The best English golfers of all time
5. Sir Henry Cotton
Majors: 3 (1934, 1937 and 1948 Open)
Other wins: 34 (that are documented)
Another multiple Open winner is Sir Henry Cotton who won his three majors in the 1930s and ’40s.
He was entered into the Hall of Fame in 1980 and a knighthood followed in 1988.
4. Jim Barnes
Majors: 4 (1916 and 1919 PGA Championship, 1921 US Open and 1925 Open)
PGA Tour wins: 22
Other wins: 6 (that are documented)
Nicknamed “Long Jim”, Cornishman Jim Barnes was one of the early stars of professional golf in America and won the Open, the US Open and the PGA Championship in his time at the top.
He also became the first PGA Tour player to win after turning 50 when he triumphed at the Long Island Open in 1937.
3. JH Taylor
Majors: 5 (1894, 1895, 1900, 1909 and 1913 Open)
Other wins: 14 (that are documented)
Another West Country star, JH Taylor built his lasting legacy at the Open Championship where he triumphed on five occasions.
He was also a runner-up five times and even managed a tie for 11th in 1926 at the age of 55.
Taylor also played an important role in the founding of the PGA.
2. Dame Laura Davies
Major wins: 4 (1987 US Women’s Open, 1994 and 1996 Women’s PGA Championship, and 1996 Du Maurier Classic)
Ladies European Tour wins: 45
LPGA Tour wins: 20
Other wins: 22
Best English golfers, best women golfers, best golfers of all time full stop – pick a category and Laura Davies will feature.
Her illustrious career has seen her triumph in four major championships among a host of other wins – and is still competing on the LPGA Tour in her late 50s.
She has also played in a record 12 Solheim Cups, in which she has accumulated a yet-to-be-beaten 25 points.
Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
