The Top 10 Greatest Golfers of All Time: Definitive Ranking
Ranking the greatest golfers in history is no easy task. Comparing players across different eras requires careful consideration of many factors like technology, competition level, and the number of tournaments available.
Criteria for Ranking the Best Golfers Ever
To create this list, we focused on:
Major championship wins (The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, PGA Championship), as they represent the pinnacle of golf achievement.
Total wins on the PGA Tour and international circuits.
Performance in team competitions such as the Ryder Cup.
Consistency and longevity at the highest level.
Ability to dominate in different courses and conditions.
This ranking is based purely on achievements and skill, not on popularity or media influence.
Top 10 Greatest Golfers of All Time
10. Phil Mickelson
PGA Tour Wins: 45 (6th all-time)
Major Titles: 6 (3 Masters, 1 PGA Championship, 1 Open Championship, 1 PGA Championship)
In 2021, at age 50, Mickelson became the oldest major winner by capturing the PGA Championship.
Holds the record for most runner-up finishes in majors (19).
Known for his aggressive left-handed style and exceptional short game.
Career span over three decades with consistent top-10 finishes in majors.
9. Tom Watson
PGA Tour Wins: 39
Major Titles: 8 (5 Open Championships, 2 Masters, 1 U.S. Open)
Famous for his 1977 Open Championship win at Turnberry, beating Jack Nicklaus by one stroke in one of golf’s greatest rivalries.
Six-time PGA Player of the Year (1977, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984).
Nearly won the 2009 Open Championship at age 59, finishing second.
8. Walter Hagen
Major Titles: 11 (2 U.S. Opens, 4 PGA Championships, 5 Open Championships)
Known for elevating the professional status of golf in the 1920s.
First golfer to wear tailored clothes and introduce flamboyance to the sport.
Won five consecutive PGA Championships from 1924 to 1927.
Credited with making the PGA Championship a prestigious event.
7. Arnold Palmer
PGA Tour Wins: 62
Major Titles: 7 (4 Masters, 1 U.S. Open, 2 Open Championships)
Helped popularize golf on television in the 1950s and ’60s.
Known for his charismatic personality and fan-friendly style of play.
Finished second in the PGA Championship three times but never won it.
Founded multiple charitable organizations and golf courses.
6. Gary Player
Professional Wins: 165 worldwide
Major Titles: 9 (3 Masters, 3 Open Championships, 1 U.S. Open, 2 PGA Championships)
One of five men to achieve the career Grand Slam (winning all four majors).
Nicknamed the “Black Knight” for his all-black attire and fierce competitiveness.
Won the Masters three times over a span of 12 years, showcasing longevity.
5. Sam Snead
Professional Wins: 145
PGA Tour Wins: 82 (tied for most all-time)
Major Titles: 7 (3 Masters, 3 PGA Championships, 1 Open Championship)
Oldest winner in PGA Tour history at age 52 (Greater Greensboro Open, 1965).
Known for his smooth swing and longevity, winning tournaments in six different decades.
Played in 44 consecutive Masters Tournaments (1934-1977, excluding war years).
4. Bobby Jones
Major Titles: 13 (includes U.S. Amateur and British Amateur considered majors at the time)
Achieved the Grand Slam in 1930 by winning the U.S. Open, British Open, U.S. Amateur, and British Amateur in the same year.
Retired from competitive golf at age 28.
Co-founder of Augusta National Golf Club and instrumental in creating the Masters Tournament in 1934.
Also a successful lawyer, balancing academics and sport.
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3. Ben Hogan
PGA Tour Wins: 64
Major Titles: 9 (2 Masters, 4 U.S. Opens, 1 Open Championship, 2 PGA Championships)
Only golfer to win the Masters, U.S. Open, and British Open in the same calendar year (1953).
Set a U.S. Open scoring record in 1948 (276), which stood for 52 years.
Overcame a near-fatal car accident in 1949, winning six majors afterward.
Famous for meticulous practice and ball-striking precision.
2. Jack Nicklaus
PGA Tour Wins: 73
Major Titles: 18 (6 Masters, 4 U.S. Opens, 3 Open Championships, 5 PGA Championships)
Holds record for most runner-up finishes in majors (19).
His career spanned over 25 years, winning his first major in 1962 and last in 1986.
Known for clutch performances under pressure and course management.
Often called the greatest golfer ever due to career longevity and major dominance.
1. Tiger Woods
PGA Tour Wins: 82 (tied for most all-time)
Major Titles: 15 (5 Masters, 3 U.S. Opens, 3 Open Championships, 4 PGA Championships)
Youngest player to win the Masters (age 21) and set scoring record (−18) in 1997.
Won the 2000 U.S. Open by a record 15 strokes, considered one of the greatest performances in sports history.
Held the number one world ranking for a record 683 weeks.
Known for revolutionizing golf fitness and mental toughness.
Only player in the modern era to win four consecutive majors (2000-2001).
Challenges in Comparing Golfers Across Eras
Comparing players from different periods is tough due to:
Advances in equipment and course design.
Changes in physical training and mental preparation.
Increased depth of competition today versus earlier eras.
For example, Walter Hagen competed before the Masters existed, while Tiger Woods played in an era of globalized, highly competitive professional golf.
Notable Golfers Just Outside the Top 10
Legends like Lee Trevino (6 majors), Nick Faldo (6 majors), Seve Ballesteros (5 majors), and Byron Nelson (5 majors) were considered but didn’t make this list due to fewer major wins or less consistent careers.
Who’s Your Pick for the Greatest Golfer Ever?
This list is open for discussion. Do you agree with the rankings? Who would you include? Share your thoughts and your own top 10 in the comments!
