Right now I think the most under-rated player in all of golf has to be Nick O'Hern. This guy is a very solid and steady player who just hasn't won yet. He also happens to play on a secondary tour.
But mark my words: Nick will win this year and it won't be long before another fine Aussie joins the PGA TOUR. I think Nick will do well over here. Look for him this week at The Memorial.
Right now I think the most under-rated player in all of golf has to be Nick O'Hern. This guy is a very solid and steady player who just hasn't won yet. He also happens to play on a secondary tour.
Since he hasn't won, it does not make him underrated. I mean he may be a solid player, but he hasn't gotten the job done. To be underrated, you have to have achieved something, and then not be recognized for it.
Some of the names here mentioned as 'under-rated' could just as easily be listed as over-rated.
When under-rated comes to mind for me I think of Jeff Maggert, Kenny Perry and Jose-Maria O-something. You might wonder why I say Jeff Maggert? Well, he just seems to be there when you least expect it (in the majors). He may not win but he sneaks in there.
I like the mention for Larry Nelson. I would say Payne Stewart too but he is getting the respect he deserves now. Anybody watch the US Open highlights and see that terriffic fluid swing? How he did that while fully determined to win is not common today. Come to think of it that swing is not common today, period.
I think there's a couple. Retief Goosen is one. The media ignores the guy most of the time, even though the man has 2 majors in 4 years and 15 wins so far this decade, only behind Tiger, Ernie and Vijay. Another guy who I think is very underrated is Kenny Perry. He has 6 or 7 wins over the last 2 or 3 years, but when you hear about the top American golfers, his name never comes up.
I agree jhsn, Retief is a great player and is underrated so very much.
Alright. I may get eaten alive by you guys for this one. But it has to be Moe Norman. Arguably the most accurate player to ever play the game. I know all the tour pro's and golf fanatics know about him, but he doesn't get much mainstream media coverage. I know he didn't play on the big tour. But he had a wierd personality and never felt he fit in. I think it's golfs biggest tragedy (other than Payne Stewart or Johnny Mcdermott) that no one made him feel welcome on the big tour. Imagine what he could've done for the sport. If he had played on the PGA regularily, it would be Jones, Hogan, Nicklaus, Norman, Palmer, and Woods (in no order) listed as the greatest players ever. Such a shame that he never wanted to or got a chance to prove himself at a major championship level. The best story about him says it all:
A reporter asks him, "doin any four puttin today Moe?" (he was not known for his puting prowess) and after hitting a 3 wood to a 230 yard par three (whilst the ball is still in flight) Moe replied, "Not puttin today!" The shot went in for a hole in one!!!
I don't think Norman's underrated. Norman was a great player, but he could have been much better. It's a shame he's going to end his career with only two major championships. In 1986, he at least held a share of the lead going into the final round of every major. A lot of it was bad luck, thanks to Larry Mize and Bob Tway. But some of it Norman threw away, like the '86 Masters on the 18th, the '86 US Open & the '96 Masters, among others.
You cement your name in history by winning majors, and for Norman to only end up with two is a shame. Should have been a lot more.
I was talking about underrated players. Goosen is by no means underrated. The golf Channel is always mentioning his name in any tournament he plays. He gets the attention he deserves. I think the Golf Channel is is starting to be sympathetic for the big Goosen. He has been going through a slump lately, and can't seem to get the engines running. Don't get me wrong I love Goosen, and what makes him such a great player is the way he is honest about how his game is not up to par right now. Everytime I seem him with the press he is always saying "My game was not what it should be, and I have been playing poor." or something to that effect. He blames no one but himself which only a real man and golfer can do.
If the GC gives him props, good for them. But I still think the media doesn't nearly give him enough due. I'll steal a quote from Tiger Woods a couple months ago who said that he doesn't know why people always ignore Goosen, and Stuart Appleby before the Players said he's by far the most underrated golfer. I think on the Tour Retief gets his respect, but in the papers and on most of TV outside of the GC, he still doesn't get nearly enough.
I don't think Norman's underrated. Norman was a great player, but he could have been much better. It's a shame he's going to end his career with only two major championships. In 1986, he at least held a share of the lead going into the final round of every major. A lot of it was bad luck, thanks to Larry Mize and Bob Tway. But some of it Norman threw away, like the '86 Masters on the 18th, the '86 US Open & the '96 Masters, among others.
You cement your name in history by winning majors, and for Norman to only end up with two is a shame. Should have been a lot more.
If this was in response to my above post about Moe Norman, it proves my point. He is so underrated that this guy only associates greg (shudder) with the name Norman. Moe Norman playing greg would have been like a giant squid devouring a shark. And I mean devour.
If this was in response to my above post about Moe Norman, it proves my point. He is so underrated that this guy only associates greg (shudder) with the name Norman. Moe Norman playing greg would have been like a giant squid devouring a shark. And I mean devour.
While I agree that Moe Norman and his abilities may be underrated, it's certainly unlikely that Moe would have been in Greg Norman's league. literally. Moe's documented woes about playing tournament golf would have made him no match for the Shark on Tour. To disagree would be saying that Moe Norman was the Number One player in the world and as good as he was, I've never heard that claim from anyone. Including Moe, who wasn't bashful about extolling his talents.
Retief Goosen. 3rd in this years Masters, and a very very quiet guy. Doesnt get into the media hype and advertisement, although yes thats right- HE HAS WON 2 MAJORS!
Well, I already caused a civil war by mentioning Monty. So let's go in a different direction.
Thorpe.
He's definitely a guy who's blossomed on the Senior circuit. I think he's generally recognized as one of the best out there. Seems like a great guy too.
While I agree that Moe Norman and his abilities may be underrated, it's certainly unlikely that Moe would have been in Greg Norman's league. literally. Moe's documented woes about playing tournament golf would have made him no match for the Shark on Tour. To disagree would be saying that Moe Norman was the Number One player in the world and as good as he was, I've never heard that claim from anyone. Including Moe, who wasn't bashful about extolling his talents.
Moe wasn't number 1 in the world because he didn't play on the big tours and never had a chance. If you google him you will find all kinds of stories about how he tried to come on the PGA in the 60's, but because of his mannerisms and the way he dressed, he was ridiculed and fellow golfers mistook him for having no respect for the game (it was actually a psychological condition). Yes he was very bashful. But, if the fellow golfers of the time had given him a chance and he'd felt welcome on the big tour, then who knows? That's my point about it being a great tragedy of golf that possibly the greatest ball striker of all time never measured himself against the other players. Thus the could'ves and would'ves of this mans legend remain.
May 29th, 2005, 07:25 PM
To disagree would be saying that Moe Norman was the Number One player in the world and as good as he was, I've never heard that claim from anyone. Including Moe, who wasn't bashful about extolling his talents. 
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