One and Done: The Greatest Golfers with Just a Single Major Victory

Winning just one major championship requires immense skill, and with only four opportunities a year, even the best players can never be sure how many realistic chances they’ll have. That’s what makes every major so valuable—and so painful to lose. Some players, despite their undeniable talent and remarkable careers, have only managed to win one. These are golfers you’d think, “Surely, they’ve won more than one major,” but they haven’t. Below are the best players over 35 who, in my view, were too good to only have one major win. I’ve excluded younger players like Hideki Matsuyama, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Cameron Smith, who still have time to add to their tally. While I’d love to see these veterans win another, it’s fair to say their primes are behind them.

Adam Scott

Adam Scott is a name synonymous with a swing that’s often considered one of the most technically perfect in the game. Over the course of his career, Scott has amassed 14 PGA Tour victories and 11 on the DP World Tour, becoming a global icon in the process. In 2014, he reached the top of the Official World Golf Ranking, holding the No. 1 spot for 11 weeks. His lone major came at the 2013 Masters, where he won in dramatic fashion, defeating Ángel Cabrera in a playoff on a rain-soaked Augusta National. It was a moment of redemption, but it only heightened the feeling that Scott deserved more.

One of Scott’s most infamous moments came at the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. He held a commanding four-shot lead heading into the final round, and as the day wore on, it seemed like his first major was inevitable. But in a heartbreaking turn, Scott bogeyed each of the final four holes, seeing his lead—and the Claret Jug—slip away to Ernie Els, who birdied the 18th to seal the victory. It was a devastating collapse, but Scott later admitted that the experience taught him resilience, which may have been the key to his win at Augusta the following year.

In 2013, Scott had another shot at Open glory at Muirfield. After starting the final round three shots back, Scott surged to take the lead on the back nine, highlighted by a birdie on 13 to get to -2. But once again, trouble struck. From holes 13 through 16, Scott bogeyed four straight, knocking him out of contention and allowing Phil Mickelson to capture the title. It was a case of déjà vu for Scott, who had come so close to tasting victory at the Open, only for it to slip away.

Fast forward to the 2018 PGA Championship, where Scott found himself in the final group on Sunday, battling Brooks Koepka. After a slow start, Scott clawed his way back to tie Koepka at -14 after the 13th hole. But once again, it wasn’t meant to be. Koepka birdied the 15th and 16th holes, putting the tournament out of reach for Scott. Though he finished as runner-up, it felt like another major had slipped through his fingers.

Scott’s career is one many players would envy, but given his talent, it’s hard not to feel he deserved more than just one major. His struggles on the greens in the early 2010s were well-documented, but even with those setbacks, Scott remains one of the most admired players in the game.

Justin Rose

Another former world No. 1, Justin Rose, has long been one of the most consistent and admired golfers on tour. With 11 PGA Tour wins, 11 DP World Tour victories, and a gold medal from the 2016 Olympics, Rose finally broke through to win his first—and so far only—major at the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion. Known for his poise under pressure, Rose held off Phil Mickelson in dramatic fashion to win the title, becoming the first Englishman to win the U.S. Open in over four decades.

However, much like Adam Scott, Justin Rose has had his share of near-misses that could have easily bolstered his major count. One of the most memorable came at the Masters in 2004, where Rose held the lead after the first two rounds at Augusta, only to see his chances crumble with a disastrous 81 on Saturday. In 2015, Rose found himself in the final group once again, this time starting four shots behind Jordan Spieth. Despite a valiant effort, Spieth’s commanding performance left no room for a comeback, and Rose ultimately finished as the runner-up.

But it was in 2017 that Rose came agonizingly close to winning at Augusta. Paired in the final group with his Ryder Cup teammate, Sergio Garcia, both men were tied at -6 heading into Sunday. What followed was one of the most thrilling final rounds in Masters history. The two were tied at -8 at the turn, but Garcia faltered with back-to-back bogeys on 10 and 11, giving Rose a two-shot lead. Garcia rallied with a birdie-eagle stretch on 14 and 15 to tie things up at -9. Rose responded with a birdie of his own on 16 to retake the lead, but a costly bogey on 17 meant the two were tied again heading to the 18th.

