Who's the best player without a Major Win now?

[Dutch1008]

One of Cantlay, Fleetwood, Hovland, and Finau in no particular order. If pushed I'd probably lean Hovland as he was playing like the best player on the planet during the '23 playoffs and Ryder Cup. 

 

Aberg has all the talent but he's a little too green to be wearing that crown. If he doesn't win a major in the next couple of years, he'll probably inherit the crown. 

[mat562]

38 minutes ago, Ty_Webb said:

 

Tiger went 11 years between his 14th and 15th Majors. In that period, he had two runners up, five additional top 5s and four more top 10s (11 top 10s total). He won 3 WGCs, and 12 other tournaments. Greg won 7 times in those 7 years. Tiger won 15 times in 11 years. I do agree that Rory's taking the cake with his, but I think Tiger's closer than Greg in that regard.

 

Very true. Mickelson probably has a good claim to it, too, now I think about it, over the 11 or 12 years prior to winning his first green jacket.

 

Norman probably won close to twenty tournaments in his period though, all told, if worldwide wins are included, as well as a slew of near misses in the Majors.

 

I'd forgotten about Woods' run. In the nicest possible way, Woods' 15th victory was more akin to Nicklaus's 1986 Masters win for me; very much a 'bonus' win after it looked like for all the world like he was past his best thanks to injury and personal issues. One last hurrah before it all wound down. Norman's second Open was more a relief. More of an 'At last... That took a while,' sort of a feeling after he'd been robbed of a couple, conspired to chuck away a couple more, and just missed out on a few others besides, all while still being very much in the top echelon of the game. As a Norman fan I thought/hoped it would be a catalyst and that he'd kick on and win several more, but, as we all know, Azinger, Pavin, Crenshaw, Faldo and Olazabal duly stepped up and disabused me of that notion.

 

 

Edited August 22, 2024 by mat562

[jdl]

Yeah no real obvious guy. Could be Patty Ice or Hovland but may also be Aberg or even Dunlap but right now we don't really know how good they really are.

[Short Pete]

Pat Perez or Anthony Kim😁

[Duct Tape]

6 hours ago, Titleist99 said:

 pretty sure that the OP was referring to the current crop of players and not players from yesteryear, but I could be wrong. Monty is one of the all-time better players to never win a major though...... Probably due to having rabbit ears and a swing that didn't hold up under major championship pressure. IMO

I think @MattyO1984 very eloquently stated (darn those smooth speakers from across the pond) what a couple of us have also said, just not nearly as well. 
 

There is no extant golfer without a major win worthy enough of the “best”  title. 

[GDB67]

Tommy 

Patrick 

Viktor 

Tom

Billy

Me.  

[KennyP]

Maybe Tyrell Hatton?

 

Big wins on both sides of the Atlantic. Top 10's in all four majors.

[iBanesto]

On 8/22/2024 at 10:45 PM, dropkicked said:

Fairway Jesus...

 

Definitely the best player without a PGA Tour win.

[notsohard]

Homa, Finau.....too laid back characters. Both of them play like they want to smell the roses on the way to the 19th. Frustrating.

[Mr.Cleeks]

Richard Bland

[gato_plomo]

I think Ricky was better than everyone currently on your without a major 

[Ferguson]

On 8/24/2024 at 8:47 PM, Mr.Cleeks said:

Richard Bland

 

I see your Bland and raise you a Block.

 

 

 

 

 

[mosesgolf]

Hovland 

[Mr.Cleeks]

1 hour ago, Ferguson said:

 

I see your Bland and raise you a Block.

 

 

 

 

 

Block’s a fraud. He’s never lead a major after any round 

[Cincy_Ken]

1 hour ago, gato_plomo said:

I think Ricky was better than everyone currently on your without a major 

 

Not sure how you make that argument.  Viktor has the same number of wins, a Fed Ex Cup and is significantly younger.  Cantlay is younger, also has a Fed Ex Cup and has been consistently ranked in the top 10 for years.  IMO there's absolutely no comparison between these players.  Vik and Cantlay are guys who are focal points for Ryder Cup teams and RIckie has been a captains pick once in recent years only.  Rickie is much more like a Kuch or Stricker although it seems unlikely he'll get to their career win totals at this point as he isn't interested in being a high level player anymore.  Honestly despite age if feels like Kuch has been in contention and is more likely to win again before Rickie.

[Ferguson]

2 hours ago, Mr.Cleeks said:

Block’s a fraud. He’s never lead a major after any round 

 

You're pulling stats when I was being ironical.  

 

 

[Ty_Webb]

32 minutes ago, Ferguson said:

 

You're pulling stats when I was being ironical.  

 

 

 

I may be wrong, but I read his post as being very tongue in cheek. 

[Mr.Cleeks]

1 hour ago, Ferguson said:

 

You're pulling stats when I was being ironical.  

 

 

Fergie my entire account on WRX is a bit. If you’re expecting constructive analytical discussion from me you’re not gonna get it. With that said as long as Blandy is a Cleek I will defend him 

[dcfas]

First that comes to mind is Fleetwood. Then Ricky. Cantlay next. Then Hovland, though I think he is still a bit green.

 

Sorry to say it but doesn’t look like Ricky is going to get it done.

