Best Short Game Golfers Of All Time

Best Short Game Golfers Of All Time

It is often said that it is in the short game that the best players in the world separate themselves from mere mortal golfers. Whilst it is impressive to watch the pros bomb it miles from the tee, watching them sink pitches and long putts is always more dramatic.

Today we are going to run have a look at some of those golfers who have the wonderful hands and creativity that it takes to be masters of the short game. This is one for the artists out there and a list of golfers you should try to emulate!

AT A GLANCE:

1. Steve Ballesteros

2. Tiger Woods

3. Jack Nicklaus

4. Gary Player

5. Phil Mickelson

6. Nelly Korda

7. Luke Donald

8. Tom Watson

9. Lee Trevino

10. Jordan Spieth

1. Seve Ballesteros

Quick Facts

Career Achievements:

• Former World Number 1
• Most European Tour wins in history (50)
• 5 major victories (2 Masters, 3 Open Championships)
• 95 tour victories across the globe

Net Worth: $4 million

Overview

A man who learned how to play golf on the beach with only a three iron, Seve was arguably the greatest golfing artist of all time.

Seve would wow golfing audiences by hitting seemingly impossible shots like they were the most simple thing in the world.

Seve was especially known for his Ryder Cup antics and his time playing alongside Jose Maria Olazabal in doubles matches. They have won more points together (12) than any other doubles pairing in the tournament’s history.

Memorable Moments

The most famous short game moment came at The Open in 1979 must be when he went so wayward from the tee he ended up having to take relief from a car. He hit an impressive shot into a cross wind then sunk his putt for a phenomenal up and down.

In 1988, back at Royal Lytham and St Annes, Seve was being chased hard by Nick Price as they approached the 72nd green. Seve pulled his approach and left a tricky pitch shot. He nearly holed it as it nestled inches from the cup to give the Spaniard a tap-in to win his third Open.

2. Tiger Woods

Quick Facts

Career Achievements:

• Former World Number 1 (683 weeks – longer than anyone in history)
• 15 major victories
• 82 PGA Tour victories (tied first with Sam Snead)
• 41 European Tour victories (third all time)

Net Worth: $800 million

Overview

Tiger needs little introduction, he is the greatest golfer of his generation and he transcends the sport.

He is responsible for inspiring many millions of golfers who play today. It is worth saying that I don’t think Tiger’s short game gets the credit it deserves.

Memorable Moments

Who could forget THAT chip-in at the 2005 Masters?! As Tiger so often does, he created pure magic at the perfect time. From the side of the 16th green he deadweight rolled the ball into the hole in one of the greatest short game shots ever seen.

Another piece of sublime wedge artistry came at Bay Hill in 2012. On the 16th hole of the Sunday round at the Memorial Tournament, Tiger sent the crowd into a frenzy when he canned a seemingly impossible pitch shot.

3. Jack Nicklaus

Quick Facts

Career Achievements:

• Most major victories in history (18)
• 117 professional tournament wins
• 73 PGA Tour victories (third all time)
• 5 time PGA Tour player of the year

Net Worth: $400 million

Overview

Jack Nicklaus is another golfer who needs no introduction. The most successful major championship golfer in history and an absolute gentleman of the game.

Jack continues to be the greatest ambassador of our sport and now focusses on designing world-class golf courses.

Memorable Moments

Nicklaus is one of the best putters in history, he rarely missed from 6 feet and in but also sank some bombs when it mattered most. Nicklaus won his 6th Masters in 1986 with a back nine of 30 to catch Seve and take another green jacket.

During this incredible back nine Jack’s putter was so hot. This video shows you the highlights from his closing holes and you can see that the Golden Bear just cannot miss with the short stick. An iconic moment in golfing history and a short game that made it happen.

4. Gary Player

Quick Facts

Career Achievements:

• 9 major championship titles
• 163 professional tournament wins

Net Worth: $250 million

Overview

The Black Knight is credited with making golf mainstream in South Africa and he became part of the big three with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

Player was a golfer who excelled in all departments of his game but many say that his short game was a particular strength.

Memorable Moments

Dubious though it may be, on the closing hole of the 1974 Open Championship, Player hit a left handed chip with his putter due to his ball sitting very close to the clubhouse. He hit a spectacular shot under the most incredible pressure and won the tournament.

5. Phil Mickelson

Quick Facts

Career Achievements:

• 6 major championship titles
• 45 PGA Tour wins
• Oldest major champion in golfing history

Net Worth: $400 million

Overview

Inspired by the golf of Seve, Mickelson is one of the most spectacularly creative golfers in history he made the “flop shot” famous and can get up and down from anywhere.

Like Seve, Mickelson really struggled off the tee in his career and became an astoundingly good escape artist.

Memorable Moments

At the 2013 WGC Cadillac Championship, Lefty hit a 450 yard drive as his ball ran down the cart path. He then proceeded to play his second shot from the path and hit it to only a few feet from the pin.

At the 2021 PGA Championship, Mickelson holed a stunning bunker shot to extend his lead to two shots. He would go on to win that event and become the oldest major winner of all time. There’s no doubt that Mickelson is a highlight reel machine!

