When most people think of the best golf players of all time, their mind will often go to the best American players. And with players like Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Phil Mickelson and more, it’s hard to argue. However, there are a ton of great international players out there that deserve attention, like these five. Here are the arguable three best international golfers in the history of the PGA.
1. Nick Faldo – England
(source: thememorialtournament.com)
Not only is Faldo arguably the best English golfer of all time, he was even knighted by the British monarchy and now will forever be known as Sir Nick Faldo. Faldo became a pro golfer in 1976 and has 41 professional wins with six of them being majors (three Masters and three Open Championships). He was the consensus number one golfer in the world for 97 weeks and was noted for his extreme dedication and devotion to the game of golf. Since taking a step back from competition, Faldo has become a television personality for a number of different championships for different networks.
2. Ernie Els – South Africa
(source: dubaiagain.com)
When you are considered by a large amount of the population as the second best player of the Tiger Woods era, there is no questioning whether you are one of the best of all time. Known for his fluid and beautiful golf swing and imposing 6’3 frame, Els was a former world number one with 67 total wins in his career. Of these 67, his most impressive are his two U.S Open wins and his two Open Championship wins, making him one of only six golfers to win both of those tournaments twice. Not only is Els a great golfer, but he is an even better man with his charitable foundation that supports underprivileged youth in South Africa.
3. Gary Player – South Africa
(source: telegraph.co.uk)
Along with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Player was a member of the Big Three, which was a word to describe the best players in the world from the 50’s through the 70’s. If you compare his resume and legacy to other international players, it is hard to argue that he isn’t the best. Player has 165 professional wins and a massive 9 majors and is one of the few players to win all four and is the only international player to have that accomplishment. He is also a prolific golf writer an course designer as well.
