The ‘Golden Bear’ holds a record 18 majors, part of his monstrous 117 professional tournament victories. Consistency and professionalism were part of his excellent course management skills, planning each shot to its best possible position. A complete player, Nicklaus might not have been exceptional at any one skill, but few could combine them all like him. Nicklaus is still the oldest Masters winner in history, at age 46 after a memorable 1986 tournament. 

Tiger Woods revolutionised the game of golf. Thanks to his athleticism and mental toughness, he powered his way to a record 15 majors and 82 PGA Tour wins. Woods’ impact on the sport is almost immeasurable, ever since that first Masters win in 1997, the trajectory of Woods’ career has been up. With hiccups in later years outside of the game, Woods’ comeback victory at the Masters in 2019 was one of the great fairy tales in all of sport. 

“The King”, Arnold Palmer was one of golf’s preeminent figures, during and then long after his career had come to a close. A leader in the sport as it became a televised event, Palmer helped transition golf from its elitist beginnings into a more popular pastime thanks to Palmer’s modest background. While he may have less majors than others, Palmer’s legacy cannot ever be understated. 

The lefty. Phil Mickelson has spent over 25 years in a row in the top 50 of the World Golf Rankings. He’s won six majors, including The Masters three times—2004 arguably the most memorable—and his win of the PGA Championship in 2021 at age 50 made him the oldest major winner in history. His 2023 Masters charge equalled his lowest ever score, first achieved 27 years previous.

Nick Faldo is one of England’s most successful golfers, renowned for his remarkable career spanning several decades. As part of his six majors, Faldo has a career Grand Slam to his name, including three Masters victories—two coming in a row—and almost total dominance of the wider European Tour in his prime.

With four majors to his name, McIlroy is one of three players to achieve that feat before the age of 25. He’s spent over 100 weeks at the top of the World Golf Rankings, and been a vocal critic of some of the bigger changes happening in the sport today. He came agonisingly close to a Masters win in 2022, which would complete his career Grand Slam

With nine majors to his name during the 1940s, and ’50s (in 1953 alone, he won five of the six tournaments he entered, which included three majors) but, it was Hogan’s impact on the sport that sees him remembered. Hogan pioneered the modern golf swing with his “Five Lessons” still considered to be fundamental to learning. A diligent student of golf, Hogan practised a wide repertoire of shots to almost perfection, allowing him to execute rigid game plans on the day of a tournament. 

The powerhouse of the late 2010s, Brooks Koepka was a machine in the majors during that period. That hot streak earned him five majors wins, and made him the first golfer in history to hold back-to-back titles in two majors simultaneously. More successful at home in America than abroad, Koepka has since joined the LIV league, which has drawn the ire of PGA players, but he still remains a dominant force in the game when he’s on form.

Watson won eight majors during his career, the sixth all time, with all coming between 1977 and 1983, where he was close to unstoppable. A master of links courses, Watson’s grit and integrity earned him the support of fans and other players alike.

A character on tour, Sam Snead was just as well known for his sheer dominance of the PGA Tour as he was his straw hat. Snead is tied first with Tiger Woods for all-time victories on the PGA tour, with 82. Add that to his seven major wins, including three Masters, and he’s an all-timer known for a long, accurate drive and pioneering the short game.

South African golfer Gary Player, or ‘The Black Knight’, was the first non-American to win all four majors in his career. And what a career it was, Player counts nine majors to his name, and was dominant across continents where he won over 150 tournaments. Alongside Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Player formed “The Big Three” as the trio dominated golf from the ’50 to the ’70s

Playing over a century ago, it’s hard to compare Hagens to the golfers of today. But with 11 majors wins to his name, Hagen was on top of the world in his prime. Hagen is also credited with laying the groundwork for the prestige and publicity of modern day golf, helping drive up prize money and endorsements for the players today.

Bobby Jones was a very successful golfer in his era, and that was just as an amateur. He was a lawyer by profession, and competed in the tours only part time, where he won seven majors. Jones co-invented the Masters tournament, and the way he established the tournament has been copied and used in just about every other professional tournament anywhere in the world.

One of the great figures in golf in his era, Spaniard Seve Ballesteros won 90 international tournaments during his career. At just 19, Ballesteros came second at The Open, but his victory in The Masters helped drive the resurgence in interest in golf in Europe which continues to this day. Ballesteros won five majors during his career, and is considered the finest ever European golfer.

Perhaps best known, if you were around then, for his “shot heard ’round the world”, Sarazen’s double eagle at the 1935 Masters is one of the most famous in the sport’s history. He won seven majors in his career, and his contributions to the game, including the invention of the modern sand wedge, have cemented him in golfing history.