If you are a die-hard fan of Basketball, you may already have read the Top 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time in NBA History. As well, Golf is a beloved sport in the United States, with millions of passionate players and fans across the country. Throughout the years, many talented golfers have emerged, each with their unique style and technique. In this article, the World’s #1 Source of Research-Based Content, The Daily Top 10 will be taking a look at the Top 10 Best and Greatest Golfers in the USA of All Time.
From legendary icons to contemporary stars, this list contains some of the most renowned and celebrated golfers in the nation. With their incredible skill and accomplishments, these golfers have left an indelible mark on the sport and will continue to inspire generations of players for years to come.
So, join The Daily Top 10 as we explore the stories of these remarkable Best and Greatest Golfers in the USA of All Time.
Who is the Best and Greatest Golfer in the USA of All Time?
All of the greatest golfers of all time have had successful careers and have been able to reach their greatest successes, including winning major prizes and drawing large crowds in their tournaments. Although these players have made it seem easy to win such prestigious awards, not every golfer can be successful in winning a major. Before looking into the Best and Greatest Golfers in the USA of All Time, check out our list of the Top 10 Biggest Sports Events You Must Witness in January 2023.
Let’s see the rest of our list now before recognizing who is the Best and Greatest Golfer in the USA of All Time.
TOP 10: Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson was an American professional golfer between 1935 and 1946, widely considered one of the Greatest Golfers of All Time. He is most famous for winning a record of 11 consecutive starts in 1945 and most importantly, these 11 records were part of 18 total titles in what is one of the most impressive seasons in PGA history.
According to Pantheon, over his 12-year career, Nelson won a total of five major championships. He won the Masters and the PGA twice each and the US Open once and continued to play in the Masters until the mid-1960s and came home 15th in 1965. Although he quit playing full-time in 1946, Nelson won the 1951 Pebble Beach Pro-Am for his final professional title. For a decade and a half, if Nelson was playing in a major, it was a foregone conclusion that he would be in contention on the final day.
TOP 9: Tom Waston
Tom Watson is the 9th Best and Greatest Golfer in the USA of All Time. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was one of the leading golf players in the world, winning eight major championships and heading the PGA Tour list five times. According to McCormack’s World Golf Rankings, he was the number one player in the world from 1978 until 1982. Most importantly, he also spent 32 weeks in the top 10 of the successor Sony Rankings in their debut in 1986.
This great golfer nearly owned the Claret Jug over a nine-year period in which he won the Open Championship five times.
Watson also won three major championships on the American side of the Atlantic and the Master’s tournament in 1977 and 1981 and the US Open in 1982. Additionally, he has shot 67 or better in a round at a major championship in five different decades.
TOP 8: Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead was a professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for the better part of four decades and holds the 8th place in our list of the Top 10 Best and Greatest Golfers in the USA of All Time. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
According to Golf Monthly, Sam Snead currently holds the record for official PGA Tour titles with 82. Included in these 82 wins were seven major championships and he won three Masters and PGA Championships plus the 1946 British Open. According to Pantheon, in 1965, with a victory at the Greater Greensboro Open, he became the oldest player to win a tournament at 52 years of age.
TOP 7: Lee Trevino
Lee Trevino is the 7th Best and Greatest Golfer in the USA of All Time. He is now a retired professional golfer who is regarded as one of the greatest players in golf history. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. Trevino won six major championships and 29 PGA Tour events throughout his career.
According to PGA Tour, he is one of only four players to twice win the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. The Master’s Tournament was the only major that eluded him. He is an icon for Mexican Americans and is often referred to as “The Merry Mex” and “Supermex,” both affectionate nicknames given to him by other golfers.
TOP 6: Babe Didrikson
Babe Didrikson was an American athlete who excelled in golf, basketball, baseball, and track and field. She won two gold medals in track and field at the 1932 Summer Olympics, before turning to professional golf and winning 10 LPGA major championships. You can check out our list of the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Beijing Olympics Winners in 2022, for Beijing Olympic Winners.
According to Wikipedia, by 1950, she had won every golf title available. Totaling both her amateur and professional victories, Zaharias won a total of 82 golf tournaments. She is an incredible multi-sport athlete who won two gold medals and a silver at the 1932 Olympics in track and field, Babe Didrikson Zaharias’ golf career was brief but incredible. She died at age 45 in 1956 and had only turned pro in golf in 194. Despite that late start, Zaharias helped found the LPGA and has 10 majors and 41 tour wins to her name.
