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Best Golfers: Ranking the 10 greatest short games all-time

By Christopher O'Day

AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Phil Mickelson (L) of the United States talks with captain Tom Watson on the 6th tee during the Morning Fourballs of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel on September 26, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Phil Mickelson (L) of the United States talks with captain Tom Watson on the 6th tee during the Morning Fourballs of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel on September 26, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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BRESCIA, ITALY – MAY 2: Seve Ballesteros of Spain hits from the 6th hole bunker in front of a watchful crowd during the second round of the Italian Open on May 2, 2003 at The Gardagolf Country Club in Brescia, Italy. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
BRESCIA, ITALY – MAY 2: Seve Ballesteros of Spain hits from the 6th hole bunker in front of a watchful crowd during the second round of the Italian Open on May 2, 2003 at The Gardagolf Country Club in Brescia, Italy. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Best Golfers #2: Seve Ballesteros

Seve Ballesteros was, without question, one of the greatest around the green of all time. In fact, in 2012, there was a poll done by Golf Digest asking current players who were the current best and all-time best in different areas of the game. The players voted Seve as the best all-time at the short game. Not only that, but he was ranked as the best out of bunkers all-time as well.

He needed both of these, as Seve was wild off the tee. His ability to scramble, from any position, and get nice and close to the hole was incredible. It kept his scores low and discouraged those that he played with, as it seemed like he would get out of any position without fail. At the age of 19, Seve showed both his confidence in his short game and his aggressiveness and belief in his ability.

At Royal Birkdale in 1976, Seve went into the final round with a two-shot lead. The pressure was too much for young Seve, as he fell apart, shooting a final round 74. Making this 74 more incredible was that he played the last 6 holes in 5-under par.

Approaching the 18th, he needed a par to tie Jack Nicklaus for second place. His second shot left him in, what seemed to be at least, an impossible situation. The course was dry and burnt, and the flop shot that seemed to be the only option wouldn’t be able to get him close. With two bunkers and no line to the mortal eye for a bump, it seemed like second place would be Jack’s alone.

Seve was no mere mortal. He played the low shot, bouncing it between the bunkers. The crowd groaned at first, but young Seve played it exactly as he wanted, skirting it through trouble, with the ball rolling up to four feet from the hole. He made the putt, tying Jack for second.

Part of the reason Seve was so good in the bunkers was he grew up playing on the beach. Literally. He didn’t have a place to practice as a youth, so he would go down to the beach and hit golf balls. Thinking about it that way, it makes sense that someone who grew up hitting on the beach would be so great out of the sand.

It was said that the shots looked natural or instinctive to him like he was born to do it. The technique might not be all there, but he knew how to do it, and was a pure natural. As Ben Crenshaw once said, “Seve plays shots I don’t even see in my dreams”.

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