Forget the greatest shot ever, how about the greatest round (which might just include the greatest shot).
Joe Ezar was a trick shot artist during golf's golden age. In 1936 he won the German Open and immediatly bought a camel's hair topcoat, with edges bound in leather. He wore it everywhere, even while playing, taking it off and handing it to his caddy while he made shots.
In 1936 he followed up his German Open win with playing in the Italian Open in Sestrieses in the Italian Alps. Following a demostration of his trick shots, the club presidents said to Ezar, "It's a wonder with your skill you don't break the course record."
Ezar asked what is was and was told Henry Cotton set it the two days before, shooting 67 in both the first and second round.
"How much would you give me if I do break the course record?" Ezar asked.
"One thousand lira for a 66," the president said.
"How much for a 65?"
"Two thousand lira."
"And for a 64?"
"Four thousand lira for a 64."
"I'll do 64," Ezar said.
Ezar then took a piece of paper and wrote down the scores he would shoot on each hole to make a 64.
The next day Ezar started well, making his pars and birdies where he said he would. On the ninth hole, Ezar lay two, 50 yards from the green, needing to make a three to hit his predicted score. He holed his 50-yard pitch for a three. He went out in 32 and then came back in the predicted 32. He matched every score but two, birdying one hole he said he would par and parring one hole he said he would birdie.
Dan King
The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet.
--Damon Runyon