Every year the golf world will have the discussion of who the best golfer that hasn’t won a major championship is. Some guys like Colin Montgomerie will live on that list forever, while guys like Rickie Fowler, Lee Westwood, and others will potentially join Montgomerie on that list.
Below is a list of some of the best golfers in 2024 that are still searching major championship glory. This list was created with the help of data golf’s world ranking (as of 3/7/24), since the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is no longer recognized by a chunk of fans in the golf world due to players on the LIV Tour not getting ranking points in the OWGR when they play in a LIV event.
Part of the items honoring the career of Tiger Woods at the World Golf Hall of Fame will be the trophies he won when he held the four major championships at the same time following his victory in the 2001 Masters.
Tiger Trophies
Before the list, here’s a look at where each major championship will be held in 2024:
The Masters – Augusta National Golf Club (April 11th-14th)
PGA Championship – Valhalla Golf Club (May 16th-19th)
U.S. Open – Pinehurst No. 2 (June 13th-16th)
The Open Championship – Royal Troon Golf Club (July 18th-21st)
Here are some of the best golfers (in 2024) without a major championship…
Xander Schauffele
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 11: Xander Schauffele of the United States plays his shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Schauffele has had a couple close calls in majors, including holding a share of the 54-hole lead in the 2018 Open Championship. However, he hasn’t been able to get across the finish line. The 30-year-old has 11 top-10 finishes in 26 career major appearances.
TIME FOR AN UPDATE…..Xander has removed himself from the list with a victory at the 2024 PGA Championship!
Patrick Cantlay
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Patrick Cantlay of Team United States plays a tee shot during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The eight time PGA Tour winner is still looking to add a major title to his pedigree. Though Cantlay has been one of the best players on Tour for the last few seasons, he hasn’t really threatened when it comes to majors. In 27 total appearances he has just four top-10 finishes. His best major finish is a T3 at the PGA Championship in 2019.
Viktor Hovland
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 18: Viktor Hovland of Norway plays his shot from the seventh tee during the final round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at The Los Angeles Country Club on June 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Hovland had his nose in the mix in the first two majors in 2023 but he faded away on Sunday at The Masters and just couldn’t catch Brooks Koepka at the PGA Championship. He has three top-10 finishes in his last five major appearances and hasn’t finished lower than 19th during that time frame.
Max Homa
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 07: Max Homa of the United States lines up a putt on the third green during the second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Homa’s major record is probably one he doesn’t like to look at. In 17 major appearances he has missed eight cuts and has just one top-10 finish. When he’s on top of his game he is one of the best players on the planet. The missing piece for him in contending in, and winning, a major championship.
Tommy Fleetwood
HOYLAKE, ENGLAND – JULY 23: Tommy Fleetwood of England looks on after teeing off on the 1st hole on Day Four of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 23, 2023 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Fleetwood missed a lot of cuts early in his major career but has been in contention a lot more recently. The Englishman has four top-10 finishes in his last seven major starts. He also finished runner-up at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Open Championship.
Tyrrell Hatton
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 27: Tyrrell Hatton of Team Europe plays from a bunker on the 14th hole during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 27, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
One of the newest members on the LIV Tour will be looking to add some glory for LIV with a major title in 2024. Hatton has been a mixed bag in major championships with five top-10 finishes but also 13 missed cuts. He hasn’t been in major contention since a T6 at the 2019 Open Championship and will be looking to change that in 2024.
Tony Finau
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 25: Tony Finau of the United States plays his shot from the third tee during the final round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta at Vidanta Vallarta on February 25, 2024 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
The six-time Tour winner hasn’t contended in a major since the 2021 PGA Championship. After 10 top-10 finishes in his first 20 major appearances, Finau hasn’t seen a top-10 finish in his last 10 majors. Getting back in form at the majors should be important to Finau in 2024.
Sam Burns
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 07: Sam Burns of the United States walks the first hole during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 07, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Much like Homa, Burns hasn’t contended when it comes to major championships. The five-time Tour winner needs to get into contention at the majors to be considered one of the best players in the world. We know the talent in there with Burns, now comes the need to show it.
Joaquin Niemann
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – MARCH 03: Joaquin Niemann of Torque GC poses for a photo with his trophy after winning dthe LIV Golf Invitational – Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on March 03, 2024 in King Abdullah Economic City , Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
The hottest player on the LIV Tour is getting himself into the majors with good play in 2024. Now he needs to prove it. His best finish in a major is a T16 at the 2023 Masters. He’s had success on the PGA Tour and the LIV Tour, all that’s left is winning at the majors.
Will Zalatoris
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 07: Will Zalatoris of the United States hits a tee shot on the fifth hole during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 07, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)
10 major appearances, six top-10 finishes, three of them being runner-up finishes. Zalatoris is seemingly always in the mix at the big events. It’s only a matter of time before he pulls out a victory.
Honorable Mention: Ludvig Aberg
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 17: Ludvig Aberg of Sweden reacts to his putt on the seventh green during the third round of The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on February 17, 2024 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
I wanted to include Aberg on this list but he has never appeared in a major championship. Now, that shouldn’t exclude him from a list of best players that haven’t won a major, but I didn’t really know how he’d fit in the category. Aberg has already won on the PGA Tour, the European Tour, and has a Ryder Cup victory all before making a major appearance. Something tells me (and a lot of others) that he will be a contender in multiple majors.
