Gary Player says it’s so clear who the best three golfers of all time are, ‘There’s not even a question’

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Picking the best three golfers of all time always has an element of subjectivity to it and Gary Player has now waded in on the topic with a slightly controversial view.

Player is a nine-time major winner himself and is often mentioned in such conversations, especially when it comes to top tens at the very least.

However, it’s widely accepted in golfing realms that both Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods – with 33 majors between them – are the top two of all time. In what order, again, is another debate.

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When it comes to the third placed golfer, it’s a debate that is wide open. Gary Player is in the chat, but the likes of Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, and Arnold Palmer are always worth noting, while even in modern terms, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy might have something to say.

But according to Player himself, it’s pretty obvious who the number three is.

Gary Player names who the top three golfers of all-time are

Gary Player is never a man shy on confidence.

The South African is well known for being open in his opinions and he makes no excuses when it comes to bigging himself up at times either.

However, even though we are used to Player’s confidence, he’s potentially outdone himself as he bragged that outside of Tiger and Nicklaus, it is indeed himself who is the next best player.

“When they judge players, it’s quite interesting, they put Bobby Jones and Arnold (Palmer) ahead of me,” Player said.

“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.

“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. Jack is number one, Tiger number two, and I’m number three.

“There’s not even a question.”

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Who Jack Nicklaus picked as his best golfers of all-time

This is some confidence from Gary Player and you almost have to applaud it.

Yes, he can back it up with nine major championships but there are so many others who can make a claim to be inside the top three.

As mentioned, it is very subjective and when we look at who Jack Nicklaus picked as his top four ever, Player isn’t even on there.

“Probably be Bobby Jones, probably be Ben Hogan, probably Tiger Woods. I’d like to join them. Myself, that’s four,” Nicklaus has said previously.

With Nicklaus naming himself, self-confidence is clearly rife in the upper echelons of golf but in fairness to the Golden Bear, he is right up there and is the main man in major wins.

As for Player’s inclusion of himself in his own top three, well, it’s bound to cause plenty of debate.