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Every sport has its nearly men. Those who flirt with glory but are always denied in the last minute, at the last hurdle, or in this case, the last hole.
In the taxing discipline of golf, where errant shots can shatter dreams, there have been countless moments of heartbreak, though some individuals’ tales of woe can span entire careers.
These are the golfers who have dominated tours, racked up victory after victory and were consistent contenders at the highest level, only to be denied their taste of Grand Slam success.
As cruel as their stories are, the narratives around them can make for compelling watching, and in this piece, we’ll spotlight ten golfers who deserved to, but never actually managed to win a major.
10. Tommy Fleetwood
Starting our list of top golfers without a major is Tommy Fleetwood. The Southport native has developed into one of the modern era’s most consistent performers on the links, however, that major still eludes him.
Fleetwood has six DP World Tour wins and a PGA Tour victory under his belt, while his starting role in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph over 2023 was another career highlight. However, despite having elite level pedigree, he has never got over the line in a major championship.
He has come agonizingly close on a couple of occasions, finishing as runner-up at the 2018 U.S. Open and second again at the 2019 Open Championship.
Still in his mid-30s, the powerful ball-striker could yet break his duck however, and is often a fancied outsider in outright markets on golf betting sites ahead of tee off.
9. Viktor Hovland
Norwegian sensation Hovland burst onto the scene in 2019 and quickly amassed a collection of seven PGA Tour wins by his mid-20s, including the FedEx Cup in 2023.
His iron play is eye-catchingly smooth and his approach play is complemented by impressive accuracy around the greens. However, despite his strong all-around game, Hovland is another big name on the list of golfers without a major.
His biggest disappointments in that direction include his playoff loss at the 2023 PGA Championship, along with his near miss at the 2024 Masters. The Scandinavian still has potential to unlock however, and might not be on this rundown for long.
8. Rickie Fowler
California’s Rickie Fowler has always been a big public figure, with his bold fashion and even bolder game attracting attention on courses around the globe.
Fowler has claimed nine PGA Tour victories during his career, including the 2015 Players Championship, which is often dubbed the fifth major, but the real bona fide article continues to be just outside of his reach.
He placed second at the 2018 Masters and second at the US Open and Open Championship in 2014, but that’s as close as he’s come. His odds and form have dwindled more recently however, and it already looks as though he will exit the professional sphere without his holy grail.
7. Scott Hoch
Scott Hoch has always been one for a sort of quiet excellence, though despite being content to fly under the radar, he still managed to secure 11 PGA Tour wins and a Vardon Trophy (1986) for the lowest scoring average.
Hoch racked up 15 top-10 finishers in majors, though, he is remembered most for his nearly moments. He flubbed a two-foot putt in the 1989 Masters playoff against Nick Faldo and a three-foot effort at the final green in the 1987 PGA before that.
Still, Hoch left a strong pro legacy and is still spotted on the senior tour, where he won the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf in 2019.
6. Bruce Crampton
Australian Bruce Campton was a prolific winner in his heyday, however, despite netting 14 PGA Tour victories and 45 professional wins overall, he never had that major-winning feeling.
Often the bridesmaid, Crampton finished as runner-up four times in major tournaments during his career, including the Masters Tournament (1972), the US Open (1972) and PGA Championship (1973, 1975).
Jack Nicklaus beat him to the punch each time and Crampton stands as a classic example of golfers without a major who were thwarted by the Golden Bear’s dominance in the 70s.
5. Doug Sanders
Next, we move on to Doug Sanders, a golfer known as much for flamboyance as the accuracy of his swing. Sanders was another player with a catalogue of PGA Tour wins (20) from the 60s and 70s that never made the step to majors success.
Indeed, his major record was said to haunt him. It included four runner-up finishes, including the infamous 2½-foot miss on the 72nd hole at the 1970 Open, leading to a playoff loss against, you guessed it, Nicklaus.
Sanders remains one of the most colourful characters to finish up without the major he deserved, though stories like his still inspire wagers on longshots via golf betting sites to this day.
4. Macdonald Smith
Hailing from Carnoustie in Scotland, Macdonald Smith was something of a pioneer for the sport in his homeland with his 25 PGA Tour wins in the early 20th century inspiring a whole generation to pick up the clubs.
During a time of wooden clubs and rudimentary golf courses, Macdonald finished second in three majors, including back-to-back runner-up spots at the US and British Opens in 1930.
The timeless Macdonald is cited as one of the best golfers without a major due to his overall influence on the game and its evolution.
3. Harry Cooper
Rolling back the clocks even further again, we have Harry “Light Horse” Cooper, who was one of the sport’s dominant forces throughout the 1920s and 30s.
With a haul of 29 PGA Tour victories, he achieved more than most of his peers, however, a majors title slipped through his fingers on several occasions.
Cooper finished runner-up four times, including playoffs at the 1927 U.S. Open and 1936 Masters, and he also placed second again at the Open in ’36. Another swing to second in the 1938 edition of the Masters completed his quartet of near misses.
2. Lee Westwood
Lee “Westy” Westwood is a prime example of longevity in golf and the former world number one has claimed 25 European Tour wins, two PGA Tour victories and though he has notched 19 top-10 finishers at majors, he has never landed in first place.
Westwood’s closest calls came when he was runner-up at the 2010 Masters and Open, plus another lengthy push to second at the 2016 iteration of the Masters at Augusta.
Really, the Englishman epitomises those golfers without a major who enjoyed dominance elsewhere, which probably wouldn’t offer him much consolation. he deserved one for his Ryder Cup heroics (23.5 points). Now in his 50s, Westwood is eligible to play on the senior circuit.
1. Colin Montgomerie
At the summit of our list is Scotsman Colin Montgomerie, who despite his glittering career, never managed to claim a major title in golf.
“Monty” racked up 31 European Tour wins and seven successive Order of Merit titles between 1993 and 1999, though the perennial contender couldn’t quite add to his pile in the majors.
Incredibly, Montgomerie posted five runner-up finishers, including three times at the US Open (1994, 1997 & 2006), the PGA Championship (1995), Masters (1998) and The Open Championship (2005).
Despite being a staple in outright markets on betting sites for golf, Monty never quite got the timing (or the luck) right. Still, he is fondly remembered as one of the game’s greats, or to some, perhaps a king without a fitting crown.
