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who were the top 10 all time drivers of the golf ball in history

by Zoe Auer Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Golf's Greatest Drivers and Putters Of All Time
  • Sam Snead. Sam Snead was a natural athlete, a standout American football player – he could run the 100 yards in 10 seconds. ...
  • Arnold Palmer. ...
  • Greg Norman. ...
  • John Daly. ...
  • Rory McIlroy. ...
  • Bobby Locke. ...
  • Jack Nicklaus. ...
  • Ben Crenshaw.
May 24, 2018

Who was the best player in golf in the 1960s?

The Big Three — Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player — dominated the golf headlines in the 1960s, but the unassuming Casper was as good as anybody in his era. Casper won 51 PGA Tour events, seventh all time, and earned three majors, including the 1966 U.S. Open, where he denied Palmer a coveted win.

Who is the most important golfer of all time?

Speaking of Palmer, the King remained the world's most important golfer until his death, and his legacy will live on as long as there's televised golf. In fact, were it not for Palmer, you wouldn't be reading this list, and golf would still be struggling to gain a foothold on the American sports landscape.

What is the biggest driver in golf history?

Callaway Big Bertha. It is by far one of the most well-known golf clubs in the history of the game, and when the Callaway Big Bertha driver hit store shelves in 1991, it was also the biggest driver the game had ever seen. At a staggering 190 cc, the Big Bertha clubhead was by far the largest driver head on the market.

What was the first metal driver used on the PGA Tour?

Nicknamed the “Pittsburgh Persimmon,” Adams’ steel driver featured 12-degrees of loft and was the first metal driver used by professional golfers on the PGA Tour. In 1981 Ron Streck became the first pro to win with the Taylor Made Pittsburgh Persimmon, paving the way for future club designs and professionals all around the world.

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Who is the greatest driver of the golf ball of all time?

Quite possibly it's a golfer you don't know: Mike Dunaway. Dunaway is regarded by many as the greatest driver of the golf ball, ever. Greg Norman said, “Mike Dunaway is the longest living human on earth” and Ken Venturi stated “he combines power and accuracy better with a driver than anyone I have ever seen.”

Who is the greatest golfer of all time statistically?

Based on the number of victories alone, Jack Nicklaus is hands down the best golfer of all time. He has a total of 73 PGA Tour wins, 10 Champions Tour trophies, and overall 115 worldwide wins.

What is the longest drive ever recorded?

515 yardsThe world record recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest drive in a competition is 515 yards (471 m) by 64-year-old Mike Austin in 1974 at the US Senior National Open Qualifier with a 43.5" steel shafted persimmon wood driver.

Who is the most disliked golfer on the PGA Tour?

Top 10 Most Disliked GolfersPatrick Reed. Patrick Reed is not exactly a fan favorite. ... Brooks Koepka. Brooks Koepka is known for his attitude and the way that he feels about himself as a player. ... Tiger Woods. ... Phil Mickelson. ... Vijay Singh. ... Ian Poulter. ... Rory Sabbatini. ... Bryson DeChambeau.More items...

What is the greatest round of golf ever played?

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.

What is the longest hole-in-one?

517 yardsHoles-in-one on par 5 (or higher) holes The longest recorded straight drive hole-in-one is believed to be 517 yards or 473 metres, on the par-5 No. 9 hole at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver in 2002, aided by the thin air due to the high altitude.

What was Tiger Woods longest putt?

Tiger Woods sinks the longest putt of his career On the par-3 4th hole during the second round, his drive landed 91-feet off the hole. For a birdie, Woods took a putt, although no one really predicted what was to come next. With accurate speed and direction, Woods sent the ball straight home, and it sunk beautifully.

How far did Jack Nicklaus drive the ball?

Throughout his career, Nicklaus would consistently hit mammoth 330-yard drives. Golf Digest estimates that the average driving distance has increased by 15.5 yards over the past 10 years, a period of time where metal drivers have been used.

Who is the most popular golfer in the FedEx Cup?

