Over time, the sport of golf has evolved into a worldwide athletic craze that has more and more people participating in it everyday. This increase in participation is the direct result of the all-time great golfers who have stepped onto the biggest stages and found success time and again. From past greats like Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer to present superstars like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, there has always been the opportunity for fans to bear witness to golfing greatness. The following are just a few of those athletes who could be considered as those who reached the pinnacle of their profession.

Ben Hogan

Not only is Hogan renowned for his multiple professional golf victories, he is also considered to be one of the godfathers of the common-day golf swing. Many present-day golf coaches continue to reference Hogan’s swing as being one of the purest, most fluid swings in the history of the game. In terms of professional success, Hogan won 9 Major Championships, including 4 U.S. Open Championships and 2 Masters victories. He also was able to accumulate 64 total PGA Tour victories throughout his career. In 2009, Hogan was named as the 4th greatest player of all time by Golf Magazine.

Sam Snead

One of Ben Hogan’s biggest rivals was Sam Snead. Snead was the winner of 7 Major Championships and 82 PGA victories. What is truly amazing about Snead’s game is the fact that Snead is recorded as having won 165 professional tournaments, which would rank him first all-time for most professional victories. After his PGA Tour days were over, Snead went on to find victory in 14 Senior tournaments. In 2000, Golf Digest ranked Snead as the 3rd best golfer of all-time behind Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan.

Jack Nicklaus

Truly one of of golf’s greatest players of all-time, distinguished as such by numerous publications including Golf Digest and Golf Magazine, Jack Nicklaus’ golfing accomplishments continue to be the standard by which all other golfers are measured against. Nicklaus currently holds the record for most Major Tournament victories in a career with 18. His 73 PGA Tour victories rank him second behind Sam Snead. He also had 10 Senior PGA Tour victories as well as 10 other Senior victories. Today, Nicklaus is widely renowned as one of the greatest golf-course designers on the planet, as he has helped design over 100 courses.

Tiger Woods

Woods is currently ranked as the World’s #1 Golfer. His 14 Major Championships rank him 2nd behind only Jack Nicklaus, and his 71 PGA Tour victories rank him 3rd all-time. Considering that Woods is only 34 years old, his accomplishments up to this point in his career have put him on a path to being considered the best golfer of all-time. Magazines and publications have already designated Woods as one of the five best golfers ever to step on a course, and Woods continues to garner the PGA Tour higher and higher ratings with every tournament he enters.