Major championships in golf are usually where the top of the crop comes out victorious. A legend like Jack Nicklaus has won a record 18 major championships while Tiger Woods has won 15 of his own. Other faces of the game like Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and more have all collected 7 major victories or more of their own. Four weeks out of every year we see some of the greatest in the game beat some of the best fields in the game of golf.
It’s easy to remember the legends who have collected handfuls of major championships, but every once in a while someone slips in and when no one sees it coming they win one of the games majors. Below is a list of major championship golfers since 2000 that you may not remember….
But before the list, here’s a brief look at each major….
The Masters – Augusta National Golf Club – This one really needs no explaining. Hosted every year in Augusta, Georgia, golfers compete for the coveted Green Jacket.
PGA Championship – The PGA Championship winner gets to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy. Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen have each won the most with 5 each.
U.S. Open – The United States Golf Association (USGA) attempts to make this the toughest test in golf year in and year out.
The Open Championship – The Open Championship is the oldest major championship in golf. The winner each year claims the Claret Jug. The first Open Championship was hosted in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Harry Vardon has won the most Claret Jugs with 6.
2003 Masters – Mike Weir
AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 13: Mike Weir of Canada is presented with the green jacket by Tiger Woods of the USA after winning the play off after the final round of the 2003 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on April 13, 2003. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
As a big golf fan it feels weird to put Mike Weir on the list because he won 8 times on the PGA Tour. However, many casual fans of the game may not know who Weir is. The Canadian lefty won his lone major championship at the Masters in 2003 in a playoff over Len Mattiace.
2003 PGA Championship – Shaun Micheel
ROCHESTER, NY – AUGUST 17: Shaun Micheel of the USA holds the trophy after winning the 85th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on August 17, 2003 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Shaun Micheel won just once on the PGA Tour and it happened to be a major championship. Micheel was a two-stroke winner over Chad Campbell at Oak Hill in the 2003 PGA Championship.
2003 The Open Championship – Ben Curtis
TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND – JULY 16: Ben Curtis of USA lines up a putt during round one of the 138th Open Championship on the Ailsa Course, Turnberry Golf Club on July 16, 2009 in Turnberry, Scotland. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
A 2-under par performance on Sunday at the 2003 Open Championship led Ben Curtis to his first career victory on the PGA Tour. However, this major title would be the only one he would ever win. Curtis would win three more times on the PGA Tour but would never find major championship glory again.
2004 The Open Championship – Todd Hamilton
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 18: Todd Hamilton of the USA kisses the claret jug following his victory in the 133rd Open Championship, after a playoff, at the Royal Troon Golf Club on July 18, 2004 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Todd Hamilton won twice on the PGA Tour in 2004, his second title being at The Open Championship. That would be the last time he would win on the PGA Tour.
2005 U.S. Open – Michael Campbell
PINEHURST, NC – JUNE 19: Michael Campbell of New Zealand kisses the trophy after his 2-stroke victory during the final round of the U.S. Open on June 19, 2005 at the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
Much like Ben Curties, Michael Campbell’s only PGA Tour victory was a major victory. The New Zealand native was victorious at Pinehurst No. 2 by two shots over a guy by the name of Tiger Woods…..that’s a pretty good guy to beat.
2009 PGA Championship – Y.E. Yang
CHASKA, MN – AUGUST 16: Y.E. Yang of South Korea celebrates his three-stroke victory on the 18th green during the final round of the 91st PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 16, 2009 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Speaking of golfers who beat Tiger Woods in a major…enter Y.E. Yang. Yang is the only man in the history of the game to defeat Woods in a major championship after Woods held the 54-hole lead at a major championship. Yang’s 2-under par Sunday propelled him to his only major title victory in his career.
2013 PGA Championship – Jason Dufner
ROCHESTER, NY – AUGUST 11: Jason Dufner of the United States looks at the Wanamaker Trophy after his two-stroke victory at the 95th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on August 11, 2013 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Jason Dufner is probably on this list more for people forgetting that he won a major than it is for people not really knowing who he is. I feel like a lot of people forget that Dufner is a major champion after his PGA Championship triumph at Oak Hill in 2013. He’s won five time in total on the PGA Tour, but this remains his only major victory.
2016 Masters – Danny Willett
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 10: Danny Willett of England celebrates after being presented with the green jacket for winning the final round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2016 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
A lot of people remember the 2016 Masters as the one that Jordan Spieth collapsed. However, two things needed to happen that day and Danny Willett did the second thing by firing a bogey free 67 to claim the Green Jacket. What has Willett done since? He’s won a few times on the European Tour, but that’s it.