Billy Horschel. Billy Horschel made his great run in the FedEx Cup playoffs by driving the ball well. John Bazemore/Associated Press. What it means: Billy Horschel became the most popular golfer on the PGA Tour in September and not just because he won two of the last three FedEx Cup events to win it all.

Who drove the ball in the 2008 Ryder Cup?

What it means: The vision of Boo Weekley riding his driver down the fairway in the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla remains vivid. Whether you consider the man unorthodox or not, the man can flat-out drive the ball. He doesn't necessarily drive it far, but you rarely have to look far afield to locate his tee shots.

How many yards did Jim Furyk average off the tee?

The veteran PGA Tour player averaged just 279.3 yards off the tee. In a game where players are averaging higher and higher yardages above 300, Furyk appeared to be at a disadvantage.

How many tournaments has Tom Kuchar won?

That swing doesn't keep him from being accurate, however. As a matter of fact, it probably helps. He's won seven tournaments on the PGA Tour, most of those on the strength of his driving. He's not won a major yet, a glaring omission on the resume of a player as talented as Kuchar.

What does it mean when a golfer misses fairways?

What it means: In short, it means he's short, averaging 282.2 yards off the tee. It also means he rarely misses fairways, hitting 70.51 percent. He, too, has become a valuable commodity for Ryder and Presidents Cup teams because of his driving excellence although that hasn't yielded much in the way of wins.

How much did Dwayne Johnson make in the NBA?

Johnson had a good year, winning once, finishing second and third and making five top 10s. He made over $3.3 million. And he can thank his accuracy with the big stick for much of that.

Is Tom Moore a grinder?

Moore had one of the great amateur years ever in 2004 but problems with his wrist curtailed his progress in terms of multiple wins, although he has three tour victories to his credit. Moore is a grinder but grinding is a lot easier when playing from the fairway. 9. Boo Weekley. 2 of 10.

Who was the most influential golfer in the 20th century?

Arnold Palmer. Palmer’s powerful and aggressive game appealed to sports fans across America and was a leading catalyst for the rising popularity of golf in the second half of the 20 th century. Not only did Palmer play with tremendous flair and ambition, he was also built like a boxer and used his physique to swing hard at the ball.

Who was the best putting player in 2000?

Brad Faxon. In the year 2000, Brad Faxon averaged 1.704 putts per green in regulation on the PGA Tour – that’s the best putting season in the history of the game. Faxon wasn’t a long hitter, nor was he a particularly good ball striker, but his putting was almost unbelievable.

What putter did the South African use?

The South African was incredible on the greens. Using a rusty old putter with a hickory shaft, he employed an unorthodox technique but was incredibly reliable, particularly on the shorter putts.

How many rounds did Jimi Hendrix play in the 1960 US Open?

In the 1960 US Open, he trailed Mike Souchak by seven with one round to play. He stood on the first tee at Cherry Hills and blasted his drive onto the green of the 346-yard par four.

How many yards did Arnold Palmer drive?

He stood on the first tee at Cherry Hills and blasted his drive onto the green of the 346-yard par four. This drive set up a birdie and Palmer went on to win the tournament in a historic golfing moment.

What woods did the Great White Shark hit?

He struck the ball sweetly with the small-headed persimmon woods in play during the 1980s and early 90s. Thanks to his distance and accuracy from the tee, “The Great White Shark” had a real advantage over his rivals whenever he took to the course.

What is the most challenging sport to master?

Golf is a game that demands many and varied skills. The necessity for power and precision makes it one of the most challenging sports to master. Here, we look at five players who can be considered golf’s greatest drivers and putters of all time.

Who were the big three golfers in the 1960s?

The Big Three — Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player — dominated the golf headlines in the 1960s, but the unassuming Casper was as good as anybody in his era. Casper won 51 PGA Tour events, seventh all time, and earned three majors, including the 1966 U.S. Open, where he denied Palmer a coveted win. 16.

Who was the golfer who beat Greg Norman?

14. Nick Faldo. Sir Nick dominated world golf for a time at the expense of chief rival Greg Norman, whom he drubbed in a memorable British Open showdown in 1990 and beat in the 1996 Masters following Norman's epic collapse.