6. Nelly Korda

Quick Facts

Career Achievements:

• Former World Number one on the Rolex Rankings
• Gold Medal winner at 2020 Summer Olympics
• 10 tour victories including 1 major (Women’s PGA Championship)

Net Worth: $5 million

Overview

The darling of American golf, Nelly Korda is a phenomenal athlete who has been dominating the women’s game.

Women’s golf is something that everyone can learn from and a lot of their skills centre around great accuracy and short game skills. Nelly is one to watch!

Memorable Moments

On the 5th hole of the final round at the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Korda left herself the dreaded long bunker shot. An incredible wedge put her close to the flag where she sunk the birdie putt.

Korda also hit the most beautiful long bunker shot on the 14th to set up an easy up and down. That week was an absolute masterclass by the American who couldn’t miss all week.

7. Luke Donald

Quick Facts

Career Achievements:

• Spent 56 weeks as World Number 1
• First dual winner of PGA Tour and European Tour Money Lists
• Once went 483 holes on tour without a 3-putt (Tour record)

Net Worth: $40 million

Overview

Luke Donald has one of the nicest swings you’ll ever see and, when he was at the top of his game, he had one of the most-drama free golf games I’ve ever seen.

He’s in that unwanted group of golfers great golfers who have never won a major championship.

Memorable Moments

We can’t not mention the putting record here. At his peak, Donald was a glorious putter and going 483 holes (3 and a half months) on tour without a 3-putt is just incredible! This was very much what helped Donald get to World Number 1 in 2011.

In this video you will see some of Donald’s PGA Tour highlights. What you will see is that it is packed with short game hole-outs and long putts being drained at clutch moments. Luke Donald’s short game is just scintillating.

8. Tom Watson

Quick Facts

Career Achievements:

• 8 major championship victories
• 70 professional victories
• One of the great links players in history

Net Worth: $25 million

Overview

Tom Watson is one of golf’s great gentlemen and a truly wonderful ambassador for the sport.

Watson provided some magical golfing moments throughout his long and illustrious career and did it all with a huge smile on his face.

Memorable Moments

At the 1982 US Open on Pebble Beach, Watson and Nicklaus were locking horns, as they often did through the years. Watson was short-sided with a downhill lie in the rough beside the 17th green. He hit a beautiful pitch that hit the flag and dropped, he went on to win that major.

At the 1977 Open Championship, also famously known as “The Duel in the Sun”, Watson would chip-in in dramatic fashion as he went on to defeat Nicklaus. It was arguably the greatest head to head final round in golfing history.

9. Lee Trevino

Quick Facts

Career Achievements:

• 6 major wins (only The Masters eluded him)
• 29 PGA Tour wins
• First golfer to shoot all 4 rounds under par at US Open (Oak Hill, 1968)

Net Worth: $45 million

Overview

Lee “Super Mex” is one of the best golfers in history and just always approached golf with a smile on his face.

Trevino was one of those golfers who always interacted with the crowd and became a fan favourite through the years, He also happened to be a brilliant player.

Memorable Moments

Trevino had the short game of a magician and it was entirely self-taught, something rare in these days. At Muirfield in 1972, battling Tony Jacklin, Trevino holed a beautiful chip on the 17th to take the initiative in the tournament. He went on to win and this was a huge turning point.

At the same tournament, Trevino chipped in three times including this glorious bunker shot. He would call himself “the greatest chipper in the world”. With that performance under such great pressure, it is hard to argue with him!

10. Jordan Spieth

Quick Facts

Career Achievements:

• 3 major wins (only the PGA Championship eludes him)
• In 2015 won 2 majors, 2nd in one and T4 in the other
• Second youngest golfer to win the Masters

Net Worth: $110 million

Overview

Jordan Spieth is one of those golfers that you can never count out. He is one that very often provides major fireworks around the greens in big events and has a huge knack for holing key shots when it matters most.

Memorable Moments

Who could forget Spieth holing out from the bunker at the 2017 Travellers Championship in a piece of walk-off magic!

The celebration with caddy Michael Greller has almost become as famous as the shot itself! Fantastic modern golfing drama.

Not just one shot, but the 2015 Masters victory by Spieth was one of the best putting performances ever seen. The whole week he sank seemingly impossible putts and seemed to have the ball die into the hole on almost every putt. Simply sublime putting all week.

Conclusion

The short game is the artistic side of golf and can create some moments of incredible magic and drama in the world of tournament golf.

Looking through some of the various highlights above shows how these golfers had the ability to instantly change events with one moment of genius.

There is something truly special about holing a chip, pitch, bunker shot or long putt. Doing it in a major or in a tour event must be one the greatest feelings that any golfer could ever hope to experience. Sadly, we mere mortals will have to settle with holing out in the monthly medal.

This should make it clear though, if you want to improve your golf, the short game is where you should be focussing your efforts and time. If you have a strong short game then you will always be a dangerous golfer. Consider this your sign to invest in this side of your golf game.