In the playoff, Rose’s tee shot found the trees, forcing him to punch out. He hit the green in three, but Garcia reached the green in two and drained his birdie putt to win his first major, leaving Rose with another close call.

Rose also had impressive performances at the 2018 Open Championship. He fired a final-round 64 to finish tied for second behind Francesco Molinari. His most recent close call came at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon. Rose put together a fantastic 4-under final round, but Xander Schauffele’s bogey-free 65 proved too much to overcome, leaving Rose just short once again.

Despite his lone major, Rose’s career is a testament to consistency and class. A few bounces here and there, and we might be talking about a multiple-time major champion. But even as it stands, Rose remains one of the most respected figures in golf.

Jason Day

Another Aussie makes the list, and this time it’s Jason Day—one of the most naturally gifted players the game has ever seen. At his peak, Day was a force of nature, especially with his putting, which had the ability to transform even a mediocre round into something magical. With 13 PGA Tour wins and an astonishing 51 weeks as world No. 1, Day's resume is stacked. However, the fact that he only has one major championship to his name feels almost impossible when you look at his prime, which coincided with one of golf’s most competitive eras, slightly overshadowed by Jordan Spieth’s meteoric rise.

Between 2014 and 2016, Day had one of the best two-year stretches in modern golf. During that time, he won eight times on the PGA Tour, including the 2015 PGA Championship, two FedEx Cup playoff events, a WGC, and The Players Championship. He was on fire, and everyone expected him to stack up the majors, but fate had other plans.

Day’s near-misses in the majors started early in his career. He burst onto the scene with a T2 finish at the 2011 Masters, where he narrowly lost to Charl Schwartzel, who birdied the last four holes in one of the most clutch finishes in tournament history. Day also came in second at the 2011 U.S. Open, but he was never in serious contention as Rory McIlroy ran away with the trophy, winning by eight strokes. Still, it was clear early on that Day had major-winning talent.

In 2013, Day was in the hunt again, this time at Augusta National. He missed the playoff between fellow Aussie Adam Scott and Ángel Cabrera by two shots after bogeying the 16th and 17th holes—a heartbreaking finish that left him at -7. Later that same year, he found himself in the mix at the U.S. Open, where he again finished T2, this time to Justin Rose. Three bogeys on the back nine left Day two shots short of what could have been his breakthrough.

The trend of close calls continued.  Day was battling vertigo at the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, where he was tied for the lead heading into Sunday alongside Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, and Branden Grace. Playing through vertigo symptoms, Day couldn’t keep his form on the final day, posting five bogeys and a double bogey to finish T9 as Spieth ultimately claimed the title. It was a valiant effort, but another missed opportunity.

A month later at the 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews, Day was tied for the lead going into Sunday at -12. His front nine was steady, going bogey-free and carding two birdies. But on the back nine, where St. Andrews offers plenty of scoring chances, Day couldn’t capitalize. He made 12 straight pars to finish one shot shy of a playoff with Zach Johnson, Marc Leishman, and Louis Oosthuizen—a heartbreaker given how close he was.

Day finally broke through later that summer at Whistling Straits, winning his first and only major—the 2015 PGA Championship. But it seemed like more majors were just around the corner. In 2016, at Baltusrol, Day had perhaps his best chance to defend his PGA Championship title. Heading into the final round one shot behind Jimmy Walker, Day struggled early with bogeys on the 1st and 3rd holes but battled back with birdies on 5, 9, and 11. Then came the par-5 17th, where a wayward tee shot forced him to lay up, leaving him with a 12-footer for birdie, which he missed. Walker’s birdie on 17 gave him the cushion he needed, and although Day eagled the 18th, Walker's steady par sealed the deal for his own maiden major victory.

Injuries have plagued Day’s career, and yet, he still found himself in the mix at majors long after his dominant run. He was tied for 3rd after two rounds at the 2017 PGA Championship (finishing T9), led after two rounds at the 2019 Masters (finishing T5), and again was T2 after two rounds at the 2020 PGA Championship (finishing T4). Even as recently as 2023, at the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, Day finished T2, although he was never in serious contention as Brian Harman ran away with the win.

Despite all the close calls and the nagging injuries, Jason Day remains one of the greats. His game was simply too good to end with just one major, but that’s the unpredictability of golf. If anything, it makes his career more remarkable—he fought through vertigo, injury and countless near-misses to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Still, one can’t help but wonder: what might have been had a few putts dropped at the right time?

