington
14 Ben Hogan
15 Hale Irwin
16 Bobby Jones
17 Bobby Locke
18 Phil Mickelson
19 Cary Middlecoff
20 Old Tom Morris
21 Young Tom Morris
22 Byron Nelson
23 Jack Nicklaus
24 Arnold Palmer
25 Gary Player
26 Nick Price
27 Gene Sarazen
28 Vijay Singh
29 Sam Snead
30 Payne Stewart
31 Peter Thompson
32 Lee Trevino
33 Harry Vardon
34 Tom Watson
35 Tiger Woods

=================

My vote: Please follow this format:

1. Jack Nicklaus
2. Tiger Woods
3. Ben Hogan
4. Sam Snead
5. Bobby Jones
6. Walter Hagen
7. Gary Player
8. Tom Watson
9. Arnold Palmer
10. Byron Nelson
11. Gene Sarazen
12. Lee Trevino
13. Billy Casper
14. Seve Ballesteros
15. Nick Faldo
16. Phil Mickelson
17. Peter Thompson
18. Bobby Locke
19. Harry Vardon
20. Ray Floyd

1).Nicklaus
2).Woods
3).Hogan
4).Hagen
5).Snead
6).Jones
7).Player
8).Trevino
9).Palmer
10).Nelson
11).Watson
12).Sarazen
13).Ballesteros
14).Faldo
15).Mickelson
16).Thomson
17).Casper
18).Locke
19).Floyd
20).Norman (sorry)

1. Tiger Woods
2. Tom Watson
3. Jack Nicklaus
4. Bobby Jones
5. Ben Hogan
6. Phil Mickelson
7. Nick Faldo
8. Seve Ballesteros
9. Arnold Palmer
10. Lee Trevino
11. Walter Hagen
12. Gary Player
13. Byron Nelson
14. Vijay Singh
15. Hale Irwin
16. Harry Vardon
17. Ray Floyd
18. Old Tom
19. Young Tom
20. Moe Norman (the guy just has to get at least one vote)

I will change moe Norman if necessary as it would hardly be fair for people to start picking players not on the list. If you want to take moe out then pop in Jim Barnes.

1. Nicklaus
2. Hogan
3. Woods
4. Palmer
5. Jones
6. Watson
7. Player
8. Morris, Sr
9. Snead
10. Sarazen
11. Nelson
12. Faldo
13. Seve
14. Thomson
15. Trevino
16. Mickelson
17. Casper
18. Hagen
19. Price
20. Floyd

1. Nicklaus
2. Woods
3. Player
4. Hogan
5. Palmer
6. Ballesteros
7. Watson
8. Hagen
9. Snead
10. Faldo
11. Trevino
12. Thomson
13. Casper
14. Mickelson
15. Jones
16. Nelson
17. Locke
18. Norman (Greg)
19. Sarazen
20. Stewart

C'Mon people, only 5 votes?

It is actually quite a fun exercise to think about, so get going folks.

Too many names mac, most people can't be arsed.

For what its worth though, I think the number of majors amassed is irrelevant. Cocknose Woods and nicklaus have achieved a lot but I don't like how either played golf. I think Watson amd ballesteros were more talented and thus better golfers. There you go no need for a 20 man list.

1. Woods (don't like him but being objective as asked)
2. Nicklaus
3. Jones
4. Hogan
5. Ballasteros
6. Watson
7. Palmer
8. Faldo
9. Player
10. Hagen

I'll stop there don't really know enough about the rest to be fair and honest

When these lists appear no one seems to mention Willie Anderson.
He won the US Open four times in five years, wonder what they would say if Rory did that nowadays.

I shall go with the OP's list of 20.
Just about spot on except I would place Willie Anderson in front of Ray Floyd.

1. Nicklaus
2. Woods
3. Hogan
4. Jones
5. Player
6. Palmer
7. Watson
8. Hagen
9. Snead
10. Vardon
11. Sarazen
12. Ballesteros
13. Trevino
14. Faldo
15. Nelson (Byron)
16. Casper
17. Mickelson
18. Floyd
19. Thompson
20. Norman

Nicklaus
Woods
Snead
Hogan
Player
15 others.....

Perhaps the next time Mr Woods grows a beard, that enthusiastic chap in the crowd might shout out "You da GOAT!".

Nah - it's just too confusing to have "Tiger" being the "GOAT"...

Mmmmmmmmmm

No Sandy Lyle or Bernard Gallacher on the nominees list?

Where exactly did you copy this list?

"No Sandy Lyle or Bernard Gallacher on the nominees list?"

You think any of those two are in the top 20-35 golfers of all time?

I do love tattie scones but naming yourself after them will not help me understand how you think sandy and Bernhard were that good.

Would think Lyle should get a shout in the Top Fifty, Gallacher about the top 50 Scots.

Yeah but is it most Majors? Tournaments in general?

What's the criteria?

1.woods
2. nicklaus
3.player
4.palmer
5.watson
6.faldo
7.seve
8.norman
9.singh
10.hogan

If bernie gallacher gets a vote then Tony Jacklin should be in ahead of him. Heck if Bernie is worthy I'd vote for Laura Davies ahead of him for her long career, wins and way I saw her hit her driver off the deck when watching the Solheim cup very impressive

The big omission from the original 35 is surely Norman (G).

What about Allan Robertson? - one of the first professionals and someone who allegedly was never beaten when playing for money. He was acknowledged as the best golfer of the pre-Open era. Cerainly highly regarded by the people of St Andrews.