'The best golfer never to win a Major' is not a moniker any of the game's elite want bestowed upon them. For years, the title belonged to Phil Mickelson before his famous six-inch jump on the final green at the 2004 Masters.
Colin Montgomerie is never far away from the conversation having spurned numerous chances, the most devastating of which surely came at the 2006 US Open at Winged Foot. As it transpired, the Scotsman needed only a par on the 72nd hole and did the hard work, piping a drive down the middle before inexplicably racking up a double-bogey six.
Fellow European Lee Westwood is another name often bandied about whenever this topic rears its head. The Englishman spent decades at the pinnacle of the sport, amassing more than 40 professional victories and enjoying a spell as the World No. 1, but a Major eluded him.
With an ever-deepening well of talent on tour, we now have some new contenders for this most undesirable of crowns. So, with that in mind, here are some of the best active male golfers yet to win one of golf's 'big four'.
Xander Schauffele
Worldwide wins: 10
Highest world ranking: 3
Best Major finish: T2 (2018 Open Championship, 2019 Masters)
The American turned pro in 2015 and quickly established himself as one of the best players in the world, picking up two wins in 2017 during his rookie season on the PGA Tour. Since then, he has won a WGC and became the Olympic champion at the 2021 Tokyo Games. However, he hasn't yet managed to make it happen on Sunday at a Major. He is remarkably consistent but there will continue to be a question mark over his ability to close out big tournaments until he gets over the line.
Rickie Fowler
Worldwide wins: 10
Highest world ranking: 4
Best Major finish: 2nd (2018 Masters)
Rickie Fowler appeared to come through a slump with his win at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last year but is still without a Major. Fowler's 2014 record in the sport's marquee events was special, finishing inside the top-five at each of the four stops. At that point it seemed a matter of 'when' rather than 'if', but top-fives since then have been few and far between. With such strength in depth, there's no guarantee Fowler will ever shake this tag.
Viktor Hovland
Worldwide wins: 10
Highest world ranking: 3
Best Major finish: T2 (2023 PGA Championship)
Viktor Hovland arrived on the scene with much anticipation having become the first Norwegian to capture the US Amateur title in 2018. After a steady start to life on tour, he notched his first win at the 2020 Puerto Rico Open before picking up five more worldwide victories in fairly quick succession. Now well established as one of the world's best, Hovland pushed Brooks Koepka all the way at the 2023 PGA Championship before coming up just short but his time will surely come.
Patrick Cantlay
Worldwide wins: 9
Highest world ranking: 3
Best Major finish: T3 (2019 PGA Championship)
'Patty Ice' as he's been dubbed for his coolness under pressure is another on this list that you'd expect to capture one of golf's marquee titles before all is said and done. Having burst onto the scene in 2012, he was forced to endure an extended spell on the sidelines with an ongoing back injury, but returned reinvigorated in 2017. He's won eight times on the PGA Tour and held the lead briefly on Sunday at the 2019 Masters before Tiger Woods eventually prevailed. Surprisingly, Cantlay's recent record in the Majors isn't great, but it's not through a lack of talent.
Tommy Fleetwood
Worldwide wins: 10
Highest world ranking: 9
Best Major finish: 2nd (2018 US Open; 2019 Open)
Tommy Fleetwood has taken some flak for his drought in America, having never tasted success on the PGA Tour. Few doubt he has the game, but he has so far failed to lift silverware when taking on all of the best players in the world. The Englishman has seven top-fives in Majors, which is mega impressive, but he has yet to truly be in the hunt come the back nine on Sunday. He may well finish his career without one, but he just as easily could join the coveted club of Major champions.
Lee Westwood
Worldwide wins: 44
Highest world ranking: 1
Best Major finish: 2nd (2010 Masters; 2010 Open Championship)
Lee Westwood is one of just four Englishmen to have reigned supreme as the World No. 1 and has been considered one of the best players to have never won a Major for many years now. He has had his chances, too, but just couldn't produce the goods when he needed to. In total, he has amassed 19 top-10s, including three runner-up finishes and 12 top-fives, but it's unlikely he'll add to that record now that he's a LIV Golf member.
Luke Donald
Worldwide wins: 17
Highest world ranking: 1
Best Major finish: T3 (2005 Masters; 2006 PGA Championship)
Like Westwood, Luke Donald joined an exclusive club of Englishmen when he became the World No. 1 more than a decade ago, but has underperformed in the Majors. In 55 of them, he has only registered eight top-10 finishes, his last coming at the 2013 US Open. Despite that, he is largely considered to be one of the best short game players of his era and is one of few to have won the European and PGA Tour order of merits in the same year. He has also been on the winning side in all four of his Ryder Cup appearances and captained Europe to victory in Rome last year.
