Graham Delaet
Who is the greatest Canadian golfer of all time? well the debate will always rage on as the Canadian talent becomes greater. Currently, David Hearn of Brantford ON and Graham DeLaet of Weyburn SK are carrying the Red and White on the PGA Tour and around the world. These two great players are just beginning to cement their names in Canadian golf history and only time will tell how far up the ranks they will climb. Stephen Ames of Calgary AB is still playing but has never gained the respect from Canadians that Mike Weir carried for the better part of 10 years. However, if our future turns out to be as good as what some of the individuals in my list achieved, the state of the game in Canada will be in good hands....
Mike Weir Masters 2003
Yet one thing that continues to be disappointing is that our new golfers and shockingly, new professionals, in the country are not well educated in the past history of our golf culture. For example, I participated in a PGA of Canada seminar a couple years back, where we were asked to list ten great Canadian golfers. I easily named ten and probably left another ten off my list. The problem is, the other professionals in the group had problems listing more than 5 great Canadian golfers. So with that said, I've had time to rethink and actually put my top 10 in order.
The list was compiled based on achievements as players and what they accomplished at the Provincial, Natiional, and International level. PGA Tour history and Major Championship wins or appearances were highly considered over National Amateur or Major Amateur accomplishments. Some players in Canada have played on the PGA Tour and made over a million dollars in career earnings, and definitely have their place in Canadian golf history. I hope you enjoy the list and if you feel I have left anyone out, please make an argument below.
10. C. Ross (Sandy Somerville)
- Won 6 Canadian Amateur Championships from 1926-1937
- First Canadian to win U.S. Amateur Championship in 1932
- 3 Canadian Senior Championships
9. Jim Nelford
- 2 Canadian Amateur Championships
- 1977 Western Amateur Championship
- 2 second place finishes on the PGA Tour
- Won World Cup of Golf with Dan Halldorson
8. Dave Barr
- 2 PGA Tour Wins
- 1 Champions Tour Win
- 12 Canadian Tour Wins (1 CPGA Championship)
- T2 1985 U.S. Open
7. Gary Cowan
- 1 Canadian Amateur Championship
- 9 Ontario Amateur Championships
- 2 U.S. Amateur Championships
- 1969 Porter Cup
6. Pat Fletcher
- 1952 PGA of Canada Championship
- 1954 Canadian Open Champion (last Canadian to win)
5. George S. Lyon
- 8 Canadian Amateur Championships
- Only Golf Olympic Medalist in Golf 1904
4. Stan Leonard
- 3 PGA Tour victories
- 36 Canadian Tour Victories (Including 8 CPGA Championships)
- 3 PGA of Canada Senior Championships
3. Moe Norman
- Arguably the greatest ball striker in history
- 2 Canadian Amateur Championships
- 55 Career Canadian Tour Victories (Including 2 CPGA Championships)
- 8 PGA of Canada Senior Championships
- 33 course records
2. George Knudson
- 8 PGA Tour Wins
- 5 PGA of Canada Championships
- 3 Top tens at the Masters (T2 1969)
- 25 Professional Wins Worldwide
1. Mike Weir
- 8 PGA Tour Wins (in Tiger Woods era)
- 2003 Masters Champion and only Canadian to win a Major
- 14 Professional Worldwide wins
- 5 time President's Cup team member
Other notable players who didn't make the list:
Al Balding, Bob Panasik, Doug Roxburgh, Jerry Anderson, Dan Halldorson, Brent Franklin, Jim Rutledge, Richard Zokol
Notable Canadian players to watch
Eugene Wong, Adam Hadwin, Matt Hill, Michael Gligic, Roger Sloan, Brad Fritsch, Nick Taylor, Andrew Parr, Richard Scott, Matt McQuillan
IN CONCLUSION
George Knudson and Mike Weir were very much similar in their accomplishments. Yet there are two significant areas that separate them, but again only by a little. First, Mike Weir won the Masters (2003) while Knudson finished second (1969). Secondly, Mike Weir's wins were all significant on the PGA Tour, exception being the 2007 Frys.com Open. His first win came on Canadian soil in 1996 and 6 of the 8 wins featured fields with Tiger Woods and a large percentage of top 50 world ranked players. He currently sits inside the top 50 in career earnings during a period of golf that was dominated and revolutionized by Tiger Woods. George Knudson, in defence, played in an era that featured Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, and still saw flashes from Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. Knudson was plagued with poor putting at times and Mike Weir was brilliant around the greens and is what made him breakthrough in 2003. Moe Norman would be higher ranked and possibly in the top golfers of all time, if not for his social demons. If you ever got the chance to watch Moe hit a ball, you can consider yourself blessed.
