Devil Ball Golf - Golf

In golf, there's no heavier anchor to bear than the title of "best never to win a major." All you gotta do is get that one major -- or, like Trevor Immelman and Zach Johnson, play the best golf of your life for four days in April -- and your career immortality is assured. Fall short, though, and the burden grows, year after year, until it's all anybody talks about whenever your name comes up.

Conventional wisdom holds that the best player currently active who never won a major is Sergio Garcia. That's not only a function of his talent, it's a result of the ultrahigh expectations placed on him since he arrived on the pro scene. But is conventional wisdom accurate?

Forbes decided to take on the conventional wisdom, and came up with some interesting conclusions. Their methodology included a consideration of play since 2005, penalizing players for failing to qualify or missing the cut in majors. Their results were as follows:

1. Adam Scott
2. Ian Poulter
3. Stuart Appleby
4. Sergio Garcia
5. Stewart Cink
6. Paul Casey
7. Stephen Ames
8. Tim Clark
9. KJ Choi
10. Lee Westwood

Man, that's actually a pretty impressive list. I think Westwood's ranked too low and Appleby too high, myself. But I can see at least one or two of these names getting off it before the end of the year. And I still hold that while Scott may be statistically the "best" player not to have won a major, Garcia will hold that title until he retires or finally wins one of the damn things. There's just too much potential there that's gone unfulfilled.

And now, your turn. Thoughts on the list? Anyone who should be added, moved or adjusted?

