If anyone is entitled to a strong opinion on the three greatest golfers of all time then it’s probably nine-time major champion and all-round golf legend Gary Player.
Even if he has ruffled a few feathers on social media with his latest hot take…
Gary Player has settled golf’s greatest debate — at least in his eyes
Player, who turns 90 this weekend, was asked to name his top three golfers of all time during a recent Q&A with Golfweek.
And it’s fair to say Player did not hold back with his order of preference.
Jack NicklausTiger WoodsGary Player
While a bold claim, the South African legend has never been short on confidence.
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Player’s career — spanning more than six decades, over 160 professional wins worldwide, and a career grand slam — gives him plenty of credibility to back it up.
And when it comes to ranking greatness, he believes the answer is crystal clear: the numbers tell the story.
For Player, Nicklaus stands alone at the top. Woods follows close behind. And rounding out the trio? The man known as the Black Knight.
Player thinks Woods made some bad choices
Nicklaus vs Woods: The numbers that matter
In the endless debate between Nicklaus and Woods, Player has always sided with the Golden Bear.
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The stats, he says, leave no room for interpretation.
Nicklaus owns a record 18 major championships, 19 runner-up finishes, and an astonishing 73 top-10s in majors.
Woods, meanwhile, boasts 15 majors, 82 PGA Tour titles, and one of the most dominant peaks the sport has ever seen.
But for Player, major championships remain the ultimate yardstick.
Player told Golfweek: “How I judge the best players of all time is I say, ‘there’s the record book. That’s the only way. It’s the record book that’s on paper. And Nicklaus has got the best record. There’s no question.”
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And while he admits Woods’ talent could have rewritten history, Player says potential doesn’t count when it comes to legacy.
Player considers Woods, who continues to recover from multiple surgeries, made some questionable choices that ultimately cost him a chance of catching Nicklaus in the major race.
“If Tiger Woods had made the right choices, he would have been the greatest player that ever lived,” said Player.
“But the worst saying in athletics, in sports, is if. Because if is immaterial. It’s the bottom line.”
Why Player puts himself in the top three
Few golfers have achieved what Player has. Across six continents and countless time zones, he’s amassed victories that few can even imagine — including nine majors, 24 PGA Tour wins, and a proven record in senior golf.
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So, when he includes himself in his all-time top three, he’s not boasting — he’s making a case built on evidence.
“Jack is number one, Tiger number two, and I’m number three,” Player said. “There’s not even a question.”
He knows, though, that not everyone shares his ranking.
“When they judge players, it’s quite interesting, they put Bobby Jones and Arnold (Palmer) ahead of me. You can’t tell me that an amateur golfer has a record that I have in golf. His record is not close to mine. You look at Arnold’s record, it’s not close to mine. I won more majors than Arnold. I won more tournaments than Arnold. I won more senior majors. My stroke averages were better. He didn’t have the record, and he was my brother.”
Despite that, Player speaks warmly of Palmer — a man who, alongside Nicklaus and Player himself, helped define golf’s golden age.
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“But I love the fact, in a way, that they do that, because what he did for golf, and I grew up with him, he was supreme,” said Player.
When it comes to the all-time major win count, Player is tied fourth alongside Ben Hogan – another player who also completed a career grand slam.
Walter Hagen is third with 11 majors, but he never completed a career grand slam.
Rory McIlroy joined the career grand slam club in 2025
Only six players in the history of the game have completed the career slam in the modern era – Sarazen, Hogan, Player, Nicklaus, Woods and Rory McIlroy – the latter who achieved the feat at The Masters in April this season.
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Men’s major championship winning golfers
Rank
Golfer
Winning span
Masters
U.S. Open
The Open
PGA
Total
1
Jack Nicklaus
1962–1986
6
4
3
5
18
2
Tiger Woods
1997–2019
5
3
3
4
15
3
Walter Hagen
1914–1929
0
2
4
5
11
4
Ben Hogan
1946–1953
2
4
1
2
9
4
Gary Player
1959–1978
3
1
3
2
9
6
Tom Watson
1975–1983
2
1
5
0
8
7
Harry Vardon
1896–1914
0
1
6
0
7
7
Bobby Jones
1923–1930
0
4
3
0
7
7
Gene Sarazen
1922–1935
1
2
1
3
7
7
Sam Snead
1942–1954
3
0
1
3
7
7
Arnold Palmer
1958–1964
4
1
2
0
7
The Big Three and the legacy that lives on
In the 1960s, Nicklaus, Palmer, and Player were the heartbeat of golf — rivals on the course, but partners in building the sport into a global spectacle. Together, they won over fans across continents and laid the foundation for today’s game.
Player’s record remains extraordinary: nine majors (two more than both Palmer and Bobby Jones), and a career that produced more worldwide victories than any other professional in history.
Palmer’s 62 PGA Tour wins from 703 starts are remarkable, but Player’s 24 wins in 449 starts showcase a career of incredible efficiency and consistency.
Jack Nicklaus
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Still competing in mind and spirit
As he prepares to celebrate his 90th birthday this Saturday, Player remains as outspoken and driven as ever — still preaching discipline, fitness, and mental toughness as the keys to longevity.
His self-belief hasn’t dimmed with age, and neither has his passion for the game that made him a household name.
Ask him again to name the best three golfers of all time, and you’ll get the same answer — without hesitation.
“Jack is number one, Tiger number two, and I’m number three. There’s not even a question.”
In Gary Player’s world, greatness isn’t a matter of opinion — it’s written in the record books.
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