The 10 Best Active Players Without A Major

In early 2025, I wrote about the best players to never win a major.

In case you missed it, here is that list.

• 10. Kenny Perry

• 9. Jane Blalock

• 8. Scott Hoch

• 7. Steve Stricker

• 6. Matt Kuchar

• 5. Judy Rankin

• 4. Harry Cooper

• 3. Doug Sanders

• 2. Colin Montgomerie

• 1. Lee Westwood

I was happy with how this list turned out but the one thing you’ll notice is that there are essentially no active players included. Some of them are technically still playing but I think we can close the book on any of these guys winning a major championship.

So I wanted to publish another list that was meant to reflect active players who still have a legitimate shot to win a major.

My criteria here? You have to be younger than 40 years old. If a player hasn’t been relevant at a major within the past five years, I didn’t include them. I’m also keeping this list confined to the men’s game.

I’m basing this half on career accomplishments and the other half on potential to still win a major. Hopefully, we net out at something justifiable. Please respect my proprietary model (I will not be taking any questions at this time).

These are the guys who will be disappointed if their major never comes—but there is still time for that one shining moment.

10. Tony Finau

• Age: 36
• Career PGA Tour Victories: 6
• Major Top-10 Finishes: 11
• Best Major Performance: 2019 Open Championship (3rd)
• DataGolf Ranking: 99th

Tony Finau, where you be now?

It’s been a tough last few years for Finau, the 36-year-old who hasn’t won since the 2023 Mexico Open. He’s down to No. 99 in Data Golf and only has one top-10 finish this season.

However, it was only two years ago when Finau was a bonafide top 20 player in the world. A year before that, he was a bonafide top 10 player in the world.

His major record is fairly respectable, all things considered. We’ll see if his best golf is behind him or if he can get back on track for a late-career renaissance.

9. Joaquin Niemann

• Age: 27
• Career PGA Tour Victories: 2 (8 Wins On LIV)
• Major Top-10 Finishes: 2
• Best Major Performance: 2026 U.S. Open (T7)
• DataGolf Ranking: 40th

Wait a second. Niemann’s best major finish of his career happened just last weekend?

If not for a disastrous septuple-bogey 11 on the par-4 sixth hole early in the tournament—his score included a two-stroke penalty because of a club throw—Niemann might have been in the mix at Shinnecock.

Nonetheless, Niemann has been a frustrating player at the majors. He has never once been in serious contention despite making 28 starts. Youth is no longer an excuse.

His talent is clear. He’s dominated LIV at times and was a rising star on the PGA Tour before he left. Niemann’s game has fallen off this season but he still has plenty of time to become a player in the biggest events.

8. Tyrrell Hatton

• Age: 34
• Career PGA Tour Victories: 1 (8 on DP World Tour)
• Major Top-10 Finishes: 9
• Best Major Performance: 2026 Masters (T3)
• DataGolf Ranking: 24th

Hatton falls into a similar bucket as Niemann. The main difference is age as Hatton is seven years older.

Hatton’s major record is better—although it’s still underwhelming—and he has a better set of wins outside of the majors.

I don’t think Hatton is going to win a major but he’s a class player with a relatively high ceiling.

7. Rickie Fowler

• Age: 37
• Career PGA Tour Victories: 6
• Major Top-10 Finishes: 13
• Best Major Performance: 2018 Masters (2nd)
• DataGolf Ranking: 53rd

A few years ago, Fowler would have been No. 1 on this list.

I’m settling for No. 7 here because he hasn’t been even close to contending at a major since 2023. Just qualifying for majors has been an uphill battle.

This one will probably never happen but you have to respect the body of work. Nobody on this list has gotten closer to winning a major on multiple occasions. Fowler got himself into the hunt at several majors including in 2014 when he had great looks at all four.

6. Ludvig Aberg

• Age: 26
• Career PGA Tour Victories: 2
• Major Top-10 Finishes: 3
• Best Major Performance: 2024 Masters (2nd)
• DataGolf Ranking: 8th

I’ve been on record saying that Aberg has the talent to be a No. 1 player in the world. Those are lofty expectations but I believe in his talent and demeanor.

