Who Are the Best Golfers Ever? A Complete All-Time Ranking
Ranking the greatest golfers of all time is one of the hardest debates in sports.
Golf spans more than a century, and every era comes with different conditions. Equipment evolved. Competition deepened. The number of tournaments changed. Even the definition of “major championships” shifted over time.
Because of that, any list of the best golfers ever will always include some subjectivity.
For this ranking, the focus is on:
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Major championship success
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Overall playing ability
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Career longevity and consistency
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Tour wins and competitive dominance
What this list does not prioritize is popularity or cultural influence alone. This ranking is based on what happened on the course.
Many players deserve consideration, but these are the 10 golfers with the strongest all-time resumes.
10. Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson has one of the most accomplished careers in golf history.
He won 45 PGA Tour events and six major championships, including the 2021 PGA Championship, where he became the oldest major winner ever at age 50.
Mickelson’s major victories span nearly two decades, from 2004 to 2021, an incredible display of longevity at the highest level.
What truly separates him is consistency:
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29 top-five finishes in majors, far more than many legends
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Played much of his prime during the Tiger Woods era
Had a few majors broken differently, Mickelson could easily have double-digit major wins. Even as it stands, his résumé earns him a place among the top 10 golfers of all time.
9. Tom Watson
Tom Watson is widely regarded as the greatest links golfer ever.
He won five Open Championships between 1975 and 1983, often battling directly against Jack Nicklaus. Their duel at the 1977 Open Championship at Turnberry remains one of the greatest head-to-head finishes in golf history.
Career highlights include:
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Eight major championships
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39 PGA Tour wins
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Six PGA Tour Player of the Year awards
Watson nearly won the 2009 Open Championship at age 59, finishing runner-up in a moment that would have rewritten golf history.
His peak may have been concentrated, but at his best, Watson was unbeatable.
8. Walter Hagen
Walter Hagen’s career sits at the intersection of golf history and modern professional golf.
He won 11 major championships, including:
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Five PGA Championships
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Multiple Western Opens, one of the most prestigious events of his era
Hagen played before the Masters existed, which complicates direct comparison. Still, his dominance in the 1920s and his role in elevating professional golf cannot be ignored.
Beyond trophies, Hagen helped legitimize professional golfers at a time when amateurs were favored. His influence on the sport’s structure is undeniable, and his accomplishments firmly place him among golf’s elite.
7. Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer changed golf forever.
While this list focuses on performance rather than popularity, Palmer’s playing résumé alone is enough to secure his spot.
Career achievements:
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62 PGA Tour wins
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Seven major championships
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Four Masters titles
Palmer’s prime came between 1958 and 1964, where he dominated the sport with aggression, charisma, and relentless competitiveness.
Though he never won the PGA Championship, his consistency at majors and impact on tournament golf make him a clear top-10 all-time great.
6. Gary Player
Gary Player was golf’s first true global superstar.
He won over 150 professional tournaments worldwide and captured nine major championships, becoming one of only five players to complete the career Grand Slam.
Notable achievements:
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Three Masters wins
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Three Open Championship wins
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Iconic comeback victory at the 1978 Masters
Player’s longevity, fitness focus, and international success set new standards. As the only non-American to complete the career Grand Slam, his place above Palmer is well earned.
5. Sam Snead
Sam Snead’s longevity is unmatched.
He recorded 82 PGA Tour wins, tied for the most in history, and won professional tournaments across six different decades.
Career highlights:
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Seven major championships
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Eight-time winner of the Greater Greensboro Open
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Oldest player to ever win a PGA Tour event
The biggest knock against Snead is the absence of a U.S. Open victory. Even so, his sustained excellence and sheer volume of wins make him one of golf’s all-time greats.
4. Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones achieved greatness faster than anyone in golf history.
As an amateur, he won 13 major championships in just 31 major starts, including the legendary 1930 Grand Slam.
That year, Jones won:
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U.S. Open
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Open Championship
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U.S. Amateur
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British Amateur
He retired at age 28 and later co-founded the Masters Tournament.
Jones consistently defeated the best professionals of his era while remaining an amateur. His legacy is as remarkable as it is unique.
3. Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan may be the greatest ball striker the game has ever seen.
He won nine major championships and remains the only golfer to win the Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship in the same year (1953).
Additional achievements:
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64 PGA Tour wins
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Record 18 consecutive top-10 finishes in majors
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Six major wins after a near-fatal car accident
Hogan’s technical mastery, discipline, and work ethic changed how golf swings were studied and taught.
2. Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus owns the greatest major championship record in golf history.
Career totals:
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18 major championships
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73 PGA Tour wins
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19 runner-up finishes in majors
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Six Masters victories
His first major came in 1962. His last came in 1986, a span of 24 years.
Nicklaus defined consistency, mental strength, and championship performance. His major record may never be broken.
1. Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is the most dominant golfer the sport has ever seen.
While he trails Nicklaus in major wins, Tiger’s peak performance is unmatched.
Career highlights:
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15 major championships
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82 PGA Tour wins
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Lowest career scoring average in Tour history
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Only player in the modern era to win four consecutive majors
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10 PGA Tour Player of the Year awards
Tiger didn’t just win. He separated from the field in ways no one else ever has. His physical preparation, mental edge, and competitive fire transformed professional golf.
Nicklaus may have the better career. Tiger played the best golf ever.