There have been countless debates, articles and even books written by people trying to determine the greatest golfers of all time. Many have made their cases, but few as defiantly as Gary Player.
The nine-time major champ turns the big nine-oh on Saturday and he recently revealed his own top-three list of the best players ever. It might surprise you, but for Player, “There’s not even a question.”
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Player sat down with Tom D’Angelo of the Palm Beach Post to discuss a wide array of topics. But it was the golf legend’s ranking of other golf legends that caught our attention in particular.
“Jack is number one, Tiger number two, and I’m number three,” Player said. “There’s not even a question.”
Strong words, but if anyone is allowed an opinion on the matter it should be a guy who won more than 160 professional golf tournaments during his storied career. Here was more of Player’s reasoning:
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“How I judge the best players of all time is I say, ‘there’s the record book,’ ” Player said. “That’s the only way. It’s the record book that’s on paper. And Nicklaus has got the best record. There’s no question.
“If Tiger Woods had made the right choices, he would have been the greatest player that ever lived. But the worst saying in athletics, in sports, is if. Because if is immaterial. It’s the bottom line.”
Player gave Nicklaus the edge over Woods mainly for having more major wins (18 to 15) and far more major runner-ups (19 to 7). Of course, that’s a pretty common take, and just about anyone would have some order of Tiger and Jack in the top two slots. But what about Gary Player putting Gary Player third?
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“When they judge players, it’s quit interesting, they put Bobby Jones and Arnold (Palmer) ahead of me,” the South African said. “You can’t tell me that an amateur golfer has a record that I have in golf. His record is not close to mine. 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.
“But I love the fact, in a way, that they do that, because what he did for golf, and I grew up with him, he was supreme.”
All fair points by Gary, who is still going strong. According to President Donald Trump, Player recently shot 70 from 6,800 yards. And he’ll once again tee it up with a family member at the PNC Championship in December. Maybe Player’s not done adding to his trophy case—and making his case for where he ranks in the game’s history.
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