The best ever past / present ??

[Dodger]

Best and most enjoyable to WATCH??got to be Seve,no not the best ever golfer but the most exiting to watch by a country mile,just superb.

Best ability wise? Tiger by a short hair from Jack.(going by what he is up to at the moment,this may and will I think turn to a long hair tho.)

 

[golfcitydweller]

nobody seems to be mentioning `tom watson ` still swings it the same as he did 25 years ago ..was it the dual in the sun when he beat jack at turnberry ..maybe some of the older guys would remember..cheers

 

[rgs]

For the distant past is got to be Hogan-I am thankful that i have been around to enjoy the greats from the early 70's----Nicklaus, Watson, Seve, Faldo, Langer etc.

I do have a soft spot for Greg Norman-as a teenager in the late 70's early 80's i used to enjoy seeing Norman at the Irish Open, in his early days on tour, at Royal Dublin and Portmarnock, A tall blond haired Aussie who hit the ball high far and hard. We all wanted to hit the ball like Norman.

Payne Stewart also comes to mind for his sheer sportmanship especially in Brookline during the Ryder Cup and for the fact he could wear plus twos and get away with it.

 

[viscount17]

I have no memory of Hogan so for me it has to be those I did see if only on TV.
My earliest golfing memory (we didn't have a TV until 1958 when Hard Ridden won the Derby) is of watching Player, Palmer, Nicklaus and Trevino. A class act!

 

[USER1999]

I am a bit surprised, and a bit upset really, that no one has mentioned me.

 

[Parmo]

1) Seve
2) Jack Nicklaus
3) Arnold Palmer
4) Tiger Woods
5) Nick Faldo

What Jon said but I did like Ian Woosnam at a time, I think its because of part of my family are welsh for my sins.

 

[GB72]

My vote goes to Seve. He sums up to me all that is great about watching sport. That uncertainty about what he would try next was excillerating

 

[The23rdman]

Faldo for me. If he had'nt won that open at Muirfield I may never have gotten into golf. That year my dad bought my 1st set of clubs and I fell in love with the game.

Faldo's grit and determination, his rhythm and timing and his incredible short game without being fussy hooked me. Watching him hit a long iron was a joy too.

I totally appreciate Hogan for different reasons, but he was so far before my time I've only recently come to appreciate him.

 

[stevelockie]

I would have said Seve over Tiger, but having read Seve's autobiography and being a bit disappointed over several "incidents" I'm going to go with Tiger

 

[thecraw]

I have always been a Tam Watson fan. I just love the way he conducts himself on the golf course and the charm and charisma that oozes out of him. His love affair of The Open is also a factor in my great respect for the man.

Watson was a genious and I wonder what he could have achieved with a better putting stroke. I guess you can say that about the majority of the pros but Watson was a hero in my eyes.

Payne Stewart was another I respected and loved his attitude and gracious way he conducted himself. Sad loss to the golfing world.

Tiger is a well oiled machine and quite simply an awesome player. I am not old enough to know what Nicklaus was like in his prime but he would have to have been unbelievable to be better than Woods.

I have players I love to watch as well. I like watching Olazabal and Fasth whereas I cant stand watching Garcia with his spitting and tantrums coupled with that episode at Wentworth I believe where he removed his shoe and threw it down the fairway. Pathetic example to set to anybody.

 

[The_Squire]

I think its because of part of my family are welsh for my sins.

You won't have any sins if you have welsh blood.

 

[toonarmy]

Watson was a genious and I wonder what he could have achieved with a better putting stroke.

I think Tom's short game is pretty much renowned as being first class. The simple fact that he appreciated how to play a variety of golf shots over all kinds of courses separated him from most Yanks and the fact that he still plays a great game is testament to a true golfing legend.

I am not old enough to know what Nicklaus was like in his prime but he would have to have been unbelievable to be better than Woods.

As we all know, you can never compare across eras with any degree of accuracy. Would Woods be as good in 1972 without the benefits of sports scientists mapping every inch, without 40 years of golfing coverage, inspiration and mopney-bloated Tour pros content with paychecks not prizes and most importantly, with a bunch of equipment that by today's standards would be considered non-rangeworthy?

Conversely, what would Nicklaus achieve in the modern game if he started in 1995 and not 1955 with all the benefits of improvement that Woods enjoys? Or Hogan? Or even Old Tom?

Even though I don't think he's a great person, Seve was so inspiring and must be responsible for making the game seem exciting and therefore people taking it up. Faldo also must be responsible for so many people in this country playing. Personality of a breeze-block at the time, but what a golfer.

 

[forefortheday]

My favourite Golfer is Tom Watson. I have only ever seen him play on old shows and couldn't tell you much about his greatest performances.
But after reading Caddy For Life I can tell you he is a fantastic human being and for me that is far more important than how many trophies you have in your cabinet.
I don't belive you can compare Nicklaus and Woods different eras, different equipment, different courses. woods is an amazing golfer but let's be honest do we really care about him the way we do Seve etc?

 

[John_Findlay]

Watson would be top of my list, too. What a player.

When I took up the game the only two guys I wanted to watch were him and Seve.

In my opinion, he's the greatest gentleman in the game, without exception. Never a grumble, never a bad word about anyone, never a curse over a poor shot. Impeccable. Even Nicklaus couldn't compete. Tiger's not even in the same league. If only more golfers were like him.

 

[madandra]

For pure sentiment it would be Payne Stewart ..... Another guy deeply passionate about the game and more importantly the etiquette. What he did at the Ryder Cup in Brookline was the mark of a gentleman.

 

[Dodger]

JF just checked out your video diary of Goswick/Bamburgh trip and my mates cars are there in the background in carpark at Goswick! Like the photo of the fella pointing to the James Braid plaque in the clubhouse,did you guys enjoy the trip?Please don't tell me you enjoyed the goat track more than Goswick?!! Nice views would be had on what looked like a cracking day.

 

[John_Findlay]

Will pm you, dodger.

 

[Marko77]

Looking back at when it all began and all what he went through just to play professional golf, Harry Vardon.

My three to name would be Vardon / Nicklaus / Woods

 

[shanker]

I would have said Seve over Tiger, but having read Seve's autobiography and being a bit disappointed over several "incidents" I'm going to go with Tiger

Yes. I've read a biography of Seve and know which ''incidents'' you're talking about. Still one of best players ever.