The Gurgler editorial team decided they needed some filler for a Friday, something light-hearted, preferably sporting based, and quick and easy to balance out all the stats-heavy sporting onslaughts usually available.
So our best effort is this Top Five Friday, a list of five things whose cut of jib we like, and this week in honour of the US Open golf we feature our five favourite Golfers with personality.
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMINEZ
US OPEN RECORD: 13 Appearances – Made Cut 5 – Best finish 2nd
The fast car owning, cigar smoking, hole-in-one record holding, British Open Warm Up dancing golfer known as The Mechanic is everything you need on the golf course and more.
Not many things brought more joy to us over the years than a golf tournament featuring the Spanish golfing genius.
He was no slouch either, as alluded to above, he holds the record for Hole-in-Ones on the European tour, and finished top five at both the US Open and US Masters.
And he will always be our master of golfers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV_SR6YnBLs
GREG NORMAN
US OPEN RECORD: 17 Appearance – Made Cut 13 – Best finish 2nd x 2
People who regularly visit our website might be surprised that Greg Norman isn’t number one on our Top Five Friday list. Perhaps that’s why he looks so stern above.
Or maybe it’s the recent developments between LIV and the PGA Tours that might see him out of a job.
Regardless, there’s hardly a golfer in history offering more than Greg Norman. Major wins, and major chokes. Long-time World number one, a showman on the course and off the course in his recent (and best) work.
WE love Greg, and Greg loves himself. And that’s fine by us.
RODGER DAVIS
US OPEN RECORD: 4 Appearances – Made Cut 3 – Best finish T36
Golf was really in it’s prime in Australia in the 1980’s, so many great personalities, and tournaments on TV that were watched by so many.
Of course Greg Norman was the big ticket in town, but Rodger Davis was right up there with him, along with Peter Senior, Brett Ogle and IBF.
But as good as that bunch and more are, we can’t go past Rodger Davis for our Top Five Friday.
A generous, bushy 80’s mo, trusty sun visor which screams pure 80’s, and those plus fours. What more do you need?
ROD PAMPLING
US OPEN RECORD: 8 Appearances – Made Cut 3 – Best finish T14
Any sporting list needs a great Aussie battler, as so that opens up a place for Rod Pampling.
Hailing from the north of Brisbane, which will always be a box ticker, Rod Pampling was an underrated performer for Australian Golf in an era where bigger names like Aaron Badds.com took the limelight.
But he finished 5th in his first ever Masters, has led a British Open, and won a Canon Challenge in Australia.
Recently has been playing on he Champions Tour, which is a great home for those like us who like to see their favourite golfers, and has done very well. Three top five finishes in the first three years is good going.
BERNARD LANGER
US OPEN RECORD: 20 Appearances – Made Cut 10 – Best finish 4th
He could be mistaken for a cliched suer villain from a Bond movie, but Bernard Langer’s steely look is for pure golfing reasons only.
Somehow three decades down the road, he sort-of still looks exactly how you remember from the 80’s.
Still rocking a sun visor and broomstick putter, he knows what the fans want, and gives it to them.
Another player who features on the Champions Tour, but you still see him bob up on the main tour events, and his presence is always welcome.
