Mount Rushmore of Golf?

[golfinnut]

Tiger Woods was asked at the Ryder Cup media day, who he would put on the Mount Rushmore of Golf if it was built.

 

"Sam Snead, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus and .... myself" 

 

So it got me thinking.  Who would I put there?  And why? 

 

I agree with Tiger on the first 3 people .... Sam Snead because he won the most times.  Bobby Jones ... well because he's Bobby Jones.  Won the Open Championship 3 times as well as the US Open 4 times & gave us Augusta.  Jack Nicklaus ... duh, best golfer ever won 18 majors.  But I wouldn't put Tiger up there yet.  

I choose Old Tom Morris for the 4th guy.  He was born at the birth place of golf at St. Andrews & won the Open 4 times.

 

So MGS ... who would you put on the Mount Rushmore of Golf ... and why? 

 

 

[Mr. 82]

I agree with Tiger completely.  Almost not debatable.

[Bucky CC]

I would put Jones, Palmer, Nicklaus, and Woods. They each left their own major mark on the industry. Sam Snead is great, but how many non-golfers even know who he is?

 

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[Shankster]

Arnie, Jack, Seve, Tiger

[PING Apologist #9]

Arnie, Jack, Seve, Tiger

Ditto!

[GB13]

Palmer, Jack, Hogan, Snead.

[excourse]

Sam Snead, my favorite golfer of all time.

Harvey Penick, perhaps the greatest teacher of all time

Ben Hogan, well because he's Ben Hogan

Babe Zaharias, she essentially broke the gender barrier.

If I had to choose a 5th, it would be Bobby Jones who gave golf its reputation as a gentlemans game or Arnie Palmer who brought golf to the masses via TV.

 

With guys like Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen, Harry Vardon and Byron Nelson looking in, modern players including Jack, Tiger, Seve etc simply don't make the cut on my Mount Golfmore.

 

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[sixcat]

I would replace Snead with Palmer on Tiger's list for no other reason than Mr. Palmer's lasting contributions to the game.  Every player earning a living on Tour owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. Palmer.  

[Berg Ryman]

I would put Jones, Palmer, Nicklaus, and Woods. 

 

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I mean, this is pretty damn close to what I would come up with too. The problem with these arguments is that there's a list of about 10 guys who could sit on this 4 and I'd have no qualms. The outside for me is Snead, Hagen, Hogan, Player, Seve, and Phil.

 

I'd say a women's golf Mount Rushmore is more straightforward; Zaharias, Wright, Pak, Sorenstam with Nancy Lopez, Laura Davies, and Karrie Webb the next three on the list.

[TheWahoo]

I would put Jones, Palmer, Nicklaus, and Woods. They each left their own major mark on the industry. Sam Snead is great, but how many non-golfers even know who he is?

 

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I totally agree with your selections.   From my perspective, placement on the Mount Rushmore of Golf, is not based singularly on accomplishments on the course but rather their impact on the popularity of, exposure to and transformation of the game.

 

In my opinion, Bobby Jones was one of the most influential individuals in the history of the game.   So much so that he received two ticker-tape parades.  The Masters remains one of today's majors and his innovations through the Masters still sets somewhat of a standard for current tournaments.

 

The impact that Arnold Palmer had on  the popularity of golf cannot be questioned.  His persona combined with the new entertainment media, television, created Arnie's Army that survives his passing.  He remained an important figure to the game long after his playing days.

 

While it was helpful that his exposure to the golfing public began during the latter days of Arnold Palmer's superior play, Jack Nicklaus continued to influence the game's exposure and public popularity.   Being somewhat of a precursor to Tiger Woods, Jack set the standards of professional golf.  Not quite the same needle as Tiger, he, never the less, was a needle,

 

I don't think Tiger Woods place on the Mount needs much supportive discussion, his place is unquestioned.  He transitioned golf from a game to a sport and his influence on the popularity of the game is not subject to debate. 

[tony@CIC]

Ditto!

+2

[Kenny B]

They all have to be dead to be on the Mt Rushmore of Golf.

[NiftyNiblick]

I find it interesting that older generations of players EXCEPT for Bobby Jones don't get a lot of consideration.

 

Tom Morris won SIX Open championships!

(Tom Watson came within a putt or two of matching that.)

 

Walter Hagen won FIVE PGA Championships and was an absolute bear to face in match play.

He beat the younger Bobby Jones head-to-head in several exhibitions.

 

Gene Sarazen was the first "non-WASP" (unless you count amateur Francis Ouimette) to popularize the game with more ethnic people in the USA.

 

Harry Vardon actually came to the United States at the invitation of A.G.Spalding to help get the game going here.

 

I find that in almost every sport, younger people have less interest in history that we "boomers" did back when we were kids.  Today's kids simply don't read as much, I think.

[Shankster]

I love history Nifty.

 

Maybe we should do a Mt Rushmore for each major. That would be fun.

[revkev]

A lot depends on the standard for Mount Rushmore.

 

If it's play the Nicklaus and Tiger are locked in with perhaps Jones 3rd and then Hogan I think though it's hard to argue with Sneed or Hagen.

 

If it's influence it's got to be guys that transcend the game

 

Now the pool expands to include Palmer, Hagen - first pro-

 

Again clearly Tiger and Jack are bigger than golf - they are the only two golfers to move the TV ratings needle - I'd probably take Arnie 3rd (he's not likely in my top 10 as a player though he's close) and toss a coin between Jones and Hagen. Gary Player would also get a consideration in this group.

 

 

 

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[geez2323]

This is tough. You almost need two, one for the modern and one for the vintage players. Hard to leave the pioneers off, Hogan, Morris, Hagen, Jones. Then you have the players that changed the game Nicklaus, Woods, Palmer, Snead. I guess if I had to pick I would go with Nicklaus, Woods, Hogan, Jones.

 

 

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[revkev]

This is tough. You almost need two, one for the modern and one for the vintage players. Hard to leave the pioneers off, Hogan, Morris, Hagen, Jones. Then you have the players that changed the game Nicklaus, Woods, Palmer, Snead. I guess if I had to pick I would go with Nicklaus, Woods, Hogan, Jones.

 

 

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Well if we are to make two I'm removing Morris and putting in Harry Vardon - it's not the Morris grip.

 

 

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[Thin2win]

Now, since I like to make my choices easier, and since the topic is specifically Mount Rushmore. My mind tells me this can only include American golfers. Rushmore didn't have the greatest rulers, there is no imperial monarch or Mongol overlords on the hill.

 

So with that caveat, I'd go Tiger, Jack, Bobby and Hogan.

 

If there were such a thing as a borough with hedge sculptures for those across the pond, I'd go Morris, Seve, Player and Vardon.

 

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[revkev]

Beyond Nicklaus and Woods this is a very difficult exercise.

 

 

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[NiftyNiblick]

Beyond Nicklaus and Woods this is a very difficult exercise.

 

 

 

 

No argument from me, Rev.

[revkev]

No argument from me, Rev.

But it is fun and we've gotten in some great mentions.

 

 

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[LeftyHawk]

Morris, Vardon, Jones, Palmer

[TBT]

Jones, Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus


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