Who Are The 50 Best Golfers in History?

Jul 15, 2015; St. Andrews, Scotland, GBR; Gary Player tees off on the 18th hole during the Champion Golfers Challenge for the 144th Open Championship at Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

10. Gary Player

Player is one of five to have won all four major championships: the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA. Player became the most successful South African golfer ever. He won nine majors.

His first came in 1959 at the British Open. In 1961 at the Masters, he upended Charlie Coe and Arnold Palmer by a stroke. A year later, he won the PGA, beating Bob Goalby.

Player would go on to win six more majors. He got the U.S. Open, beating Kel Nagle in 1965. In 1968, he won his second British Open, beating Bob Charles and Jack Nicklaus. In 1972 he won the PGA, hi second.

In 1974 he captured two majors. The Masters was his, over Dave Stockton and Tom Weiskopf, and he earned his third British Open, beating Peter Oosterhuis. Player’s final major victory was over Rod Funseth, Hubert Green and Tom Watson in the 1978 Masters.

Player has competed in six decades. He has 165 worldwide victories, 73 of which are in South Africa, with 24 victories on the PGA Tour.

Next: No. 9 - Ben Hogan