If Shaquille O'Neal played golf: rated 77, best at nerve

Shaquille O'Neal as a golfer: scouting report

Shaquille O'Neal would be the golfer who reaches the par fives in two while everyone else lays up. Driving is one of the two best marks on his card, which makes sense for the most dominant center of his era. He won four NBA championships, three with the Lakers and one with the Heat, plus the 2000 MVP, by dominating the paint night after night, and a golfer with that kind of power off the tee can make long courses look short.

His nerve is the very top of his card, and anyone who watched him play knows why. Opponents spent years sending him to the free throw line on purpose, a strategy that even got its own nickname, and he kept showing up for the biggest games and winning titles anyway. That resilience is perfect for golf, a sport full of bad bounces. His putting is decent and his short game is serviceable, and his course IQ is respectable. He also spent years on Inside the NBA, so he will keep the playing group laughing between shots.

Iron play is the weak spot. He can launch a driver but struggles to control distance with mid irons, so approach shots into firm, tight greens are a challenge. That is why The Links Open is his worst fit: running fairways and wind punish loose iron play. His best course is The Spring Major, a long, lush layout where carrying hills and reaching par fives in two rewards his power. Draft him for the power weeks, pair him with a precise iron player, and enjoy the fact that he was Rookie of the Year back in 1993 and still plays like he is having the most fun of anyone.

Plays like A power hitter who overpowers par fives and smiles doing it

Put Shaquille O'Neal in your lineup

5 rolls, a team of five, four majors. Can you win the Grand Slam? Free, no account.