GOLF DIGEST HAS PUBLISHED “Best Rivalries in Golf,” the magazine’s top 75 ranking of the game’s most intense and enduring grudge matches. I can’t argue with Nicklaus vs. Palmer at No. 1 on the list. There was a nine-year stretch from 1958 to 1966 during which Arnold and Jack captured seven Masters. Actually, Nicklaus appears in at least five of the rivalries. Besides Arnie, Jack’s other listed rivals include Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, Lee Trevino and Tom Weiskopf.
Sam Snead vs. Ben Hogan is a solid pick, as is Bobby Jones vs. Walter Hagen. I’m not buying Mickelson vs. Woods at No. 4. Tiger has had no true rival to this point. (Tiger vs. Field?) That’s bound to change. And perhaps soon.
The rankings are an interesting walk through golf history and include non-player rivalries that have impacted the game. Courses, issues, architects, countries, grasses, continents, swing coaches, college programs, magazines, baseball players, equipment and even years (1953 vs. 2000) are pitted against each other.
Take a look here.
−The Armchair Golfer
(Image: Keith Allison/Flickr)
Tiger vs. The Field. I was thinking the same thing.
Jim Dauer
FullForesome.com
Wow – that's scary – a decades old magazine dedicated to one sport…and they came up with SEVEN rivalries…then filled the other 13 spots with nonsense that shows that they don't understand the concept of a rivalry.
couldn't agree more with that tiger vs. the field comment. at the end of the day it's the intense competition/rivalry that makes sport such an engrossing spectacle.