Fred Couples

Fred Couples, affectionately dubbed “Boom Boom,” became a fan favorite on the PGA Tour, captivating audiences with his effortlessly smooth swing and laid-back swagger. Over his illustrious career, he notched 15 PGA Tour victories, including two Players Championships, yet his lone major win came at the 1992 Masters—a triumph that took several near-misses along the way.

In the early years, Couples found himself racking up multiple top-10 finishes in major tournaments but often fell short on Sundays. At the 1990 PGA Championship, he entered the final round tied for second, just two shots behind Wayne Grady. Couples surged ahead with a solo lead on the 12th hole, but the wheels came off as he bogeyed the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th, ultimately finishing the tournament at -3, landing in second place behind Grady.

Fast forward to the 1998 Masters, where Couples showcased his talent, leading after the first three rounds. He went into Sunday with a two-shot lead, having posted rounds of 66-69-70. Couples had a solid Sunday, recording four birdies and an eagle. However, bogeys on the first and ninth holes, combined with a disastrous double bogey on 12, saw him finish with a score of 71, one shot behind Mark O’Meara, who claimed the green jacket.

Throughout the next decade, Couples continued to log strong finishes in majors, but often in a way that left fans wanting more. His biggest opportunities came at the '90 PGA, '92 Masters, and '98 Masters—where he was genuinely in contention—yet many of his other top finishes felt like backdoor achievements. For such an iconic figure in golf, it’s perplexing that he didn’t convert more of those chances into major victories, especially given his repeatable swing. As they say, there are no pictures on the scorecard, and Couples’ career exemplifies that bittersweet truth.

Sergio Garcia

Sergio Garcia has been one of the more controversial figures in golf over the last quarter-century. Loved by many for his flair and talent, yet criticized for his sometimes-tempestuous antics, Garcia’s career has been a dramatic saga filled with highs and lows. Emerging from Spain as a prodigy, he dazzled in the amateur ranks, but the professional stage proved more challenging. Despite these obstacles, there’s no doubt he possesses world-class skills, particularly with his exceptional tee-to-green game. As a Ryder Cup legend, Garcia has amassed the most points in the event’s history, solidifying his status as a clutch performer in team competition.

Garcia finally captured his solitary major title relatively late in his career, winning the 2017 Masters in a thrilling playoff against Justin Rose. Yet for a long time, it appeared he might end his career without a major victory, as he faced a series of near misses that left fans questioning if he’d ever break through.

His journey began in earnest at the 1999 PGA Championship held at Medinah, where he grabbed the first-round lead and entered the final round just two shots back. On Sunday, Sergio played brilliantly, carding three birdies, including two crucial ones at the 2nd and 15th holes. However, with Woods holding a five-shot lead at one point, Garcia couldn’t quite keep pace as Woods eventually secured the victory.

Garcia’s chance at the 2002 U.S. Open also had fans buzzing. After a solid start, he ended the tournament at +3, with Woods claiming yet another title. Despite these setbacks, his talent as a links player shone through, particularly at the 2006 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, where he started the final round just one shot behind—you guessed it, Tiger Woods. Unfortunately, a lackluster +4 front nine dashed his hopes.

In 2007, Garcia returned to Carnoustie, ready to stake his claim. He kicked off the tournament with a scorching 65, establishing a two-shot lead after day one. By Sunday, he was sitting pretty at -9, holding a three-shot lead. However, a shaky +2 front nine forced him to regroup. He briefly regained his footing with birdies on 13 and 14, tying Padraig Harrington at -9. But disaster struck with a bogey on 15, leading to a dramatic finish. With Harrington’s miraculous double bogey on 18, Garcia found himself with a one-shot lead on the final tee. After a solid tee shot, he found the left front bunker on his second shot. His decent bunker play left him with an 8-footer to win, but the putt slid by, sending them into a playoff. In the playoff, Harrington struck first, sinking a birdie on the first hole, while Garcia couldn’t recover, bogeying to hand Harrington the title—a heart-wrenching close call for Garcia.