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.

Why is it important to know the best golf driver?

A golf driver is integral to a golf game simply because that is what you use to swing and ace the holes. That is why it is extremely important to get the best golf driver that fits your needs. Knowing the golf driver that will work best for you will definitely help not only in finding the best one for you but would also show you what to look for with other golf drivers since you need a lot of golf drivers to play the game.

How fast does a golf driver go?

Professional golfers have a very strong and fast swing, with most of them going above 100 meters per hour. If a beginner uses a professional golfer’s golf driver, then what will happen if eyes are the swing will not connect and if it will connect the trajectory is very off and will usually result in a slice.

What is the interesting thing about golf driver reviews?

The interesting thing to know about golf driver reviews is that it can be quite subjective or that the perspective that it is written in is not exactly for the reader. Case in point, the differences in levels and needs between a high handicapper to a mid handicapper and then to a low handicapper.

What is the purpose of golf drivers?

Their main purpose is to make sure that the players connect the golf driver to the ball and to reduce the occurrences of unintended slices. For 2019, the utility of the golf drivers has increased tremendously, since 2019 was the start of the popularization of the wider sole.

What is slice in golf?

Every golf player has made a slice of his or her golfing career. A slice is what golf players call a swing that curves to the direction which the player is dominant, for instance, people who use the right-hand predominant would have a swing or a slice that may curve or angle to the right. This is pretty common for those who play golf just ...

Can you lose a slice in golf?

However most of the times, it is actually not intended and can definitely make you lose the game.

Is a golf driver stronger than a steel driver?

Most of the times, a strong golf driver has a drawback which is its heavy weight. However, due to the innovations that are happening, new alloys are being used to make golf drivers that are stronger than the usual steel or graphite golf drivers what are actually lighter. The center of gravity can now also be manipulated by the sign, ...

Who was the best golfer in 1950?

1. Ben Hogan: Not the obvious choice atop the list, but nobody held the game in such control as The Hawk in his prime. The 1950 U.S. Open was the best tournament in the game’s history, and Hogan’s nine majors hardly represent his level of dominance.

Who won the most golf tournaments in 1945?

9. Byron Nelson: Retiring at age 34 once he could afford a ranch in Texas, Nelson’s five majors are still eclipsed by his unbelievable war-time season of 1945, when he won 18 of 35 tournaments, including 11 in a row. 10.

How many majors did Phil Mickelson win?

9. Byron Nelson: Won 52 tournaments and five majors, and his 1945 season will likely never be matched — winning 18 of the 35 PGA Tour events he played. 10. Phil Mickelson: Won 43 times including five major championships in the Tiger Woods era.

How many majors did Tiger Woods win?

As Tiger Woods moves closer to Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 majors, The Post’s golf writers make their picks for the 10 greatest golfers of all time:

How many majors did Arnold Palmer have?

Arnold Palmer: Helping to exponentially expand the game’s popularity through television, he tallied seven majors and was the ultimate spokesman. 7. Gary Player: The Black Knight revolutionized the game with his focus on fitness, and his nine majors helped him spread the word of golf in his native South Africa. 8.

How many Open Championships did Harry Vardon have?

Harry Vardon: Was a different time, but his six Open Championships remain a record, and two tours of the U.S. — including epic 1913 U.S. Open lost to amateur Francis Ouimet — popularized the game in America. 6.

Who is the oldest golfer to win a major?

Jack Nicklaus: Holder of a record 18 major championships. Became oldest player to win a major when he captured 1986 Masters at age 46. 2. Tiger Woods: Winner of 15 major championships, including five Masters. Has 81 tour victories, second only to Sam Snead.

Who was the golfer who holed a 40 footer for birdie on the par-3 16th in

Peterson's leap into the air when Nicklaus holed a 40-footer for birdie on the par-3 16th in 1975 is a Masters highlight staple. Photo by Augusta National/Getty Images. HERMAN MITCHELL. Lee Trevino's rotund counterpart was with him for 19 years and all six of his majors.

