Best and Worst Major Winners Year

[RJH999]

I was thinking..What year had the worst major winners. I noticed how Angel Cabrera, Lucas Glover, Stew Cink, and Yang have been playing quite miserably since 2009. However, Cabrera won earlier this year, so I guess that help. I think 2003 might take it with two flukes, but Weir and Furyk balance it out. I might have to go with 2009, I suppose. As for best, I think I'll go with 2000 with just Tiger and Vijay or 2006 with Tiger, Phil, and Geogilvy. Keep in mind I have pretty much no golf memory before 2000, so I'm probably missing some crazy year with Jack & Arnie & Whatnot.

[ChrisP]

2009 was definitely the worst of my era. Outside of Cabrera, the rest of those guys were average at best. Cink had a couple nice years but nothing to write home about. Angel's proven himself though winning 2 majors and contending in many others. I actually think the last 2 years you've had some of the more impressive names of recent memory. I don't think you've had a major champion outside of the top 40 since Darren Clarke. All world clad players.

[golfbarefoot]

Best: T-Dub 1997 Masters Worst: Shaun Micheel 2003 PGA

[boogielicious]

Hmm.  Worst Major winner is like saying worst (Superbowl/World Cup/World Series/Stanley Cup/insert other major sporting event) Champion.  They won a major.  It is a tremendous accomplishments.  They may have had to play to their absolute best to achieve it, but it is still a great feat.

[zipazoid]

Hmm.  Worst Major winner is like saying worst (Superbowl/World Cup/World Series/Stanley Cup/insert other major sporting event) Champion.  They won a major.  It is a tremendous accomplishments.  They may have had to play to their absolute best to achieve it, but it is still a great feat.

I think the OP meant the worst slate of major winners in a given year. Still a bit odious, but I have found myself after the PGA Championship ends in a given year, 'Wow, that was an odd mix of winners.'

So I guess we would have to remove any years that Tiger won a major (I assume we don't want to go back before then). That takes out 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005,2006, 2007 & 2008.

That leaves us 1998, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. Phil won majors in 3 of those years (2004, 2010, 2013).

Now we're down to 1999, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012.

Toss out 1999 - Payne Stewart at the US Open.

Toss out 2011 & 2012 - Rory.

You're left with 2003 & 2009.

I would choose 2003 - Weir/Furyk/Curtis/Micheel - none have won another major.

[iacas]

Worst in the recent era? 2003.

Mike Weir

Jim Furyk

Ben Curtis

Shaun Micheel

No real competition…

[ChrisP]

It depends on whether we're talking what the players became or what they were when the won. Because Mike Weir was a top-tier player when he won, as was Jim Furyk. I believe both men were ranked in the top-10 in the world when they won. I don't believe any of the guys were ranked in the top-50 from the class of 2009 when they won, even Cabrera despite his solid play in majors.

[iacas]

It depends on whether we're talking what the players became or what they were when the won. Because Mike Weir was a top-tier player when he won, as was Jim Furyk. I believe both men were ranked in the top-10 in the world when they won. I don't believe any of the guys were ranked in the top-50 from the class of 2009 when they won, even Cabrera despite his solid play in majors.

2009 brought us a guy winning his second major, Tiger being outdueled, and Tom Watson nearly winning. Plus Phil and Duval were in it at Bethpage.

I'm sticking with 2003.

[ChrisP]

2009 brought us a guy winning his second major, Tiger being outdueled, and Tom Watson nearly winning. Plus Phil and Duval were in it at Bethpage.

I'm sticking with 2003.

If we go by excitement, then yes, 2009 was better than 2003....although this year so far the first 3 majors have not entertained on Sunday. I thought the thread was talking about quality of champions, though.

[iacas]

If we go by excitement, then yes, 2009 was better than 2003....although this year so far the first 3 majors have not entertained on Sunday. I thought the thread was talking about quality of champions, though.

And even if it's just talking about that, 2009 has a multiple major winner, plus he was in a playoff at the Masters last year too.

[ChrisP]

And even if it's just talking about that, 2009 has a multiple major winner, plus he was in a playoff at the Masters last year too.

You can make an argument for both years.

I mean 2009 had Cabrera, but 2003 had Furyk and Weir (both of who were among the best in the game that year). 2009 had Glover and Yang while 2003 had Curtis and Micheel (Yang total 2 wins, Glover 3 wins, Curtis 4, Micheel 1).  And then there's Cink in 2009 who just goes in that "Meh" category.

[iacas]

You can make an argument for both years.

I could make an argument for 2000 but it wouldn't be a good one.

2003 was worse IMO. I've already made that argument.

You're welcome to make another for 2009, but you've already made it, so what are you doing now?

[RJH999]

Hmmm... 2003 had Jim Furyk, one of the best players of the generation, and Mike Weir, a solid player who hasn't done much in 7 years. Ben Curtis was a huge fluke who ended up winning, but he's won a couple other tournaments since. Shaun Micheel was just a enormous fluke who hasn't done anything since except get diagnosed with Low T. Angel Cabrera is a bit of an enigma. So much talent, how come he only shows up a couple times of year? He very well could be a 3 time major champion(4 maybe, he had a chance in the Van De Velde major), so that really boosts his argument. I also think he was very happy to finally win a regular tour event earlier lol. Lucas Glover was a pretty decent golfer who had potential to be a T25 golfer, but has disappeared since. He's still young, maybe he'll get healthy and start to play well again. Stew Cink was one of the more solid golfers of the generation..multiple wins, almost won the 2001 US Open, etc...but hasn't done anything since 2009. Ye Yang isn't often mentioned as one of the worst to win a major, probably due to the way he won it, but I believe he should. I think if we're talking about who had the least success after the win, 2009 would win it. 3/4 of those guys are MIA. However, the overall careers in 2003 might be worse as a whole. 2003 does kill 2009 on wins, though thanks to Jim Furyk.