LINKS Magazine Names the Best Golfer of All Time in its 25th Anniversary Edition

(Hilton Head, S.C.) — The question is as old — and as tricky — as the game itself: “Who is the best golfer of all time?”

While most pundits usually dodge giving a straight answer, LINKS Magazine — the freshest and most exciting magazine in golf — has no such qualms. In the magazine’s 25th anniversary edition, which features six lists of “Top 25s” in golf’s long history, the editors come right out and say that the best player is …

… Either Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods. They are numbers one and two, but the winner isn’t going to be named here.

Perhaps even more interesting than who tops the list is the lineup of stars that follow. The names include Hogan, Hagen, and Snead, not to mention Jones, Watson, and Mickelson. Plus a few that are sure to surprise even the savviest of golf fans.

“We’ve taken the bold and brazen path,” explains editor George Peper, who adds, “Having said that, we’ve also copped out a bit.” Acknowledging that it is difficult to rank the best of the best across eras, genders, and continents, the Top 25 list of players is divided into three groups: Top 15 Americans, Top 5 Internationals, and Top 5 Women.

How were the rankings determined? Number of victories is not the only criterion. “All three lists take into account other factors,” says Peper, “such as longevity, singular achievements, and overall contributions to the game.”

As for LINKS’ contributions to the game, the list of Top 25 Players, as well as the Top 25 Golf Resorts in the world, are viewable now on the magazine’s website, linksmagazine.com, where readers can weigh in with their opinions of the results.

All six Top 25 lists will be released in the print edition of LINKS this week, at which point they also will be available on the new iPad, Android, and Kindle Fire versions, which come as part of the magazine’s new “All Access” subscription.

Contact: NEOhioGolf@yahoo.com