Who was Gary Player's caddie?

Dyer was Gary Player's primary caddie for 18 years. But Dyer worked for a fleet of other top players, including Ben Hogan, Tony Lema, Dave Stockton and, occasionally, Arnold Palmer. CARL JACKSON. Ben Crenshaw's caddie at the Masters from 1976 to 2014.

How many LPGA tournaments did Annika Sorenstam win?

It helps to be an employee of Annika Sorenstam, one of the greatest players in LPGA history. But when a player wins 48 tournaments in a six-year stretch, as Sorenstam did from 2000-'05, it's fair to say the caddie—in this case, McNamara—had something to do with it. Photo by Travis Lindquist/Getty Images.

How many Masters wins did Willie Peterson have?

Steered four players to five Masters wins. Born in 1920 on the site of the future Augusta National, he helped clear trees to accommodate Alister MacKenzie's brilliant design. WILLIE PETERSON. Was at Jack Nicklaus' side for five of his six Masters victories.

Who was the caddie on the bag for two shots?

LEE (TWO SHOT) LYNCH. The perpetually grumpy caddie acquired his nickname because, as Al Geiberger said, "Having him on your bag was like being penalized two shots.". In truth, he was coveted. Lynch toted for countless players, and, in 1977, he was on the bag for Geiberger's famous round of 59.

Who was the caddie with Nick Price?

JEFF (SQUEEKY) MEDLEN. The caddie with the cartoon-character voice was with Nick Price for all three of his major titles. When Price couldn't play in the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick, Medlen picked up alternate John Daly's bag and promptly guided him to an improbable victory.

Who caddied for Johnny Miller?

ANDY MARTINEZ. Martinez was at the side of Johnny Miller for 12 of Miller's prime years and was with Tom Lehman for two full decades. All together, Martinez has caddied for eight PGA Tour winners. At 68, he's still going strong.

Who holds the record for most PGA Tour wins?

For now, until or unless Woods passes him, Sam Snead holds the record for most career PGA Tour wins with 82. That includes seven wins in majors. Snead first won in 1936, and last won in 1965. When he was 62 years old he finished third in the PGA Championship; when he was 67, he shot 67-66 in the final two rounds of the Quad Cities Open.

Who is the greatest links golfer?

Tom Watson is arguably the greatest links golfer ever, with five wins in the British Open. But he was great all-around, surpassing Nicklaus in the late 1970s and winning several head-to-head battles with the Bear, most famously at the 1977 British Open. Watson had 39 PGA Tour wins, including eight majors.

How many majors did Jack Nicklaus win?

Everyone knows Nicklaus won the most majors (18), but he also finished second in 19 other majors. He won 73 PGA Tour titles, third-best in golf history. The breadth and depth of Nicklaus' career matches, and arguably (for the time being) exceeds those of Woods', but Nicklaus' "peak value" falls short of Woods'.

How many majors has Tiger Woods won?

No, he hasn't yet eclipsed Jack Nicklaus' record for most major victories. Nicklaus won 18 majors, Woods currently has 14. Many people believe Woods can't be called the greatest ever until or unless he beats Jack's major record. But in ranking golfers we can't consider only one number. If the greatest-ever is determined simply by number ...

How many majors did Byron Nelson win?

The career numbers are great: 52 wins, including five majors. Byron Nelson was the first from among himself, Hogan and Snead to achieve greatness, but also the first to depart the scene, retiring young. But there was that incredible 1945 season —18 wins, including 11 consecutive—that will never be matched.

How many times did Arnold Palmer win the PGA Tour?

Arnold Palmer won 62 times on the PGA Tour, including seven major championships. He helped invigorate golf as sport and entertainment with his go-for-broke playing style, and helped revitalize the British Open simply by showing up to play that tournament. At his best, he was one of the best putters of all-time.

How many times did Gary Player win the PGA?

Gary Player won "only" 24 times on the PGA Tour, but that was in part because he traveled the world, playing as much off the PGA Tour as on it. He was the first truly globetrotting golf superstar. And nine of those 24 wins were majors. (Player had a surprisingly poor 3-10 record in PGA Tour playoffs, however.)