He faced Harrington again at the 2008 PGA Championship, entering the final round three shots back. After a blistering front nine of 4-under par on the notoriously difficult Oakland Hills course, Garcia took a one-shot lead after nine. However, the pressure mounted as he bogeyed 16 after his second shot went into the water. The par-3 17th hole proved even more devastating; Harrington stepped up first, hitting his shot to around 9 feet, while Garcia managed to get even closer to 6 feet. But as Harrington made his birdie, Garcia missed his putt, falling behind. A final bogey on 18 sealed his fate, and Harrington claimed victory, leaving Garcia with more questions than answers.

Sergio’s strong performances at links courses continued, particularly at the 2014 Open Championship, where he started two back after the first round and found himself in contention on Sunday. After a dazzling front nine, he was just two shots behind Rory McIlroy on the 13th hole. However, a bogey on 15 derailed his chances.

Garcia’s journey has been fascinating—initially overshadowed by Woods and plagued by near misses in 2007 and 2008, he finally claimed his major title at a course he had vocally criticized. It’s a poetic twist, a testament to his undeniable talent and resilience in the face of adversity. The golfing gods surely knew he was too gifted to go majorless throughout his career.

Louis Oosthuizen

Among the many fluid swings in golf, few can rival the effortless grace of Louis Oosthuizen. His rhythm and tempo are mesmerizing, a perfect blend of ease and power, making him a standout ball-striker. That swing, combined with his calm demeanor, has seen him rise to the occasion at major championships time and again. Despite having only one major title to his name — his dominant seven-stroke victory at the 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews — Oosthuizen’s career has been defined by his presence in the heat of battle on Sundays at majors, often coming agonizingly close to adding another title.

Take the 2012 Masters for instance. Louis started the final round two strokes behind Peter Hanson at -7. However, he quickly erased that gap in stunning fashion with one of the most memorable shots in Augusta history — an albatross on the par-5 2nd hole. Suddenly, he found himself in the lead. But golf, as always, is a game of balance. Oosthuizen bogeyed the 4th and 10th, though still turned with a one-shot lead. Birdies on 13 and 15 pulled him into a tie with Bubba Watson at -10. Both players made pars on the 18th, sending them to a playoff. The first playoff hole, the 18th, resulted in pars for both. It was the second playoff hole — the 10th — that would haunt Louis. Bubba found the right trees with his drive, but pulled off his now-iconic "hook" shot to reach the green. Louis, having played more conservatively off the tee, left his approach short of the green. Unable to get up and down, Oosthuizen watched as Bubba clinched the win, walking away without the green jacket.

Just a few years later, Louis found himself in another heart-wrenching playoff, this time at the 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews — the very course where he had won his only major five years earlier. Tied with Zach Johnson and Marc Leishman after 72 holes, the three entered a four-hole playoff. Louis matched Johnson’s birdie on the 1st hole, but Johnson struck again with another birdie on the second, giving him a one-shot advantage. The 3rd playoff hole saw all three players bogey, and Louis found himself trailing by one stroke heading into the final hole. With an 8-foot putt to extend the playoff, Louis missed just high, handing the Claret Jug to Zach Johnson.

In 2017, Oosthuizen was once again a major contender, this time at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. He started the final round two shots back and tied the lead during the round. However, costly bogeys on 11 and 16 meant he would fall just short, finishing two strokes behind Justin Thomas.

Perhaps the cruelest stretch of Louis’s career came in 2021, where he finished runner-up at two majors within a span of months. At the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, he shared the 36-hole lead and was only two shots back heading into Sunday. Despite a solid final round, a costly double bogey on the 13th sealed his fate, and he finished tied for second.

A month later at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, Oosthuizen once again led after the first round and shared the 54-hole lead. He played steady golf on Sunday, but a bogey on the 11th left him clinging to a one-shot lead. With Jon Rahm’s birdie-birdie finish, the pressure mounted. On the 17th, Oosthuizen hooked his tee shot into the rough, resulting in a bogey. Needing an eagle on the 18th to force a playoff, he found the bunker off the tee and had to lay up, ultimately falling two strokes behind Rahm.

As if that wasn’t enough, Oosthuizen led after each of the first three rounds at the 2021 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s. He entered Sunday with a one-shot lead over Collin Morikawa but bogeyed the 4th hole, leaving the two tied at 11-under. A pivotal two-shot swing on the 7th gave Morikawa a two-shot lead, and the American birdied 8 and 9 to extend his advantage. Louis, unable to mount a comeback, finished in third place.

