Golf's Great Underachievers

[Jacko_G]

This is always an interesting discussion.

People always throw in the obvious names like Colin Montgomerie and Luke Donald. However in the case of both I'd argue that despite the lack of "Major" success they have done enough in the game to concrete their names amongst the top achievers, Monty won eight European Order of Merit titles including seven in a row. He won over 30 European Tour events too. Luke Donald reached number one in the world and has recorded 56 weeks as a World number one, he topped the US money list and won the race to Dubai in the same year and won 18 tournaments world wide.

I'm going to throw in a controversial name as an underachiever - Martin Kaymer. Yes I appreciate he has two majors and was also ranked number one in the world for eight weeks - but......

He has seriously stalled. Kaymer had every attribute to kick on and challenge in every major, he had the swing, he had the mentality and he had the temperament. He seemed solid in every department. Then he tried to change things. We all know what happened then and he's really been a peripheral figure on Tour ever since.

Who makes your list as a great underachiever?

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Sergio Garcia for me.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Kaymer ? Really ? As well as his two majors he had also won the players , a WGC , Scottish Open plus many more events. He maybe going through a dip but his record at 33 is superb

I think in terms of European golfers you can’t go past the guys who couldn’t get over the line in a major - Westwood , Casey , Monty and Donald - all very successful golfers but just have that little blot because of the lack of a major.

 

[Garush34]

Shane Lowry, I'd have thought he'd have a few more wins for me by now. He is a great ball striker, just never seems to put himself into contention.

I wasn't born for some of his career so I could be wrong but Greg Norman seems to have underachieved to me. Yeah He has a couple majors, but I think with his talent he should be up around the 7/8 major mark.

 

[Jacko_G]

Kaymer ? Really ? As well as his two majors he had also won the players , a WGC , Scottish Open plus many more events. He maybe going through a dip but his record at 33 is superb

I think in terms of European golfers you can’t go past the guys who couldn’t get over the line in a major - Westwood , Casey , Monty and Donald - all very successful golfers but just have that little blot because of the lack of a major.

Yes really, that is why I posted it. I'm not saying I'm correct and I'm not asking anyone to agree with me. I gave my reasons, and I expected Kaymer to have won more majors.

 

[pokerjoke]

All this must have won a major rubbish.
Some really rubbish players have won majors and nothing much else.

Nicolas Colsarts.
The way he performed at the RC I thought he was a world beater.

 

[pokerjoke]

Kaymer ? Really ? As well as his two majors he had also won the players , a WGC , Scottish Open plus many more events. He maybe going through a dip but his record at 33 is superb

I think in terms of European golfers you can’t go past the guys who couldn’t get over the line in a major - Westwood , Casey , Monty and Donald - all very successful golfers but just have that little blot because of the lack of a major.

You think Monty under achieved?

 

[USER1999]

Ernie Els. Really should have won more, but was unlucky enough to have to compete with Tiger at his best.

 

[Garush34]

I'd also add in Thomas Pieters, he only has 3 wins so far. He is young and has plenty of time to work it out but needs to start kicking on and getting in about the action more.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

All this must have won a major rubbish.
Some really rubbish players have won majors and nothing much else.

This all day long, some ridiculous comments made against players because of not winning a Major.

I’m sure some could argue both Rory and Tiger are underachievers after the levels of expectation others put on to their shoulders.

Is the measurement for underachieving simply trophies?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

There are only 4 majors a year and 3 of them have 150 guys in the field and only 1 person can win. Yes I agree that careers are defined by major wins but to say someone like Garcia is an underachiever seems crazy to me. 34 victories, 1 major and $48m PGA tour winnings. I'd quite happily be an underachiever in his position!

 

[Jacko_G]

arger athlete like myself.

You think Monty under achieved?

No I think Monty ran into some bad luck and inspired play in Majors. When you look back at his record I don't think you could ever say he has underachieved to be honest.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

THe player right who is prob underachieving is Fowler 6 wins in 10 years

 

[Jacko_G]

There are only 4 majors a year and 3 of them have 150 guys in the field and only 1 person can win. Yes I agree that careers are defined by major wins but to say someone like Garcia is an underachiever seems crazy to me. 34 victories, 1 major and $48m PGA tour winnings. I'd quite happily be an underachiever in his position!

What is crazy to you may be perfectly sensible to others. Its all about opinions etc.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

arger athlete like myself.


No I think Monty ran into some bad luck and inspired play in Majors. When you look back at his record I don't think you could ever say he has underachieved to be honest.

In Europe his record is superb but to never win on the PGA tour ? Which is where the strength ? Surely someone of his ability should have won over there

 

[dronfield]

Hi
The first two Ryder Cups that i watched were 91 & 93 and i thought that both Steve Richardson and Peter Baker (amongst others) would go onto greater things.
I think that Nicklaus told Sam Torrance that with his swing he should have won majors.
Westy/Monty have just been unlucky re majors - couldnt have done much more.
Thought Woosnam would have won more majors - obviously v unlucky in 2006.
To win in the modern (Woods) era is very difficult due to the high quality fields - imo anyone with 10 plus wins can be condidered a high achiever.

Rich

 

[Deleted member 21258]

to say someone like Garcia is an underachiever seems crazy to me. 34 victories, 1 major and $48m PGA tour winnings. I'd quite happily be an underachiever in his position!

Given he had the lowest handicap for an amateur and his amateur record and his ball striking, I personally think he has underachieved to what you would have hoped at that stage. Most professional golfers when looking at earnings have not underachieved in the recent era so that is a red herring Don't dispute he has had a very good career.....but we are not talking about that IMHO

Anyway don't think you answered the question, who do you think has underachieved ?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

What is crazy to you may be perfectly sensible to others. Its all about opinions etc.

Yes and I was expressing mine

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

who do you think has underachieved ?

Nobody on any of the major tours. There are millions of golfers throughout the world and only a few hundred make it onto tour. I follow Richard Bland on twitter and a few months ago he played Stoneham and shot 28 for the back 9 then played again the following morning and shot 28 on the front 9. He jokingly tweeted asking if he could the course record at 58. He was 14 under par for 18 holes but he has lost his card this year and now missed the cut at Q school. I don't think that anyone who can play the game to that sort of standard is an underachiever.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Some of the names mentioned, Kaymer and Donald spring to mind, I would categorise more as form dropped off a cliff rather than under achieved. They have both achieved but form for both has disappeared and it happened quite sharply.

Very harsh to judge, it is hellish tough out there and the standard is phenomenal.