Columnist Peter Benton: Choosing greatest putter is a tough task

Peter Benton

Wednesday, June 14, 2000 | 9:44 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

This year is halfway through and it appears that everyone is still handing out awards for the past century.

Greatest golfer? The only century-long criteria can be the number of majors won. With 18, Jack Nicklaus is the obvious selection.

Some no doubt will argue for Ben Hogan, Sam Snead or Bobby Jones. Or, for his impact on popularizing the sport, Arnold Palmer.

But Nicklaus' strike rate of success in the big ones is undeniable.

Other titles will no doubt be fought out as this century progresses. Greatest major, greatest comeback, greatest 18-hole round, greatest jerk, greatest putter, etc.

Greatest putter, now there's a tricky category.

There have been and currently are so many wonderful putters. You can argue about the Faxons, Mickelsons, Irwins, Duvals and Woods in this country. However, the Aussies would no doubt line up Kel Nagle, winner of the 1960 British Open, as their best.

Jim Ferrier, who won the 1974 PGA Championship and was nicknamed The Undertaker for the way he buried his opponents, is another choice. A case can also be made for poor Ian Baker-Finch for his feat in breaking 30 on the front nine at Royal Birkdale to win the British Open in 1991.

How about New Zealand's Bob Charles? During his prime, this left-hander was one of the world's premier putters.

Others who deserve a mention include South African Bobby Locke, Ben Crenshaw, Billy Casper, Horton Smith, Nicklaus, Nancy Lopez, Deane Beman, Jerry Barber and George Archer.

The above selections are open to argument as everyone has his favorite. But you must admit that those mentioned above are all standouts with the putter.