Best Golf Iron Players Of All Time

Golf Happy Golfers

When you watch tournament golf it’s very common to watch highlight reels packed with long drives and holed chips.

One of the most underrated part of the game lies in between that where we can see great drama and incredible skill, the iron play.

The most common club-type in the bag, irons are the bread and butter of great golfers and you can’t become one of the best players of all time without being a great iron player.

The irons test your ball-striking more than any other part of the game. Let’s look at some of the best of all time.

AT A GLANCE

  • #1 – Rory McIlroy

  • #2 – Ben Hogan

  • #3 – Tiger Woods

  • #4 – Justin Rose

  • #5 – Lydia Ko

  • #6 – Collin Morikawa

  •  #7 – Louis Oosthuizen

  • #8 – Jon Rahm

  • #9 – Nick Faldo

  • #10 – Arnold Palmer

#1 – Rory McIlroy

Quick Facts

Career Achievements

  • Former World Number 1 (102 weeks)
  • Winner of 4 major championships
  • 2 time winner of the Race to Dubai, 2 time winner of the FedEx Cup

Net Worth

  • $200 million

Overview

Rory has become one of the top stars of modern golf and has been at the top of the game for many years now. A golfing prodigy, Rors has provided golf fans with buckets of golfing drama through the years, not always great for Rory but drama nonetheless.

Why He Is So Good With Irons

McIlroy has one of those golf swings that screams power. His unique hip action and rotational speed has helped him hit the ball a long way. He also hits the ball with awe-inspiring height and is one of the great ball-strikers of modern golf.

Memorable Moments

At the 2018 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Rory hit a 240-yard iron which hit the flag. He nearly made an improbable eagle after a penalty drop. This hole in one at the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship in 2015 was his first ever hole in one as a pro.

There was also this majestic 307-yard 2 iron at the WGC Mexico in 2019. The beautifully smooth swing here shows the effortless power that Rors can generate when he’s swinging it well.

#2 – Ben Hogan

Quick Facts

Career Achievements

  • 9 major championship victories
  • One of only four golfers to have completed the career Grand Slam
  • 64 PGA Tour victories (4th all time)

Net Worth

  • $4 million

Overview

Thought of as having the best golf swing in the history of the game, Ben Hogan is one of the truly legends of our sport. The history of Hogan is a fascinating one and this is a man who gave his all to becoming the absolute best golfer he could possibly be.

Why He Is So Good With Irons

Hogan approached golf in a tremendously methodical way and he worked tirelessly to get the most from his swing. Hogan had wonderful hands and it helped him become one of the greatest ball-strikers of all time. On top of all of that, he generated incredible power.

Memorable Moments

At the 1950 US Open at Merion, Hogan needed to get down in three shots from 213 yards on the final hole to tie the tournament. He hit one of the most famous one iron shots in history. Long story short Hogan won the tournament.

When Hogan won The Open Championship in 1953, his one and only victory in the oldest major in golf, it is said that his iron play was sublime. Having spent the fortnight before the event at Panmure to learn links golf, it is so impressive that he picked up this style of golf so quickly.

#3 – Tiger Woods

Quick Facts

Career Achievements

  • 15 major championship victories
  • One of only four golfers to have been rewarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Achieved the career Grand Slam three times including the “Tiger Slam”

Net Worth

  • $800 million

Overview

Peak Tiger’s game had no weaknesses so it is no surprise to see him taking up a spot on this list. Tiger could create drama from literally anywhere on the course during a tournament, especially in the majors. He is the greatest player of our generation and a modern legend of golf.

Why He Is So Good With Irons

Tiger was always fearless on the course and would attempt shots that seemed impossible, His athletic swing and flawless ball-striking meant he rarely missed his target. Tiger’s laser-like focus meant that the moment never got on top of him and he was ice cool under pressure.

Memorable Moments

Speaking of the above, nothing captures this like his famous bunker shot on the 72nd hole of the Bell Canadian Open. A 218-yard 6 iron from a bunker and all over water in close and enough for a birdie to win the tournament. Sheer Tiger drama!

