Some say it’s tough to compare golfers across generations. After all, the way that game is played had changed a lot over the years. But still, it’s easy enough to compare their talents when you consider their achievements. Here are the 30 greatest golfers in the history of the sport.
30. Tom Morris
The Grand Old Man of Golf, Tom Morris, was a legendary Scottish golfer who participated in the first Open Championship in 1860. He won the second ever Championship in 1861. He’s regarded as one of the most influential players in the sport’s history, holding the distinction of the greatest margin of victory at a major championship (by 13 strokes) until Tiger Woods won the US Open by 15 strokes.
29. Mickey Wright
Hall of Famer Mickey Wright played on the LPGA tour starting in the 1950s and had an astonishingly successful career. She won 82 events on the tour, 13 of which were major championships. She even held all four major titles in the LPGA simultaneously, the only player in the history of the sport to achieve such a distinction. What’s more, she did all of that before retiring at the unusually young age of 34 due to health issues that affected her feet.
28. Bobby Locke
South African golfer Bobby Locke is regarded as one of the best athletes in the sport’s early history. He won The Open Championship four times and took down a total of 15 PGA Tour wins. In his home country, he recorded over 50 wins in major events, nine of which were South African Open wins.
27. Babe Didrikson Zaharias
All-around athlete Mildred Didrikson Zaharias, known as “Babe” to her fans, was a golfer, basketball player, baseball player, and track and field runner. She won gold in track and field at the 1932 Summer Olympics and went on to win 10 major championships in the LPGA. That’s some serious all-around talent!
26. Annika Sorenstam
Swedish professional golfer Annika Sorenstam is considered one of the best to ever play the sport. She won 96 professional tournaments before retiring from the sport in 2008, and has 82 LPGA wins. Of those, ten were majors, making her one of the most dominant female golfers in recent memory.
25. Patty Berg
Golf fans likely know the name Patty Berg. She was a founding member of the LPGA and helped establish the circuit as a serious sporting organization. She holds the record for the highest number of major wins among women golfers, sitting at 15 major title victories. She’s also in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
24. Cheyenne Knight
Knight played collegiate golf at the University of Alabama and excelled in numerous SEC tournaments. She’s also taken down two LPGA wins, one in 2019 and another in 2023. She’s still young and has a promising career ahead of her in the LPGA.
23. Betsy King
After joining the LPGA, Betsy King started racking up wins in major championships. Across her 34 LPGA wins, she took down six major championships. She was considered an icon in golf through the 80s and into the 90s, and remains an outspoken advocate for women’s sports.
22. Louise Suggs
You can’t talk about the history of golf without mentioning Louise Suggs. She’s basically the mother of modern women’s golf, as she helped found the LPGA Tour and was vital in expanding the role of women in the sport. She was also pretty dang good at golf, winning 58 tournaments. Eleven of those were Majors, too!
21. Kathy Whitworth
Winning isn’t everything, but Kathy Whitworth won a lot of tournaments. Throughout her illustrious career, she won 88 LPGA Tour tournaments, more than any other golfer in the LPGA or PGA. She also came in second place 93 times, giving her an astonishing 181 top-two finishes in her professional career.
20. Greg Norman
Greg Norman held the world No. 1 golfer ranking for 331 weeks. Norman’s 88 professional victories include the Open Championship (1986, 1993), Masters Tournament (2nd, 1986, 1987, 1996), 20 PGA Tour wins, PGA Championship (2nd, 1986, 1993), U.S. Open (2nd, 1984, 1995), and British Open (1986, 1993). Gary was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.
19. Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy is a four-time major champion and only needs a Masters victory to achieve a career grand slam. He finished second in 2022. McIlroy’s 40 professional victories include 26 PGA Tour wins, and two PGA Championships (2012, 2014), the U.S. Open (2011), and the Open Championship (2014). He’s undoubtedly a future golf Hall of Famer.
18. Vijay Singh
Suspicion of performance-enhancing drugs and cheating allegations marred Vijay Singh’s career. Singh’s 66 professional victories include the Masters Tournament (2000), the PGA Championship (1998, 2004), the Hassan II Golf Trophy (1991), the Deutsche Bank Championship (2008), the Tour Championship (2002), the Barclays (2008), and the Constellation Senior Players Championship (2018). Singh was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2005/2006.
17. Billy Casper
Billy Casper racked up an impressive list of victories while competing against the Big Three of golf (Nicklaus, Palmer, and Player). Casper’s 72 professional victories include the Masters Tournament (1970), 51 PGA tour victories, the US Open (1959, 1966), and the US Senior Open (1983). Casper was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978.
