Your Favourite Tour Player of All Time and Why?

[Superbrit]

Lee Trevino, even though i am too young to have seen him in his heyday, absolute legend

[Aviador Naval]

Jack - too young to have seen his early dominance but old enough to have enjoyed the latter half.  Besides being no lower than T-1 as greatest golfer ever, he's an avid outdoorsman, as successful as a husband and parent as he was a golfer, and in an era trending rapidly toward 'check-me-out' idiocy, his quiet class in victory and defeat is sorely missed.

 

Tied for second is the duo of Seve and Faldo.  Back before 24/7 golf and the permissive environment for Europeans (and others...) to play on the PGA tour, it was always a treat to see them play - especially given they were a bit of yin and yang as the steady bomb diffuser/assassin and the artist with the occasional "hold my beer."

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Probably Phil Mickelson because of his longevity and presence on the tour as a competitive player. 25 consecutive years in the top 50, played for nearly a decade as "the best golfer in the world without a major" until he finally removed that monkey off his back in 2004.  To now being the oldest player to ever win a major.  He's struggled with his own health issues and along the way the intense emotional stress of his wife's cancer.  He's always worked to be a fan favorite and is a great ambassador to the game.  I know a regular guy that worked with him on a business project and said Phil was an absolute kind and likeable person the entire time.  Phil has also had to endure, and has thus far survived, the harsh criticism of our good friend @Ferguson  ---- so yes my favorite all time PGA golfer has to be Phil.  

[ChillyDipper]

Not sure he is my favourite, but as a youngster in the 90's I always had an affinity for Gene Sarazen.  I loved the plus-fours, and his soft spoken demeanour.  The fact that he became the first player to win the Grand Slam and also invented the Sand Wedge is icing on the top.  I suppose I didn't see too much of him playing in competition (on TV, of course), but I do remember him mostly from hosting Shell's and from holing out at the Postage Stamp at 68 years of age.

[Ferguson]

5 minutes ago, BlackDiamondPar5 said:

Probably Phil Mickelson because of his longevity and presence on the tour as a competitive player. 25 consecutive years in the top 50, played for nearly a decade as "the best golfer in the world without a major" until he finally removed that monkey off his back in 2004.  To now being the oldest player to ever win a major.  He's struggled with his own health issues and along the way the intense emotional stress of his wife's cancer.  He's always worked to be a fan favorite and is a great ambassador to the game.  I know a regular guy that worked with him on a business project and said Phil was an absolute kind and likeable person the entire time.  Phil has also had to endure, and has thus far survived, the harsh criticism of our good friend @Ferguson  ---- so yes my favorite all time PGA golfer has to be Phil.  

 

 

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

 

 

 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

15 minutes ago, Ferguson said:

 

 

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

 

 

 

 

Isn't that the beginning to A Tale of Two Phils? 

[Aviador Naval]

13 minutes ago, Ferguson said:

 

 

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

 

 

 

 

I think Dickens may have had marital issues...

[miamistomp]

 It is a far, far better thing I do here to admit I just cant' stand Phil's personality although I do respect his game

 Might be the squeaky voice although acceptable in Jack

Edited June 17, 2021 by miamistomp

[bladehunter]

11 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

 

My first 3 albums as a kid

 

 

Two outa three ain’t bad ....

[Ferguson]

 

Ray Floyd.

63 professional wins.

Fierce competitor.

 

 

Watching his win at the 1976 US Masters was the catalyst for my interest in golf as a kid.  I was okay at baseball and basketball but the world changed after starting golf.  I spent the following three summer seasons learning to play at a local muni.  My folks got me an unlimited play junior membership for the summer ($20).  I would bike to the course with my “Sam Snead” Wilson Blue Ridge clubs to practice and play for hours.  I would chip with an assortment of irons around the green and focused my game on making lots of pars.  My first lesson was with this guy named Don Baker.  He was 6’-4” and his most valuable advice was being patient.  He’d say, “patience and consistency go hand-in-hand, hit when your mind is ready.”       

 

Ray spoke about about golf being a game and games should be fun.  I’ve maintained that “golfing spirit” my whole life, and even passed it on to my kids. 

 

Check out his “cuttin’ strokes videos on YT.   I still watch them when I need a refresher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bladehunter]

I’m going to choose Mr Palmer in a close race .  I do this even though I was named after Jack.  And that fact that I very much pattern after his game . 
 

you just can’t get much better than the King.  

[gvogel]

Tom Watson.  I wanted to swing like Tom Watson.

[AP1Fan]

Arnie, just because he was Arnie!

[Ferguson]

5 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

I’m going to choose Mr Palmer in a close race .  I do this even though I was named after Jack.  And that fact that I very much pattern after his game . 
 

you just can’t get much better than the King.  

 

Your name name is not Blade?  

What a ripoff. 

 

[bladehunter]

Just now, Ferguson said:

 

Your name name is not Blade?  

What a ripoff. 

 

Lol. First name jack -Middle name Blade.  

