Worst Player to win a Major?

[Dave230]

Micheel didn't win again but did at least finish 2nd in the PGA in 2006 to show good play in a major was no fluke. Curtis was the most unlikely at the time but had an ok career afterwards. Hamilton had a decent Japan Tour record but absolutely nothing after 2004. Rich Beem is another one, lost his game afterwards and hardly did much before it.

 

Michael Campbell shouldn't be on the list. Another one who lost his game after a major (there's a trend here) but 8 European Tour wins including the World Matchplay. I remember when he won the Irish Open in 2003 he was generally regarded as one of the best players on tour at the time. Shame what happened afterwards I suppose.

[Roadking2003]

Altho he won a few events previous to his, what has drippy Cink done since '09?

 

Nothing. No wins and very few top 10s. And he has missed the cut in about 50% of his events.

[BMC]

Golf can be "lightning in a bottle" for some guys. Very good players who have a hot week or year. It can go away as quickly.

 

Could Spieth become the next? Unlikely, but it is possible.

[mrmacwvu1]

Peter Jacobson

 

Had Roy only laid up on the par five he would have won

[Roadking2003]

:taunt:

[jjr]

Keegan is probably would have continued his success if it wasn't for the anchor ban. Tee to Green he is still one the best on tour, but he has no faith in his putter anymore. He has new one every single week pretty much and has tried various different grips and styles.

 

Dufner won his major and then had injury. Lost a tremendous amount of weight and had to re learn to play golf at that size. Also he had to deal with his divorce, which is never easy.

 

Kaymer is doing pretty good considering he won his major, then change his swing and his mom did die in that time period. Life hasn't been easy for him

 

Kaymer has won 2, my vote is for Yang, after Yang chipped in for birdie Tiger was never the same!

[playa]

Micheel or Hamilton for sure...totally disappeared and have never been heard from again. Even though I love the guy, John Daly could be on the list I guess...one or two great years and then just a circus after that. Still gotta hit the shots, drain the putts, and play all 72 holes or more though.

JD may be an underchiever but he is a top 5 talent of the last 25 years. He is not even in the discussion of worst players to win a major. I'll throw Rich Beem into the mix with some of the others mentioned.

 

I think the thread title is unfair, as worst implies being bad. Every major winner is a very good golfer. Perhaps something like 'least likely golfer to catch lightning in a bottle during a major week' would be a more fitting title.

[Ryanunc12]

Isn't Justin Leonard in the mix here?

 

Not even close. Double digit tour wins, a Player's Championship. He's far closer to the HOF than this list.

 

I know, you must have missed my post right after ?

[Arpeggi]

Keegan Bradley by far

[High gentle draw]

Stewart Cink. No hate against the man himself, But I really wanted to see Watson pull it off.

[Mdmspop]

Any consideration for Trevor Immelman?

[Roadking2003]

Any consideration for Trevor Immelman?

 

Yes. But he did have 3 Euro wins.

[grm24]

Bradley and Dufner are your top votes? Over these likes of Michael Campbell, Ben Curtis, Todd Hamilton, Shaun Micheel?

Ben Curtis has more PGA Tour wins (4) than Bradley and the same number as Dufner. Really shouldn't be considered

for the "worst" to win a major.

[grm24]

Keegan is probably would have continued his success if it wasn't for the anchor ban.

Uh no. Bradley won his last event on the PGA Tour in 2012. Anchoring was not banned until 2016.

Where was his continued success (success defined as winning) and great play from late 2012-2015?

It's just not his putting.

[grm24]

Any consideration for Trevor Immelman?

 

Yes. But he did have 3 Euro wins.

And another PGA Tour win two years before his Masters victory. Tiger finished 2nd in both of his PGA Tour wins.

Also won on his home tour (Sunshine) a handful of times as well. His Masters win also counts as a Euro Tour win.

[ricknoberts]

Micheel was the worst. One other top 20 in a major, no other wins on tour. Two other professional wins (Asian Tour and Nike Tour). Hamilton won twice on tour, and has 15 other professional wins. Orville Moody has to be up there as well.

