Let's debate - top 5 ball strikers who have won a major

[Schley]

With all due respect to Moe Norman and others who didn't pull it all together for a major....... Here are my top 5 ball strikers, which is code for best tee to green golfers of all time. My top 5 that have won a major:

 

1. Tiger Woods

2. Jack Nicklaus

3. Johnny Miller

4. Tom Watson

5. Greg Norman

 

I wanted to put Colin Montgomerie in here so bad as he was like a machine in his 15 year prime. Some honorable mentions are Ben Hogan, Phil, Trevino. Palmer/Player perhaps. Really to win a major you have to be solid tee to green and hopefully had a good week putting, which is why there are so many major champions that are great ball strikers, but not necessarily great putters. You can borrow a hot week putting if you are a good ball striker and win a major, so average/slightly above average putters i.e. Norman, Palmer, Watson won major championships.

 

This is easily a hotly debated topic for most major champions were great ball strikers.

[Drudersh]

Els won an Open with the yips.....

[Schley]

Els won an Open with the yips.....

 

This is true and a tribute to his beautiful swing and tremendous ball striking.

[tiderider]

norman above hogan? ... 2 majors to 9? ...

 

[Hawkeye77]

Who doesn’t include Hogan and Trevino?

 

Amateur hour!

[MattyO1984]

I'm confused, you mention Monty but his major wins column is 0, so how could you possibly put him in there?!

[mikedejong]

Hogan has to be #1. How about Vijay? Won majors with atrocious putting and short game...

[Schley]

I'm confused, you mention Monty but his major wins column is 0, so how could you possibly put him in there?!

 

I wanted him to actually have won a major to include him. The guy was a machine.

 

Hogan was a great ball striker by all accounts, however let's not include him because of his majors in an era where most guys didn't even play full time.

[Schley]

Who doesn't include Hogan and Trevino?

 

Amateur hour!

 

ME! :taunt:

 

Hogan I could put up there, but I had to include the best driver of the golf ball of all time!

[Drudersh]

If the only criteria is to have won a single Major then you have to give an honorable mention to Keegan Bradley and Adam Scott. I'm not a Bradley fan, but I have a lot of respect for a guy that has consistently been outside the top 150 in SG putting over the last few years and KEPT his tour card.

[mikedejong]

Who doesn't include Hogan and Trevino?

 

Amateur hour!

 

ME! :taunt:

 

Hogan I could put up there, but I had to include the best driver of the golf ball of all time!

 

Rory... probably fits as well.

[MattyO1984]

I'm confused, you mention Monty but his major wins column is 0, so how could you possibly put him in there?!

 

I wanted him to actually have won a major to include him. The guy was a machine.

 

Hogan was a great ball striker by all accounts, however let's not include him because of his majors in an era where most guys didn't even play full time.

 

Ah OK, I was wondering if you had thought he had won one but couldn't include him because the other guys were better.

[Schley]

I'm confused, you mention Monty but his major wins column is 0, so how could you possibly put him in there?!

 

I wanted him to actually have won a major to include him. The guy was a machine.

 

Hogan was a great ball striker by all accounts, however let's not include him because of his majors in an era where most guys didn't even play full time.

 

Ah OK, I was wondering if you had thought he had won one but couldn't include him because the other guys were better.

 

Johnny Miller said during his 15 year prime, Montgomerie was the equal of any golfer as a ball striker in history. If only he would have hit the 6 iron on the 72 hole at Winged Foot!!!!!! After Phil was fxxxxxg around way left of the fairway he went back and pulled 7i......... and as we know left it short and out of the playoff with Ogilvy. That was Montgomerie's best chance.

[MattyO1984]

I'm confused, you mention Monty but his major wins column is 0, so how could you possibly put him in there?!

 

I wanted him to actually have won a major to include him. The guy was a machine.

 

Hogan was a great ball striker by all accounts, however let's not include him because of his majors in an era where most guys didn't even play full time.

 

Ah OK, I was wondering if you had thought he had won one but couldn't include him because the other guys were better.

 

Johnny Miller said during his 15 year prime, Montgomerie was the equal of any golfer as a ball striker in history. If only he would have hit the 6 iron on the 72 hole at Winged Foot!!!!!! After Phil was fxxxxxg around way left of the fairway he went back and pulled 7i......... and as we know left it short and out of the playoff with Ogilvy. That was Montgomerie's best chance.

 

Agreed that it was definitely his best chance, although it was actually Vijay that was messing about taking his time. Monty was ahead of Phil in the groupings.

[oldpalchamp]

I would definitely have the 2 Nick's on the list, Faldo and Price. I think both of them, in their prime, were definitely better ball strikers than Greg Norman, or Tom Watson.

[Schley]

I'm confused, you mention Monty but his major wins column is 0, so how could you possibly put him in there?!

 

I wanted him to actually have won a major to include him. The guy was a machine.

 

Hogan was a great ball striker by all accounts, however let's not include him because of his majors in an era where most guys didn't even play full time.

 

Ah OK, I was wondering if you had thought he had won one but couldn't include him because the other guys were better.

