The Golf 100: A Spirited Ranking of the Greatest Players of All Time

by Michael Arkush

Overview

A rollicking ranking of the greatest golfers of all time, past and present, brimming with the intimate stories and perspective only a longtime golf writer like Michael Arkush can muster.

So, who’s the best of 'em all? Tiger Woods? Jack Nicklaus? Bobby Jones? Ben Hogan? Golf fans will disagree until the end of time, but one thing is certain: For well over 100 years, the sport has provided its share of spectacular careers and indelible moments. And what about fan favorites such as Phil Mickelson, Nancy Lopez, and Lee Trevino? Where do they rank on the list? Or modern players like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Nelly Korda, and Justin Thomas. Did they make the final cut—and if so, where?

In a joyride through golf history itself, New York Times bestselling author Michael Arkush establishes a ranking system that places a heavy emphasis on the game’s major championships and profiles the most accomplished and impactful golfers ever—men and women, known and unknown. Arkush captures the flair, as well as the flaws, of athletes who are intensely competitive, funny, peculiar, or larger-than-life. Crafted from hundreds of interviews and longtime relationships developed over a quarter century, The Golf 100 is an immensely entertaining read.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780385549691
Publisher:	Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/01/2025
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Michael Arkush has written or co-written sixteen books, including best sellers with Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson, and Sugar Ray Leonard. A former staff writer for The Los Angeles Times, he has also contributed to the New York Times and Washington Post. He lives in California with his wife, Pauletta.

Editorial Reviews

Mr. Arkush understands that personal opinions are part of the fun.... One could easily treat The Golf 100, with its informative, anecdote-rich, three-to-four-page profiles of each player, as a kind of reference book, ever handy to settle bets.... Yet there are rewards to reading the book straight through.”
—Wall Street Journal

“An index of insightful, lively profiles rife with anecdotes centered on their most joyous and miserable moments... One hundred is a somewhat arbitrary number to cap excellence, impact and irresistible storytelling. It’s plenty for Arkush to mine, though, and relate the history of golf through the very best golfers.”
—Los Angeles Times

“A fun exercise open to debate but with a solid system behind Arkush’s ratings. You might not agree with them all, but that’s part of the beauty of this exercise. For each player ranked, Arkush offers a nice, tidy recap of the player’s career, with tidbits you might not have known. His top 10 is interesting, and it might not be in the order for which you expect, leading to plenty of good conjecture.”
—Sports Illustrated

“What we have here is the most fun, comprehensive argument settler—and starter—in the history of golf. Have at it!”
—Mark Frost, author of The Greatest Game Ever Played and co-creator of Twin Peaks

"An engrossing collection of vignettes featuring 100 of golf’s historically important champions. Michael has written a gem."
—David Fay, Executive Director of the United States Golf Association

"Every golfer should buy this book and let the arguments begin about who's best, but you better be as knowledgable to defend your choices as Michael Arkush is with his.”
—Ron Shelton, director of Tin Cup

"Some people are skilled writers, some are dogged reporters. Michael Arkush, for as long as I’ve known him (which is a long time,) has always been both. In The Golf 100, he again marries fluid prose and effortless storytelling with deep and solid research to attack one of golf’s favorite bar-room arguments; such an easy read, I was done before I knew it and only wanting more."
—Jimmy Roberts, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster

"Award-winning sportswriter and golf historian Michael Arkush has given golf readers everywhere a marvelous present with his latest, The Golf 100. His portraits of the game's greatest 100 players—beginning with hard-luck Johnny McDermott's poignant rise and fall from grace—is a feast of intimate storytelling that hones in on the legends, loners, and forgotten champions who shaped the game we know and love today. This is a book to savor and share (and maybe even debate!) with friends, a glorious guided walk through the game's colorful characters that you won't soon forget."
—James Dodson, author of Final Rounds

“Sure to make you laugh, [The Golf 100] will touch the heart of any and everyone who has played this hardest of games.”
—Kris Tschetter, former player on the LPGA tour

“I have been a golf nut for 30 years. I even married a golf pro! I love the history of the game just as much as I love to play. It’s always difficult to compare history’s greatest players to today’s best, but Michael Arkush gives great history and compelling reasons for his choices of the top 100. This is one of the best golf books to come out in years!”
—Dan Jansen, Olympic Gold Medalist, speed skating

"Michael Arkush is just the right person to take us on a journey through the annals of golf history with this captivating book. Perfect for enthusiasts and historians alike, this book is a tribute to the champions who left an indelible mark on golf."
—Ray Allen, Hall of Famer

“A great read that is sure to generate plenty of debate.”
—WisconsinGolf

"If one or more of your favorite golfers appear on the list in Arkush’s book, it is likely that you’ll discover something new about them."
—Chicago Golf Report

"One man’s crazy attempt to judge golfing greatness. Prolific sportswriter Arkush admits early on that ranking the 100 best male and female golfers was an “impossible task” but does it anyway.... Arkush provides colorful, entertaining profiles of each player in numerical order.... A fine primer for all those upcoming arguments about who was better than who."
—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2025-03-08
One man’s crazy attempt to judge golfing greatness.

Prolific sportswriter Arkush admits early on that ranking the 100 best male and female golfers was an “impossible task” but does it anyway. He first sets up some basic criteria. Those winning majors get 2,000 points and additional points for finishing second to fifth and points for British or American Amateur wins. Winners of each tour’s regular competitions get 300 points. There are bonus points for players who quit early like Byron Nelson (No. 9) or Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa (No. 85). He picks 15 women, with Mickey Wright at an impressive No. 6. Arkush provides colorful, entertaining profiles of each player in numerical order. The little-known golf phenom John McDermott, youngest to win the U.S. Open, is No. 100, followed by Argentina’s Roberto De Vicenzo, with 231 wins. Bernhard Langer (No. 94) was “as tough mentally as any golfer…not named Jack or Tiger.” South Korean Se Ri Pak, at No. 90, “transformed golf globally.” Jim Ferrier (No. 83) was the first Australian to win a major. Popular Nancy Lopez (No. 65) was the “Arnold Palmer of the LPGA tour.” But “no one was more competitive than Hale Irwin,” at No. 54. Two players who sulked to the LIV tour, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka—“He looks like he wants to punch you in the mouth,” said Steve Stricker—are at No. 44 and No. 43. Annika Sorenstam (No. 26) was the “top female golfer of the last half century.” Young Tom Morris (No. 21) was the “Tiger Woods of his time.” Billy Casper (No. 16) was “buried in his green jacket”—the family got special permission. Phil Mickelson (No. 13) was a “trapeze artist. Without a net.” The final five are Arnie, Ben, Bobby, Tiger, and Jack—the “greatest golfer ever.”

A fine primer for all those upcoming arguments about who was better than who.

Kirkus Reviews