The Power Hall of Fame: Golf's Biggest Hitters

The 1910s: Ted Ray


At 6’0”, 220 lbs, this two-time major winner (pictured at right, with Harry Vardon in Bronxville, N.Y., in 1920) might be golf’s first bomb-and-gouger. Known for huge drives and poor accuracy, Ray competed against some of the best, including J.H. Taylor, James Braid, and Francis Ouimet, and eventually captained England in the unofficial Ryder Cup in 1926. His strength, size, and playing style were uncommon in an era when the prehistoric equipment forced most players to favor finesse over power.