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Jack Nicklaus
As the record-holder of the most major championship wins (18, if you're wondering, between 1962 and 1986), Jack Nicklaus tops most of the top ten lists you'll come across. His record was more than the combined total of his two greatest rivals, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. For a while, it looked like Tiger Woods might take his crown - but that's yet to happen.
Tiger Woods
Is a list of the best golfers ever complete without Tiger Woods? The household name of golf and a champion in his own right, he's second only to Jack Nicklaus when it comes to major championship wins.
Woods has 14 major titles to date, but since 2008, he's been plagued with a series of illnesses and health ailments that have proved detrimental, as well as a press scandal or two.
Still, Woods has played some of the most memorable shots we've ever seen, and his reputation earns him second place on this list.
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Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen is best summed up in Jack Nicklaus's concise description: 'He was one heck of a golfer for his size... probably the most combative of all the great champions.' At just 5ft 5in, Sarazen was smaller than the average golfer, but the power and skill he exercised on the green never failed to impress.
He's perhaps best known as the inventor of the sand wedge, but he's also got plenty of other achievements under his belt: over his career he won all four majors, and at the age of 71 he scored a hole in one at the notorious 'Postage Stamp' eighth hole at the 1973 Open in Troon, Scotland.
Seve Ballesteros
Ballesteros crops up so often on our list of the best golf shots, games and players that it's no surprise he made it to the top ten. He won five major championships at his peak and is the European Tour's biggest winner of all time, but he's best known for his love for – and top performance in – the Ryder Cup, leading Europe to five wins as player and captain.
Tom Watson
As far as golfing longevity goes, Watson was still playing at peak level at the age of 59 when he almost bagged the 2009 Open Championship. With a career that spans 34 years from first to last playoff, Watson's track record is impressive – highlights include being a two-time Ryder Cup champion and a six-time PGA Player of the Year.
Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan, also known as the Hawk, smashed his way into golfing history with his 1953 victory at the Open Championship. The win signalled the finale of Hogan's 'Triple Crown' season, which saw him win five of the six tournaments he entered – including three majors. After serving in the Second World War, Hogan was severely injured in a car crash that left him unsure of whether he'd ever walk again – but just nine months later, he was back on the green.
Sam Snead
Was there ever anything more frustrating in golf than Sam Snead's tantalisingly close second-place finish in the US Open? The tournament was the only major that Snead ever failed to win: instead, he finished second an incredible four times.
Still, he's the PGA Tour's oldest winner at 52, and he was still making his mark at the 1979 PGA Championships at the age of 67. Over his career, Snead racked up an incredible 82 victories – putting him top of the leaderboard in front of Woods (79) and Nicklaus (73).
Arnold Palmer
When Jack Nicklaus is your rival, it can be difficult to get your moment in the spotlight, but for Arnold Palmer, this was never a problem. Also known as the ‘King’, Palmer was the first TV sports superstar and a celebrity in his own right thanks to his charm, skill and cool demeanour. Over 23 years, he competed against the likes of Nicklaus, Gary Player and Billy Casper, and won seven majors in a six-year period.
Gary Player
With a nickname like the Black Knight, Gary Player was never going to be a write-off. The golfing star dominated South Africa's Sunshine Tour with 72 victories, and he racked up 165 wins over his six-decade career. Player is one of just five golfers to achieve a career grand slam, earning himself a place in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Walter Hagen
Hagen had a huge 11 major champion victories up his sleeve by the time he retired, making him the third winningest player in history – beaten only by Woods and Nicklaus. Five of those wins were PGA Championship victories, played when the PGA was a match-play format. As the first native American to win the Open Championship, Hagen definitely has a claim to the top ten players of all time.
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