Aberg has proven his ceiling is high. He’s a top 10 player in the game. Even with his B-game, he still has the capacity to get into contention. That includes getting in the fight at a few majors.

Closing tournaments out has been a struggle but you have to remember that Aberg is still only 26 years old. He’s just coming into his prime now. Barring injury, I would be stunned if he finishes his career without a major title.

5. Cameron Young

• Age: 29
• Career PGA Tour Victories: 3
• Major Top-10 Finishes: 7
• Best Major Performance: 2022 Open Championship (2nd)
• DataGolf Ranking: 9th

Similar to Aberg, this selection is more forward-looking than it is about Young’s past.

The 29-year-old American is just reaching the prime of his career and has proven he can compete in majors. All three of his Tour wins have come in the last 10 months so he’s hot right now.

Young was in the fight at the Masters this year (T3) but ejected from the PGA (T26) and U.S. Open (T43).

4. Sam Burns

• Age: 29
• Career PGA Tour Victories: 5
• Major Top-10 Finishes: 4
• Best Major Performance: 2026 U.S. Open (2nd)
• DataGolf Ranking: 7th

For a long time, the knock against Burns was that he never contended in majors. Well, he’s getting in the mix now.

Burns is T9-T7-2 in his last three U.S. Opens, coming agonizingly close to a playoff at Shinnecock this past week. He also had a T7 at this year’s Masters so that seems encouraging. Those results have bumped him forward on the list.

Burns is a standout putter and doesn’t seem afraid of the moment. His 1-3-2 Ryder Cup record is concerning but I believe Burns is maturing as a player and establishing himself as a top 10 golfer in the world.

3. Viktor Hovland

• Age: 28
• Career PGA Tour Victories: 7
• Major Top-10 Finishes: 5
• Best Major Performance: 2023 PGA Championship (T2)
• DataGolf Ranking: 23rd

Hovland is often cited as the best active player without a major. He’s not No. 1 on my list but you could make a case he should be.

He has seven Tour wins and has given himself a good chance to win a few majors. There is plenty of time for him.

I guess what holds me back is that Hovland’s career trajectory seems so random. Since 2024, Hovland’s major results read MC-3-MC-MC-T21-T28-3-T63-T18-MC-MC.

It’s totally feast or famine. You just never know with Hovland. I still think he’ll win a major one of these days.

2. Patrick Cantlay

• Age: 34
• Career PGA Tour Victories: 8
• Major Top-10 Finishes: 5
• Best Major Performance: 2024 U.S. Open (T3)
• DataGolf Ranking: 13th

You could really take this one in whatever direction you want.

Cantlay has enjoyed a fine career, winning eight times and being a core piece of American team golf. Including FedEx Cup bonuses and other unofficial payouts, Cantlay has made about $90 million on the Tour.

But Cantlay is pretty much a ghost at the majors. In 38 starts, he has just five top-10 finishes. Maybe two of those were legitimate looks at winning and even that is being highly generous.

1. Tommy Fleetwood

• Age: 35
• Career PGA Tour Victories: 1 (8 DP World Tour wins)
• Major Top-10 Finishes: 8
• Best Major Performance: 2018 U.S. Open (2nd)
• DataGolf Ranking: 4th

Fleetwood is the highest-ranked golfer on this list in terms of current performance.

Crossing the finish line has always been a problem for Tommy but it felt like his 2025 Tour Championship victory might give him a boost heading into the 2026 majors. That hasn’t been the case as T33-MC-T11 isn’t a particularly inspiring set of results. There will be a lot of pressure on him at Royal Birkdale for the Open Championship.

Of anyone on this list, I think Fleetwood has the most to gain reputation-wise by winning a major. It would be an immensely popular win and completely change how golf fans view him.

What do you think of this list? How would you change it? Let me know below in the comments.

Top Photo Caption: Sam Burns reacts after missing a birdie putt on the 72nd hole at the U.S. Open. (GETTY IMAGES/Cliff Hawkins)