Golf-FAQ.com

pro athletes who made it in golf

by Shyann Kovacek DVM Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Six athletes that are great golfers

  • Steph Curry. The star Golden State Warriors guard and three-time NBA Champion made headlines in 2017 when he received an...
  • Tony Romo. Another star athlete to receive a tour exemption, Tony Romo competed in the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club...
  • Kyle Lowry. When the Toronto Raptors point guard isn’t dropping dimes on the hardwood,...

Full Answer

Are golfers athletes?

Many people like to claim golfers aren't athletes. Yet, when many "athletes" step away from their own games, they choose golf as the sport to play. Strange how many athletes like to play a sport that many say is played by overweight, middle-aged, white dudes.

Who are the best athlete-golfers of 2007?

We also included a golfer or two from sports other than the big four of baseball, football, basketball and hockey. Rick Rhoden was our No. 1 when we ranked athlete-golfers in 2007, and there's no doubt he'd beat everyone on this list.

Who was the first ultra-successful touring pro golfer?

Walter Hagen The flamboyant Hagen was the first ultra-successful touring pro and raised the stature of the lowly pro golfer substantially in an era when amateurs like Bobby Jones ruled the sport.

Who is considered the greatest Shotmaker in golf history?

The Hawk remains the greatest shotmaker golf has ever produced. Rather than relying on today’s technologically advanced equipment, Hogan used an uncanny ability to control the flight of his ball to win nine majors — and a greater percentage of majors entered than even Jack Nicklaus.

image

Who is the best pro athlete golfer?

POSPlayerThru1Scottie Scheffler182Brendon Todd182Scott Stallings184Harold Varner III181 more row•Dec 21, 2016

Who is the best NBA golfer?

We will go right to the top spot with Stephen Curry. Not only is Curry known for making a splash as one of if not the most pure shooters of all time but he also has a knack for swinging the sticks. Curry just participated in his first Web.com Tour event this past August and is known to be a two handicap.

Are golf players considered athletes?

“A person who plays golf is an athlete as the game is a sport,” says Alison Curdt, who is both a PGA Master Professional and LPGA Master Professional based out of Wood Ranch Golf Club in the Los Angeles area.

Who has the best handicap in golf?

The highest golf handicap allowed by the USGA is 36.4 for men. Meanwhile, women have their own handicap set at 40.4....According to Golf Digest:Bill Gates – 24.Kenny G – 3.5.Clint Eastwood – 22.5.Justin Timberlake – 0.2.Donald Trump – 6.Kevin Costner – 11.4.Jack Nicklaus – 3.4 (Yes, that's right!)Tom Brady – 9.2.

Is Michael Jordan A or handicap?

Michael Jordan Jordan was arguably the greatest basketball player ever, but he's also no slouch on the golf course. His Airness is a 1.2 handicap.

What is Shaq's golf handicap?

Besides that, the NBA star boasts a very respectable 3.1 handicap and is co-founder of the Hideout Club in Florida. Time has not done much to quench the fire that the iconic Boston Celtics player brings to the greens and we're pretty sure that he won't be slowing down any time soon.

Is golf a lazy sport?

Golf is undoubtedly an incredibly difficult and technical sport to grasp, and we're not trying to offend any keen golfers by calling them lazy! But it's definitely one of the least physically-taxing sports you can play.

Is golf a sport or a skill?

Golf, although not requiring brutal strength, is a sport. Golf is a legitimate sport because it is highly competitive, requires mental capacity, and demands physical extortion and muscle use. A big part of any sport, especially golf, is being competitive. Golf is seen as just a game, but golfers are highly competitive.

Is golf a manly sport?

Golf is considered by some to be one of the last bastions for male exclusivity (Chambers 1995) and the ultimate male-bonding turf (Meyers 1996). In this regard, males attempt to further male-domination by exhibiting behaviors that are offensive to women or send signals to women that the golf course is for men only.

What is Nicklaus handicap?

