National Major Championships and winning in pairs - coincidence?

[nevets88]

Does it seem to you that the national championships seems to have more players who win them in pairs? Coincidence?

Off the top of my head I am thinking Els, Janzen, Irwin, Stewart, North, Goosen, Strange, Norman, etc...

[jamo]

If it's not total coincidence, it could be explained by the fact that The Masters is thrown off a bit by the "either you play well at Augusta or you don't" factor, and the PGA is the least differentiated of the four majors. There are clear types of players that thrive at the U.S. and British Opens, but not so much for the PGA.

[iacas]

I think the two Opens present a unique test, so you're bound to get a few more of the same types of winners. Look at Graeme - last group in both Opens this year, probably a non-factor at the PGA as he was at Augusta.

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by jamo

If it's not total coincidence, it could be explained by the fact that The Masters is thrown off a bit by the "either you play well at Augusta or you don't" factor, and the PGA is the least differentiated of the four majors. There are clear types of players that thrive at the U.S. and British Opens, but not so much for the PGA.

Originally Posted by iacas

I think the two Opens present a unique test, so you're bound to get a few more of the same types of winners. Look at Graeme - last group in both Opens this year, probably a non-factor at the PGA as he was at Augusta.

I would expect Graeme to play well at Kiawah, but your basic points are probably on track.  Augusta is quirky--some guys get it, some don't.  And the PGA is always a different tournament every year, so there's no one "type" of player likely to do well in that event.