Louis Oosthuizen’s major career is a story of what could have been. Despite his one dominant victory at St. Andrews, where he was untouchable, his six runner-up finishes paint a picture of missed opportunities. For a player of his caliber, with such a smooth, effortless swing, it's hard not to feel like he should have more majors under his belt. Time and again, he’s risen to the occasion on major Sundays, only to fall just short when it matters most. While his consistency is admirable, it leaves a lingering sense that Louis could—and perhaps should—have added more to his legacy.

Jim Furyk

On a list filled with beautiful swings Jim Furyk’s swing has always stood out as unconventional, but there’s no denying its success. He carved out an impressive career over the last 30 years, securing 17 PGA Tour wins and representing the U.S. with distinction in multiple Ryder Cups. Yet, despite his lone major victory at the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields, where he triumphed by three shots, there’s a lingering sense that Furyk left more on the table—especially when it comes to majors.

His first significant major chances came early in his career at the Open Championship. In 1997, Furyk held the first-round lead but eventually finished fourth after failing to sustain his momentum. A year later at Royal Birkdale, Furyk was T2 and just two shots off the lead heading into Sunday, but a final-round 74 left him tied for fourth again, missing out on what felt like prime opportunities to break through.

It wasn’t until the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot that Furyk truly came close to adding another major. In a brutal week of golf where par was a great score, Furyk stayed steady, finding himself one shot behind Geoff Ogilvy entering the final few holes. But a bogey on the 15th, followed by another devastating bogey on the 18th, dropped him to a T2 finish, one shot shy of forcing a playoff. The next year, at Oakmont, Furyk had another agonizingly close call. After staying in the mix all week, Furyk found himself one shot behind Ángel Cabrera heading into the final two holes. Needing a clutch finish, he bogeyed the 17th to lose any chance at victory, finishing again in T2, one shot short.

Furyk’s near-misses weren’t confined to just the U.S. Open. In 2012, at Olympic Club, Furyk had the solo lead after both Friday and Saturday rounds, heading into Sunday at -1. However, his final round was far from steady. A bogey on the 6th set the tone for a shaky day, but he was still tied for the lead at +1 as he stepped onto the 16th tee, alongside Webb Simpson. That’s when disaster struck—a snap-hooked drive led to a bogey on 16, and a closing bogey on 18 dropped him to a T4 finish, while Simpson claimed the title.

A year later, at the 2013 PGA Championship, Furyk had another great opportunity. After leading the first round, he was still one shot ahead of Jason Dufner going into Sunday. Furyk played a steady front nine, but a bogey on the 9th put him two behind Dufner at the turn. The back nine didn’t provide the comeback he needed, as both he and Dufner exchanged birdies and bogeys, but Furyk couldn't close the gap, finishing two shots behind Dufner’s final -10 total.

Furyk’s final significant chance came at a familiar place: the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, where he had already finished second in 2007. This time, he shot a final-round 66, clawing his way into contention. But it wasn’t enough, as Dustin Johnson outpaced the field, and Furyk again finished T2, solidifying his reputation as a U.S. Open specialist who just couldn’t quite secure a second trophy.

With all these close calls, it’s hard not to feel that Furyk’s lone U.S. Open win doesn’t fully reflect his immense skill or his remarkable ability to contend in majors. His grit and tenacity were perfect for the U.S. Open’s punishing setups, but time and again, the smallest of margins kept him from adding more hardware. Furyk’s legacy, despite his one major, is still one of the more accomplished American players of the 2000s.

Wrap up

This list isn’t meant to diminish the careers of these players—far from it. Every golfer on this list is undeniably world-class, and their major performances only reinforce that. It’s incredibly difficult to consistently contend in majors, and each of these players managed to do so across many years, standing toe-to-toe with the best in the game. What’s fascinating is how often these players found themselves competing against each other in the biggest moments—whether it was the 2013 U.S. Open, the 2015 Open Championship, or the 2017 Masters. Despite their immense talent, there’s no denying that they were all capable of more major victories, but that’s the unpredictable beauty of golf. It takes an extraordinary blend of skill, mental toughness, and a bit of fortune to win multiple majors, which only highlights the immense achievement of those who have managed to do it.