19. MOST BIRDIES IN A ROW
capped Jones’ completion of what was called the “im- pregnable quadrilateral” of the US Open and Amateur and British Open and Ama- teur all in the same year. 18. ACED FIRST HOLE At age 62, Norwegian-born Unni Haskell’s first outing on a golf course was at the par-3 Cypress Links in St Petersburg, Florida, in 2009. Using a driver from 75 yards on the first hole, she jarred it for the quickest ace in history. With this luck also came the unexpected challenge of a bar set im- possibly high for the rest of her career.
his total of 46 top-3 finishes showcases how good he was for so long. Nicklaus’ second-place finish in the 1960 US Open while still an amateur was the first of 19 runner-up major finishes – four each in the Masters, US Open, and PGA, and seven times in the Open. 21. OLDEST HOLE-IN-ONE In 2014 Gus Andreone was the oldest-living member of the PGA of America when he added another feat. With a driver from 113 yards on the par-3 14th hole at Palm Aire CC in Sarasota, Florida, Andreone carried his tee shot 80 yards, then watched it roll the rest of the way into the cup. At 103, he became the oldest person to ever record an ace, eclipsing by one year the previous re- cord-holder. Arguably more impressive? He beat his age by 30 shots. 22. LARGEST MAJOR MARGIN OF VICTORY “You just don’t win a US Open by 15 shots.” When Golf Digest’s Dan Jenkins chronicled Tiger Woods’ outlandish runaway at Peb- ble Beach in 2000, no hy- perbole was needed. Just a simple summation of great- ness. Louise Suggs won the 1949 US Women’s Open by 14, and gone after 138 years was Old Tom Morris’ previ- ous male record. If Tiger’s mark is broken in less time, we’ll be shocked. 23. MOST AGE-DEFYING ROUND In 2015, Pat Willis, a former marine carrying a plus-four handicap at age 59, shot 57 at Virginia’s Laurel Hill GC, propelled by making three holes-in-one on the day – including two on par 4s. The Director of Golf, Gene
15. NO 1 GOLF COURSE, LIFETIME Pine Valley in New Jersey has occupied the top spot in the Golf Digest 100 Greatest for 32 out of 40 years since 1985 when we began listing courses in order of score. Augusta Na- tional has spent six years at No 1 and Pebble Beach two. 17. THE IMPREGNABLE QUADRILATERAL Bobby Jones’ captured his five US Amateur titles when amateur golf was deemed as or more competitive than the fledgling pro game. The last of those US Am wins, in 1930 at Merion,
Playing with three friends on August 24, 1989, ama- teur Mike Allen bogeyed the first hole at Jimmy Clay Municipal in Austin, Texas, and then the fourth. From there he embarked on a heater unmatched in the sport. Beginning with the 171-yard par-3 fifth hole and ending with the 307-yard par-4 15th, Allen birdied 11 consecutive holes, as well as the last, to card 63. 20. MOST TOP-3 MAJOR FINISHES As much as Jack Nicklaus’ career greatness will be defined by his major wins,
Most US Amateurs Glenna Collett-Vare collected her six US Women’s titles in a career in which she won 49 times, all as an amateur. Although her career pre- ceded the founding of the LPGA Tour, the tour honours her legacy by awarding the Vare Trophy to the player who ends the season with the lowest scoring average. 16
92 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025
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