There are several theories of golf’s origin. The most famous one says that the game was invented by Scottish shepherds, who used their staffs to drive stones into rabbit holes for some kind of entertainment. Today we will tell you about the top 10 golfers of all time.
Tiger Woods.
One of America’s most famous golfers. From 2001 to 2012, he was the all-time leader in the Forbes rankings.
Tiger Woods began his journey in the professional sport in 1996 and almost immediately became a world golf leader. He has gone on to win more than 80 PGA Tour tournaments, close to 40 European Tour victories and a further 15 Major events in his career.
He suffered from drug addiction, but after lengthy treatment in a rehabilitation center he was able to cope with it.
He is now actively engaged in charity work: he founded his own Foundation, which helps poor children from African-American families to learn golf.
Jack Nicklaus
When Charlie Nicklaus, who broke his ankle, was prescribed hiking, he became interested in golf. A future star of the sport, Charlie’s son Jack helped his father and later became interested in the game himself.
While attending university, Nicklaus Jr. successfully competed at the amateur level. Winning the U.S. Amateurs title in 1961 helped him become one of the biggest names in pro golf. Jack went on to win nearly 73 PGA championships.
He ended his athletic career on July 15, 2005. Since then, he has been involved in publicity and architecture. He also founded his own golf equipment firm in 1992.
Gary Player
Born in South Africa. His childhood was not an easy one. His mother died of cancer when he was only eight and his father was away at work all day. Nevertheless, Player Sr. thought about his son’s future. He took out a loan and used the money to buy Gary a golf set. Thus began the athletic journey of one of the world’s greatest golfers.
Gary Player went down in golf history as the only non-American to collect all the Grand Slam awards. He holds many records and although some of them were later broken by other players, Gary was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan’s life journey has not been easy enough. After his father’s suicide in 1922, the nine-year-old boy was forced to go to work to somehow help his mother. Looking to earn a living, he took a job as a caddie at one of the major golf clubs and fell in love with golf forever.
At first, his career didn’t pan out at all. Hogan failed to win any of the tournaments he participated in. The athlete was often left without money and was forced to take any job.
That all changed in 1938, when Ben won his first championship. Then World War II broke out and his career was put on hold. He did not return to golf until 1945.
During his career he won 63 professional tournaments.
Phil Mickelson.
Learned to handle a club while still in preschool under his father’s tutelage. Won almost all amateur tournaments and turned pro in 1992.
Serious victories began in 2004, Mikelson won his first major. He won a total of five such awards.
He is generally considered to be the “people’s champion. Despite his rather modest achievements compared to other great golfers, Michelson remains the “favorite” of the public.
Byron Nelson.
Born in Texas, Byron Nelson worked part-time as a caddie from an early age, which allowed him to gain experience by watching the professional game.
In 1932, as a young man in his twenties, Nelson began his professional sports career. He is widely considered one of the best players of the 1930s and 1940s. He retired early, but forever inscribed his name in the history of world golf.
Nelson won the golf tournaments that are now considered official PGA Tour tournaments 52 times.
Of those victories, five were in major championships. Nelson won the Masters in 1937 and 1942, the U.S. Open in 1939 and the PGA Championship in 1940 and 1945.
Harry Vardon.
Born in 1870, he was known not so much for his victories as for his contributions to golf technology. Developed a unique way of holding a club, later known as the “Vardon grip.
He had a unique level of control over the ball, which not even many modern golfers could achieve.
He was the only man to win the British Open six times in a row.
Billy Casper
Like many famous golfers, started his career as a caddie. He has 51 PGA Tour gold medals, the seventh-highest score on the list of golfers with the most wins.
Billy Casper has been named Player of the Year twice and has made eight appearances for the U.S. National Team. Golf was the love of his life, but he loved his family even more. Kasper and his wife had a total of 11 children–five born and six adopted.
After his death in 2015, many said that the world had lost not only a great athlete, but also a beautiful man.
Seve Ballestero.
The only Spaniard on our list. Gained world recognition at the British Open championship in 1976, where he took 2nd place.
During his playing career Ballesteros took home gold medals at 5 major championships from 1979-1988, including two Masters Tournaments in 1980 and 1983 and the British Open three times – 1979, 1984, 1988.
Sam Snead
The golfer holds the world record for most PGA Tour victories. He has won them 82 times.
Sam Snead always had an amazingly flowing and graceful stroke which he taught himself as a child.
This golfer remained competitive even at “veteran” age. At age 62, he finished third at the 1974 PGA Championship; at age 67, he played 66 rounds at the Quad Cities Open. He also won six Senior PGA Championship titles and five Senior World Championships.