TOP 5: Walter Hagen
Holding the 5th spot in our list of the Top 10 Best and Greatest Golfers in the USA of All Time, Walter Charles Hagen was an American professional golfer and a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century. Known as the “Father of Professional Golf,” he brought publicity, prestige, big prize money, and lucrative endorsements to the sport.
According to Let’s Golf Better, Hagen won the U.S. Open twice, and in 1922 he became the first native-born American to win The Open Championship and won the Claret Jug three more times. Being one of the greatest golfers ever, he also won the PGA Championship a record-tying five times and the Western Open five times when it had near-major championship status.
TOP 4: Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan was a professional golfer who is generally considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game. According to Bleacher Report, he is notable for his profound influence on golf swing theory and his ball-striking ability.
Hogan’s nine career professional major championships tie him with Gary Player for fourth all-time. He is one of only five players to have won all four majors: the Master’s Tournament, The Open Championship, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship.
TOP 3: Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is the 3rd Best and Greatest Golfer in the USA of All Time. He is tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men’s major championships, and holds numerous golf records. Woods is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and is one of the most famous athletes in modern history.
According to Golf, taking out the $10 million FedEx Cup title in 2009, Woods became the first ever billion-dollar athlete. In all, Woods has had 15 major championship victories in his professional career. Woods has also accumulated 81 career PGA Tour wins, which is also the third most in the history of golf. Sam Snead holds the record with 82 PGA Tour wins.
TOP 2: Arnold Palmer
Often known as “The King” amongst his notable fans, Arnold Palmer plays one of the major roles in popularizing golf as a sport. Joined the PGA tour in 1955 and has 62 PGA tour victories, he has won seven major championships and has also been awarded the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. There is no golfer who did more to popularize golf than any other during the mid-twentieth century was Arnold Palmer.
According to Century Golf, galleries that reached into the thousands followed Palmer around golf courses in the 1950s and 1960s, and these crowds earned the title of “Arnie’s Army.” In addition to his major success, Palmer is widely credited with making the British Open an important event for American golfers. In 1960, he was the first American to win the Open since Ben Hogan in 1953.
TOP 1: Jack Nicklaus
The Top one Golfer of all time is still Jack Nicklaus, and he will continue to hold this position until his record of 18 major titles is exceeded. Overall, Nicklaus won 73 official PGA titles between 1962 and 1986.
According to Pantheon, among his major titles, Nicklaus won a record six Masters Tournaments, five PGAs, four US Opens, and three British Opens. His final major was the 1986 Masters, and this is considered one of the most memorable tournaments in major history, as Nicklaus shot six shots under par on the back nine of the final round.
He is the oldest player to win the tournament. After his success on the PGA Tour, Nicklaus continued his winning ways on the Senior PGA Tour until 1996, with eight more major titles. Additionally, he finished sixth in the 1998 Masters at the age of 58. His last professional tournament was the 2005 Open Championship. So, Jack Nicklaus is the Best and Greatest Golfer in the USA of All Time.
Who are the Best and Greatest Golfers in the USA of All Time?
According to Deemples, the history of Golf dates back to the 15th century in Scotland. Throughout the centuries, some athletes have mastered the sport and deem to be legends because of their individual stories and the achievements they received throughout their whole careers. Having said that, you always think “Who are the greatest golfers of all time?” Therefore, here at The Daily Top 10, we have shared with you the Top 10 Best and Greatest Golfers in the USA of All Time. Based on the number of victories alone, Jack Nicklaus is hands down the best golfer of all time.
Here is the list of the Top 10 Best and Greatest Golfers in the USA of All Time:
- Jack Nicklaus
- Arnold Palmer
- Tiger Woods
- Ben Hogan
- Walter Hagen
- Babe Didrikson
- Lee Trevino
- Sam Snead
- Tom Waston
- Byron Nelson
We are sure that there are at least a few of these legends that have inspired you to play golf. For additional inspiration, you can check out our list of the Top 10 Best and Most Inspiring People in Indonesia and the Top 10 Most Inspiring German Women Who Influenced the World. Hopefully, you may update your knowledge about Golf History Today and The Daily Top 10 Team invites you to join us by subscribing to our Newsletter.
Author: Jera A.
Jera A. is an empowered woman, a dedicated student leader, and an academic commissioner. She recently focused on exploring more of her skills while also learning new things to help herself blossom. She believes that anyone, from anywhere, can make a difference.
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