Tiger Woods opted for surprising options when he listed his four greatest golfers.

Tiger Woods has chosen his four favourite golfers of all time (Image: Getty)

Tiger Woods once named two left-field inclusions in his ‘Mount Rushmore’ of golf players. The 15-time Major champion unsurprisingly picked himself, but two others might surprise fans.

Speaking last year, Woods named himself and his idol Jack Nicklaus when listing his ‘Mount Rushmore’ of the sport – a reference to the granite sculptures of four iconic former US Presidents on a cliffside in South Dakota. However, rather than list some other names from the last few decades who might be well known by fans, he instead picked Sam Snead and Bobby Jones.

Asked to name his four favourite golfers, Woods said: “Well, probably Sam Snead, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus… [And] me.”

Snead’s heyday came in the 1940s and 50s. He has a joint record of 82 PGA Tour victories. That includes seven triumphs in Golf’s four Majors.

The American was known for his relaxed style, which included wearing a straw hat, and having one of the most iconic swings in golf’s history. Many players since then have tried to emulate Snead’s technique with varying levels of success.

Meanwhile, Jones is best known for beating many professional players in big tournaments despite playing as an amateur. He won seven Majors and was only 28 when he retired.

Tiger Woods picked Sam Snead for his Mount Rushmore of Golf icons

Jones is also known for being a co-founder of the Augusta National Golf Club, which is the exclusive home of the Masters. The green jacket, which is worn by the Masters champion, is said to have been Jones’ brainchild.

The American was inspired by a tournament he played in England, where members of the course wore red jackets. He picked green after taking a liking to trees and grass at Augusta.

Woods is currently recovering from an Achilles injury. He was unable to take part in the Masters and has not won a Major since 2019. The golf icon extended warm words to Rory McIlroy after the Northern Irishman finally banished his Augusta demons by winning the green jacket earlier this month.

“Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory,” Woods, who has won the Masters five times, posted on X. “Completing the Grand Slam at Augusta is something special. Your determination during this round, and this entire journey has shown through, and now you’re a part of history. Proud of you!”