Best player to have not won the majors

[Highfade]

Dozens of players have won a major. Some having not done very much more of significance in their career other than that…

Other players have a fantastic CV, Ryder cups, world number 1s, player of the year etc. but have never gotten over the line in majors.

Which player was the best player with that missing on their resume?

Monty for me!

Also, which player is the best player never to have won each of the majors?

For me:
Masters. Lee Trevino (and probably for me still would be had Rory not won last year)
US open. Most difficult one. Phil/Snead/seve/faldo?
PGA. Tom Watson or Arnie?
Open. Floyd or Byron? Maybe even Monty.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Lee Westwood stands out , came close a couple of times
Also Monty another nearly man on the world stage

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Dozens of players have won a major. Some having not done very much more of significance in their career other than that…

Other players have a fantastic CV, Ryder cups, world number 1s, player of the year etc. but have never gotten over the line in majors.

Which player was the best player with that missing on their resume?

Monty for me!

Also, which player is the best player never to have won each of the majors?

For me:

Overall I’d agree and say Monty..

But if you’re gonna break it down to individual events,

Masters. Greg Norman
US open. Monty
PGA. Tom Watson
Open. Byron Nelson
.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Montgomerie
Westwood
Donald
Fowler

 

[Tashyboy]

Monty and Westwood.

I think the general consensus was Westwoods failure to win a Major was poor putting.

But what was montys failings to not win one

 

[ExRabbit]

Monty and Westwood.

I think the general consensus was Westwoods failure to win a Major was poor putting.

But what was montys failings to not win one

Lack of bottle under pressure? At Wingfoot for sure.

 

[IanM]

I remember Monty missing out on a US Open he should have won. It was seriously hot and Monty looked knackered. I'm sure lack of fitness did for him.

I remember Westy failing to get up and down from places he easily should have, to miss out.

Fundamental flaws in otherwise excellent games? Maybe, maybe not. I wonder if they are sat in their mansions tonight worrying about it?

Also, none of us have had to hit a shot in those circumstances!

 

[RedEyes]

I'm so glad Westwood didn't win one, obnoxious man.

 

[Orikoru]

It's Tommy Fleetwood. For now, at least.

 

[Captainron]

Els missing a Masters (I know he has 4 majors but the course really suited him and he has a good record there)

Monty missing the US Open to Ogilvy and he is the past player I would say misses a major most on his CV. Consistently excellent player and tour money winner.

Current crop there are a few fantastic golfers who have yet to win one. Fleetwood, Finau, Hatton, Hovland, Westwood etc.

Just goes to show that greatness should be measured in Majors.

 

[KenL]

Luke Donald.
He was world no.1 at one point was he not? Never the case for Monty or Westwood.

Edit… Westwood was no.1 apparently too.

 

[AussieKB]

US Open has to be Mickelson.....only needed it to win the 4 Majors.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Best player not to win The Masters,

Walter Hagen - 11 majors, no Masters.

Next best - Harry Vardon and Bobby Jones - 7 majors each, no Masters.

6 majors and no Masters is Lee Trevino
5 majors and no Masters - James Braid, J.H. Taylor, Peter Thomson and Brooks Koepka.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I've seen a few clips about Trevino recently. He himself states that he never fancied winning at Augusta. Apparently he had a low ball flight and ideally you need a high ball flight there, to hold the greens. I've never seen him play so I can't comment on this. It suggests however that him not winning there is not a great surprise, it certainly wasn't to him

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Best player not to win The Masters,

Walter Hagen - 11 majors, no Masters.

Next best - Harry Vardon and Bobby Jones - 7 majors each, no Masters.

6 majors and no Masters is Lee Trevino
5 majors and no Masters - James Braid, J.H. Taylor, Peter Thomson and Brooks Koepka.

I find that one for no Masters wins an odd list. Braid and Taylor can’t be the best not to win it as the tournament didn’t exist during their playing times. Both gave up competing in tournaments before the Masters became an event in 1934.

I’m with you on the others though. That being said I don’t think Trevino is that bothered as he boycotted the tournament 3 times due to falling out with Cliff Roberts.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Best player not to win The Masters,

Walter Hagen - 11 majors, no Masters.

Next best - Harry Vardon and Bobby Jones - 7 majors each, no Masters.

6 majors and no Masters is Lee Trevino
5 majors and no Masters - James Braid, J.H. Taylor, Peter Thomson and Brooks Koepka.

There is a very good reason why Braid and Taylor never won a Masters

 

[Orikoru]

US Open has to be Mickelson.....only needed it to win the 4 Majors.

Him or Scheffler to be honest. Although Scheffler will be correcting that this year.

 

[Voyager EMH]

There is a very good reason why Braid and Taylor never won a Masters

Perfect application of the hammer to the nail.
Harry Vardon also.

Hagen played in the first Masters, but he was 43 by then and had already won his 11 majors. Undoubtedly the best player not to win the Masters.

We do tend to rank players through history by most majors won.
Not ever playing in the Masters does not disqualify a player from being the best player not to win it.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Best player not to win The Masters,

Walter Hagen - 11 majors, no Masters.

Next best - Harry Vardon and Bobby Jones - 7 majors each, no Masters.

6 majors and no Masters is Lee Trevino
5 majors and no Masters - James Braid, J.H. Taylor, Peter Thomson and Brooks Koepka.

Did Harry Vardon or JH Taylor ever play in the Masters ?

 

[Voyager EMH]

Best player not to win a major.
I struggle with the comparison of Monty to Westy.

With so many second places, Monty came that close to winning more often. Top 3 finishes are equal. But top 10 finishes and cuts made, Westy looks much better.

MONTY



WESTY



I would rather sit on the fence on this one.
But I would, very reluctantly if forced to, have to say that Westy wins the "best player" by his record. He was competitive at top level for more years as well.