Worst Player to Win a Major

[RC]

Wow, just think about how close it came to the answer to this question being: Jean Van de Vel.

[bwdial]

Wow, just think about how close it came to the answer to this question being: Jean Van de Vel.

I wonder if he was able to get those shorts clean or if he just threw them away.

[dv7834]

in recent years.... Lucas Glover, or maybe Craig Stadler.

Which Craig Stadler? I know you can't possibly be referring to the one who had 13 top-ten finishes in the majors and 29 professional wins with 13 of them on the PGA Tour.

[TheGeekGolfer]

No one wants to be the best player never to have won a major. Who, however, is the worst player to have ever won one? Historical nominations appreciated. Sam Parks, for example.

I'm going to disagree with this thread. I understand the point, but if you win a major, you are better than anyone that came in 2nd 10 times, no questions ask.

[max power]

I'm going to disagree with this thread. I understand the point, but if you win a major, you are better than anyone that came in 2nd 10 times, no questions ask.

It's really not something that can be disagreed with, the question isn't whether a 1 time major winner is better than someone who finished 2nd 10 times. And if that was the question, I'd would say it still depends.

[TheGeekGolfer]

It's really not something that can be disagreed with, the question isn't whether a 1 time major winner is better than someone who finished 2nd 10 times. And if that was the question, I'd would say it still depends.

Right...my point is that if they won a major, then I don't think they can be thought of as the 'worst' anything in golf terms. But, my apologies to the OP, I will let this thread continue without any more of my interruptions.

[iacas]

Right...my point is that if they won a major, then I don't think they can be thought of as the 'worst' anything in golf terms. But, my apologies to the OP, I will let this thread continue without any more of my interruptions.

You're missing the point. The question is "Of the players who won a major, who's the worst?" It's a legitimate question.

[Cornbread]

Ben curtis

[jldavis73]

Rich Beem. Was horrible before and after. Even bad in Tiger Woods PGA Tour game.

I have to disagree with some of the comments about Cabrera and Harrington. Cabrera simply can't putt. His ballstriking is sick. Harrington has an incredible short game. These guys are still going to be around for a while. Lucas Glover, I have concerns about. Seems like he took a big step back this year...

[TheGeekGolfer]

But, my apologies to the OP, I will let this thread continue without any more of my interruptions.

You're missing the point. The question is "Of the players who won a major, who's the worst?" It's a legitimate question.

Right - I realized I missed the point and the OP was posing a different and valid question that makes for good discussion.

[mjtoal]

I'm going to disagree with this thread. I understand the point, but if you win a major, you are better than anyone that came in 2nd 10 times, no questions ask.

That is so obviously false in so many ways, it is hard to know where to start to disagree, but to keep it brief:

Even if all major winners were Gods, one of them will be the best, but one of them will also be worst. It is a comparative question. But more importantly, some players have backed into majors because of chance or the errors of others, or changes in weather between when they played and the leaders came in. The winners obviously did well, but may have been fortunate to win, and the player who came in 2nd 10 times may clearly be a better player, albeit perhaps an unfortunate one. Some of these one time major winners (and Andy North) then later proved in their golfing careers that these wins were atypical of their true abilities by hardly contending or winning ever again.

[Chris223]

I think most could agree with Rich Beem. I find it hilarious that some people here can possibly say someone with 10+ PGA Tour victories and 1 major the "worst major winner". Really? 10+ PGA tour wins, hell, even 10+ professional tournament golf wins with 1 major, and you can call them the WORST golfer to ever win a major? Whereas... besides his PGA Championship, when was the last time you saw, or heard, from Rich Beem? Or Ben Curtis for that matter. These are the guys who you never heard of before... and haven't heard from since, their major championship victories. I'm pretty sure these are the types of guys the OP was expecting to hear named. Instead we're calling multiple PGA Tour winners and top notch players the worst, lol. What a joke.

[Stretch]

Gary Player.*

(This answer also valid for best Player to win a major.)

[The Recreational Golfer]

Right - I realized I missed the point and the OP was posing a different and valid question that makes for good discussion.

OP here. Anyone who wins a major championship is an insanely good golfer. They're not all Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus, though.

[Chris223]

OP here. Anyone who wins a major championship is an insanely good golfer. They're not all Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus, though.

I'd say anyone who can play professionally on the PGA Tour, even if they don't ever win a tournament, but from the tees they go from, and the harsh conditions the courses are set up from, are insanely good golfers. Even a scratch golfer could watch a tour pro hit shots on a range or on the course in the flesh, and realize that they're not playing the same game he plays.

[Sing Golfer]

Ok let me stick some stats and facts in to back up what im saying, obviously im on my own here with my opinion but im sticking to it..

Cabrera's stats for the PGA Tour (when its not even his main tour) are better than Ben Curtis - who's had 11 top 10's in the last 5 years. He's the worst player in recent history to win a major.

[laconic517]

Cabrera's stats for the PGA Tour (when its not even his main tour) are better than Ben Curtis - who's had 11 top 10's in the last 5 years. He's the worst player in recent history to win a major.

Ben Curtis has 2 wins after his major.

[pittpanther]

If Rick Beem and Ben Curtis are so bad (relatively), how did they qualify for the major they won?