The U.S. Putting Tour today revealed its list of the five best putters of all-time on the PGA TOUR. In order from five to one, the list is: Dave Stockton, Tiger Woods, Billy Casper, Ben Crenshaw and Jack Nicklaus.
The list factors in the golfer's putting statistics, performance under pressure, and reputation among his peers. While never being a statistical putting leader, Jack Nicklaus was named the best putter of all time for his ability to make big putts in the most crucial situations, so often on the final hole of a round.
Perhaps Nicklaus' most memorable clutch putt came on the 17th green in the final round of the 1986 Masters, where the cameras caught him raising his putter in his left hand as he guided his birdie putt into the hole to secure his record 18th major victory at the age of 46.
Ben Crenshaw finished second to Nicklaus in the ranking released by the new
amateur putting tour. In terms of a pure stroke, Crenshaw was unmatched, although Brad Faxon and Loren Roberts, known as the Boss of the Moss and not on the U.S. Putting Tour's Top 5 list, rival him for quality and consistency of the putting stroke.
Phil Mickelson is another big-name golfer and putter not on the list. The reason, according to USPT president, Jim Hartley, is Mickelson's penchant for missing short putts at critical times in tournaments.
The U.S. Putting Tour is a new
amateur golf tour that will crown "America's Best Putter" next September at the USPT National Championship in Carlsbad, California. Information on the
putting championship and how to enter is available at the USPT website.