digg delicious
more

30 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Linkslifer
    1. Posted by Linkslifer Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:01 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Westwood and Clark should be higher...I thought Sergio might win this year, but he loses his head and putter under the pressure. Scott's recent play should move him down a bit.....I think Westwood is the most likely to win one this year.
  2. Chas db MacDuff
    2. Posted by Chas db MacDuff Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Il pick Poulter to finish 3 up on McIlroy two ahead of Tim Clark for top three at Turnberry for THE OPEN.
  3. J
    3. Posted by J Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:57 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Sergio should be about #18..... But hey, keep pumping him- he might sell something someday....
  4. Michael Rappaport
    4. Posted by Michael Rappaport Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:21 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I actually think Perry needs to be on that list.
    Don't agree with Ames being on there at all.
    I'd probably move Perry in, Ames out, and I'm not quite so sure about Clark either. I don't really understand the criteria Forbes is going by, but whatever. Jimenez is another guy that should merit some consideration for the top 10.
  5. Partick B
    5. Posted by Partick B Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:31 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I agree on Perry, especially looking over the last year and a half. Only Tiger has won more tournaments than Perry in that span. He is tied with Phil with 4 wins. I think he has played as good if not better than anyone on tour in that span. I'm not sure why Poulter is so high. He has had some close calls in majors, but he is a less than spectacular golfer when it comes to closing out tournaments. He has never won on the PGA and he has only won 7 time in almost 10 years on the European tour, the last win coming in 2006.
  6. Go Chargers
    6. Posted by Go Chargers Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Holy droppings, Michelle Wie shot a 66 today T2 what is up with that?
    Maybe she kicked her dad to the curb and now playing better.
    Next 3 rounds will tell.
    lol
  7. J
    7. Posted by J Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:00 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    that's good pic of scott, it must hurt to look that good.
    what's going on with his knee surgery? any reporting on that?
  8. Steve
    8. Posted by Steve Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    If you're going to use recent victories as your only criteria then you need to put Dustin Johnson on this list - he's only one of 3 players to win 2 tournaments since Tiger's been out - Kenny Perry is a good choice, but he doesn't nearly put himself in the spotlight as much as Sergio Garcia does. If nobody's like Shaun Micheel, Rich Beem, and Todd Hamilton can stand tall in majors how come players with the talent of Garcia, and Scott shrink under the pressure and blame other things then their own play to why they lost (thinking Garcia there...Scott's never gotten that far).
  9. Steve
    9. Posted by Steve Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:01 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    PS where's Charles Howell??
  10. Steve
    10. Posted by Steve Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:01 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    PS where's Charles Howell??
  11. Don J
    11. Posted by Don J Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:00 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Clark and Ames should not even be on this list!!! What about Chad Campbell or Rory Sabattini.
  12. Michael Rappaport
    12. Posted by Michael Rappaport Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:01 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    It really is kind of baffling that Scott is ranked #1 on the list. What separates him from Garcia? Certainly not talent, Garcia has more when he isn't dealing with the yips with the putter.
    I would guess it's because Scott won the overrated waste of time that is "The Tour Championship," whereas Garcia has lost a couple of playoffs there.
    But you can't make any rationale argument that Scott is the best player never to have won a major. I don't recall Scott EVER even contending in a major. For all his "chokes," Sergio has at least contended in all 4 of the majors at different times.
  13. ScottS
    13. Posted by ScottS Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Perry should be on the list. Dont understand Clark being there - there are lots of players who sb ahead of him considering he has not won very much period.... Stricker sb in the top 5 on that list, and Campbell in the top 10. Personaly, I would take Boo over Clark, Ames, Casey or Westwood straight up any day.
  14. Kevin S
    14. Posted by Kevin S Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:38 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Forbes schalanked this one out of bounds before it reached the ladies tees....The reason why Sergio is widely regarded as the best player to never have won a major is because you have to look at a player's ENTIRE resume when deciding. Taking things to consider out of your formula only gets you to what you want to believe. ------ Sergio's resume to date is one of the most glorious examples of squandered opportunity & peepee'd away talent, just like Phatty of the late 90s. ------- My top 10 (CAPS: not listed above): Sergio, COLIN MONTGOMERIE, KENNY PERRY, Adam Scott, JUSTIN ROSE, Stewart Cink, SCOTT VERPLANK, Lee Westwood, LUKE DONALD, JEFF MAGGERT. -------- Some of those guys are old, but they have good resumes and should have done more in Major Championships. CH3 gets the 2nd place award for "Doing the Least With the Most." Nobody gets 1st place for the "Doing the Least With the Most" award because that would mean they won something.
  15. Michael M
    15. Posted by Michael M Fri Apr 24, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    "PS where's Charles Howell??"
    Good question, he really hasn't done anything since college!
    Westwood belongs right where he is. Aside from some decent play towards the end of 2008 he has been off the map for the past 5 years.
  16. Parker F
    16. Posted by Parker F Fri Apr 24, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I agree, adam scott is a fantastic playrer with a potencial to be even better. He could deffinately win a major title within the next year.
  17. HARVEY R
    17. Posted by HARVEY R Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:24 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    It would be a wonderful thing to see, if Sergio would all of a sudden grew up. He may then win a major and get a little more serious attention and respect. I hope he doesn't show up at the Masters in 2010 with the same old attitude.
  18. Shirley
    18. Posted by Shirley Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:55 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Adam Scott is the best looking player never to win a major!
  19. melanie n
    19. Posted by melanie n Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Sergio should not be on any list untill he learns to shut his mouth.He is his own enemy he talks like he is a star but i have not seen anthing but attiud.I think he should go on the europ tour and let them beat up on him.Until he learns he is not in the top 200.Then let him and Jhon daly play over their get thier ass handed to them then come back and he will still be an ass.
  20. babs
    20. Posted by babs Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:52 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    What fun would it be if Sergio quit whining? He makes me lagh. I want him to do it again, do it again, do it again!!
  21. billieboy
    21. Posted by billieboy Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:04 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    In my mind , Sergio and Adam are argubly the best to win a Major.
    They are still young; but nevertheless, very LAZY ! !
  22. Donald R
    22. Posted by Donald R Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:59 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    I I Agree 100 per cent with number 4 Michael Rappaport, with Perry in and Ames out, plus Jimenez in. I would also throw out Clark and the very overrated Appleby. I think Robert Allenby is the top Aussie, now.
  23. dan p
    23. Posted by dan p Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:14 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Tiger Woods / I am sorry I know that he has nothing at all to do with this topic but it does not seem to be a legitimate golf topic without mentioning Tiger. Its in the PGA rule book under rule # 101 I think.
  24. tommy_zombie
    24. Posted by tommy_zombie Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:06 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hey Jay on that photo u definitely have a look circa 1968, what's up wit that?.
    Except for Sergio all those dead racoons on that list have had only one close call in a Major, if that. Sergio is by miles the BNTWAM and probly will remain that way until he changes his rotten attitude (never?).
    As far as Scott goes he's got all the talent and none of the belief.
    As for the rest, they'll never ever win a Big One and u can quote me on that.
  25. tommy_zombie
    25. Posted by tommy_zombie Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:22 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    RE: post 17: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah you're right!!.
    I totally forgot (as did everyone else) that awful loser piece of crap called Luke Donald. Needn't bother though, he'll never win a Major either.

Devil Ball Golf

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Jay Busbee

Devil Ball is a golf blog edited by Jay Busbee. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Michael Arkush,

Related Photo Gallery

Featured Golf Video

Y! Sports Blogs

Devil Ball Golf Recent Readers