[MtlJeff]

I always liked Sergio Garcia, because we are the same age basically and he reminded me of myself in a lot of ways. He had a temper and some maturity issues, but he was always apologizing for them and it seemed genuine. I was really happy when he finally won a major

 

[freeze16172002]

12 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

 

Is that Foreigner back there checkin out JM?

 

🤣

Was thinking more of the bay city rollers

 

 

[cardoustie]

Johnny Miller was a great follow around Glen Abbey when I was a youngster and just becoming a massive golf addict.

 

I can still remember an opening birdie on a par 4 that was a converted par 5.  He laced a 2i to 10 feet and rolled the putt in (arm lock style).  He then layed on the mound greenside and made some light banter with us .. and watched his 2 playing buddies make easy 5’s.

 

He was really kind to me in multiple events, pictures, autographs, banter etc and his swing was pure poetry in motion.   When you are 13-17 these things matter.  I wanted to be like Johnny, and this was 80’s Johnny, not the laser beam Miller of the mid 70’s

 

It killed me when John Cook won that long playoff

 

In later years I also got to meet Johnny at a trade show in San Diego and listen to him speak to a crowd of 30 and give lessons.  Previous to this chat we had played 3 holes at Pebble on a sim and he had given me some tips for my action. This was 20+ years ago and I remember it like yesterday.  Extra tips given for my longer driver as he played a 47” driver back then.

 

After his speech we talked about the recent US Open.   You could not meet a nicer guy.  Funny, self deprecating, gregarious and a fun guy to spend time with

 

If I had to name silver and bronze medalists … Mickelson and Nicklaus

 

 

[tiderider]

43 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

Lol. First name jack -Middle name Blade.  

Jack Blade would be an awesome name. 

[driveandputtmachine]

Fred Couples, hands down.  I have always loved his swing.  I didn't play with a glove from early on and then throughout college due to Couples.  I wanted to swing like Fred, however my swing was more of an Azinger move.   I did however like Azinger too. not as much talent as some of the guys out there and a god awful swing, but he had grit and determination.  I still remember the 1993 Ryder Cup when Faldo made the hole in one Zinger birdied the next and Azinger gritted it out with Cancer(that he did not know about at the time) and halved the match.  

[Hattie Pants]

Adam Scott. Pure class, pure swing, seems driven still to compete but both thankful for what he has and spends a ton of time with the family. 

[texcellence86]

Without a doubt Lee Trevino. Texas man with a homemade swing that clearly worked for a long time.

 

[MtlJeff]

1 hour ago, Hattie Pants said:

Adam Scott. Pure class, pure swing, seems driven still to compete but both thankful for what he has and spends a ton of time with the family. 

 

Adam Scott was another guy who was always really easy to cheer for. He was just less "present" in a lot of ways because he said very little and wasn't in contention as much some years. But i'm not sure i've heard anything bad ever really said about the guy

[jonsnow]

3 hours ago, Aviador Naval said:

 

I think Dickens may have had marital issues...

If you're married, you have marital issues. The #1 cause of divorce is marriage...

[wildcatden]

Seve.

 

[Ferguson]

34 minutes ago, jonsnow said:

If you're married, you have marital issues. The #1 cause of divorce is marriage...

 

It's always the same story when a couple splits either from church, extended family or the neighborhood.  The whirlwind of speculation ensues. 

 

"I didn't know they were having problems."

"They always appeared to have a good marriage." 

"I wonder if it was "her" that went outside the marriage?" **

"He was always traveling." 

"She was drinking, I think?"

"He had problems."

 

 

 

**my go-to question in these cases

 

[AZ_JHWK]

Ben Crenshaw. He won twice right after turning pro. I was maybe 14 years old, he was my guy from that point on. His career after his playing days has been pretty good too. 😉

[aenemated]

Huge fan of many but the very top is definitely Freddie Couples. His peak in the late 80s and early 90s is when I REALLY got into golf and he was just ... cool. 

 

All I wanted in the world back then was a set of Lynx irons and an all Ashworth wardrobe. A high school buddy lived in a private club that carried Ashworth in the pro shop (it wasn't the easiest stuff to find in rural NC) and when I'd get paid for my summer job, I'd call him up all "DUDE, call the gate and tell them to let me in so I can go to the pro shop."

 

 

My caddie at Pebble a couple years ago carried for him a lot and he told me a funny story about how when he's there, all he's talking about or thinking about is Seattle sports and hot babes haha. 

 

To this day, he's still the coolest guy on earth AFAIC. 

 

[NevinW]

1. Jack Nicklaus

2. Ben Hogan

3. Johnny Miller

4. Tiger Woods

5. Arnold Palmer

[jonsnow]

David Duval. I loved his game, he had such a seemingly effortless swing but was extremely powerful. He had all the shots in his prime. He had the Terminator persona behind the wraparound shades, didn't say much or show much (if any) emotion. When he spoke, it was not the cookie cutter replies we are used to hearing; he always seemed to be both thoughtful & blunt in his responses. I just wish his prime had lasted longer.