What was the first metal driver used in golf?

In 1978, a young clubmaker named Gary Adams came up what very well may be the most influential and monumental piece of golf club technology in the history of the game: the steel-headed driver. Nicknamed the “Pittsburgh Persimmon,” Adams’ steel driver featured 12-degrees of loft and was the first metal driver used by professional golfers on the PGA Tour.

What is Cleveland Golf known for?

Cleveland Launcher. Cleveland Golf is best known for their wedges and putters, but the Cleveland Launcher driver was a beast off the tee for amateur and pro golfers alike.

How many cc is a Big Bertha driver?

At a staggering 190 cc, the Big Bertha clubhead was by far the largest driver head on the market. While it would pale in comparison against today’s modern drivers, the original Big Bertha gave golfers of all abilities unprecedented distance never seen previously.

What driver did Bubba Watson use to win the Masters?

Bubba Watson used a PING G30 driver to win The Masters in 2014, making this driver from the Scottsdale-based golf club powerhouse an instant icon. The G30 was also the first driver to feature “turbulators”; small, fish-fin-like bumps on the crown of the club to increase clubhead speed.

What is unique about golf?

Golf is unique in that it is a sport known as much for its greatest pieces of equipment as for those men and women who have broken records and won majors yielding them. We at Bunkers Paradise understand that golf fans appreciate and remember their first driver, iron set or favorite putter for decades. We also know that some of the greatest clubs of ...

When did Titleist release the 913 D3 driver?

When Titleist released their new 913 D3 driver in 2014, traditionalists everywhere were excited about the club’s look as it gave a nod to the company’s successful past. Boasting incredible accuracy, distance and consistency, the Titleist 913 D3 was one of the most highly-anticipated golf club releases of all time.

What is a Ping Eye 2 driver?

The PING Eye 2 driver continued the company’s trend of larger clubheads, laminated protection and incredible distances for a wooden driver. The Eye 2 driver was one of the most popular on the pro circuit throughout the 80s and into the 90s.

What is the longest golf drive?

Hole: 3rd hole. The longest golf drive ever recorded was 787 yards by Carl Cooper at the 1992 Texas Open. This monster drive got some assistance from a cart path and a steep downhill, it can be argued that it doesn’t count but technically it does since there is no remarks column in the rules book.

Who holds the record for the longest drive by a long drive professional at a long driving event?

Longest drive by a long drive professional. American long drive professional, Scott Smith , holds the record for the longest drive by a long drive professional at a long driving event. Smith achieved this feat in 2004 when he drove the ball 539 yards.

What golf course is Dustin Johnson on?

Golf course: Austin Country Club. Hole: 12th holes. Dustin Johnson is known for his length off of the tee. DJ doesn’t hold back with driver in hand and he definitely didn’t do that on the 12th hole at the 2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play event in Austin, Texas when he hit it a massive 489 yards.

How many yards did Davis Love III drive down the 18th hole?

Davis Love III isn’t known for overpowering golf courses off of the tee, but Davis managed to raise some eyebrows when he drove it 476 yards down the 18th hole at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in the 2004 Mercedes Benz Championship.

Who broke Mike Austin's record?

Mike Dobbyn broke Mike Austin’s record in 2007 in Henderson, Nevada. Dobbyn, a long drive professional, was playing a mini-tour event at Dragon Ridge Country Club when he managed to hit a 551-yard drive down the par 5, 18th hole.

Who is the longest hitter in golf?

Pound for pound Justin Thomas is arguably the longest hitter in golf alongside Rory McIlroy. JT lived up to this tag when he smashed a drive 457 yards on the 10th hole at the 2019 WGC-Mexico Championship in Mexico City.

What golf course was the 2009 Texas Open?

Tournament: 2009 Texas Open. Golf course: LaCantera Golf Club. Hole: 1st hole. Charley Hoffman is known for his green glove that he always wears, but Hoffman also hit one of the longest drives in history at the 2009 Texas Open.

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