Comparing golfers from different eras, with different competition and vastly different equipment, is a fool’s errand. But that doesn’t stop us all from doing it anyway. Even golf greats themselves can’t help but chime in. Gary Player is the latest.
The most popular debate is who should be No. 1 on the all-time list, Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus. But who ranks third behind Jack and Tiger is a more interesting question, with several legends in the mix.
If you ask Player, though, there is only one choice for the third-best golfer of all-time: Gary Player.
Player says Tiger Woods could have been greatest ever
Player, who turns 90 years old on November 1, is among the most reliable analysts in the golf G.O.A.T. debate. He played alongside Nicklaus during Jack’s greatest achievements, and then witnessed Tiger’s entire career one step removed.
And in a recent interview with the Palm Beach Post, Player was more than happy to reveal his final verdict on the Jack vs. Tiger question. Winner: Nicklaus.
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Player claimed that had Woods made the “right choices,” he could have easily topped the list.
“If Tiger Woods had made the right choices, he would have been the greatest player that ever lived,” Player told the Palm Beach Post. “But the worst saying in athletics, in sports, is if. Because if is immaterial. It’s the bottom line.”
But in Player’s eyes, Nicklaus earns the G.O.A.T. title for a simple reason: his superior record in major championships.
“How I judge the best players of all time is I say, ‘there’s the record book.’ That’s the only way,” Player argued. “It’s the record book that’s on paper. And Nicklaus has got the best record. There’s no question.”
Gary Player names himself No. 3 golfer of all-time
When it comes to the greatest golfer not named Nicklaus or Woods, there are certain players that register most frequently.
Bobby Jones is one of the top candidates. Jones ignited Americans’ interest in golf during his legendary amateur career, winning that era’s version of the Grand Slam in 1930, the only player to do so in a single year. He won four U.S. Opens, three Open Championships, five U.S. Amateurs and one British Amateur from 1923-1930, then founded Augusta National and the Masters.
Ben Hogan is another popular choice. Hogan secured nine major wins over nine years, captured the career Grand Slam and spread his golf instruction gospel through the ages.
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Arnold Palmer only won seven majors but perhaps did more than any golfer to popularize the pro game.
But Player thinks he is the only choice for third-best of all-time.
“When they judge players… they put Bobby Jones and Arnold [Palmer] ahead of me. You can’t tell me that an amateur golfer has a record that I have in golf. [Jones’] record is not close to mine,” Player argued to the Palm Beach Post. “You look at Arnold’s record, it’s not close to mine. I won more majors than Arnold. I won more tournaments than Arnold. I won more senior majors. My stroke averages were better. He didn’t have the record, and he was my brother.”
However, he admitted he didn’t mind that Palmer often was ranked ahead of him given Palmer’s immense influence on the game.
“But I love the fact, in a way, that they do that, because what [Palmer] did for golf, and I grew up with him, he was supreme,” Players said.
For the record, Player is unquestionably among the greatest of all time. He matched Hogan’s major total of nine and won the career Grand Slam himself. While Player only captured 24 PGA Tour titles, he played all around the world, accumulating 159 total professional wins over decades of competition.
For him, there’s no debate about the top 3 golfers of all-time.
“Jack is number one, Tiger number two, and I’m number three. There’s not even a question.”
You can read all of Player’s comments to the Palm Beach Post here.
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