Who's the best matchplay golfer ?

[ballylyliner]

I think it has to be Ian Poulter.His body language and his will to win is unbelievable.You just have to look at him and that stare would put you one down on first tee.When he told Monty that a point was in the bag before he hit a ball in the ryder cup and then just go out and hammer poor Matt Kucher.He would be my choice

 

[Imurg]

At the moment you'd have to say Luke Donald is the best Matchplayer.
He had a great Ryder Cup and then won the Wgc Matchplay. His short game runs rings around most others and his driving, although not the longest, isn't too shoddy either.
If he gets it around the green he's going to get up'n'down so you'd better be a birdie machine if you want to beat him.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

What "The Chubby One" said...

Fragger

 

[HomerJSimpson]

At the moment you'd have to say Donald although I agree that in his own world at least Poulter never thinks he'll lose. Seve particularly at the world matchplay was pretty good at times

 

[Imurg]

Big Ernie's got a good Matchplay pedigree as well. He won the World Matchplay at Wentworth plenty of times.....

Not so good now but on his day he was a match for anyone

 

[freddielong]

Seriously it's not in question Luke donald is the best at the moment look at the Ryder cup and the wgc He is unbeatable

 

[HickoryShaft]

Another vote for Luke here also.

I think the fact that he is always down the middle, gets every chip close and makes the putts so consistently it will wobble any opponent.

How many times has he been off the green on the long par 5's in 2 and his opponent is on there then he makes a birdie anyway to halve the hole, must really wind them up - lol

 

[G_Mulligan]

Luke Donald is in great form and has had great outings last two match plays but I don't think he is the best all round match player. Casey, Woods, or Ogilvy have not only won when on form but ground out results when not playing so well.

All time best is Seve not a doubt in my mind.

 

[golfbluecustard]

Ian Poulter / Ian Poulter / Ian Poulter.... oh after Seve of course

GBC

 

[Deleted member 1418]

Seve just shading Els as the best ever for me. Seve's Ryder Cup exploits were incredible - just a shame he was knackered when he got to the singles otherwise his record would be exceptional.

I would say Donald and Poulter at the moment.

 

[Tiger]

Big Ernie's got a good Matchplay pedigree as well. He won the World Matchplay at Wentworth plenty of times.....

Not so good now but on his day he was a match for anyone

This whole debate is biased. Luke's hot at the moment and agree he's probably the person you'd least like to face right now but...

Ernie's won the World Matchplay SIX times!! Ok so maybe he likes it at Wentworth but still. He also has never had the chance to feature in the Ryder Cup as he's a Saffer. I bet if he'd been in it during his prime he'd have won loads of points.

Big Easy for me.

 

[Whereditgo]

Best ever - Els

Best right now - LUUUUUUUKE!!!!

 

[Snelly]

Seve.

 

[HogansAlley]

The best matchplayers keep their ball in play all the time and never lose a hole to a par (Donald and Ogivy are great current examples). I've heard it said many times that matchplay golf suits more inconsistant players, and I've always thought that was balls. It doesn't suit them at all, it merely masks their inconsistancy better than medal play (but they're useful in fourball games). In their pomp Els, Langer and Faldo were great at matchplay because thie ball was always in play (same goes for Monty). Seve is a great matchplayer but in freakish way: his aura and abilty to get out of trouble made him great. Seve is not a conventionally great matchplayer but then he wasn't conventional in any way.