That bunker shot was easy compared to what Tiger did at the 2002 PGA Championship. This 3-iron from the sand on the 18th was utterly scintillating! Tiger could have a whole article to himself here!

#4 – Justin Rose

Quick Facts

Career Achievements

  • Olympic Gold medallist (Rio 2016)
  • Finished 4th in the Open Championship as an amateur
  • Won the US Open in 2013

Net Worth

  • $50 million

Overview

Justin Rose is one of those evergreen modern golfers that you can never count out. He tends to play drama-free golf that oozes class. Rose has finished in the top three of each major and has won one. A great golfer and a gentleman by all accounts.

Why He Is So Good With Irons

The swing of Justin Rose is one of classic simplicity. His power comes from supreme sequencing and smooth tempo. These combined factors are one of the reasons that Rose has been on the scene for so long 23 years to be precise.

Memorable Moments

Who could forget that incredible Sunday at Medinah in 2012? Rose and Mickelson had a proper Ryder Cup battle that day and, his shot into 18 that set-up his match winning putt to hand another point to Europe and build that pressure. Incredible!

Just a few months later, Mickelson and Rose would lock horns again at Merion in the US Open. They had a phenomenal battle in the final round but the Englishman’s 4 iron into the final hole was spectacular! It may not have held the green but it really helped him seal the deal!

#5 – Lydia Ko

Quick Facts

Career Achievements

  • Burst onto the scene at the age of 15
  • Former World Number 1
  • 23 professional wins (2 majors)

Net Worth

  • $3 million

Overview

Lydia Ko is one of the most technically skilled golfers that you will ever see. She seems like she has been on the professional circuit for decades but that’s because she made her debut at the age of 15! She continues to build her game and is currently regaining her previous prowess.

Why She Is So Good With Irons

The technical excellence of Ko makes her a phenomenal iron player. She just doesn’t miss and has laser-like accuracy on the course. Her iron swing is compact and her hands are brilliant through the ball.

Memorable Moments

What about the incredible ricochet hole-out at the 2019 HSBC Women’s Championship. Ko hit a beautiful iron shot that crept up to the hole and took a helping hand to get into the hole. Ko also carded an ace at the 2016 Olympic Games, how memorable must that be?

#6 – Collin Morikawa

Quick Facts

Career Achievements

  • Former world amateur number one
  • Won PGA Championship and Open Championship on his debut of each
  • First American to win the European Tour’s Race to Dubai

Net Worth

  • $7 million

Overview

Morikawa is one of this fearless crop of college graduates that are injecting some youth in the professional golf world. His astounding major debuts have, understandably, made him one of golf’s hottest prospects right now.

Why He Is So Good With Irons

Many say that Morikawa is the best iron player in the game right now. His quality of ball-striking comb lined with unbelievable accuracy make him a bit of a phenom. He can take on almost any shot and he just seems incapable of missing.

Memorable Moments

It’s hard to choose just on shot from the young American that impressed during his Open Championship victory at Royal St George’s. A course that demands accuracy and patience, only a properly good iron player can win there.

As a European, this one hurts, but Morikawa hit a sublime shot from 222 yards to seal the Ryder Cup for USA at Whistling Straits in 2021. This shot was an example of the fearlessness that the young man possesses.

#7 – Louis Oosthuizen

Quick Facts

Career Achievements

  • Winner of the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews
  • Has finished 2nd (at least once) in every major
  • Sunk an albatross at The Masters in 2012 (the 4th in tournament history)

Net Worth

  • $40 million

Overview

Louis holds the dubious title of having a career Grand Slam of runner-up finishes. He may have one major championship as it stands but it’s hard not to think that he will add to this. Oosthuizen is one of those golfers who just turns it on during major championships.

