The game of golf now revolves around the pro golfers. We all have Walter Hagen to thank for that. But nevertheless, we've had some great amateur players over the years. Check out my list of top ten amateurs, which are listed below. And to see the women click here.
Bobby Jones--The undisputed king of amateurs; won 4 US Opens, 3 British Opens, 5 US Amateurs, 1 British Amateur title from 1923-1930
John Ball, Jr---won 8 British Amateurs and 1 Open Championship from 1888-1912
Harold Hilton--won 4 British Amateurs and 2 Open Championships to go along with 1 US Amateur title…from 1892-1911
Jerry Travers--won 4 US Amateur titles and 1 US Open from 1907 - 1915
Michael Bonallack--Won the British Amateur title 5 times from 1961-1970
Lawson Little--won both the US Amateur and the British Amateur in 1934 and 1935…turned pro is 1936.
Walter Travis--won 3 US Amateurs and 1 British Amateur from 1900-1904
Tiger Woods--while an amateur won 3 US Amateur titles from 1994-1996 (he became the youngest winner of the US Amateur with his 1994 win)
A reader sent me an email informing me that Harvie Ward deserved consideration in regards to making this list. I have done research concerning Mr. Ward and I agree. He is a two time winner of the US Amateur Championship (1955 and 1956) and the 1952 British Amateur Champion. Additionally, he won several other amateur titles. He had two top ten finishes in the Masters and one top ten in the US Open. Furthermore, you can read about Mr. Ward in the book entitled, "The Match."
I received another email informing me that the following amateur golfers also deserve consideration...
Carole Semple Thompson-- She is the first, and to date only, women on this list. Readers...please send more women amateur golfer information as I confess ignorance. Nevertheless, I've researched Mrs. Semple-Thompson...she won the 1973 US Women's Amateur, the 1974 British Ladies Amateur, two US Women's Mid-Am's, and she won 4 consecutive US Senior Women's Amateur Championship (1999-2002). She is one of only five players to win 3 different USGA championships, the others are JoAnne Carner, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods.
Jay Sigel-- won the US Amateur twice, the US Mid-Am three times, and the British Amateur twice all from 1979-1984.
Bill Campbell-- won the US Amateur in 1964 and two US Senior Opens in 1979 and 1980.
Bill Hyndman-- was a two time winner of the US Senior Open (1973 and 1983)
There is no doubt in my mind that the topic people are most passionate about is amateur golf. I think this speaks to the core of what the game is and always has been. Nevertheless, I have been contacted by another reader with a person who needs consideration for this list...
Back-to-Back High School State Championships 3-Time All-American at Oklahoma State Runner-Up at '94 U.S. Amateur to none other than Tiger Woods Note: Was actually up 5 with 12 remaining 3 Walker Cup Appearances ('95, '03 & '07) 4 U.S. Open Appearances as an Amateur (Low Amateur in '03 at Olympia Fields) 2 Masters Appearances as an Amateur ('94 as US Am Runner-Up & '08 as '07 US Mid-Am Champ) '07 - Helped Texas retain USGA State Team Amateur Title