16. Ernie Els
Former world No. 1 Ernie Els is the second-best golfer of the Tiger Woods era. Els’ 78 professional victories include the British Open (x2), 19 PGA Tour wins, U.S. Open Championship (1994, 1997) and Open Championship (2002, 2012), World Golf Championship (2004, 2010), and Senior Players Championship (2024). Els was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
15. Walter Hagen
A major figure in golf in the early 20th century, Walter Hagen’s record 11 major championships stood until the 1960s. Hagen’s 58 professional victories include 45 PGA Tour wins and 5 PGA Championships (1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927), U.S. Open (1914, 1919), Open Championship (1922, 1924, 1928, 1929). Hagen was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
14. Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo was ranked the No. 1 golfer in the world for 97 weeks. Faldo’s 43 professional victories include the Masters Tournament (1989, 1990, 1996) and the Open Championship (1987, 1990, 1992). He also won the Volvo Masters (1988) and Irish Open (1992, 1993). Faldo was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1997.
13. Lee Trevino
Lee Trevino won 29 PGA Tour events and six majors. Trevino’s victories include PGA Championship (1974, 1984), U.S. Open (1968, 1971), and the Open Championship (1971, 1972). He also won the World Series of Golf (1974), US Senior Open (1990), and PGA Seniors’ Championship (1992, 1994). Trevino was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981.
12. Byron Nelson
In 1946, Byron Nelson was the first golfer to reach 50 PGA Tour wins, something only six other golfers have achieved. Nelson’s victories include the Masters Tournament (1937, 1942), the PGA Championship (1940, 1945), the U.S. Open (1939), and the French Open (1955). Nelson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
11. Seve Ballesteros
Seve Ballesteros won 90 international tournaments in his career. At 19, he tied for second with Nicklaus at the 1976 British Open. He won three of them in his career. Ballesteros’ victories include Masters Tournament (1980, 1983), PGA Championship (1984), U.S. Open (1987), the Open Championship (1979, 1984, 1988). Ballesteros was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1999.
10. Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson has 57 wins and 45 on the PGA Tour, where he was the oldest to win the championship at age 50 in 2021. Mickelson’s victories include Masters Tournament (2004, 2006, 2010), PGA Championship (2005, 2021), U.S. Open (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013), and the Open Championship (2013). Mickelson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012.
9. Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen is one of only four players in golf’s modern Career Grand Slam club. He’s one of the game’s greatest champions and innovators. Sarazen’s victories include Masters Tournament (1935), PGA Championship (1922, 1923, 1933), U.S. Open (1922, 1932), Open Championship (1932). Sarazen was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
8. Gary Player
Gary Player won over 150 tournaments. He’s won all four of golf’s modern majors. He’s one of only four to win the Masters and the British Open three times. Player’s victories include Masters Tournament (1961, 1974, 1978), PGA Championship (1962, 1972), U.S. Open (1965), and the Open Championship (1959, 1968, 1974). Gary was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
7. Tom Watson
Tom Watson was among the world’s leading golfers between the 70s and 80s, winning eight major championships. He won the British Open five times in nine years. Watson’s victories include the Masters Tournament (1977, 1981), PGA Championship (1978), U.S. Open (1982), and Open Championship (1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983). Watson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988.
6. Bobby Jones
Amateur golfer Bobby Jones was one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport, co-founding the Masters Tournament. Jones’ victories include the U.S. Amateur (1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1930), British Amateur (1930), U.S. Open (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930), and Open Championship (1926, 1927, 1930). Jones was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
5. Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan won nine major championships to tie him with Gary Player for fourth all-time. Hogan’s victories include the Masters Tournament (1951, 1953), PGA Championship (1946, 1948), U.S. Open (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953), and Open Championship (1953). Hogan was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
4. Arnold Palmer
Arnold “The King” Palmer was considered the first superstar of the sport. He dominated the Masters from 1958 to 1968. Palmer’s victories include Masters Tournament (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964), PGA Championship (1964, 1968, 1970), U.S. Open (1960), Open Championship (1961, 1962), and British Open (1961, 1962). He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
3. Sam Snead
In terms of wins, Sam Snead had 82 PGA Tour titles, with between 135 to 165 worldwide wins over four decades. Snead’s victories include Masters Tournament (1949, 1952, 1954), PGA Championship (1942, 1949, 1951), U.S. Open (1937, 1947, 1949, 1953), and Open Championship (1946). Snead was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
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2. Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods was PGA Rookie of the Year in 1996. Woods ascended to the top of the golf world in 1997. His major victories include Masters Tournament (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019), PGA Championship (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007), U.S. Open (2000, 2002, 2008), and Open Championship (2000, 2005, 2006). Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021.
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1. Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus won 117 professional tournaments in his career and a record 18 major championships, three more than second-placed Tiger Woods. Nicklaus’ major victories include Masters tournament (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986), PGA Championship (1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980), U.S. Open (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980), Open Championship (1966, 1970, 1978).
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