Who Gary Player once named as the best golfer he has ever seen play the game

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Gary Player surprisingly once opted for someone other than Jack Nicklaus as the best player he has ever seen play the game.

Not only did Player overlook Nicklaus as the best of all time, but he didn’t name the late great Arnold Palmer.

The South African, who won nine major championships during his illustrious career, chose to ignore Tiger Woods as well, when discussing who he thinks was the best to ever do it.

Player himself is one of the greatest golfers of all time, and he still manages to shoot around even par at the age of 89 – a truly remarkable feat.

Since the nine-time major champion stopped playing competitively, he has never been shy in voicing his opinions.

Player even criticized Augusta National in 2023 for their failure to make him feel welcome when he returns.

He never speaks simply to appease people, so whenever he offers his opinion on anything concerning golf, we know it has come straight from the heart.

Gary Player once named Ben Hogan as the best golfer he has ever seen

Ben Hogan arguably had the best swing the game has ever seen. His rhythm, tempo and timing were all uniquely brilliant.

The fact that he came back from a devastating car crash in 1949 to win six more major championships to take his tally to nine was unbelievable to say the least.

And Hogan clearly garnered the respect from the very best players in the game.

When speaking to Golf Monthly in 2018, Player was asked whether there is one golfer who stands head and shoulders above the rest.

He said: “Not right now. There are great players but nobody is dominating. When Tiger Woods was at the peak of his powers then yes, or Nicklaus or Hogan, yes… they stood out. Hogan is still the best golfer I have ever seen. I’ve never seen anybody close to his swing. He changed his swing entirely to hit that fade and he said when he eventually found out how to swing, he was too old to put it fully into practice. That’s some thought!“

The Texan, who passed away in 1997, left an indelible mark on the sport, and his swing is still studied closely by golf instructors and prospective PGA Tour pros to this very day.

Gary Player vs Ben Hogan: PGA Tour and major records compared

Player and Hogan are two of only six men to have ever won the Grand Slam, so it goes without saying they are legends of the game.

Here is how their records on the PGA Tour compare:

For context, it’s worth noting that Player competed outside of America for large spells of his career, and actually has 159 professional victories to his name.

When naming the greatest golfers of all time, Hogan and Player feature in most people’s top-fives.

However, Player believes the American stands alone at the top, and that is proof of just how good Mr Hogan was in his heyday.