Where does "Beef" rank among the best current nicknames in golf?

By Joel Beall

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(11) Angel Cabera -- "El Pato"

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Which translates to "the Duck." FACT: Any nickname sounds 15x cooler in Spanish.

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(10) Miguel Angel Jimenez -- "The Mechanic" and "The Most Interesting Man In The World"

So nice we had to nickname twice, Jimenez's "Most Interesting Man" sobriquet is self-explanatory. "The Mechanic" is a nod to his love of performance cars.

(9) Gerry Lester Watson -- "Bubba"

You know a nickname is good when people confuse it with your actual first name.

(8) Jason Dufner -- "Duf"

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Most of this list doesn't reward abbreviated names, but "Duf" is the perfect summation of the 39-year-old's stoic, borderline-apathetic disposition. Much like Jeff Bridges' character in "The Big Lebowski," the Duf abides.

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(7) Fred Couples -- "Boom Boom"

Perhaps this stretches the parameters of "current players," unless we are talking about early April. But Couples, a player who epitomizes suave, receives an exemption. Why? Because "Boom Boom" Couples, an allusion to his long-ball prowess, is a badass nickname, that's why.

(6) Ernie Els -- "The Big Easy"

Yes, this denotes Els' large, broad physique that produces a swing so sweet that I would give 10 years off my life to replicate. But it also fits his warm, affable attitude and appearance.

(5) John Daly -- "Wild Thing"

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If you need it explained, you're on the wrong site.

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(4) Mike Cowan -- "Fluff"

There are a host of worthy caddie submissions -- such as Jim "Bones" McKay -- but "Fluff" just feels right.

(3) Louis Oosthuizen -- "Shrek"

If I were Oosthuizen, I would fully embrace the persona by wearing only green ensembles, hiring a donkey to be my looper and throwing temper tantrums on the course.

(2) Andrew Johnston -- "Beef"

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Perhaps I'm a victim of recency bias. Counter: Johnston did the impossible: He made Arby's relevant. Long live Beef.

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(1) Eldrick Woods -- "Tiger"

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I'm convinced Woods wouldn't have won 14 majors if he went by "Eldrick."

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