Cigar Guy and Golf's Top 25 Characters
One of the great images of the recent Ryder Cup was Miguel Angel Jimenez (the most interesting man in the world) smoking his victory cigar. Somehow he became symbolic of the European team and their carefree manner.
Another celebrity was born when a British golf fan dressed up like Jimenez during the Ryder Cup ... and became "Cigar Guy."
On that note, here is a list of the top 25 characters in golf today. Some noted for their positive behavior, some for bad and some for, well, just plain odd.
25. Jesper Parnevik
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Wild clothing, emotions on full display and opinionated to a fault, Parnevik displays several qualities that get him into our list.
24. Tim Herron
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Tim Herron, or "Lumpy" as he is known, does not have the typical golfer body. Yet, he makes it work, and is popular on tour with many of the pros.
23. Tiger Woods
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Tiger never used to be much a character on the golf course, other than some swearing and a little anger. Mainly he was stoic and focused with tunnel vision.
The new Tiger, or the Tiger that seems to be emerging from all of the last year's events, seems a bit more jovial on the course. Will he be as a good of a golfer? That has yet to be determined. But he certainly seems a friendlier chap.
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22. Padraig Harrington
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The smiling Irishman. He may not be the same dominant golfer he was two years, but he still smiles and is as friendly as ever. A great spokesman for the game.
21. Phil Mickelson
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Speaking of smiling. The king of the big grin.
20. Eduardo and Francesco Molinari
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I'm putting the Italian brothers together because frankly I can't tell them apart. Firery and emotional; all the passion you would expect for two brothers from Italy.
19. Bubba Watson
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Golly, any player who buttons their shirt all the way to the top would be considered for the list, but combine the shirt with the name Bubba and well, there you go...
18. Fred Funk
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Fred doesn't play much on the PGA Tour anymore, devoting most of his efforts to the Champion's Tour. But he is still a little ball of fire on any golf course. He might be a descendant of the Molinari family?
17. Camilo Villegas
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Not just the pretty boy of golf anymore, Villegas is starting to play some good golf. Still the best dresser on the PGA Tour.
16. Angel Cabrera
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Outside of football (soccer), Argentina loves to cheer for its native son Cabrera. The South American version of Miguel Angel Jimenez.
15. Rory Sabbatini
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Crazy bouts of anger displayed on the golf course over the years. A few times he has even played out of turn when he thinks his playing partner is playing too slow. Bobby Knight on the golf course.
14. Peter Jacobson
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Another Champions League guy I couldn't pass up. If Jacobson wasn't a golfer you get the feel he'd have his own sitcom. Funny and irreverent.
13. Jeff Overton
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Overton not only wears goofy hats on the golf course, but he also wears his emotions on his sleeve. Sometimes this can help a golfer, sometimes not. It has done both with Overton.
12. Charley Hoffman
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Dude, this guy is gnarly! One of the great surfers out there.
Wait, he's a golfer?
11. Tim Clark
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All 5'7" guys make the list. Clark, in addition to his little guy stature, is very popular with the players. Easy to root for.
10. Sergio Garcia
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Yes, he still does golf, despite his second job as Euro team cheerleader. Sergio has seemed to get better with disrespecting the golf course, although you still get the occasional bout of poor etiquette.
Not the angriest golfer in the world (Sabbatini wins that award) but top five, certainly.
Needs to find his game soon or he may fade into David Duval land.
9. Darren Clarke
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Perhaps the nicest guy on the European Tour, and one of the most popular with fellow players. Great competitor. Great guy.
8. Ryo Ishikawa
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If Martin Kaymer is the next great golfer, Ryo Ishikawa isn't far behind him. Carries himself with maturity beyond his age, and seems destined for greatness. He will also give Villegas a run for his money as best dressed golfer.
No pressure though, just all of Japan counting on you. By the way he just turned 19.
7. Rickie Fowler
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Speaking of young, let's slide from Ishikawa to Fowler. The 21-year-old American demonstrated some great cahonies in his Ryder Cup singles match. Although he still hasn't won on tour (he's still only a rookie), Fowler has a great level of confidence and showmanship.
Apparently Jesper Parnevik was his clothing model.
6. Rory McIlroy
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Okay, from Ishikawa to Fowler to McIlroy, I think we've now covered the young chaps headed for greatness.
McIlroy displays that same competitive nature as many of the Europeans, especially the Irishmen like Graeme McDowell and Paddy Harrington.
Will be a great player with a similar stoic manner of one Tiger Woods.
5. John Daly
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Although rarely, if ever, a factor anymore in competing for titles, Daly is still a character is the best sense of the word.
From his flamboyant clothing choices to his grip it and rip it mentality, you never know what you're going to get from big John.
He doesn't throw his hands up and walk off the course as much as he used to in the past, yet he still gets flustered quicker than anyone else on tour, and can turn a good round into an 83 faster than anyone.
Still, the PGA Tour won't quite be the same once John hangs it up.
4. Miguel Angel Jimenez
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The cigar man checks in at number four. And no, he is not one in the same as the "Most Interesting Man in the World" from the Dos Equis commercials.
But he is cool. Real, real cool, man. Yea.
3. Ian Poulter
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Poulter has the new title as the man the American fans love to hate at the Ryder Cup. No one is more cocky or vociferous than Poulter, and he seems to always back it up in match play.
Although he had an ordinary year on tour, he simply dominated at the Ryder Cup.
Poulter never hides his emotions or his words. Actually, golf could use a few more of him.
2. Colin Montgomerie
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The European Ryder Cup captain is without a doubt the most emotional man in golf, and that is including both sides of the pond.
Monty is still in the midst of his own career, which includes owning the title of the best active player to never have won a major.
No one lets fans get under their skin more than Colin, and fans love to do it, especially in the States.
Monty relished in captaining the Euros to a victory in Wales over the Americans, and don't be surprised to see him in the same role again in the future.
1. Steve Elkington
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Seem like a strange choice for the number one character in golf? Than surely you've never heard Elkington speak.
Easily the best interview in golf, if not in all of sports. The man could be a stand-up comic if he ever retires from the game.
If you want to hear Elkington at his best, try YouTube and and do a Elkington, Jim Rome search.
Great stuff. The deer hunting story (shooting a deer from the living room couch with a bow and arrow while watching Fred Couples putt on TV with the front door open) is my favorite.
Honorary Winner: Cigar Guy!
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Of course, the honorary winner of this prestigious title is none other than Rupesh Shingadia, a 30-year-old investment analyst from South London, otherwise known as "Cigar Guy."
Cigar Guy got his 15 minutes by being photographed behind Tiger Woods during the Ryder Cup. You can see him in the front row, second from right, wearing the fake mustache and smoking the stogie.
Apparently, Shingadia donned the costume in honor of Miguel Angel Jimenez of the European team, who's quite a character himself.
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