How many times have you join the conversation about "The best player never to win a major." It's a topic that comes around about four times a year when golf’s four signature events are held.
It’s an unofficial title that no golf player wants to hold, and a leaderboard none wants to be part of, they all want to miss the cut. It’s a ‘list’ that players might think is similar to making the FBI’s ‘Most Wanted List’ or even the ‘World’s Most Wanted Terrorists.’
Still, is a subject of discussion and everyone has their own formula to select the players for this ‘list.’ But fans and pundits alike, for the most part, agree on the names that are part of this ‘list.’ With his win at the Masters this year, Adam Scott has taken himself out of the conversation.
Let’s leave aside the often-debated question of who is currently the best player never to have won a major championship. Let’s take a look at the top of my leaderboard on the best five players that need a major trophy.
5. Steve Stricker
A 12-time PGA Tour winner, including a WGC (2001 Match Play) and two FedEx Cup playoff wins. His best chance to win a major came 15 years ago at the 1998 PGA Championship, when he played in final group and shot 70 to finish runner-up, two shots behind Vijay Singh.
At 46, Stricker is by far the oldest on this list and not coincidentally, the shortest hitter. One thing though, he is a master putter and has been like wine, apparently getting better with age. But more than anyone else from this crop, now self-proclaimed "semi-retired," Stricker's window of opportunity is getting awfully close to being closed for good.
His best finish in a U.S. Open was a T-7th in 2008, and Merion looks like course suited for his skills.
4. Matt Kuchar
Kuchar has six PGA Tour victories that include the WGC Match Play this year, The Players Championship last year and a FedEx Cup Playoff event in 2010. He also won the Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award in 2010 for lowest scoring average and the PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Award for leading the money list.
His best chance to win a major came last year at The Masters when he was tied for the lead with three holes to play on Sunday before finishing T-3rd. His recent success makes you think the questions regarding his match toughness are a thing of the past.
Kuchar will turn 35 on June 21st, but few could argue against him as the hottest golfer, coming into the U.S. Open and probably is even more than Tiger Woods. The way ‘Mr. Consistency’ plays, he looks like another player suited for the course at Merion; he is in the zone.
3. Sergio Garcia
‘El Niño’ is not a kid anymore. But he is only 33 although it seems like he has been around forever. He turned professional in 1999 when he was 19-years-old and has won 24 times as a pro, eight of those on the PGA Tour (including The Players Championship in 2008) and 10 on the European Tour.
His closest call to win a major came at the 2007 British Open. He missed an eight-footer for the win in regulation before losing in a playoff to Padraig Harrington. That loss at Carnoustie certainly is Garcia's toughest loss, but there have been other close calls.
The Spaniard has 18 top 10s and nine top five in majors, including a runner-up to Tiger Woods at the 1999 PGA Championship at 19. Combine that with his PGA Tour wins and Garcia probably has the best career resume of anyone on this list.
He definitely has the talent, but is all those close calls that he has to erase from his memory and curb a little his attitude and maybe he’ll be able to finally win a major.
2. Luke Donald
The 35-year-old English pro had a career year in 2011 when he climbed to No. 1 and became the first golfer to officially claim top rank on both PGA Tour and European Tour money lists in the same year. Of the players on this list, Donald has won the most tournaments since the start of 2011, a big reason why he's spent the most time ranked No. 1.
He tallies 14 professional wins, five on the PGA Tour, highlighted by the 2011 WGC Match Play and seven on the European Tour where he has won the BMW PGA Championship twice. His best chance to win a major came in 2011 at The Masters when a late flurry, including a chip-in on the final hole of regulation, gave him a T-4th, four shots behind winner Charl Schwartzel.
One thing that is mind boggling is his lack of high finishes in majors. Maybe his weakness, which is total driving is a big reason why. He has played only one time in the final group at a major (2006 PGA Championship) and he did not fare well. If you don’t remember, he matched Tiger Woods by wearing red that day. But that was all he matched with Woods that day.
But he is past due for a major win. More than any other player on this list, Merion, which requires great iron play, suits Donald best than anybody else. This could be his major weekend.
1. Lee Westwood
Internationally, the 40-year-old Westwood is the most accomplished on this list. He held the number one position for a total of 22 weeks and has amassed a total of 39 professional wins, 22 on the European Tour, but only twice on the PGA Tour. He is one of the few golfers to have won tournaments on every major continent.
His closest call at a major came at the 2009 British Open when he three-putted the final hole of regulation to finish T-3rd, one shot out of a playoff with Stewart Cink and Tom Watson. He is no stranger to lurking near the top of the leaderboard at golf’s biggest events. He has put himself in contention as often as anyone in recent years.
He's finished in the top three at all four, including in seven of 15 at one stretch from 2008 to 2012. However, his short game has been his demise, specially his putter which has gone cold at some inopportune times, most notably at Turnberry in 2009.
Merion might not be the best place for him to breakthrough, but a player his caliber can come up with a win anywhere. He better do it soon, Stricker’s window to win a major is closing the fastest right now, but Westwood’s is starting to fade at a higher rate than before every time he misses winning one.