When I drew up my list of the ten greatest Open champions I made a deliberate mistake. I left out Jack Nicklaus to see how long it would take for angry readers to get back to me.

Two things to say about this: the first is that it did not take long; the second that it was not a deliberate mistake. Rather it was a mistake pure and simple. Sorry.

How I could have overlooked the golfer of the 20th century (in some peiople's eyes) is beyond me but I did. Of course he should have been on it - and in Henry Cotton's place, probably.

John Hopkins, Cardiff, Wales

Without being too parochial, I wonder why Boobby Locke (4 wins) and Gary Player (3 wins) have not made your top 10 British Open Winners. The criteris used for selection do not seem to bear testimony to the career greatness of the individual. Henry Cotton and Peter Thompson never won anything significant in America - thus a major gap in their resumes. Being popular and romantic counts nothing !!

Gavin Gordon, Johannesburg, South Africa

I agree - with no Nicklaus this list is a joke.

Tiger needs to do a lot to beat Jack in terms of wins (and top three finishes) but also in terms of sportsmanship and knowing how to lose well.

It remains to be seen if Tiger can win a major at 40ish and even finish 7th when in his late 50's!!

cameron, Sydney, Australia

It beggars belief that Jack Nicklaus has been excluded! It would be interesting to know the reason why John Hopkins has omitted him from his list of Ten greatest chmpions.

Ray McRobbie, Kiev, Ukraine

I totally agree with the previous comments - the list is not complete without Nicklaus. It is right to include Tom Watson, but not in the top spot. Niklaus should replace Henry Cotton.

CHAU Tak Hay, Hong Kong,

Having thought further about this, I would like to suggest the following list :
1. Woods 2. Nicklaus 3. Jones 4. Morris 5. Vardon 6. Palmer 7. Watson 8. Faldo 9. Ballesteros 10. Thomson.

I know that this will be controversial. But then, by their very nature, all such listings cannot help but be subjective, and therefore controversial.

CHAU Tak Hay, Hong Kong,

Pure Madness to exclude Nicklaus! His victory in 1970 when he drove the 18th (after famously took off his sweater) to pip Doug Sanders in the playoff is the stuff of legend as is the "Duel in the Sun" at Turnberry.

Your top ten Open Champions lacks credibilty because of his omission

Han K Hoh, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Nicklaus not in the Top 10? Don't make me laugh, I've got a chapped lip.

PH, Berkhamsted,

Nicklaus won it 3 times and runner-up 7 times, and his duels with the likes of Watson et al are legendary. A ridiculous omission. And, very biased I admit, Greg Norman won it twice and seemed to always be in contention. His closing 64 at Royal St Georges could be the greatest final round in a major.
You could have easily done a top 20 and then you'd capture nearly all those who deserve a mention.

Tony Bradley, Sydney, Australia

Has April's fools day changed to July? No Jack Nicklaus, this must be the 'Ten greatest champions besides Jack Nicklaus' list??

mark, kilfinane, Ireland

how are lee trevino & gary player not in there ,theese were guys that were world beaters in thier time and great ambassadors for the game of golf the world over and as for jack nicklaus ...well dont know who compiled this list but they need to go back and look at your history books/videos!!

andy tubb, l'head, uk

Peter Thomson only 10th! Between 1952 and '58 he won it 4 times (including the 3 in a row - the only man to do this in the 20th Century) and finished no worse than 2nd. His win in 1965 came against the top Americans, and made him only one of 4 people to win 5 Championships, one behind Vardon's record of 6 which will most probably never be beaten.

Richard Milway, London, England

How is Woods ahead of Nicklaus? How is the bear not even on the list? Surely a terrible mistake. And, although he only entered once, Ben Hogan surely must be there somewhere.

JP, Edinburgh,

Surely some mistake. Jack Nicklaus doesn't make it into the Top 10 greatest Open champions! Don't be ridiculous. Nicklaus lit up the open for decades and anyone who recalls his famous "charges" and his three victories (twice at the Home of Golf, St Andrews) will find it impossible to take this list seriously. Is it a spot the deliberate mistake wind-up by any chance?

Bert Wright, Dublin, Ireland