Best Player to Win "Only" One Major?

[JD3]

Anyone nominated assumes they won't win a second major.

 

I'll start with Sergio Garcia. 36 wins worldwide, including runner up twice in  PGA and British Open, and a 3rd US Open. Had his breakthru at Augusta, but clearly he could have made more.

Edited May 20, 2024 by JD3

[isaacbm]

Jim furyk

 

Was basically top five in the world for 15 years in a row.

currently third on the all-time money list.

Shot both 58 and 59. 

Edited May 20, 2024 by isaacbm

[mizuno player]

Duval. He had a stretch where he could have won  a few Masters. 

 

Freddie. Oops that's two. Sorry.. 

[NormanFan]

Three names always pop into my head:

 

-Fred Couples.  How does a guy with a swing that easy looking only win 1 major?

 

-Davis Love III.  He had a good run in majors for a while in the 1990s but was never much of a factor once the Tiger boom got going.  Still, 20 PGA TOUR wins and only 1 major?

 

-Jim Furyk.  He should've won like 3 U.S. Opens but had problems closing down the stretch.  He was one of those players who couldn't par in on 18 in 2006 and cost themselves a shot at the title.

Edited May 20, 2024 by NormanFan

[NormanFan]

6 minutes ago, mizuno player said:

Duval. He had a stretch where he could have won  a few Masters. 

 

Freddie. Oops that's two. Sorry.. 

 

Only reason I don't go with Duval is his longevity wasn't as long as other guys.  But his run from like 1998-2001 was one helluva ride.  Just sucks what vertigo did to him.

[JD3]

22 minutes ago, NormanFan said:

Three names always pop into my head:

 

-Fred Couples.  How does a guy with a swing that easy looking only win 1 major?

 

-Davis Love III.  He had a good run in majors for a while in the 1990s but was never much of a factor once the Tiger boom got going.  Still, 20 PGA TOUR wins and only 1 major?

 

-Jim Furyk.  He should've won like 3 U.S. Opens but had problems closing down the stretch.  He was one of those players who couldn't par in on 18 in 2006 and cost themselves a shot at the title.

I almost went with Love over Garcia, but at end of day I think overall Sergio had more game and competitive fire. Sergio could be cold with the putter, but other than Love's length I don't think he stood out in other categories. Overall they have nearly identical number of professional wins, but Sergio's showing in majors was better. Plus as you allude to, I think Love was intimidated in the Tiger era, starting with his playoff loss to him when Tiger was a rookie. Whereas Sergio was driven by a desire to beat Tiger 

Edited May 20, 2024 by JD3

[Chunked]

Freddie, Sergio and DL3 for me. 

[EasyEd1]

Hey All,

 

Easy...

 

Tom Weiskopf by far... 

 

-Ed-

[JD3]

2 minutes ago, EasyEd1 said:

Hey All,

 

Easy...

 

Tom Weiskopf by far... 

 

-Ed-

As far as Tom's go I'd choose  Tom Kite. 

[NormanFan]

25 minutes ago, JD3 said:

I almost went with Love over Garcia, but at end of day I think overall Sergio had more game and competitive fire. Sergio could be cold with the putter, but other than Love's length I don't think he stood out in other categories. Overall they have nearly identical number of professional wins, but Sergio's showing in majors was better. Plus as you allude to, I think Love was intimidated in the Tiger era, starting with his playoff loss to him when Tiger was a rookie. Whereas Sergio was driven by a desire to beat Tiger 

 

Sergio isn't a bad choice.  He should've beaten Paddy twice for majors at the '07 Open and '08 PGA.  I remember watching the '08 PGA and thought Sergio was going to win for most of the day.  Then he just bogeyed it away.

Edited May 20, 2024 by NormanFan

[mbb86]

One of Jim Furyk, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, or Sergio. Kinda similar-ish careers for all, but think Furyk is probably the most accomplished overall. 

[JD3]

37 minutes ago, NormanFan said:

 

Sergio isn't a bad choice.  He should've beaten Paddy twice for majors at the '07 Open and '08 PGA.  I remember watching the '08 PGA and thought Sergio was going to win for most of the day.  Then he just bogeyed it away.

I remember when he lost British to Harrington, Sergio kept hitting long iron on #18 when he should have gone to his strength which was straight driving with good length. Even Montgomerie criticized him for leaving a much longer 2nd shot than he needed. Basically if he hits driver into fairway on #18 on his 72nd hole, he has a short iron and wins.

Edited May 20, 2024 by JD3

[naval2006]

I guess Sergio and Duval are safest picks. 

[bscinstnct]

Jason Day and Adam Scott 

[ChrisL52188]

I am going with Tom Kite. He could flat out play. His US Open win in 1992 at Pebble in the high winds was truly unbelievable. One of the finest wins in golf.

 

IMHO he was better than Ben Crenshaw.

Edited May 20, 2024 by ChrisL52188

[mosesgolf]

48 minutes ago, EasyEd1 said:

Hey All,

 

Easy...

 

Tom Weiskopf by far... 

 

-Ed-

I think TW finished 2nd 4 times at the Masters.

 

[cdnglf]

Davis Love III has got to be the guy, at least in the past 40 years or so.

 

21 PGA Tour wins, 2 Players

[golferdude54]

There's a Wikipedia article that shows all-time PGA Tour wins with major wins as well. Lloyd Mangrum has the most PGA Tour wins with one major. Mangrum served in WW2 and earned 2 Purple Hearts while Hogan and Snead served as well but mainly golfed with their superiors in U.S. 