 

Johnny Miller said during his 15 year prime, Montgomerie was the equal of any golfer as a ball striker in history. If only he would have hit the 6 iron on the 72 hole at Winged Foot!!!!!! After Phil was fxxxxxg around way left of the fairway he went back and pulled 7i......... and as we know left it short and out of the playoff with Ogilvy. That was Montgomerie's best chance.

 

Agreed that it was definitely his best chance, although it was actually Vijay that was messing about taking his time. Monty was ahead of Phil in the groupings.

 

You are correct.

[DLBTide7]

Another vote for the two Nick’s: Faldo and Price.

 

Neither were long off the tee or the greatest of putters; they won because of their brilliant iron play.

 

And I have to mention that both were Leadbetter disciples- just to irritate the anti-Lead faction. :-)

[cardoustie]

Miller makes fun of how bad Watson hit it

[cardoustie]

Weiskopf

Adam Scott

Lee Trevino

Bobby Jones

Byron Nelson

Hogan out? Really?

 

Norman was known for his driving ability not his all around ball striking

[deadsolid...shank]

Miller makes fun of how bad Watson hit it

 

Doesn’t Miller make fun of basically everyone and everything? That’s why I wasn’t sad to see him go. And now it’s why I wish he was back!

[dlygrisse]

Really hard not to consider:

Trevino

Hogan

Sneed

Nelson

Demaret

 

Nicklaus and Watson were great players but Tom didnt really learn how to hit it well till AFTER he quit winning majors. He won majors with putting and short game.

 

Jack is very underrated as a ball striker, but I think he was a step below most of these guys. He won because of mental toughness more than anything.

[Hawkeye77]

First year they had the stat and at age 40, Nicklaus blew away tour with his combination of total driving/GIR. Likely would have led many years before that. Kind of overlooked in debates about shotmaking skills (still take Hogan and Trevino) is reality - who hit it long and straight, hit greens and won. Tiger and Jack.

 

So, Jack, Tiger, Hogan, Trevino. Don’t give me some choking can’t hit it under pressure guy like Norman in the majors. Price burned bright briefly, but I’d give Faldo the edge ala Tiger and Jack. Miller also burned bright and was incredible for a time, but it’s not “ballstriker for a day”. Just another $.01.

[Schley]

Weiskopf

Adam Scott

Lee Trevino

Bobby Jones

Byron Nelson

Hogan out? Really?

 

Norman was known for his driving ability not his all around ball striking

 

Wait you aren't even listing the two guys in your avatar????? Miller and Nicklaus? Isn't that hypocritical? :taunt:

[gvogel]

I'm confused, you mention Monty but his major wins column is 0, so how could you possibly put him in there?!

 

I wanted him to actually have won a major to include him. The guy was a machine.

 

Hogan was a great ball striker by all accounts, however let's not include him because of his majors in an era where most guys didn't even play full time.

 

Most guys didn't play full time? they played just about every week, without skipping like the best do today. Hogan took breaks because his legs demanded time off.

 

Hogan should lead your list.

 

BTW, Tom Watson became a very good ball striker after he stopped winning majors. When he was winning majors, he was a long but erratic driver, but a great putter. I'm a Watson fan, but I wouldn't put him on your list.

 

I would take Tiger off your list as well. He won with recovery, short game and putting.

[gvogel]

Really hard not to consider:

Trevino

Hogan

Sneed

Nelson

Demaret

 

Nicklaus and Watson were great players but Tom didnt really learn how to hit it well till AFTER he quit winning majors. He won majors with putting and short game.

 

Jack is very underrated as a ball striker, but I think he was a step below most of these guys. He won because of mental toughness more than anything.

 

I like your list. Hogan developed his fade after seeing Demaret's success with it.

[gvogel]

Miller makes fun of how bad Watson hit it

 

IN a conversation with Jim Thorpe one time, we agreed that most US Open courses were too tight for Tom Watson's tee game. He said that Pebble was probably the only Open course that Tom could win on.

[Schley]

 

I would take Tiger off your list as well. He won with recovery, short game and putting.

The greatest iron player of all time you mean? He also had great recovery, short game and a tremendously consistent clutch putter yes. However,that is like saying Michael Jordan was a great scorer and discounting his defense, which he was the defensive player of the year one year and first team all defensive team multiple times as well as being the best offensive player of all time.

[Hawkeye77]

I'm confused, you mention Monty but his major wins column is 0, so how could you possibly put him in there?!

 

I wanted him to actually have won a major to include him. The guy was a machine.

 

Hogan was a great ball striker by all accounts, however let's not include him because of his majors in an era where most guys didn't even play full time.

 

Those guys played a ton.

[fowlerscousin]

Tiger

Rory

Hogan

Trevino

Snead

[Schley]

I'm confused, you mention Monty but his major wins column is 0, so how could you possibly put him in there?!

 

I wanted him to actually have won a major to include him. The guy was a machine.

 

Hogan was a great ball striker by all accounts, however let's not include him because of his majors in an era where most guys didn't even play full time.

 

Those guys played a ton.

Many including Nicklaus, IIRC in his first years worked part time in other professions. It wasn't a full time , year round profession for almost any of them. You couldn't make a living for most until Mark Macormack and Arnie started to get into commercializing themselves with promoting products and getting sponsors,etc.

The top guys could devout more time to the game where the journeyman, which were most of the players had to work in other professions to support themselves and their families.