50 Greatest Golfers of All Time : AND WHAT THEY TAUGHT US

Golf Digest, July, 2000 by Guy Yocom

43 J.H. Taylor

J.H. Taylor won the British Open five times against such fellows as Braid, Vardon and Ray. Impressive stuff, but it was his way of going that impressed observers of the era. Taylor was the second golfer to break 80 in all four rounds of a major (Harry Vardon was the first, in 1898), the feat coming in the 1900 British Open at St. Andrews. Taylor improved as time went on; he won the 1909 British Open with rounds of 74-73-74-74, good enough to beat Braid by six strokes.

Taylor, who had been turned away by the British military for being flat-footed and having poor eyesight, ran second in the British Open six times, and in one of the few trips he made to America, was runner-up to Harry Vardon in the 1900 U.S. Open.

What he taught us: Golf instruction hadn't evolved very far at the turn of the 20th century, but Taylor had a prescient understanding of how the club should be swung. His observation, "The knees should be bent, the head kept at the same level, throughout the playing of the stroke," is as valid in the era of graphite shafts as it was in the age of hickory.

44 Ben Crenshaw

Ben Crenshaw has won two majors-the 1984 and '95 Masters-with what is widely considered to be the best putting stroke of all time. Those victories were no fluke; Crenshaw has six other top-four finishes at Augusta, and was second in five majors altogether. Crenshaw has won 19 times on the PGA Tour, including his first tournament as a professional, the San Antonio Texas Open. He has been among the top-10 money-winners seven times, and played on four Ryder Cup teams, serving as captain at The Country Club in 1999. Having been tutored by Harvey Penick, Crenshaw was a fine amateur, too, winning three consecutive NCAA Championships from 1971 through '73.

What he taught us: Crenshaw summarized his views on putting: "I have two thoughts: Make a smooth stroke, and get a good, solid hit." That's it. That's all. Crenshaw's instructional legacy is that it isn't necessary to overanalyze the fickle subject of putting. The simpler you make it, the better off you are.

45 Lloyd Mangrum

Many golfers lost productive years to military service during World War II, but Mangrum sacrificed more than his prime as a player. He was wounded twice during the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded two Purple Hearts. Less than a year after those horrific episodes, Mangrum showed how tough he really was, winning the 1946 U.S. Open in a playoff over Byron Nelson and Vic Ghezzi. It was Mangrum's only major, but he did win 36 PGA Tour events and finished second in the 1949 Masters and 1950 U.S. Open. He also won the Vardon Trophy twice and played on four Ryder Cup teams.

Mangrum was a nerveless competitor, often playing pressure shots with slitted eyes and a cigarette dangling from his lips. He won the 1951 St. Paul Open under a death threat, presumably from gamblers. Mangrum died of a heart attack-his 12th one-in 1973.

What he taught us: The traits that made Mangrum great-guts, tenacity and nerve-can't be taught. But he did offer this driving tip: "To ensure good timing in your swing, slow down your backswing." It's good advice, and unlike most amateurs, Mangrum actually put it into practice.