Golf Legends
Since we are in the midst of the 2017 PGA Tour, we thought it would be appropriate to share some of the all-time golf legends. Both men and women have changed the game of golf and it’s only fair that they get their recognition. While there are many people who have won championships and earned nicknames, the following list are our favorite men and women of golf.
The Men
These players are hands down the biggest golf legends in the industry. From before the beginning of televised golf to today, these players are the best of the best.
Jack Nicklaus is one of “The Big Three,” (pictured on the right) along with Gary Player and Arnold Palmer. Nicknamed as “The Golden Bear,” he has more major championships than Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer combined at a total of 18. He has 6 Masters in his back pocket along with 2 U.S. Amateurs, 3 Players titles, 73 PGA Tour victories, and 10 Championship Tour trophies. His record is at 115 worldwide victories over a span of 25 years. He now has a golf course design company named Nicklaus Design that has designed 410 courses open for play in 45 countries.
The newest golf legend, Tiger Woods, has eclipsed almost every single golfer out there. He has 14 major championships, 3 U.S. Amateurs, 79 PGA Tour victories, and 97 worldwide wins. He also is noted for having the lowest career scoring average in the history of the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods is accredited 10 Player of the Year awards and is the only player to ever win 4 consecutive majors. Like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger also has his own design company named TGR design.
The King of Golf, Arnold Palmer, brought golf into our living rooms. He changed the idea of golf as an elite pastime to an accessible sport to the middle class. He won 4 Masters from 1958 to 1968 and ranked in the top 4 five other times. Arnold Palmer has won 62 PGA Tours and 7 Major Championships and he is the first PGA Tour millionaire. He had 15 consecutive years with at least one victory.
Gary Player, another member of “The Big Three,” has 165 worldwide victories in his back pocket, including 24 PGA Tour wins. He is only one of 5 players that owns a career Grand Slam. He has won the Masters and British Open three times each.
Ben Hogan has won 64 PGA Tour events including 9 majors. He is the only player to win the Masters, the U.S. Open and British Open in the same year and he is a pillar in the golf instruction community. Although scoring standards for the U.S. Open and the Masters were eventually broken by Jack Nicklaus and then Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan is a legend and always will be.
The Women
Patty Berg fought in World War II as a Marine, all while kicking butt in golf. She is the champion of 60 women’s events, all between the time periods of 1937 to 1962. While she wasn’t a founder of the LPGA, she was the president of the organization that preceded it.
Mickey Wright was famous during the 1960s, wom 13 major championships, had victories in 14 straign seasons, won 82 LGPA events and 91 tournaments worldwide, one of the best golf swings in all of time.
Kathy Whitworth has more professional titles than all other players (male and female) except for Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Roberto De Vicenzo. She has 97 worldwide victories (the same as Tiger Woods) and has won 88 LGPA events. Kathy is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and retired in 2005.
Julie Inkster has always been a role model for all women athletes. Julie started her professional golf career young and continued it while being a mother of two all at the same time. She has won 7 majors, has 31 LPGA victories, 39 professional titles, and has also won three consecutive U.S. Women’s Amateurs.
Who are Your Favorite Golf Legends?
As we mentioned, these are only just a few of the many golf legends out there. We would love to know your favorite men and women of golf and we are looking forward to see who else ends up on this list in 20 years.