Classiest nicknames of golfers

By Rishi Narain

In sports, like in everyday life, a nickname helps you remember a person better, create an image and form a vivid impression of the individual. In cricket, Rahul Dravid as "The Wall" and Sachin Tendulkar as "the Master Blaster" are appropriate.

Similarly, some players in golfing history have earned apt nicknames. Good monikers acknowledge something unique about the bearer's personality or playing styles, allowing us to feel closer to them. Here is a list of some of the classiest nicknames of golfers:

The King – Arnold Palmer



American icon Arnold Palmer gets his nickname from the magnitude of his wins which include seven grand slam titles and 62 PGA Tour titles. In total, he has 95 professional wins under his belt. His fan following created the cult of the modern day sports hero.

The Golden Bear – Jack Nicklaus



The 18-time grand slam champion, Jack Nicklaus, is called "The Golden Bear" referring to Jack's blonde hair, hefty physique and feared presence on the golf course.

The Black Knight – Gary Player



The Black Knight is a moniker given to South African legend Gary Player in the 1960s by the media for his penchant for black attire on and off the golf course and for his courteous and gallant behaviour. His nine grand slam titles and nearly 100 overall titles didn't hurt his image either.

The Hawk – Ben Hogan



Ben Hogan, who, many consider is the most technically correct player in history, got his nickname from his playing style. "The Hawk" possessed fierce determination and an iron will, which, combined with his unquestionable skills, formed an aura that could intimidate opponents into competitive submission. He could have gone beyond his eight grand slam titles if it wasn't for a near fatal car accident.

The Great White Shark – Greg Norman



Greg Norman was labeled the "Great White Shark" by a newspaper reporter during the 1981 Masters Tournament, but he began exhibiting all the characteristics of that deep-sea creature long before that. He was an aggressive golfer and hailed from Australia, which has many great white sharks in its waters. He spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s and once hooked a shark while fishing off the Great Barrier Reef.

The Big Easy – Ernie Els



Ernie Els was called "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature (he stands 6 ft 3 in) along with his fluid golf swing and easy-going attitude. He is one of the six golfers in history to twice win both the US Open and British Open Championship. He is also a winner of the World Match Play Championship a record seven times.

Popeye – Paul Casey



The 2006 European Tour Player of the Year has forearms of the size similar to the popular cartoon character, Popeye the sailor. So, next time when you're discussing golf, you have something to add to the conversation.

(The writer's informed take on golf from an Asian Games gold medalist and a former pro.)