[Mr.Cleeks]

39 minutes ago, dcfas said:

First that comes to mind is Fleetwood. Then Ricky. Cantlay next. Then Hovland, though I think he is still a bit green.

 

Sorry to say it but doesn’t look like Ricky is going to get it done.

Tommy’s gonna win US Open or Open Championship within the next 5 years (not just saying this because he’s one of my favorites). Places like Portrush, Shinnecock, and Birkdale are perfect for his game because you don’t need to overpower those places to win. Rickie’s gonna lose his tour card by 2026

[PedronNiall]

While Fleetwood has 10 total wins and great hair I don't see how he even gets in the conversation for best current player without a Major. Hovland, Cantlay, and likely a few others are way too far ahead of him when it comes to the scope of their wins, total wins, etc.  

 

Entirely possible that he gets one before some of the others who have made better overall showings, but I don't see actual performance putting him at the top of the best of the rest who haven't gotten it done. He's fallen away every single time he's been in contention in PGA events or in Majors. 

 

I also like Finau and he's placed decently in a few runs at the big time, but no way is he arguable as the best not to have gotten it done yet. Lost in the sauce calling either of those two as legit picks in this discussion. 

[grm24]

2 hours ago, Mr.Cleeks said:

Rickie’s gonna lose his tour card by 2026

So with your statement above you're claiming Fowler won't be in the top 125 of the FEC during 2025 or is is this part of your WRX "bit"?

 

BTW even if by some chance Fowler doesn't finish in the top 125 of the FEC in 2025 he has two career money list exemptions (career top 25, top 50) he can use in 2026 and 2027 (current career money list #14) and still have his tour card. Solid C for some effort though.

Edited August 29, 2024 by grm24

[Hankshank]

But he might make a cut again.

[Mr.Cleeks]

4 hours ago, grm24 said:

So with your statement above you're claiming Fowler won't be in the top 125 of the FEC during 2025 or is is this part of your WRX "bit"?

 

BTW even if by some chance Fowler doesn't finish in the top 125 of the FEC in 2025 he has two career money list exemptions (career top 25, top 50) he can use in 2026 and 2027 (current career money list #14) and still have his tour card. Solid C for some effort though.

Didn’t realize Rickie was that high on the career money list. One of the most overhyped and overrated players of all time.

[Mr.Cleeks]

4 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

While Fleetwood has 10 total wins and great hair I don't see how he even gets in the conversation for best current player without a Major. Hovland, Cantlay, and likely a few others are way too far ahead of him when it comes to the scope of their wins, total wins, etc.  

 

Entirely possible that he gets one before some of the others who have made better overall showings, but I don't see actual performance putting him at the top of the best of the rest who haven't gotten it done. He's fallen away every single time he's been in contention in PGA events or in Majors. 

 

I also like Finau and he's placed decently in a few runs at the big time, but no way is he arguable as the best not to have gotten it done yet. Lost in the sauce calling either of those two as legit picks in this discussion. 

Tommy’s got more top 5s in majors then both Cantlay and Finau combined. 7 top 5s compared to just 2 for Cantlay and 4 for Finau. And contrary to what you’ve said Finau has never made a run at a major. He was in the final group at the 2019 masters but faded hard on Sunday

[grm24]

5 hours ago, Mr.Cleeks said:

Didn’t realize Rickie was that high on the career money list. One of the most overhyped and overrated players of all time.

On this we agree.

[mosesgolf]

Whoever that person is right now 99% he wins a major next year.  

[StoutKing]

10 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

While Fleetwood has 10 total wins and great hair I don't see how he even gets in the conversation for best current player without a Major. Hovland, Cantlay, and likely a few others are way too far ahead of him when it comes to the scope of their wins, total wins, etc.  

 

Entirely possible that he gets one before some of the others who have made better overall showings, but I don't see actual performance putting him at the top of the best of the rest who haven't gotten it done. He's fallen away every single time he's been in contention in PGA events or in Majors. 

 

I also like Finau and he's placed decently in a few runs at the big time, but no way is he arguable as the best not to have gotten it done yet. Lost in the sauce calling either of those two as legit picks in this discussion. 

Is Fleetwood even going to win a PGA Tour event in the next 3 years?  I do wonder.

[rooski]

Some days I feel like I'm the best player in the world without a major, and then some days I go out and shoot an 82..

 

That being said, even though he's green I've got to give this one to Aberg. He's the only current player that feels like he's going to win every tournament he goes to. He keeps proving it in the first couple days of the majors but continuously falters towards the end. I hope that trend doesn't continue for him

[Dutch1008]

7 hours ago, Mr.Cleeks said:

Didn’t realize Rickie was that high on the career money list. One of the most overhyped and overrated players of all time.

 

I understand what your getting at but do you see the irony in calling someone overrated while also being surprised at how high they are on the money list?

 

Regardless, I don't think Rickie belongs in the "best w/o a major" convo. Maybe in 2015 but not now. However, I think the overrated talk is way overblown. I can't think of any real golf authority that ever considered Rickie a top 5 guy. He was never really in the conversation w/ Rory, Spieth, JT, Brooks, DJ. He was always considered a tier below. The dude gets unfairly maligned because he was popular w/ kids and marketable.