To put that in context, Jack Nicklaus, who has won more golf majors than any player of the history of the game, currently has a handicap of 5.2.

Who has the lowest golf score?

The lowest officially recorded round is 55 by Rhein Gibson (12 birdies and two eagles on a par 71) on May 12, 2012 at River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma. This score is recognized by the Guinness World Records.

Is a 7 handicap good?

Congratulations. As a 7-handicap, you're in the top 21 percent of male golfers—top 3 percent for females—according to the United States Golf Association. A professional career isn't happening anytime soon, but you should be proud of the level you've attained.

Who is the best golfer in the NFL?

Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs The 2018 NFL MVP went viral shortly after joining Kansas City when a video of him at Top Golf was posted online.

Can NBA players play golf in the bubble?

Several players, coaches and staffers have found solace on the course inside the bubble. Milwaukee's Kyle Korver, Toronto's Kyle Lowry and Matt Thomas, Los Angeles Lakers' J.R. Smith and Alex Caruso, Dallas' J.J. Barea, Paul Millsap and Brooklyn's Garrett Temple are among many players who like to play golf.

How many seasons did Brodie play for the 49ers?

A lot of NFL’ers retire from the gridiron to a life on the golf course. Brodie turned the game into a second career. After 17 seasons as the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, he played 17 more on what was then the Senior tour.

Where did DJ Woodland go to college?

A cross-over athlete with a cross-over dribble, Woodland earned a basketball scholarship to Washburn University and played a year of college hoops before transferring schools to focus on golf. As fine a baller as DJ may be, we’d still bet on Woodland in a one-on-one.

Was Koepka a major leaguer?

Like his great-uncle, Dick Groat, who sparkled at shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Koepka was a handy baseball player as a kid. And though he never made the big leagues, the strapping Tour pro is frequently mistaken for a major leaguer, and no wonder: every one of his drives would clear the upper-deck. 11.

Where did Ernie Els live?

ERNIE ELS. Before settling on golf in his childhood home of South Africa, the Big Easy made rugby and cricket look, well, easy. He was also an accomplished junior tennis player, capturing a prestigious regional title at the age of 13. But never mind sports.

Was Stranahan a weightlifter?

In addition to being a renowned golfer, with 51 amateur titles and six PGA Tour wins, he was a competitive weight-lifter and body-builder who captured championships in those sports well into his 70s. Not for nothing was he known as “the Blond Adonis,” though two other nicknames—-Muscles and The Toledo Strongman—fit him nicely, too.

Who is the most jock-ish tour pro?

Here are 14 of the most jock-ish Tour pros of all time, ranked. 14. JIM COLBERT. Yes, Jim Colbert. Don’t let the bucket hat and the hokey gestures fool you. The guy who calls to mind a Boca Raton grandpa was once a gridiron standout who earned a full ride to play football at Kansas State. 13. LEXI THOMPSON.

Can a white man jump?

White man can’t jump? Try telling that to the reigning U.S. Open champion, a jock for all seasons who excelled in soccer, baseball and basketball in high school, and who, word has it, can still dunk a basketball in bare feet.

What is Ben Hogan's greatest shotmaker?

Brooding, temperamental, focused — Ben Hogan was not a charismatic figure who rallied the masses to follow the game a la Arnold Palmer. Instead, he was all about golf shots. The Hawk remains the greatest shotmaker golf has ever produced. Rather than relying on today’s technologically advanced equipment, Hogan used an uncanny ability to control the flight of his ball to win nine majors — and a greater percentage of majors entered than even Jack Nicklaus. To Hogan, “the Hawk,” “Bantam Ben,” who was 5’7”, 140 pounds when he was at the peak of his game, striking a ball well was more important than scoring.

How many majors did Hagen win?

Hagen won 11 professional majors — two U.S. Opens, four British Opens and five PGAs — to set a record that would stand until the 1960s, and he also won five Western Opens during a time when that tournament was essentially a major.

How many times has Vijay Singh won PGA?