Our history is great and a list like this should be compiled every few years. I say that only because we seldom forget those that put Canada on the golf map. Again, I just want you to know, it was a tough list to compile and I would love to hear any arguments. It would be great to hear what you think and who would be on your list.
Also, as a token of my appreciation of taking a read about some of the greatest players to ever play the game of golf in Canada, I have included a special download from one of the greatest putting guru's in the world.
The list was compiled based on achievements as players and what they accomplished at the Provincial, Natiional, and International level. PGA Tour history and Major Championship wins or appearances were highly considered over National Amateur or Major Amateur accomplishments. Some players in Canada have played on the PGA Tour and made over a million dollars in career earnings, and definitely have their place in Canadian golf history. I hope you enjoy the list and if you feel I have left anyone out, please make an argument below.
10. C. Ross (Sandy Somerville)
- Won 6 Canadian Amateur Championships from 1926-1937
- First Canadian to win U.S. Amateur Championship in 1932
- 3 Canadian Senior Championships
9. Jim Nelford
- 2 Canadian Amateur Championships
- 1977 Western Amateur Championship
- 2 second place finishes on the PGA Tour
- Won World Cup of Golf with Dan Halldorson
8. Dave Barr
- 2 PGA Tour Wins
- 1 Champions Tour Win
- 12 Canadian Tour Wins (1 CPGA Championship)
- T2 1985 U.S. Open
7. Gary Cowan
- 1 Canadian Amateur Championship
- 9 Ontario Amateur Championships
- 2 U.S. Amateur Championships
- 1969 Porter Cup
6. Pat Fletcher
- 1952 PGA of Canada Championship
- 1954 Canadian Open Champion (last Canadian to win)
5. George S. Lyon
- 8 Canadian Amateur Championships
- Only Golf Olympic Medalist in Golf 1904
4. Stan Leonard
- 3 PGA Tour victories
- 36 Canadian Tour Victories (Including 8 CPGA Championships)
- 3 PGA of Canada Senior Championships
3. Moe Norman
- Arguably the greatest ball striker in history
- 2 Canadian Amateur Championships
- 55 Career Canadian Tour Victories (Including 2 CPGA Championships)
- 8 PGA of Canada Senior Championships
- 33 course records
2. George Knudson
- 8 PGA Tour Wins
- 5 PGA of Canada Championships
- 3 Top tens at the Masters (T2 1969)
- 25 Professional Wins Worldwide
1. Mike Weir
- 8 PGA Tour Wins (in Tiger Woods era)
- 2003 Masters Champion and only Canadian to win a Major
- 14 Professional Worldwide wins
- 5 time President's Cup team member
Other notable players who didn't make the list:
Al Balding, Bob Panasik, Doug Roxburgh, Jerry Anderson, Dan Halldorson, Brent Franklin, Jim Rutledge, Richard Zokol
Notable Canadian players to watch
Eugene Wong, Adam Hadwin, Matt Hill, Michael Gligic, Roger Sloan, Brad Fritsch, Nick Taylor, Andrew Parr, Richard Scott, Matt McQuillan
IN CONCLUSION
George Knudson and Mike Weir were very much similar in their accomplishments. Yet there are two significant areas that separate them, but again only by a little. First, Mike Weir won the Masters (2003) while Knudson finished second (1969). Secondly, Mike Weir's wins were all significant on the PGA Tour, exception being the 2007 Frys.com Open. His first win came on Canadian soil in 1996 and 6 of the 8 wins featured fields with Tiger Woods and a large percentage of top 50 world ranked players. He currently sits inside the top 50 in career earnings during a period of golf that was dominated and revolutionized by Tiger Woods. George Knudson, in defence, played in an era that featured Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, and still saw flashes from Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. Knudson was plagued with poor putting at times and Mike Weir was brilliant around the greens and is what made him breakthrough in 2003. Moe Norman would be higher ranked and possibly in the top golfers of all time, if not for his social demons. If you ever got the chance to watch Moe hit a ball, you can consider yourself blessed.
Our history is great and a list like this should be compiled every few years. I say that only because we seldom forget those that put Canada on the golf map. Again, I just want you to know, it was a tough list to compile and I would love to hear any arguments. It would be great to hear what you think and who would be on your list.
Also, as a token of my appreciation of taking a read about some of the greatest players to ever play the game of golf in Canada, I have included a special download from one of the greatest putting guru's in the world.
