The history of golf is a long and complicated one. Believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands, the game has now spread around the world, becoming one of the most popularly played sports. Golf clubs are hugely popular and attended in countries like Canada, the United States of America, Japan, and of course, Great Britain.
A Brief Intro to Golf
Apart from being one of the most played game around the world, golf is also a surprisingly popular sport to watch, especially in the aforementioned countries. Golf matches and tournaments are some of the most watched sporting events, especially when it comes to the big names in the sport, like the Masters, the Open Championship, the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Open.
Another fact about golf that might surprise some is the popularity that golf enjoys in the betting scene. At first golf might not seem like a traditional betting sport, however, once you take into consideration the fact that golf is not a “seasonal sport”, it begins to make sense. You see, golf is played in some ways all year round, which means that parlay betting in golf is available and profitable throughout the year. This already puts the sport ahead of others like football, rugby, or basketball.
When it comes to golf athletes, everyone has heard of the big names like Tiger Woods. However, some of the top golfers in the world have come from Great Britain, and in this article, we would like to take a look at a few of the greatest British golfers of all time.
Nick Faldo
Perhaps the greatest British golfer of all time, Nicholas Alexander Faldo has certainly proved his worth as one of the top tier players of his time. During his era, Faldo was celebrated by fans and fellow athletes, not just for his skill on the field, but also his dedication to and passion for the game.
During his career, Nick Faldo managed to attain 41 wins. Out of these, 30 were European Tour victories, and six were victories at major championships. He won three Open Championships, his first in 1987, his second in 1990, and his third in 1992, and he also won three Masters, in 1989, 1990 and 1996. He was also ranked as the number 1 best golfer for 96 weeks by the Official World Golf Ranking.
Nick Faldo retired in 2015, however, his contributions to the game did not stop there. He joined the CBS Sports team as the lead golf analyst a year after his retirement and also joined the BBC Sport Open Championship coverage team. For his accomplishments and contributions to the game of golf, Nick Faldo was knighted in 2009 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Justin Rose
From a retired player, we move to an active golfer with Justin Peter Rose. Mister Rose plays most of his game on the PGA Tour, however, he also retains membership at the European Tour. He joined the professionals in 2012, at the age of 32, and just one year later he won his first major championship, the 2013, U.S. Open. In doing so, Rose became the first Englishman since Nick Faldo to win a major championship, and the first since Tony Jacklin to win the U.S. Open.
But this is not where Rose’s accomplishments end. In fact, his greatest accomplishment came in 2016, when he won the gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics. With this victory, Rose joined the ranks of greats, as one of the only five golfers in history to win a major official tournament on all six continents where golf is played. Certainly, he is considered one of the greatest players in the game.
JH Taylor
From former legend, to current player, to foundational figure. John Henry Taylor was born in 1871, and is considered one of the pioneers of the modern iteration of golf that we all love today. To many, Taylor is not just one of the greatest of all time, but the undisputed best, not just because of his track record and play history, but also because of his contributions to the game itself.
Taylor was one of the founding members of the British PGA and a prominent golf course architect, as well as a reputable author, who wrote two golf books which are considered required reading for golf athletes and enthusiasts