He's won 34 times on the PGA Tour, including two PGA Championships and a Masters win.

What year did Tiger Woods win the Masters?

In April 1997, Woods began a trajectory that led him directly to the top of this list. He so dominated the most storied and tradition-steeped tournament in golf that the sport was changed forever. We all remember the Masters-record 18-under par total that Woods shot in his first Masters as a pro. We remember his incredible 12-shot margin of victory. (Runner-up Tom Kite’s 282 total would have been good enough to win 17 previous Masters, but it only got him within 12 shots of Tiger.) We remember the way his mammoth drives turned the par-5s into pitch-and-putts. What many people don’t remember about the 1997 Masters is how badly Tiger started the tournament. On the front nine on Thursday, Woods went out in 40, leaving him 4-over par. That, apparently, is when the stars aligned and the golf gods smiled. Over the next 63 holes, Woods swept through Augusta National like a tornado, toying with the course and demoralizing the greatest players in the world.

How many times has Rory McIlroy won a major?

Yet there is a nagging suspicion that the best may still be yet to come for the Northern Irishman, who has yet to return to the giddy heights he scaled in 2014, when he won two majors.

What year did Tom Watson win the British Open?

Watson’s 65-65 gave him his second British Open title. In 2009, Watson was the beloved elder statesman at the British Open at Turnberry, the sentimental choice of an emotional and appreciative crowd that very nearly willed him to the most improbable win in the history of golf’s most storied tournament.

Where did Ballesteros hit his 3-iron?

Having fashioned his game by hitting rocks on the beaches of Pedrena, Spain, with a homemade 3-iron, Ballesteros was ready to attack any lie, any condition, any circumstance, making him ideally suited for the demanding conditions at Britain’s links courses.

Where does Joe Sakic play golf?

Joe Sakic 2.3 Retired after 20 NHL seasons; plays golf at Bear Creek G.C. in Denver. T-28. Johnny Bench 2.5 Hall of Fame catcher plays at Mission Hills. Lighten your grip: Take a tip from Johnny Bench T-28.

Who was the number 1 golfer in 2007?

Rick Rhoden was our No. 1 when we ranked athlete-golfers in 2007, and there's no doubt he'd beat everyone on this list. But the former major-league pitcher is really a professional on the celebrity and senior circuit who belongs on another ranking. Unless there are some nassaus that have gotten out of hand, no one among this 150 earns ...

How many Grand Slams did Pete Sampras win?

Handicap: 0.5. Having won 14 Grand Slam titles during his career, Pete Sampras is known as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Off the courts, however, Sampras found a way to excel on the greens too. This shouldn't surprise people though since Sampras was always good on grass surfaces.

Is golf an athlete?

Many people like to claim golfers aren't athletes. Yet, when many "athletes" step away from their own games, they choose golf as the sport to play. Strange how many athletes like to play a sport that many say is played by overweight, middle-aged, white dudes.

Who is the greatest wide receiver in the NFL?

Handicap: +0.7 (at least) Jerry Rice is one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history. Unfortunately for Rice, he couldn't just be a great in one sport. As a result, Rice tried to compete on the Nationwide Tour a while back and performed miserably.

Who is the greatest hockey player of all time?

Handicap: 0. Brett Hull is one of the greatest hockey players of all time. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, and had one of the greatest shots the NHL has ever seen. Off the ice, Hull is a fantastic golfer.

How many majors did Vladimir Putin win?

The Russian won two tennis majors, the French Open in 1996 and the Australian Open three years later, and climbed to the top of the world rankings. He was known for his serve, which was like a bullet and won him many matches during his illustrious career. It should have been enough to satisfy him, but it wasn’t and he also decided that he had what it took to become a professional golfer. "I'm serious about golf,” he said."I know it takes countless hours of practice before you learn all the intricate parts of this game but I'm prepared to give it a try.” He played in the Russian Open in 2005, 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Austrian Open and the 2014 Czech Masters, and missed the cut on every occasion. A highly competitive individual, he also tried his hand at poker.

