Some golfers treat the tee box like a launch pad, sending drives into orbit with effortless power. But once they left the driver in hand and had to do anything else—like, say, putt or hit a wedge—it all fell apart.
This list is dedicated to the guys who had one elite skill: nuking it off the tee. Fairways and greens were optional. Short game? Never heard of her.
14. Nicolas Colsaerts
The Belgian Bomber could absolutely crush it off the tee, often ranking among the longest hitters on tour. But outside of his driver, his game was more sizzle than steak.
13. J.B. Holmes
Holmes hit missiles off the tee that made fans gasp—but his short game made them groan. His pace of play didn’t help his reputation either.
12. John Daly
Daly’s tee shots were must-see TV, but his approach game was a gamble, and his putting was chaos. He made headlines more for distance and drama than for actual wins.
11. Jamie Sadlowski
A long drive champ turned pro golfer, Sadlowski could send a ball into the stratosphere. Unfortunately, when it came to scoring, he never really made the leap.
10. Bubba Watson
Bubba could bend a 340-yard drive around a dogleg with ease. But when his touch disappeared, so did his chances of contending.
9. Alvaro Quiros
Quiros hit absolute nukes and looked like the next big Euro star. Then the putting stats kicked in, and it was clear—bombs were all he had.
8. Gary Woodland
Woodland brought serious athleticism and raw power, but consistency with the flat stick held him back. You wanted to believe, but the results didn’t follow.
7. Dustin Johnson (Early Years)
Before DJ cleaned up his game, he was a tee-box terror with little finesse. Once he figured out the rest, he became a star, but that took a while.
6. Hank Kuehne
Kuehne could hit it longer than anyone on tour in his day. The problem? You had to wait until Sunday night to find his name on the leaderboard.
5. Luke List
He’s got power for days, but the rest of his game never quite caught up. List has teased potential, but often got in his own way on the greens.
4. Cam Champ
Champ’s swing speed is electric, and his drives are ridiculous. Everything else has been a work in progress—sometimes painfully so.
3. Brandon Hagy
A power guy through and through, Hagy could unleash bombs but rarely back it up. His game often felt like a highlight reel without a scoreboard.
Read More: 15 Golfers Who Were Driving Bombs Before the Equipment Caught Up
2. Rory Sabbatini
Sabbatini had serious distance and swagger, but his game often stalled after the tee shot. The fire was there, the finesse… not so much.
Read More: 15 Mistakes Casual Golfers Make That Expose Them as Amateurs
1. Bryson DeChambeau (Peak Bulk Era)
When Bryson packed on the pounds and chased ball speed records, his driver was terrifying. But everything else looked like it needed a software update.
Read More: Sophie Cunningham Outshines Caitlin Clark as “Tres Leches” Fever Tee Goes Viral