[fowlerscousin]

Henrik stenson. He was the Ludwig oberg of the 2000s

Edited May 20, 2024 by fowlerscousin

[Shilgy]

38 minutes ago, ChrisL52188 said:

I am going with Tom Kite. He could flat out play. His US Open win in 1992 at Pebble in the high winds was truly unbelievable. One of the finest wins in golf.

 

IMHO he was better than Ben Crenshaw.

He was a bigger money winner than Ben but not so sure about “better”.  They both had 19 wins….Kite one major and Crenshaw had two. 
 

1 hour ago, EasyEd1 said:

Hey All,

 

Easy...

 

Tom Weiskopf by far... 

 

-Ed-

If Weiskopf had played anywhere near what he should have he’d have a lot more wins and more than one major.  He seemingly had it all but was one of the games “best” underachievers.

 

Most would read the OP as “most accomplished to win just one major” but if you call it “best” he might be the winner of a title few would want.

[Chopper Dave]

Modern day: Adam Scott

 

Old school: Gene Littler

 

[st1800e]

2 hours ago, NormanFan said:

He should've beaten Paddy twice for majors at the '07 Open and '08 PGA.

But he didn’t win…..

[mat562]

Lots of fine players on a long list, but for me it's Ian Woosnam.

[ColinKelvin]

A quick wiki trawl showed the following up - bold would be my suggestions as the strongest contenders but I admit i didn't look back so much into really old-school players.

 

Sergio (12 Top 5s over and above his win, lost a PO after bogeying the last at Carnoustie in 07)

Stenson (10 Top 5s)

Rose (9 Top 5s)

Scott (8 Top 5s and should've won the 12 Open)

Day (10 Top 5s; 5 of which were 2/T2s)

Couples (11 Top 5s)

Azinger (5 Top 5s and should've won the 87 Open)

Leonard (5 Top 5s - lost two playoffs)

Kite (15 Top 5s)

DLIII (7 Top 5s)

Oosthuizen (8 Top 5s, 6 of which were 2 or T2; lost two playoffs)

Elkington (7 Top 5s, lost a PO at the 02 Open)

Lehman (7 Top 5s)

Weiskopf (11 Top 5s)

De Vincenzo (9 top 5s at the Open and the Masters stupid, which he won but then lost)

Nagle (6 Top 5s in the Open in 7 years...)

Woosnam (5 Top 5s)

 

very tough to narrow this one down!

Edited May 20, 2024 by ColinKelvin

[JD3]

2 hours ago, ColinKelvin said:

A quick wiki trawl showed the following up - bold would be my suggestions as the strongest contenders but I admit i didn't look back so much into really old-school players.

 

Sergio (12 Top 5s over and above his win, lost a PO after bogeying the last at Carnoustie in 07)

Stenson (10 Top 5s)

Rose (9 Top 5s)

Scott (8 Top 5s and should've won the 12 Open)

Day (10 Top 5s; 5 of which were 2/T2s)

Couples (11 Top 5s)

Azinger (5 Top 5s and should've won the 87 Open)

Leonard (5 Top 5s - lost two playoffs)

Kite (15 Top 5s)

DLIII (7 Top 5s)

Oosthuizen (8 Top 5s, 6 of which were 2 or T2; lost two playoffs)

Elkington (7 Top 5s, lost a PO at the 02 Open)

Lehman (7 Top 5s)

Weiskopf (11 Top 5s)

De Vincenzo (9 top 5s at the Open and the Masters stupid, which he won but then lost)

Nagle (6 Top 5s in the Open in 7 years...)

Woosnam (5 Top 5s)

 

very tough to narrow this one down!

Fun fact on Kite: one of his top 5's was a solo 2nd at the Masters. That was in 97' when he finished 12 behind Tiger Woods. 

Edited May 20, 2024 by JD3

[NormanFan]

1 hour ago, JD3 said:

Fun fact on Kite: one of his top 5's was a solo 2nd at the Masters. That was in 97' when he finished 12 behind Tiger Woods. 

 

Kite had a good run generally in the majors in 1997.  I think he notched 3 top 10's.  But he wasn't really in the mix in any of them IIRC.

[Kai Slater]

I'll go with DL3, since I'm more of that generation.  Possibly Fred Couples as well.

[sheepdawg]

9 hours ago, Shilgy said:

He was a bigger money winner than Ben but not so sure about “better”.  They both had 19 wins….Kite one major and Crenshaw had two. 
 

If Weiskopf had played anywhere near what he should have he’d have a lot more wins and more than one major.  He seemingly had it all but was one of the games “best” underachievers.

 

Most would read the OP as “most accomplished to win just one major” but if you call it “best” he might be the winner of a title few would want.

One of the most beautiful swings ever. If he only knew what was going through Jack's mind.

 

 

[LYG]

Kite, at one point I believe, was the leading money winner of all time, based on career earnings.  Maybe the first to reach $6 or 7 million. His Sunday play winning the US Open was really impressive, very windy conditions. Great wedge player, one of the first to adopt the 60 degree wedge, I believe.

[ColinKelvin]

1 hour ago, LYG said:

Kite, at one point I believe, was the leading money winner of all time, based on career earnings.  Maybe the first to reach $6 or 7 million. His Sunday play winning the US Open was really impressive, very windy conditions. Great wedge player, one of the first to adopt the 60 degree wedge, I believe.

For some reason the only major I remember Kite in apart from his win was the 89 Oak Hill USO which Strange won. He had a substantial lead and made an almighty hash of a hole on the front 9, including IIRC a topped wood from the rough.

 

Was he popular in America?  I could never work out if US fans liked him much, or thought he was a bit of a dork. I always thought his demeanour was a bit odd. Great swing though.

Edited May 20, 2024 by ColinKelvin