Winning a major is the pinnacle of a golfer’s career. The all-time greats have made a habit of posting low scores at major events, whether that’s wrestling links courses at The Open or working their way around Augusta National.
Success isn’t all about majors, however. Some terrific golfers have never been able to get over that hump, sometimes through timing, sometimes through misfortune, and for others, due to crumbling under the pressure.
Never winning a major impacts a player’s legacy, of course, but golfers can still be recognized for their greatness even if they never don a green jacket or hold the Claret Jug aloft.
All of this sets the stage for an intriguing question. Who are the best players in today’s game still waiting for that career-defining breakthrough? And could 2026 finally bring the major championship that has eluded them? Let’s start with one of the most decorated players still searching.
Tommy Fleetwood
Scottie Scheffler is the only player with more shots gained than Tommy Fleetwood in 2025. Fleetwood notched his first PGA Tour win in the Tour Championship in August and once again starred in a victorious Ryder Cup effort for Europe.
The Brit has seven top 10 finishes at majors, including a runner-up placing at The Open back in 2018. He’s been in the mix at all four events.
Perhaps the Tour Championship was the breakthrough moment for Fleetwood psychologically. His game is good enough to win a major; it’s just a question of his mental fortitude in the final round.
Ludvig Åberg
It would be a minor miracle if Ludvig Åberg didn’t win a major. Few golfers have been as hyped as the Swede, who excelled as an amateur before turning professional in 2023.
Since then, he’s got five professional wins, along with a runner-up finish at the 2024 Masters. He followed that with seventh and eighth at the Masters and Players in 2025, respectively.
Play around the green and some erratic tendencies off the tee are his biggest weaknesses at this stage. The underlying numbers remain strong, though, including great approach play.
Patrick Cantlay
It has been awhile since Patrick Cantlay was really considered one of the world’s best golfers. He peaked at a world ranking of third in 2022, which also happened to be the year of his last title on the PGA Tour.
Performances in majors have left plenty to be desired. Cantlay only made the cut in one out of four events in 2025 and has three top 10 finishes since 2019.
There’s every chance his opportunity to win a major has passed, though Cantlay at his best remains capable of leaving this list.
Russell Henley
Fourth in strokes gained on the 2025 PGA Tour, Russell Henley’s career-best finish at a major was tied for fourth at the Masters in 2023.
Although he’s into the second half of his 30s, Henley might be peaking. His 2024 and 2025 returns at the US Open and The Open were the best of his career, making up four of his five top 10 major finishes.
While he’s far from a big hitter, Henley is ranked fifth in the world by Data Golf. The rest of his game is very strong, including elite play around the green.
Viktor Hovland
With two top 10 finishes at the Players Championship and four top five finishes at majors, Viktor Hovland has been knocking on the door for the last few years. The 2022 Open was his first standout performance in a major.
The Norwegian already has 11 career wins. He’s one of the best iron players in the world. Improvement on his play around the green can take Hovland from a potential major winner to a perennial contender.
Cameron Young
Cameron Young was the runner-up at The Open in 2022. He hasn’t been as close to his breakthrough major since then, though he’s had four more top 10 finishes, including two at the Masters.
The 28-year-old didn’t enjoy his best year in 2025. He missed the cut at the Masters and The Open and finished tied for 47th at the PGA Championship. It wasn’t any better at the Players.
He was, however, tied for 19th in strokes gained on the PGA Tour. There’s an elite golfer in there, and perhaps 2026 will be the year for a breakthrough.
Robert MacIntyre
Robert MacIntyre was second at the US Open in 2025, which represented his first top five finish at any major. Placing ninth at the Players Championship, the Scot is clearly trending in the right direction, and ranked 14th in the world in strokes gained on the PGA Tour.
MacIntyre is a proven performer under the pressure of the Ryder Cup. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2025, taking him to five career PGA Tour titles. At only 29 years of age, time is on his side as he pursues that elusive first major.
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