Alright, let’s gab a bit about these golfers, the real good ones, but somehow never got their hands on a big, big win, you know, one of them “majors”. It’s a head-scratcher, like watching your prize-winning rooster refuse to crow.
Lee Westwood, now there’s a fella. This guy, he won all over the place, 25 times they say on that fancy “DP World Tour”. He got real close to winning a major, like, nine times he was second or third. But darn it, the man just couldn’t seal the deal. He’s like that horse always leading the pack, but stumbling at the finish line. They say he’s 51 now, and ain’t played in a major since he went off to play in that LIV Golf thingy in 2022. Heck, he even quit that DP World Tour in 2023. Guess he figured he’d had enough. I ain’t seen him on TV lately. Probably fishin’ somewhere, like my old man used to do when he gave up on that stubborn mule of his.
Then there’s Harry Cooper. This fella won 31 times on that PGA Tour, more than anyone else who ain’t won a major. Thirty-one times! That’s more blue ribbons than my prize-winning pumpkin at the county fair! But folks say it ain’t fair to judge him too hard, see, ‘cause he only played in one British Open, and there weren’t no Masters back when he was young. He did come close a few times at the Masters later, though, second, fourth, and second again. Just couldn’t get that win. Reminds me of my cousin Bessie, always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
Now, you can’t talk about golf without mentioning Jack Nicklaus. That man, he’s somethin’ else. Eighteen majors! Won each of ‘em at least three times! He’s like the king of the hill, the top dog, the… well, you get the idea. He’s the gold standard, the one everyone’s trying to beat. He ain’t one of them fellas who didn’t win a major, no sir! But I’m just sayin’, he shows you how darn hard it is to win even one of them things, and these other fellas, they won a whole bunch of other tournaments, just not the big ones. It’s like growing the biggest tomatoes in the county, but never winning the blue ribbon for the biggest pumpkin.
Let’s see, who else… Oh yeah, Keegan Bradley. He’s a young’un, compared to them other fellas. He won the PGA Championship in 2011, that’s one of the big ones. And he did it right off the bat, first time playin’ in a major! That’s like a calf winning the rodeo its first time out. Some folks got the knack, I guess. He’s still playin’, so maybe he’ll win some more majors, maybe he won’t. Golf’s a funny game, just like life.
- Westwood: Lots of wins, but no major.
- Cooper: Most wins without a major, but circumstances were different back then.
- Nicklaus: The gold standard, shows how tough it is to win a major.
- Bradley: Won a major right away, still playing. Could go either way.
Then there’s this Colin Montgomerie fella, Monty they call him. Heard tell he won 31 times on that European Tour. That’s a heap of wins! Just like Harry Cooper, all those wins and still no major trophy to show for it. Seems like some fellas are just destined to be the “almost” champions. It’s like making the best darn apple pie in town but always burning the crust just a little bit. People love the pie, but it ain’t perfect, you know?
You know, it makes you think. These fellas, they’re good, real good. They win all sorts of tournaments, beat some of the best players in the world. But those majors, they’re a different beast. It takes somethin’ extra, a little bit of luck, a little bit of grit, and maybe just the right amount of sunshine on the right day. It’s like trying to catch a greased pig at the county fair. You can be the strongest fella there, but that pig might just slip right through your fingers.
And that’s the thing about golf, and about life, I reckon. You can be the best there is, work hard, practice every day, but sometimes, things just don’t go your way. You gotta pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep on swingin’. ‘Cause you never know, the next shot might be the one that wins it all. Or maybe not. But it’s the tryin’ that counts, ain’t it?
So, who are the best golfers to not win a major? Well, those fellas I mentioned, Westwood, Cooper, Montgomerie, they’re right up there. They won a lot, just not the big ones. And there are probably others, fellas who grinded it out, year after year, just missin’ out on that glory. It’s a tough game, golf. But that’s why we love it, I guess. Keeps ya comin’ back for more, hopin’ for that one perfect round, that one magical moment. And sometimes, that’s enough.
