John Daly (L), Phil Mickelson (C) and Tiger Woods. Photo / Getty Images.
John Daly (L), Phil Mickelson (C) and Tiger Woods. Photo / Getty Images.
There have been 455 male golf major victories since Willie Park Sr won the first ever - the 1860 Open Championship.
Just eight golfers contested that event at the Prestwick Golf Club in South Ayrshire, Scotland. Old Tom Morris, who despite having the distinct advantage of designing the course, couldonly manage second.
Since then many champions have come and gone - some not as memorable as others. With all due respect to the Jimmy Walkers, Bill Rogers and the David Toms of the world, some champions stick with you forever while others drop into the 'did he really win a major?' category.
Arguably the most unexpected major winner of all time. Daly was the ninth alternate for the tournament and only made the field when the eight alternates ahead of him couldn't make the event at short notice. Daly could, he just needed to drive all night to get to the Crooked Stick Golf Club in Indiana. With Zimbabwe's Nick Price withdrawing due to the birth of his first child, Daly hired his caddie for the event and went into the first round having not played a practice round.
Despite that, the 'grip it and rip it' eccentric opened with a three-under 69 and then took the lead with a 67 on day two. Daly wouldn't give it up winning the tournament by three shots over fellow American Bruce Lietzke.
4) Francis Ouimet - 1913 US Open
Daly may have won with a new caddie but at least he was a grown man. One of the stand-out facts about Ouimet's breakout victory at the Country Club in Brookline was that his caddie was just 10-years-old. Ouimet, alongside his diminutive sidekick Eddie Lowery, was a 20-year-old amateur and a former caddie at Brookline. No one gave him a chance but he ended up beating British duo Harry Vardon (at the time he'd won six of his seven majors) and Ted Ray in an 18-hole playoff in wet conditions.
"A roar went up which shook the air and rumbled away for miles," the New York Tribune reported at the time. "Thousands of dripping, rubber-coated spectators massed about Ouimet, who quickly was hoisted to the shoulder of those nearest him while cheer after cheer rang out. Excited women tore bunches of flowers from their bodices and hurled them at the youthful winner, hundreds of men strove to reach him in order to pat him on the back or shake his hand."
It inspired the book - The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf by Mark Frost which was later adapted into a film (the only major win in this list that can claim that, although any suggestions other than Ben Affleck playing Phil Mickelson in Spike Lee's upcoming 2023 release would be appreciated).
3) Phil Mickelson – 2021 PGA Championship
Chalk it up as an instant classic. Only Mickelson and Tiger Woods could attract that reaction from the gallery yesterday when Phil was swarmed by fans on his way to the 18th green. A remarkable achievement for the 50-year-old who didn't win by playing safe 'old man' golf. He ended the week with the longest drive going bigger than Bryson DeChambeau with a monster shot from the 16th tee. He not only matched it with the young stars of the PGA Tour but he out-duelled them.
Phil Mickelson holds the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament on the Ocean Course in Kiawah Island. Photo ./ AP
2) Jack Nicklaus – 1986 Masters
Six years after his 17th major and 24 since his first, Jack Nicklaus proved he still had it with victory at Augusta in 1986.
Despite being the greatest of all time, he started the final round as an afterthought, sitting four shots back from leader Greg Norman and was still three behind with six to play. Despite a bogey at 12, Nicklaus shot 30 on the back nine to take a one-shot lead and he took control of the Augusta course. Norman, who seemed out of the running after a double bogey at 10, went on a run of four birdies to tie to lead only to bogey the last and give the Golden Bear his fifth green jacket.
1) Tiger Woods – 2008 US Open
It was either this or the sensational comeback 2019 Masters victory. Woods was so dominant from 1997 to 2008 that you'd almost think he would beat the field standing on one leg, which is what he pretty much did at Torrey Pines when he defeated Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole playoff. After under-going knee surgery two months before the tournament he then suffered a double stress fracture in his left tibia during rehab.
Despite the injury, Woods led at the end of the third round and battled through the final round. He needed a birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff the next day and then again on the 18th to take it to sudden death where he eventually claimed his 14th major.
