Who Is Your All-time Favorite Golfer? - Page 2

Tiger

Byron Nelson.  His achievements in 1945 - 11 consecutive wins, 18 wins total,  still stands as by far the greatest 12 months in the history of the sport, notwithstanding that WWII had watered down the tour so he wasn't facing Hogan , Mangrum, etc... for the full year (Ben and Snead played at least partial seasons that year).  Potentially his 11 consecutive wins may very well become one of the two or three longest-standing records in any sport, other than Cy Young's records, which will never be broken because no pitcher will be throwing 3+ times a week like he did, so no one will ever again pitch in as many games as he did (a friend of mine who is a sports trivia expert advises that his record for losses, not wins, will be the longest-standing sports record of all time, as not only will no one pitch that many games but they'll never be kept on the team with that many losses).  The only athlete I can think of who was that dominant was Russian wrestler Alexander Karelin.

 

And, unlike contemporaries such as Bobby Jones (a bigot) and Hogan (an arrogant and aloof ass), Nelson was known as being a gentleman to everyone - I've never heard a single negative thing ever said about him.  If he hadn't decided to retire at age 34 and hadn't been denied years worth of cancelled majors during WWII, it is very likely that we'd be calling him the greatest golfer of all time, not having a debate about whether Tiger will ever overtake Nicklaus.

Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, Phil Mickelson and John Daly

There are many I enjoy watching, but the most recent is Snedeker.

Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington for me

+1

Steve Stricker.  As a kid who grew up in the same little town in Wisconsin that Stricker is from, he was always a local hero.  Even if he and I werent from the same area, I think Id still be a Stricker fan simply because he is such a great model for being the kind of person that we should all strive to be: treating others with such respect and grace and never giving up no matter what life throws at you.

Phil is my favorite...Jack is the greatest all-time...I also like Els and Harrington

Adam Scott, I love his attitude towards the game and how humble he is, this is quite evident during his press conference after the meltdown at Lytham.  I hope he goes on to win majors (I believe he'll win multiple).  Also his swing is simply beautiful to look at.  

Probably someone none of you will have ever heard off.. Bradley Dredge.

 

You're right.  Rather than Google him and pretend that I've heard of him I'll just ask, who is he and why is he your favorite of all time?

He lives very very close to me, a fellow welshman! One year, think it might have been the 07 masters..(the year Z.Johnson won) On the Saturday we were all in a local pub, we looked up to the screen to see Bradley Dredge tied for either second or third! We were all so excited for him, a local boy taking on the world! haha. This year he has lost his european tour card which is sad to see, he was never cut out to make millions, nor was he the best golfer, but he always knew he was from humble beginnings, and was a true nice man.

Payne Stewart. Class act, gentleman and jokester all in one, loved by all and hated by none. Oh yea, and the swing. The poster child for tempo. He was and still is my swing model.

 

We still miss you Payne.

Jack

Don't mean to be contentious, but I'm pretty sure that's not true.

I've been following golf since about the mid-1980s, and I agree w/ your selection.

 

As far as the player whose golf swing I tried to copy over the years, I think that would be Sir Nick.

All time... Bernhard Langer. My first memory of golf was going to my Grandfather's golf club, Boca Pointe, for a lesson on the driving range. Walking down from the clubhouse my grandfather, Pa, saw a familiar face on the putting green so we swung by to say hello. They chatted for a few minutes about the course and the weather... and the rest of my trip Pa was giddy like a school girl for running into Bernhard that day with me.

It's a shame Pa didn't live to see my love of the game rival his... but I do snatch up a few Langer memorabilia items to keep in my golf studio to remind me of that day.

As far as players these days... there are so many good guys out on tour to route for.

good choice -  I was able to get inside the ropes with Langer and his caddy at the Heidelberg St Leon-Rot course (Deutche-Bank, I believe - I think it was in 2000)  - followed him the whole practice round with one or two other people. Once in a lifetime deal for me.  Then last year he came to Tampa and I sat and watch he and his caddy Terry practice for quite awhile. He's one of the great ones - very meticulous in his practice.