 

This gets discussed a lot, though. What I think it more interesting is the worst player that has won multiple majors.

[Hankshank]

Any consideration for Trevor Immelman?

He was(is?) a good player who lost it. As sharp as Oosthuizen or Schwartzel before his Master win.

That sometimes happens. Like that announcer with a double last name(forgot it) who won the Open but then lost it all. Or a Central Scandinavian player who you never heard of but was arguably more talented than Stenson and Parnevik. Lost Central Scandinavian Open in a playoff, never recovered.

[rich13]

Good thread this.......reminds me of one of my favourite quotes, from (I think) Golf Digest, about the 1988 USPGA........

 

"An empty cab arrived at Oak Tree on Sunday.........and Jeff Sluman got out!"

[apprenti23]

It's Todd Hamilton isn't it? Surely? He didn't top 10 in another major apart from his win. Didn't make it on tour until well into his 30s as well I'm pretty sure

 

Among recent guys, I'd say Micheel. Hamilton won the Honda the same year as the Open. He also won quite a few events in Japan.

I'd be happy with any of their careers, even the guys who've never won a major! Todd Hamilton who has 17 professional wins was the non-Japanese born career money leader on the Japan Tour, PGA Tour rookie of the year, and won his first PGA Tour event, the Honda along with beating EE in a playoff for the Open. I'd say that's pretty good.

[vitaminsteve]

Altho he won a few events previous to his, what has drippy Cink done since '09?

Cink won the one Major 09 Open that has to the worst one to win. Everyone was for Watson, only family and friends for Cink. Plus he 3 putted on the 72nd hole from 15" to miss the playoff in the 01 US Open, second putt was a miss from 2"

[bluesooner]

Conclusion: there are a lot of players who have won a major who had otherwise, unspectacular careers. And conversely, a lot of great players who have been held without.

 

I think most would rather have careers of Sergio/Westwood rather than Cink/Beem.

 

Another question would be, would you rather have 1 major of 5 regular tour wins (excluding big tournaments like The Players, Arnies, Jack's, etc...)?

[Mwscgolf]

Conclusion: there are a lot of players who have won a major who had otherwise, unspectacular careers. And conversely, a lot of great players who have been held without.

 

I think most would rather have careers of Sergio/Westwood rather than Cink/Beem.

 

Another question would be, would you rather have 1 major of 5 regular tour wins (excluding big tournaments like The Players, Arnies, Jack's, etc...)?

 

Good point.

 

There was an article somewhere about some anonymous players saying they'd rather win the FedEx cup than a major. So to answer your question, I'd probably lean towards the major, but for monetary reasons, it's hard to argue 5 wins. It is a business for these guys after all.

[LanDog]

I wouldn't put Moody in there, he won a major with the putting yips, that's impressive I think

[Frostfield]

Y E Yang

[Drudersh]

Michael Campbell

 

Agreed. By far the worst modern era major winner.

[cdnglf]

Michael Campbell

 

Agreed. By far the worst modern era major winner.

 

You are by far the worst judge of who the worst modern era major winner is.

[ani5009]

Lots of good ones on the thread so far. For my money, it would probably be either Y.E. Yang or Lucas Glover, although one could definitely make an argument for Cink and/or Keegan

[cdnglf]

Lots of good ones on the thread so far. For my money, it would probably be either Y.E. Yang or Lucas Glover, although one could definitely make an argument for Cink and/or Keegan

 

Cink has 6 PGA Tour wins. He doesn't belong in this discussion.

[jmck]

I wouldn't put Moody in there, he won a major with the putting yips, that's impressive I think

 

Yips or no, the problem with Moody is that one US Open is his one and only PGA tour win.

[jmck]

Wayne Grady

Lucas Glover

Y E Yang

Shaun Micheel

Todd Hamilton

Ian Baker-Finch

 

Ian Baker-Finch was in the top 10 in OWGR the year he won the Open.