Jack Nicklaus nominated as greatest golfer in 100 years followed by Tiger Woods and Seve Ballesteros
Golf monthly magazine recently held a contest asking its readership to nominate the best golfer of the last 100 years. The contest which was suspected to be thorny, turned out to be a fairly decisive one with major chunk of the audience leaning in favour
of Jack Nicklaus with 58 percent of the votes.
Tiger Woods, whom many of the critics claim to be the number one in all aspects of the sport, managed to gather a meager 16 percent of the votes while late Seve Ballesteros of Spain was at number three with rest of the eight percent of the votes.
“To be chosen among the many talented golfers over that time period is humbling and greatly appreciated,” said Nicklaus.
“The Golden Bear” of the sport, as he is often referred to, Nicklaus won a record 18 majors in his career that spanned some staggering 30 years and is hailed as the biggest living ambassador of the game. Woods, despite being overshadowed by Nicklaus’s achievement,
won the “Greatest Shot” in the last 100 years for his impeccable putt for the 16th green at the 2005 Masters.
The website of the magazine was later thronged by the viewers who gave their respective opinions of whom should have been nominated for the coveted title other than Nicklaus, inspiring a healthy debate. Both Nicklaus and Woods will not be part of the field
at this week’s Open Championship, the third major of the year.
Nicklaus retired from mainstream sport in 2005 after his last appearance in the Open Championship at St. Andrews Scotland, while Woods is currently under a rehab for his left knee injury he acquired at the Players Championship this year. The 35-year-old,
14-major winner is also facing a dreaded Achilles in both of his legs.
Others regarded Bobby Jones as the greatest golfer in the last 100 years for his remarkable achievement during his career. The youngest US Open winner in the history in 1923, Jones was among one of those medically declared disabled teenagers who after recuperating
from his disability, went over to win a Grand Slam. He was the only golfer who won three US Open Championship, playing as an amateur and finished as runner-up in the other four, between the years 1922 to 1930.
Along with his victories in the professional major titles, Jones won five US Amateur Championships with record scores of 9&8, 8&7, 8&7, 10&9, and 8&7. He was able to take over the rest of the field before even reaching the 12th hole.
Apart from his stellar career, Jones was also one of the most inspiring personalities who studied Law, Literature and Mechanical Engineering while playing professional golf alongside.
After retirement, Jones went over to design his first golf course, the Augusta National, which later became the birth place of the great American golf which was to follow.
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