Who was the better golfer, Nick Faldo or Greg Norman?
So who was the better golfer Nick Faldo or Greg Norman? This is quite a difficult decision with many golfers views being split. Personality wise Faldo was not popular among his peers at his peak for his single minded approach to his game and stoic nature.
Sam Torrance was famously quoted as saying Nick Faldo is “an asshole”. In comparison Norman is beloved by many across the world fondly known as “The Great White Shark”.
But who was the better golfer, Nick Faldo or Greg Norman? In terms of golf, Faldo was ranked No. 1 in the world for 87 weeks. He had 41 professional wins including 30 victories on the European Tour and six golf majors.
In contrast Norman spent 331 weeks ranked number 1 golfer in the world rankings. Norman also won 89 professional tournaments, he won two of golfs majors.
Norman was inducted into the golf hall of fame in 2001 reportedly with the highest ever percentage of votes at 80%, so a popular choice.
Faldo was inducted into the golf hall of fame in 1997.
Faldo was widely considered the best golfer during the 90’s and his 6 major victories was more than any other golfer during this time.
The decision of who was the better golfer Nick Faldo or Greg Norman will always come down to how do you rate their performance, wins on tour or major victories.
There were question marks over Norman’s mental strength to see out victory in the major golf tournaments (where it really mattered) with his six shot capitulation to Faldo in the 1996 US Masters a classic example. Faldo would win this one for me.
Interesting fact – Faldo said his win over Norman in ‘96 was the only time he felt sorry for an opponent!
Conclusion – Who was the better golfer Nick Faldo or Greg Norman?
My overall view though is that it’s a combination of playing success and legacy. To this respect Norman would top my list. Being world number one for a considerably longer time than Faldo and having a legacy of admiration and fond memories among the majority of golf fans and professionals alike.
…but who do you think was better and how does history view Greg Norman and Nick Faldo?
Thanks for reading. Why not take some time to review our other articles on the Best Golf Rangefinders, or if you’re on a budget perhaps the Best Cheap Golf Rangefinders, or Electric Golf Carts. Then if you decide a GPS watch is for you, we’ve an article on the best Golf GPS watches to help you improve your game!