How many times did Conner win the US Open?

Conner is one of an elite group to have competed in the US Open at both tennis and golf. He won the US National Junior tennis title when he was 17 and would go on to play in the US Open on three occasions, but he graduated from college he decided that there was probably more money to be made from playing golf. Four times he failed to get through qualifying school until in 1975 he finally earned his PGA Tour card. He never won an official event on the PGA Tour (he won the 1988 Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic, an unofficial tour event), but he did manage 18 top-10 finishes, including sixth in the 1981 U.S. Open.

How many times did Dicks play for West Ham?

Dicks was an uncompromising defender who enjoyed success with West Ham and Liverpool. He played more than 260 times in two spells with the Hammers and even managed to get himself onto the fringes of selection for the England team. Like many footballers of his era, Dicks had a lot of spare time on his hands and took up golf. He soon became pretty handy, quickly receding his handicap to scratch. And when his playing days ended he announced that he was going to become a professional golfer. It didn’t really go according to plan. He was forced to quit when he realised that the knee injury that had ended his football career was also hampering his ability as a golfer. He went on to manage a couple of pubs.

How did Terry Terry's baseball career end?

A car accident ended Terry’s baseball career when he suffered a hip injury that prevented him from taking part in spring training in 1958. He decided to take up golf as part of his therapy. As a baseball pitcher, Terry won 107 games in his 12-year career. With the Yankees in 1960, he gave up the home run to the Pirates' Bill Mazeroski that won the World Series. Two years later, he got some redemption, winning two of his three starts against the Giants in the World Series, and he was named the World Series MVP. After retiring, he turned to golf and played in five PGA Tour events but failed to make the cut in any. When he turned 50 he joined the Senior Tour and had moderate success. He played in 96 senior events with one top-10 finish.

What was the Brown Bomber's career?

Nicknamed the Brown Bomber, Louis was one of the greatest boxers of all time. He compiled a 65-3 record, with 51 wins coming by knockout, and was world heavyweight champion for just under 12 years from 1937-49, successfully defending his title 25 times. His success in the ring helped him to become one of the first African-Americans to be regarded as a national hero. He was a noted campaigner for race equality. After retiring from boxing in 1951, Louis made a decent impact on the golf course. In 1952, he was the first African-American to play in a PGA Tour event when he participated in the San Diego Open on a sponsor’s exemption. At that time, a bylaw limited PGA participation to whites. However, Louis’ popularity forced the PGA to change the rules. In 1951 he won the USGA’s national amateur title.

Who is the greatest female athlete of all time?

It is hard to argue with the view that Zaharias was the greatest female athlete of all time, and she is easily the most successful of those who decided to follow the sun. She was the best at just about everything she attempted. Apart from her athletic achievements, she even won a sewing championship and recorded songs on the Mercury Records label, singing and playing the harmonica. She was a gifted Olympic track and field medalist, winning two gold medals and one silver in the 1932 Olympics. She also won the AAU team track and field event that year, taking six of eight events. Sportswriter Grantland Rice encouraged her to try her hand at golf, and she duly won the Texas State Amateur title just two years after taking up the game. Zaharias won 17 consecutive amateur tournaments in 1946-47. She was one of the founding members of the LPGA and won 41 professional tournaments. She was so good that Bobby Jones declared her one of the 10 best golfers of all time, male or female. Her track and field skills earned her the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year Award in 1932, and her golf skills won her the same honour five further times - in 1945, ‘46, ‘47, ‘50 and ‘54. She died of cancer at 45 in 1956.

Did John Vines play golf?

Like Conner, Vines also played in the US Open at both tennis and golf. He was a proper tennis player, winning the US Championships in 1931 and 1932 and Wimbledon in 1932. He retired from tennis in 1940 and two years later became a professional golfer. Vines competed on the PGA Tour for 15 years, and in 1947 he managed to finish 12th on the money list.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9