Tiger Woods is on the Mount Rushmore of golf for most people involved in the sport, but not for John Daly. The legendary two‑time major champion—known as much for his golfing prowess as for his easygoing style on and off the course—has a personal “Big Four” selection that doesn’t include the Big Cat.
Daly himself revealed this in an interview with Hard Rock Bet. His selection not only left out Woods but also included some names that few expected.
John Daly’s Mount Rushmore of Golf
GettyJohn Daly didn’t pick Tiger Woods for his Mount Rushmore of Golf.
Naturally, leaving Woods out doesn’t diminish the fact that the four players Daly mentioned are among the biggest stars in golf history.
“My favorite was always (Jack) Nicklaus, Fuzzy Zoeller, (Tom) Watson, (Arnold) Palmer,” Daly said . “Those were the four, that’s the best.”
However, Daly ‘s choice took into account both the golfing merits of his selected players and their qualities as people.
“They’ve been so great to me when I came on tour,” he recalled. “Meeting Jack, I was nervous because I learned how to play golf from Jack Nicklaus (referring to Nicklaus’ Golf Digest instructional series from the 1970s).”
“That’s how I learned how to play,” Daly added. “It was a cartoon. Learned the grip, learned how to slice it, hook it, hit it straight, chip, and putt. And all because of Jack, he was a cartoon character in Golf Digest back then. And I think a lot of kids learn from him that way.”
The Merits of Daly’s Picks
There’s no doubt that Daly’s Mount Rushmore of Golf is an incredibly strong selection. Between them, they amassed 201 professional victories, including 184 on the PGA Tour and 35 major championships.
Nicklaus is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, thanks in large part to his 18 major championship titles. However, he also dominated the PGA Tour (73 titles, third all-time) and the Senior Tour, where he won 10 tournaments, eight of them majors. As if it wasn’t enough, he completed the Career Grand Slam several times.
Palmer is another of the PGA Tour’s great icons. His 62 titles place him fifth on the all-time winning list for the circuit. He won seven majors, and the only leg of the Career Grand Slam he missed was the PGA Championship, where he finished second three times.
Watson is ranked sixth in the all-time major championship wins list, with eight titles, surpassing legends like Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, and the aforementioned Palmer. Add to that feat that his 39 PGA Tour titles place him tied for 10th on the circuit’s all-time list.
As for Zoeller, he had a solid PGA Tour career, with 10 victories, including two major titles. He also achieved 11 top-10 finishes in major championships and 100 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour. On the American-based circuit, he finished second 19 times and third 13 times.
The absence of Tiger Woods
GettyJohn Day faced Tiger Woods countless times in his career.
Despite the aforementioned, Woods’ absence is striking, as he is practically a unanimous selection for these kinds of events. It’s not just his 82 PGA Tour titles (tied for first place all time) and his 15 major titles (second all time). Woods represented a true revolution in world golf at the turn of the 21st century, so his name is firmly rooted in the collective memory of fans, even the youngest who didn’t witness his prime.
However, let’s not forget that every selection is somewhat like the person who makes it. Daly’s is emotional and daring, just like him, which is ultimately what makes him an icon.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us .
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post John Daly Reveals Personal Mount Rushmore of Golf, Tiger Woods’ Not in It appeared first on Heavy Sports .