Why He Is So Good With Irons

There may not be a silkier swing in golf than that of Louis Oostshuizen. His sublime smoothness creates great speed but with very little that can go wrong. This swing means that he just doesn’t make many mistakes, especially under pressure.

Memorable Moments

It’s already been mentioned, but the albatross at the 2012 Masters was an incredible shot. A 253 yard 4-iron that ran the length of the green and dropped into the hole. This would have been an impressive putt never mind a second shot on a par 5!

Another piece of magic from Oosthuizen at the 2016 Masters came on the 16th. His beautiful hole in one is at the very top of this video of top-10 hole in ones at the Masters and deservedly so!

#8 – Jon Rahm

Quick Facts

Career Achievements

  • Current World Number 1
  • First Spanish golfer to win the US Open
  • Held the world amateur number 1 spot for the longest period in history (60 weeks)

Net Worth

  • $13 million

Overview

Jon Rahm has fans all over the world. As a hero of the Spanish game, he is a firm fan favourite for Europeans and also boasts a lot of support in the US as he attended college in Arizona. Rahm is an explosive golfer and a joy to watch.

Why He Is So Good With Irons

Jon Rahm has a uniquely compact golf swing. His very abbreviated backswing is, he recently explained, due to a club foot. He has made up for this lack of flexibility by creating power using other techniques but the shortness of the swing makes it less prone to mistakes.

Memorable Moments

We’re back at The Masters again! As part of the tradition of the great week, players have started trying to skim balls over the water at the 16th hole. Well, although not in tournament play, Rahm hit the most incredible ace. Amazing shot!

At the 2020 WGC Mexico, Rahm shot a very impressive 61. This round was packed with stunning iron shots and many near hole in ones, he eventually holed a wedge for an ace too. Just a perfect round of golf.

#9 – Nick Faldo

Quick Facts

Career Achievements

  • 6 major championship victories
  • Held the World Number 1 spot for 97 weeks
  • 30 European Tour victories (5th most)

Net Worth

  • $70 million

Overview

Nick Faldo, now a common voice in golf commentary, is one of the best golfers in the history of the game. He was a true-devotee of the game and worked tirelessly to maximise his skill on the course, This was rewarded with his various victories during his career.

Why He Is So Good With Irons

Faldo had an absolutely textbook perfect golf swing. He was known for the many hours he spent at the range working on his technique and the pay-off for this was a very consistent golf game, especially with the irons.

Memorable Moments

At the Belfry in 1993, during the Ryder Cup, Faldo hit a stunning ace. It was one of those shots that just seemed to have no intentions of going anywhere except in the hole. A beautiful iron that got the home crowd going!

Faldo counts his approach to the final green at Muirfield at The Open in 1992 as his best shot. His low 3-iron nearly hit the flag and helped him to victory. The shot may not be spectacular but it was about him overcoming the nerves to execute that fantastic shot.

#10 – Arnold Palmer

Quick Facts

Career Achievements

  • Won 62 PGA Tour titles over a 6 decade career
  • Winner of 7 majors
  • Brought golf to the attention of the working class man

Net Worth

  • $750 million

Overview

Arnold Palmer is a legend of the game in the truest sense of the word. He was the first player from humble beginnings to excel in the game and show non-country club golfers that they could reach the pinnacle of the game. He is affectionately known as “The King”.

Why He Is So Good With Irons

A smooth swing with a powerful lower body movement made Palmer one of the most consistent players of his generation. This gave him impressive distance but also meant that his upper body could be relatively quiet whilst the big muscles in his leg drove his swing.

Memorable Moments

At The Open in 1961, Palmer and the rest of the field faced proper links conditions on the second day. The 50mph gusts of wind got so bad that Palmer gave up on hitting driver and just hit 1-iron throughout. Not a single shot but magic from The King nonetheless.

On that same week, Palmer hit a spectacular 6-iron from the base of a bush which is now marked by a plaque. It was on the 15th hole which is not the 16th in the current routing of the course. Magic on the way to Palmer’s first Open. He also went on to defend the next year!