When Bryson DeChambeau was asked to name his Mount Rushmore of golf, his picks felt logical. Bobby Jones. Jack Nicklaus. Tiger Woods. And after some hesitation, Arnold Palmer took the final spot, but there was one name missing.

What made the answer interesting was not who Bryson chose, but who he almost chose.

“I love Gary Player. I love Phil Mickelson. But, I think I have to give it to Arnold Palmer. I mean, it's real tough to keep that guy off the Mount Rushmore of golf."

A Resume Built Across Continents

Gary Player’s greatness spanned multiple tours and countries. Over his career, Player won more than 160 professional tournaments worldwide, including 24 on the PGA Tour and 9 major championships.

Those majors came at all four major championships, making him one of only a handful of players to complete the career Grand Slam. For decades, Player stood alone as the only non-American to achieve that feat. That distinction lasted until Rory McIlroy completed his own career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters.

Across his DP World Tour career, Gary Player recorded four victories from 125 tournament appearances. He managed to earn €136,879.89 in official career winnings, especially at a time when prize money was not the defining factor for success.

Longevity That Few Can Match

Gary Player’s career was defined by its durability. He competed in 52 Masters tournaments, made 23 cuts at The Open Championship, and continued winning well into his senior years. On the PGA Tour Champions, Player added another layer to his legacy, collecting multiple senior major titles and proving his game aged as well as his discipline.

Gary Player also changed how golfers approached fitness. Long before it was fashionable, he treated conditioning as part of the job. That influence matters when weighing legacy. 

Why Arnold Palmer Still Makes Sense

Bryson's choice of Arnold Palmer is certainly a strong one. Palmer won 62 PGA Tour titles, including 7 major championships, and was the most dominant player of the early television era.

But that was just the beginning. Between 1958 and 1964, Palmer won seven major tournaments. Even more than his victories, Palmer changed the commercial side of the sport. 

This blend of success and cultural influence makes Palmer a justifiable pick for DeChambeau's list.

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar