most pga tour wins by an australian

Top 10 Australian Golfers of All Time

Gary Newkirk/Getty Images

• Golf Courses
• Famous Golfers
• Golf Tournaments
• Bodybuilding
• Cheerleading
• Extreme Sports
• Martial Arts
• Professional Wrestling
• Skateboarding
• Swimming & Diving
• Table Tennis
• Track & Field
• Other Activities

Who are the best golfers to come from Down Under? Australia is a relatively small (in terms of population) country that has produced many good and some all-time great professional golfers. The history of golf includes dozens of PGA Tour victories plus a helping of major championships won by Aussie golfers.

For this ranking, we consider the question, "Who are the 10 best male golfers ever to come from Australia?" And we rate them from one through 10 (plus toss in a few honorable mentions).

Peter Thomson

In the eight years from 1951-58, Peter Thomson won the British Open four times, was runner-up twice and finished sixth the other time. For good measure, he added a fifth Open title in 1965, plus nine other Top 10 finishes in the tournament.

Thomson rarely played in the United States (not unusual for international players of his era), including the majors, but did have a fourth-place at the Masters and a fifth at the U.S. Open . He also won once on the PGA Tour in 1956.

As a senior golfer, he had one dominating Champions Tour year with nine victories in 1985—one of the best seasons in that tour's history.

Thomson won 26 times on the European circuit that preceded formation of the European Tour, and 34 times in Australia and New Zealand.

Greg Norman

Greg Norman is probably so well-known for his losses—a combination of some chokes (such as the 1996 Masters ) and some rotten luck (such as the 1987 Masters)—that his successes are often overlooked. But as Tom Watson once said, "A lot of guys who have never choked have never been in the position to do so."

Norman put himself in position a lot , and sometimes he failed to get the job done. But 20 times, he won on the PGA Tour, and twice he won the British Open . He was the PGA Tour's leading money winner three times, its scoring leader three times, and its Player of the Year in 1995. He was considered the best golfer in the world for long stretches during his career. He had 30 Top 10 finishes in majors.

Should he have won more? Yes. But he won a lot as it was, nearly 90 times around the world. He's also the only golfers on this list to pose in the nude, which he did in 2018 (at age 63!) for the "body issue" of ESPN the Magazine .

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Scott had a pretty good career going—eight PGA Tour wins, including the 2004 Players Championship and a WGC win—but was stuck on those "best golfers without a major" lists. Then he won the 2013 Masters .

Scott has eight other wins on the European Tour (outside of the Masters and now two WGC victories). And after he won in back-to-back weeks in 2016 at the Honda Classic and WGC Cadillac Championship, was up to 13 total wins on the USPGA Tour.

Scott has also won in Asia, South Africa and Australia. His wins on the PGA Tour of Australasia include the 2009 Australian Open and the 2012 and 2013 Australian Masters. He's been a regular at the Presidents Cup throughout his career, been as high as second in the world rankings, and finished as high as third on the USPGA money list.

David Graham

Graham had a reputation as a tough, big-tournament player. He finished in the Top 10 in majors 16 times, and that included two wins: the 1979 PGA Championship and the 1981 U.S. Open.

At the 1979 PGA, Graham shot 65 in the final round to force a playoff, then beat Ben Crenshaw with a series of big putts in extra holes.

Graham won eight times on the USPGA, plus five times on the Champions Tour, and also had wins in Europe, Australia, South America, South Africa and Japan.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

When Jason Day won the 2016 WGC Dell Match Play Championship, it was his second consecutive win on the PGA Tour. A week earlier, Day won the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Those two victories in the early part of 2016 put Day at nine career PGA Tour victories.

Then he won the 2016 Players Championship, and two wins early in 2018 bumped his PGA Tour win total to 12.

One of those victories was the 2015 PGA Championship, which Day won with a final score of 20-under. He thus became the first golfer to finish a major at 20-under or better.

Steve Elkington

David Cannon/Getty Images

Elkington probably didn't achieve as much as he should have on the PGA Tour, his career hampered several times by battles with injuries and illness. But he did win 10 times, including the 1991 Players Championship. And the big one: the 1995 PGA Championship , where Elkington beat Colin Montgomerie in a playoff.

Elkington was in another playoff at a major, but lost the 2002 British Open to Ernie Els (Stuart Appleby and Thomas Levet were also in the playoff). He had six other Top 5 finishes in majors.

Bruce Crampton

Bruce Crampton was one of the best golfers in the world in the first half of the 1970s. He won four times on the PGA Tour in 1973, and earned the PGA Tour's Vardon Trophy for low scoring average in 1973 and 1975.

But he probably has nightmares about Jack Nicklaus. Crampton finished second in four majors during that period—the 1972 Masters and U.S. Open, the 1973 PGA Championship and 1975 PGA Championship. Who beat him? All four times, he was runner-up to Nicklaus. So Crampton never won a major, but he did win 14 PGA Tour titles, plus another 20 on the Champions Tour.

Arnold Palmer famously helped revitalize the British Open by crossing the pond to play the 1960 Open, at a time when most American stars rarely if ever played it. But Palmer finished second that year to Kel Nagle.

Nagle was 39 years old but playing in a major for only the fourth time. He had played mostly on the Australasian Tour to that point (a tour on which he eventually won 61 times). So Nagle's best years were arguably already behind him.

Yet Nagle was competitive throughout his 40s. He was runner-up to Palmer at the 1961 Open, and lost a playoff to Gary Player at the 1965 U.S. Open. But he also won during the 1960s at the French Open and Canadian Open, among other titles, and from 1960-66 finished in the Top 5 at the British Open all but one year.

Jim Ferrier

By the time Ferrier won the 1947 PGA Championship, he had taken up United States citizenship. But he was born in Manly, New South Wales, and won 10 times on the Australasian Tour in the 1930s. He moved to America to try the USPGA Tour in the 1940s, and he was winning tournaments there from 1944 through 1961—18 wins in all, including his one major. Ferrier was runner-up in three other majors.

Geoff Ogilvy

Ogilvy hasn't won a lot on the PGA Tour, and hasn't been all that consistent. But the tournaments he has won have mostly been marquee events. Of his eight wins through the 2018 season, three were WGC tournaments, twice he won the winners-only PGA Tour season-opener, and then there's that 2006 U.S. Open title. He finished inside the Top 10 on the money list twice.

Four golfers who get honorable mentions are:

• Stuart Appleby, nine PGA Tour wins and a round of 59.
• Graham Marsh, 20 wins in Japan, 15 on the Australasian Tour, 10 on the European Tour, six on the Champions Tour.
• Bruce Devlin, eight PGA Tour wins and 16 wins in Australia.
• Joe Kirkwood Sr., first Australian golfer to win extensively in the U.S., with 13 PGA Tour wins mostly in the 1920s.
• Top 10 Irish Golfers of All-Time
• Top 10 Greatest South African Golfers
• Arnold Palmer in the Majors: His Wins and Near-Misses
• Why David Graham Is in the World Golf Hall of Fame
• Rory McIlroy: Biography of Ireland's Best Golfer
• Golfer Retief Goosen Is a 2-Time U.S. Open Champ
• Jack Nicklaus in the Majors
• Sergio Garcia: Masters Champion and Ryder Cup Golf Star
• Mark O'Meara: A Consistent Career Topped By One Great Year
• Top 10 Golfers In the History of the Champions Tour
• Golfer Paul Azinger: Cancer Survivor and Major Championship Winner
• Arnold Palmer: Biography of 'The King'
• Vijay Singh: Profile of the 3-Time Major Champion
• Greg Norman: The Australian Golfer Called 'The Shark'
• Top 25 Male Golfers of All-Time
• 24 Champion Golfers Who Died Tragic, Early Deaths

14 Of The Best Australian Golfers Of All Time

We take a look at some of the best golfers to come from the island of Australia.

• Sign up to Golf Monthly Newsletter Newsletter

Australia has produced some incredible golfers many of which have gone on to win Major Championships and become the number one golfer in the world. Below, we have taken a look at the greatest Australian golfers of all time.

In no particular order, we start with Peter Thomson.

Peter Thomson

Born: 1929 Died: 2018 Tour Wins: 85 Majors: 5

Arguably the greatest Open Championship golfer ever, Thomson won that particular major five times and had 13 other top-10s in it. He won all over the world and played a key role in the early beginnings of the Presidents Cup too and his overall contribution to Australian golf is difficult to measure.

Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter

Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.

Greg Norman

Born: 1955 Tour Wins: 88 Majors: 2

The Great White Shark was the worlds number one golfer for 331 total weeks which is a number only surpassed by Tiger Woods. In total he won 88 times as a professional and two Major championships but it could have been so many more. He lost in a playoff in every Major title throughout his career and was frequently on the receiving end of incredible chip ins or impossible shots.

Born: 1987 Tour Wins: 16 Majors: 1

Day is another Australian golfer to get to world number one thanks to one particular stretch in 2015 that yielded five wins, four of which came in a six tournament stretch. One of those wins was his sole Major Championship victory at the 2015 PGA Championship and he has won some of the biggest tournaments around the world.

Born: 1980 Tour Wins: 29 Majors: 1

Similar to Day, Scott has also got to world number one and has won a sole Major Championship which came at the 2013 Masters in a playoff against Angel Cabrera. Incredibly this came just months after he had bogeyed the last four holes at the 2012 Open Championship to lose to Ernie Els.

Norman Von Nida

Born: 1914 Died: 2007 Tour Wins: 46 Majors: 0

World War Two may have curtailed the peak of his career, but Von Nida still won 46 times as a professional with many of those victories coming in Australia.

Geoff Ogilvy

Born: 1977 Tour Wins: 12 Majors: 1

To date, Ogilvy's career has seen him win the 2006 US Open and three World Golf Championship tournaments.

Steve Elkington

Born: 1962 Tour Wins: 17 Majors: 1

Elkington won 10 times on the PGA Tour during his career but his finest year came in 1995 where he came tied 5th at The Masters, tied 6th at The Open and then beat Colin Montgomerie in a playoff at the PGA Championship.  He is also one of very few golfers to win The Players Championship twice.

David Graham

Born: 1946 Tour Wins: 38 Majors: 2

Graham is part of a very exclusive club in that he is one of five golfers to have won a event on six different continents. (The others are Gary Player, Hale Irwin, Bernhard Langer and Justin Rose ). Additionally Graham won two different Majors, the 1979 PGA Championship and 1981 US Open.

Born: 1920 Tour Wins: 86 Majors: 1

From 1960-1969, Nagle was incredible at The Open Championship in particular. He had six top-10s and a win during that stretch and would go on to win 86 times as a professional.

Bruce Crampton 

Born: 1935 Tour Wins: 44 Majors: 0

Crampton won 14 times on the PGA Tour but his career really hit its stride on the Champions Tour where he won 20 times, including a two-year stretch that included 11 of those wins. Sadly he never won a Major at either level but had numerous runners-up finishes.

Graham Marsh

Born: 1944 Tour Wins: 70 Majors: 0

Marsh turned professional in 1969 and became truly a global golfer. He had wins on the European Tour, Australasian Tour, PGA Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Champions Tour and won national Opens in countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia, Switzerland, Germany and Holland.

Karrie Webb

Born: 1974 Tour Wins: 57 Majors: 7

One of the finest female golfers ever, Webb collected 7 Major titles and 41 other LPGA Tour wins. She has also acted as a mentor to young golfers like fellow Australian Hannah Green who won her first Major title in 2019.

Jan Stephenson

Born: 1951 Tour Wins: 26 Majors: 3

Just elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Stephenson won 3 Major titles in 3 years at a time when the LPGA Tour was extremely competitive.

Stuart Appleby

Born: 1971 Tour Wins: 17 Majors: 0

In 2010 Appleby became one of very few players to shoot 59 on the PGA Tour which came during the final round of the Greenbrier Classic. He played on five Presidents Cups and won 9 times on the PGA Tour.

Other worthy mentions:  Marc Leishman, Wayne Grady, Ian Baker-Finch, Peter Senior, Craig Parry

Expand 10 Of The Best English Golfers Of All Time

10 Of The Best English Golfers Of All Time

England is one of the world's best golfing…

Expand 10 Of The Best South African Golfers Of All Time

10 Of The Best South African Golfers Of All Time

South Africa is one of the world's best…

For all the latest golf news, check the Golf Monthly website and follow our social media channels

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is a Senior Staff Writer for Golf Monthly. 

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes. 

He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for.

Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website, whilst he is also responsible for all content related to golf apparel. 

He also oversees all Tour player content as well so if you need to know what clubs Tiger or Rory has in play, Sam is the person to ask. 

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five. 

Sam's What's In The Bag: 

Driver: Titleist TS3 (9 degrees) 

Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees) 

Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚ 

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5  

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Shoes: G/FORE Gallivanter / Nike Air Zoom Infinity NEXT% / Cuater The Ringer

The five-time Green Jacket winner was pictured at Augusta National, as he makes his first start since February

By Matt Cradock Published 7 April 24

Having seen the four-time Major winner just a week ago, Harmon has given his thoughts on McIlroy's chances at the first Major of the year

Oversized putter grips have soared in popularity over the past few years, but how do they work?

By Joe Ferguson Published 31 August 23

We take a look at the best golfers from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

By Sam Tremlett Published 27 July 23

Here we take a look at five of the worst chokes seen at the historic event

By Roderick Easdale Published 20 July 23

Rich Beem endured some challenging years in his early career, but he came through and was rewarded for his perseverance with a remarkable victory over Tiger Woods in the 2002 PGA Championship.

By Fergus Bisset Published 7 July 23

Sky Sports broadcaster Inci Mehmet answers a Quick 9 questions, from her best ever shot to her thoughts on encouraging the next generation

By Dan Parker Published 30 June 23

Find out what former Players champion, Rickie Fowler, is worth here

By Matt Cradock Published 17 June 23

Ahead of the 151st Open in July, Neil Tappin and Dan Parker head to Royal Liverpool Golf Club to play a match across three of its hardest holes

By Dan Parker Published 26 May 23

20 years on from Annika Sorenstam's historic appearance at the 2003 Colonial, we look at how she helped shape the women's game

By Paul Higham Published 25 May 23

• Contact Future's experts
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Accessibility statement
• Cookies policy
• Advertise with us

Golf Monthly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

The Best Australian Golfers of All Time: Unveiling the Legends

Australia, a land of captivating landscapes and a unique blend of cultures, has always had a deep-rooted affinity for sports, and golf is no exception. The history of golf in Australia dates back to the late 1800s, making it an integral part of the nation’s sporting culture. Drawing from my experience as a golf enthusiast, I can confidently say that golf in Australia has come a long way. With more than 1,500 golf courses scattered across the country, it has nurtured some of the finest golfers the world has ever seen.

In this post, we delve into the lives and achievements of Australia’s best players. The top Australian golfers  include early pioneers like Harry Vardon, Joe Kirkwood Sr., and Alex Russell, as well as modern-day legends like Adam Scott and Jason Day. But it’s perhaps Greg Norman who is the most famous. In his prime he held a world ranking of #1 for 331 weeks, only Tiger Woods has held it for longer.

Suppose you’re a golf enthusiast, a history lover, or someone who admires grit, determination, and success stories. In that case, you’ll miss a wealth of knowledge by not reading this comprehensive guide. In each segment, we’ll explore the early life, career highlights, record-breaking triumphs, and enduring legacy of these Australian golfing legends.

Early Pioneers: Shaping the Australian Golf Landscape

Rise to prominence: australian golfers in the 20th century, contemporary stars: continuing the legacy, honorable mentions: australian golfers of distinction, who is considered the greatest australian golfer of all time, who are the notable rising stars in australian golf today, who is the famous aussie female golfer, who is the famous australian golfer “the shark”, how many australian golfers have won majors, best australian golfers of all time.

Harry Vardon: The Trailblazer From Across the Seas

Harry Vardon, a golfer from Jersey, had an influential role in popularizing golf in Australia. Though not an Australian, Vardon toured Australia in 1904 and gave exhibitions around the country, inspiring many Australians to take up the sport. His visit marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of Australian professional golf.

• Tournament victories: 49 professional wins
• Best major result:  Winner (The Open Championship: 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914; U.S. Open: 1900)
• Highest ranking: Before the Official World Golf Rankings began, but he was indisputably one of the best players of his era.

Joe Kirkwood Sr.: Propelling Australia Into the Global Spotlight

Some might call Joe Kirkwood Sr. the O.G Australian professional golfer, as he blazed a trail for future generations. He was the first Australian golfer to win on the U.S. PGA tour and played a crucial role in putting Australia on the global golfing map.

• Tournament victories:  13 professional wins
• Best major result: Winner (PGA Championship: 1923)
• Highest ranking: Before the Official World Golf Rankings began, but he was one of the top players in his time.

Alex Russell: The Architect of Australian Golf Courses

Alex Russell, an Australian golf player from Australia, made significant contributions to the Australian golf landscape. He not only excelled as a golfer, but also as a golf course architect, designing some of the country’s most iconic golf courses. His designs still captivate Australian golfers and tourists alike.

• Tournament victories: Few recorded professional wins, though he was known more for his course design work
• Best major result:  Winner (The Open Championship: 1924)
• Highest ranking: Before the Official World Golf Rankings began, but he was a highly-regarded player in his era.

Peter Thomson: The Maestro of the Links

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Richard Yelland (@curtisbirch)

Early Life and Journey to Success

Peter Thomson is one of the most distinguished names in Australian professional golf. Born in Melbourne in 1929, Thomson spent his formative years honing his golfing skills on the Royal Park public golf course. His dedication to the sport was evident from a young age, and his natural talent quickly propelled him into the ranks as a top Australian golfer.

Record-Breaking Triumphs at The Open Championship

Thomson’s performances at The Open Championship cemented his legacy as an Australian golfer of unprecedented caliber. He achieved what no other golfer could, clinching the Claret Jug five times, with four wins consecutively from 1954 to 1956, and a final victory in 1958. This record-breaking accomplishment elevated him to a stature matched by few in the history of golf.

Legacy and Contributions to Australian Golf

Thomson’s impact on Australian professional golf extended beyond his victories. He was instrumental in raising the profile of the sport within the country, paving the way for the succeeding generation of golfers. Today, his legacy lives on in the numerous courses he designed, and through his invaluable contributions to the Australian golf administration.

• Tournament victories:  88 professional wins
• Best major result: Winner (The Open Championship: 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965)
• Highest ranking:  Before the Official World Golf Rankings began, but considered one of the top players in his prime.

Greg Norman: The Great White Shark

Emergence of a Sporting Icon

Greg Norman, affectionately known as “The Great White Shark,” is arguably the most famous Australian golfer of all time. His aggressive style of play and charismatic personality helped him to dominate the world of golf during the 1980s and 1990s. He held the world No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking for 331 weeks, a record surpassed only by Tiger Woods.

Dominance on the PGA Tour and World Stage

Norman’s exploits on the PGA Tour are legendary. His 20 PGA Tour victories, including two major championships at The Open Championship in 1986 and 1993, put Australian pro golfers on the global map. Norman’s success wasn’t confined to the PGA Tour; he also emerged victorious in over 50 tournaments worldwide, showcasing the depth of his talent.

Entrepreneurial Ventures and Philanthropy

Beyond the golf course, Norman has been equally successful. His entrepreneurial acumen led to the creation of the Greg Norman Company, which oversees several businesses from golf course design to real estate. He has also been a philanthropist, focusing on supporting environmental conservation efforts and junior golf development programs through the Greg Norman Golf Foundation. More recently, Norman has received media attention  for his role in the breakaway tour, LIV Golf.

• Tournament victories: 91 professional wins
• Best major result:  Winner (The Open Championship: 1986, 1993)
• Highest ranking: World No. 1 for 331 weeks in the Official World Golf Rankings

Check out our list to see if he made GolfSpan’s top 10 golfers of all time .

Karrie Webb: The Queen of Australian Women’s Golf

Inspirational Beginnings and Rapid Ascent

Karrie Webb is a golfer from Australia who has left an indelible mark on the world of women’s golf. Webb grew up in a small town in Queensland and from a young age, she showed signs of her future greatness. She turned professional in 1994 and quickly became the youngest-ever winner of the Women’s British Open.

Majestic Wins and Record-Breaking Feats

Webb’s illustrious career has seen her win 41 tournaments on the LPGA Tour, including 7 major championships. She is the only Australian to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, marking her status as the top Australian female golfer. Her successes on the world stage paved the way for other Australian female golfers to pursue their dreams.

Inspiring a New Generation of Female Golfers

Webb’s influence extends beyond her professional accomplishments. She established the Karrie Webb Series in 2008 to provide support and opportunities for young Australian female golfers. Karrie was recently inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame .

• Tournament victories:  57 professional wins
• Best major result:  Winner (U.S. Women’s Open: 2000, 2001; du Maurier Classic: 1999; Women’s British Open: 2002, 2006; Kraft Nabisco Championship: 2000, 2006)
• Highest ranking: World No. 1 for several periods between 1999 and 2002

Adam Scott: Embodying Elegance and Grace

Rise to International Prominence

With his effortless swing and graceful demeanor, Adam Scott quickly gained attention in the professional golfing circuit. Turning pro in 2000, the Adelaide-born golfer became a household name in golf, garnering international recognition for his exceptional skill and consistent performances.

Historic Masters Victory

In 2013, Scott achieved what no other Australian had before – he won the prestigious Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships in professional golf. His playoff victory over Angel Cabrera at Augusta National marked a turning point in Australian golf history, breaking the ‘Aussie curse’ at the Masters.

Impact on Australian Golfing Culture

Scott’s success has substantially impacted Australian golfing culture, with increased participation rates and enthusiasm for the sport. His iconic victory at the Masters has inspired many young Australians to pick up a golf club and aspire to follow in his footsteps. Check out our article to see if Adam Scott made our list of the most-liked golfers of all time .

• Tournament victories: 31 professional wins
• Best major result:  Winner (The Masters: 2013)
• Highest ranking: World No. 1 (May to August 2014)

Jason Day: Battling Adversity to Reach the Top

Overcoming Personal Struggles for Success

Jason Day’s journey to the top of professional golf is a testament to resilience and determination. Despite a challenging upbringing marked by poverty and loss, Day pursued his passion for golf with unwavering dedication, emerging as one of Australia’s most successful golfers.

Record-Breaking Achievements on the PGA Tour

Day’s crowning glory came in 2015 when he won the PGA Championship, setting a record for the lowest score in a major. His dominance in the game has seen him reach the World No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking, showcasing his incredible skill and fortitude. Check out what’s in Jason Day’s bag  and learn about the clubs that he used to achieve success.

Contributions to Australian Junior Golf

Beyond his personal achievements, Day has used his platform to give back to the sport. He has shown a commitment to fostering the next generation of Australian PGA golfers, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, exemplifying the power of sport to change lives.

• Tournament victories:  18 professional wins
• Best major result:  Winner (PGA Championship: 2015)
• Highest ranking: World No. 1 (September 2015 to March 2016)

Minjee Lee: Shining Bright in the World of Women’s Golf

Early Beginnings and Rapid Ascent

Minjee Lee’s golfing journey began in her hometown of Perth. Showing exceptional talent from a young age, she turned pro in 2014. Since then, she has risen rapidly in the ranks, demonstrating extraordinary skill and tenacity.

Impressive Wins and Consistency on Tour

Lee’s consistent performances on the LPGA Tour have seen her emerge as one of the most promising golfers of her generation. Her numerous victories and consistent top-10 finishes underscore her remarkable ability and competitiveness in the global golfing arena.

Inspiring Future Generations of Women Golfers

As the leading Australian woman golfer of her time, Lee inspires many young women. Her success on the international stage has made her a role model for aspiring female golfers, encouraging them to break down barriers and reach for their dreams. She gets a shout-out in our article about the best-ever Asian female golfers .

• Tournament victories:  11 professional wins
• Best major result:  Winner (The Evian Championship:  2021; U.S. Women’s Open: 2022)
• Highest ranking: World No. 2 (October 2019)

Bruce Devlin: A Stalwart Golfer of the 1960s

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Vintage Golf Wear (@vintagegolfwear)

Bruce Devlin, one of the leading golfers of his generation, was a dedicated Australian golfer during the 1960s. With eight wins on the PGA Tour and numerous other international victories, Devlin’s consistent performances earned him a place in the annals of golfing history.

• Tournament victories:  16 professional wins
• Best major result:  Tied for 2nd place (The Open Championship: 1962)
• Highest ranking: Before the Official World Golf Rankings began, but considered among the top players in his prime.

Jan Stephenson: Pioneering Women’s Golf on the International Stage

Before Karrie Webb and Minjee Lee, there was Jan Stephenson. As one of the first Australian female golfers to find success on the international stage, Stephenson broke barriers and blazed a trail for future generations. With a career that spanned over two decades, she won three major championships and sixteen LPGA Tour titles.

• Tournament victories: 16 professional wins
• Best major result:  Winner (LPGA Championship: 1982; U.S. Women’s Open: 1983; du Maurier Classic: 1977)
• Highest ranking:  Before the Official World Golf Rankings began, but was one of the top players during her peak.

Stuart Appleby: Wildly Consistent and a Caring Contributor

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by GolfinStyle (@golfinstyleid)

Stuart Appleby, known for his consistency and commitment, significantly contributed to Australian golf throughout his career. He secured nine PGA Tour victories and was keenly interested in golf development programs.

• Tournament victories:  12 professional wins
• Best major result:  Tied for 2nd place (The Open Championship: 2002)
• Highest ranking: World No. 6 (February 2005)

Australian Golfers: Frequently Asked Questions

Determining the “greatest” golfer can be subjective, depending on various factors. Nonetheless, Australian PGA golfer Greg Norman often tops the list due to his sustained success and profound impact on the game. His prolific career, marked by two major championships and 331 weeks as World No. 1, sets him apart.

Several young Australian golfers show promising potential and could significantly impact the international stage. These include Lucas Herbert and Cameron Smith, who have consistently performed on tour. On the women's side, Hannah Green became the third Australian woman to win a major.

The most famous female Australian golfer name is arguably Karrie Webb. With a career that spans over two decades, Webb has won seven LPGA Major Championships and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of women's golf. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at 30 — the youngest ever.

The famous Australian golfer known as “The Shark” is Greg Norman. He earned this nickname due to his aggressive style of play and his blond, wavy hair that reminded many of a shark's fin. Norman was a dominant Australian golfer on the PGA Tour in the ‘80s and ‘90s, winning two majors and 20 PGA Tour tournaments.

To date, 16 Australian golfers have won majors. Of these 16, 12 were won by men and 4 by women. Karrie Webb leads the pack with 7 wins at the majors, next closest is Peter Thompson with 5 wins. Most, however, have just a single major to their name.

From the pioneering achievements of golfers like Peter Thomson and Karrie Webb to the contemporary successes of Adam Scott, Jason Day, and Minjee Lee, Australian golfers have left an indelible mark on the sport. They have excelled at the highest levels of competition and served as role models and ambassadors, inspiring the next generation of golfers.

The future of Australian golf looks bright, with promising talents emerging on both the men’s and women’s sides. Australian Golfers are building on the legacy of their predecessors, showcasing their skill on the global stage. As they continue their journeys, witnessing how these golfers contribute to the rich tapestry of Australian golf history will be fascinating.

Sam Ledgerwood

Sam has been playing golf for over 20 years and founded Impact Golfer . As a teenager, he discovered his love for the game using his grandad’s clubs, including a wooden driver. As a golf obsessive, Sam plays whenever possible, regularly competing in matchplay with his friends and in tournaments at his local club. He's fortunate to have a close friend who is a club pro– he has tested almost every type of equipment on the market (no freebies yet).

Sam has a handicap index of 13 and likes playing at the Metro Golf Centre near his home in London. He putts with a Taylormade Spider because Rory uses it but regrets selling an old Scotty Cameron putter on eBay.

• Best score : 94
• Favorite club : TaylorMade Stealth Driver
• Favorite putter : Bought a TaylorMade Spider because Rory uses it, but spend most of my time on greens yearning for the Scotty Cameron I sold on eBay.
• Favorite food at the turn : Baguette. Sausages. Bacon. HP Sauce.
• Sam Ledgerwood https://www.golfspan.com/author/sam-ledgerwood 10 Weirdest Golf Swings Ever Seen
• Sam Ledgerwood https://www.golfspan.com/author/sam-ledgerwood 10 Best British Golfers Of All-Time
• Sam Ledgerwood https://www.golfspan.com/author/sam-ledgerwood How To Compress A Golf Ball: 5 Easy Steps
• Sam Ledgerwood https://www.golfspan.com/author/sam-ledgerwood 27 Golf Bachelor Party Ideas: Top Destinations

You might also like these

CONNECT WITH US

Australia's most informative golf website

Australia’s Most Successful Golfers

It is an exciting time in the world of golf with a number of high level tournaments set to kick off in the coming weeks and months. The USPGA is currently underway in America with events including the Wells Fargo Championship, Byron Nelson and the Charles Schwab Challenge all scheduled to go ahead in May.

Many fans of the sport enjoy participating in golf betting as it brings some more excitement and suspense to the game. The PGA is one of those events that attracts a flurry of punters. There are a number of Australian golfers who are being considered potential champions, with pro Cameron Smith coming in with 40/1 odds of winning the upcoming championship (at the time this article was written). Australia has a long history of having some of the world’s best golfing talent, with players raking up an impressive number of wins over the last few decades. Here are just a few of the country’s most impressive and successful golfers:

Cameron Smith

First up is Cameron Smith , an Australian golfing professional currently residing in Florida in the United States. Smith has been playing professionally since 2013 and has achieved PGA Tour wins in 2017 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and in 2020 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, as well as two European Tour wins and finally another two wins at the PGA Tour of Australasia. His father Des is also an accomplished golfer with a success career behind him. The player is a fan of upgrading and maintaining cars and wishes to open up a coffee shop when he eventually retires from the game. In terms of his career highlights this season, Cameron has so far finished T10 at a Masters Tournament as well as becoming the first golfer in tournament history to card four scores in the sixties in one season. Last season the golfer secured a PGA TOUR victory for the second time in his career at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he had pledged to donate $500 dollars per birdie and $1,000 dollars per eagle to charity in support of relief efforts for the wildfires that were rampant in Australia at the time. Last year Cameron was awarded the Greg Norman Medal in recognition for being the best Australian golfer.

Another PGA TOUR favourite is the Australian professional Adam Derek Scott, who was ranked as world number one in 2014. Scott has so far won 31 professional tournaments in competitions around the world. Sometimes known by his nickname The Big Queenslander , his career kicked off around the year 2000. After some impressive performances in the European Tour, he soon made some appearances in the PGA TOUR. In 2004, Scott was crowned the youngest winner of The Players Championship at the age of 23 years old. Then in 2010 despite an unlucky season with injuries he qualified for play on the Order of Merit and one at least once in each tournament. After the 2013 Masters Tournament he finally secured the number three world ranking before moving up to first in the next season. However, one success Scott is yet to see is in team golf. While he has made nine appearances on the International team representing Australia, he is still yet to play on a winning team.

Peter Thomson

One of the all-time most successful golfers in Australia’s history is the legend Peter Thomson, who remains the only competitor to win a major three times in a row. Nicknamed The Melbourne Tiger, he was born in the late 1920s and played for a number of decades after joining the sport professional at the age of 20 years old. Thomson had a total of six PGA TOUR wins in his career, with his three consecutive wins being in 1954, 1955 and 1956. He also won in many other tournaments including the European Tour, the Japan Golf Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia and the PGA Tour Champions. He also had a really successful senior career, winning nine times on the Senior PGA Tour in America as well as winning the 1988 British PGA Seniors Championship. Peter has been honoured in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Karrie Webb

Another Australian with an impressive golfer record is Karrie Webb, who is one of the world’s best known women golfers. Her professional career began in 1994 when she entered the Ladies European Tour and went on to finish second at the Women's Australian Open. Karrie has a total of 57 professional wins, which include 41 wins at the LPGA Tour. She also has 15 wins at the Ladies European Tour. In 2000, she had a particularly memorable year after winning two major championships and running with the Olympic torch. She also won a series of awards, including the Female Player of the Year award given by the Golf Writers Association of America.

Greg Norman

Also well worth a mention is golfing pro turned successful entrepreneur Greg Norman . The player has won over 90 professional events in total, including 20 PGA TOUR events. He found victory at two majors and won the British Open Championship in 1986 and 1993. Greg is well known for his financial success through both his sporting and business ventures, the golfer was the very first person in PGA TOUR history to make more than $10 million in career earnings.

Subscribe to ausgolf

Just provide us with your email address and get monthly offers, specials, news and more. Guaranteed spam free.

WATCH NOW: New witness’ bombshell revelation about night girls vanished

Adam scott eyes beating greg norman’s record for most pga tour wins, shooter mcgavin responds to happy gilmore.

Adam Scott has set his sights on becoming Australia’s most successful golfer on the PGA Tour within five years.

Scott and is bullish about his prospects of adding to his 14 PGA Tour wins.

Greg Norman tops the Australian list of PGA Tour winners with 20 titles, followed by Jim Ferrier who won 18 times with the majority in the 1940s and 1950s.

The 40-year-old Scott realises the clock is ticking on his career but is optimistic about surpassing Norman’s record.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

“I’m very confident that I have got quite a few wins left in me,” Scott told reporters on Thursday.

“But also I’m aware I’d like to do that at a pretty quick fashion if I’m to achieve really what I want out of my career ... because it’s not easy to win out here and time is working against me a little bit, even though I feel like I’m in a good spot.

“I think I can, over the next five years, win another 10-plus tournaments as long as I’m still physically in good shape.

“I’d like to push on hard and I’d really like to see myself get on a bit of a roll at some point in the next couple years and rack up some wins.

’I have watched a lot of guys do it over the past or five or six years, like Brooks (Koepka) or Dustin (Johnson) who consistently wins, but thinking back to Jason Day, he won nine times in 18 months maybe.

“So I’m looking to try to work my game into that kind of form.

“I see all the areas at times good enough. I just have to put it all together.”

While Scott is the defending champion for the tournament at the Riviera Country Club, world No.1 Johnson is the favourite - the American has won or been runner- up in seven of his past nine tournaments worldwide.

And Johnson regularly tames Riviera, with a win in 2017 and four other top-10 finishes in his 13 starts at the famed course.

“It’s one of my favourite courses,” said Johnson, among eight of the world’s top-10 in the field.

“Obviously the confidence is pretty high right now. I feel good about what I’m doing.”

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Australia’s Cameron Smith posts lowest score in PGA Tour history to snare title

• Smith finishes 34-under to win $11m Tournament of Champions
• World No 1 Jon Rahm runner up one shot back in Hawaii

Cameron Smith shot down world No 1 Jon Rahm in a thrilling final-round duel at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii to win the opening US PGA Tour event of the year in record fashion.

Smith closed out his week with an eight-under-par 65 to finish at a PGA Tour record 34 under and one stroke clear of playing partner Rahm and secure a wire-to-wire victory in Maui after both started the final day sharing the lead.

Ernie Els won at 31 under in 2003, and that was the PGA Tour record for shots under par.

While Smith became the fourth Australian to win the tournament, his compatriot Matt Jones charged home with two eagles on the back nine in a sparkling 61 to grab third spot at 32 under par as he also took advantage of the favourable scoring conditions on the Plantation Course at the Kapalua Resort.

No one has gone lower in TOUR history. 💪 pic.twitter.com/Kf1qpnHxN0 — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 10, 2022

“Mate, it was intense. Jonny and I played well the whole day and we had Matty in the group in front lighting it up as well,” Smith said moments after this fourth win on the PGA Tour. “Unreal round, something I’ll never forget for sure.”

Smith made eight birdies including one on the 18th in a bogey-free round but was never more than two shots ahead on Sunday as Rahm (66) remained in contention and Jones backed up a 62 a day ago with an even more remarkable 18 holes to set a PGA Tour record for the lowest two-round score.

Jones’s round included holing out for eagle on the 13th and a 4-foot eagle putt on the 15th as he made multiple eagles for the second successive day.

But Smith, a two-time winner of the teams event in New Orleans, was not be denied as he held his nerve once again in Hawaii to add to his maiden individual success at the Sony Open two years ago.

“I was just trying to hit one shot at a time, I know that sounds cliche,” he said. “We spoke about it earlier in the day that we wanted to get to 35 under. We missed it by one so in that sense disappointing but happy to come away with the W.”

The victory sets up Smith for a big year, having now won on tour for three successive seasons.

“I feel like I had a really good rest. I didn’t play much in the fall and actually did some work on my swing and it came out,” he said.

Of the other three Australian in the 38-man field at the winners-only start to the new year, Cam Davis (66) and Marc Leishman (68) shared 10th places at 23 under par while Lucas Herbert was well back after a 74 dropped him to eight under.

• Australia sport

Most viewed

List of golfers with most PGA Tour of Australasia wins

This is a list of golfers who have recorded the most tournament wins on the PGA Tour of Australasia since it was established in 1911. It is currently known as the PGA Tour of Australasia . It was previously named the Australian Tour from 1973 to 1991. This list contains golfers who have won any number of events that are and/or have been recognized as professional golf events in Australia. There are some complications in preparing such a list, and different publications have produced different numbers.

The PGA Tour of Australasia is based in primarily in Australia with a few events held in neighbouring countries including New Zealand , China and Korea . Originally known as the Australian Tour, the tour was known simply as the Australasian Tour, or Australasian PGA Tour, until it was rebranded as the PGA Tour of Australasia.

The number of wins a player can accumulate on the PGA Tour of Australia depends in part on how many years he devotes to the tour. There have always been some leading Australian players or Australian Tour members from outside Australia who have gone on to play part or full-time on the U.S.-based PGA Tour and cut back their commitments in Australia, and this seems to be an increasing trend.

Many of the players on the list have won many events on other tours and unofficial events. The numbers in the "Majors" column are the total number of major championships the player won in his career whether or not he was a member of the Australian Tour at the time. U.S. Major Championships are not counted as Australian Tour victories, and do not count towards the Order of Merit. Players under 50 years of age are shown in bold.

Members of the World Golf Hall of Fame are annotated HoF .

This list is up to date through 2019 season.

External links

• PGA Tour of Australasia's official site
• Philippines
• United States
• Driving range
• North Dakota
• United Kingdom
• links courses
• designed by Jack Nicklaus
• 1353–1850
• 1851–1945
• 1945–1999
• 2000–2003
• International Golf Federation
• The R&A
• United States Golf Association
• Golf Canada
• Professional Golfers' Association (Great Britain and Ireland)
• Professional Golfers' Association of America
• PGA European Tour
• American Society of Golf Course Architects
• World Golf Teachers Federation
• Greenskeeper
• World Golf Hall of Fame
• British Golf Museum
• USGA Museum
• Jack Nicklaus Museum
• Caddie Hall of Fame
• Evans Scholars Foundation
• Hickory golf
• Indoor golf
• Miniature golf
• Pitch and putt
• Shotgun start
• personalities
• Golf Digest
• Golf Magazine
• Travel + Leisure Golf
• Video games
• JTBC Golf&Sports

Related Research Articles

The PGA European Tour is an organisation which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour , which is the principal golf tour in Europe; the European Senior Tour, for players aged fifty or older; and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England. The European Tour was established by the British-based Professional Golfers' Association through the 1970s, and responsibility was transferred to an independent PGA European Tour organisation in 1984.

Adam Derek Scott is an Australian professional golfer who plays mainly on the PGA Tour. He was the World No. 1 ranked golfer, from mid-May to August 2014. He has won 31 professional tournaments around the world, on many of golf's major tours.

The Asian Tour is the principal men's professional golf tour in Asia except for Japan, which has its own Japan Golf Tour, which is also a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours. Official money events on the tour count for World Golf Ranking points.

The World Golf Championships ( WGC ) are a group of four annual events for professional golfers created by the International Federation of PGA Tours. All four WGC tournaments are official money events on the PGA Tour and the European Tour, and officially sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Sunshine Tour, and PGA Tour of Australasia.

The men's major golf championships , commonly known as the major championships , often referred to simply as the majors , are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf. In order of play date as of 2019, they are:

The PGA Tour of Australasia , currently known for sponsorship reasons as the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia , is a professional golf tour for men that is owned and operated by the PGA of Australia. Official events on the tour count for World Golf Ranking points. The tour is recognised as being founded in 1973 when the PGA of Australia instituted an Order of Merit. Despite always including at least one tournament in New Zealand, the tour was known as the PGA Tour of Australia until it adopted its current name in 1991 following the inclusion of three events in Asia.

The WGC-HSBC Champions is a professional golf tournament, held annually in China. Inaugurated in 2005, the first seven editions were played at the Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai, then moved to the Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen for a single year in 2012. It returned to Sheshan Golf Club in 2013.

Geoff Charles Ogilvy is an Australian professional golfer. He won the 2006 U.S. Open and has also won three World Golf Championships.

The 2006 European Tour was the 35th golf season since the European Tour officially began in 1972. The 2006 season consisted of 47 official money events, equalling the record set the previous year. This included seven major championships and World Golf Championships, which are also sanctioned by the PGA Tour. 27 events took place in Europe, 12 in Asia, five in the United States, two in South Africa and one in Australia. There were two new tournaments, the HSBC Champions in China and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, and the BA-CA Golf Open returned to the schedule for the first time since 1996. Total prize money exceeded €117 million, including nearly €40 million in the four major championships and three individual World Golf Championships events. The Order of Merit race came down to the last few shots of the final tournament, and was won by Pádraig Harrington for the first time. He was the first Irishman to top the Order of Merit since the formal beginning of the tour. The Player of the Year award was given to Order of Merit runner up Paul Casey of England and the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year was Marc Warren of Scotland.

Golf in Australia dates to the first golf club in 1931. The PGA Tour of Australasia is the main men's tour in Australia. In women's golf, the ALPG Tour has operated since 1972.

Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible.

The 2005 European Tour was the 34th golf season since the European Tour officially began in 1972. The 2005 season consisted of 47 official money events, which was a new record total. This included four major championships and three World Golf Championships, which were also sanctioned by the PGA Tour. 27 events took place in Europe, 10 in Asia, six in the United States, two in South Africa and one each in Australia and New Zealand. Total prize money exceeded €97 million, including nearly €40 million in the four major championships and three individual World Golf Championships events.

Alistair Presnell is an Australian professional golfer.

The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main professional golf tours played primarily by men in the United States and North America. It organizes most of the events on the flagship annual series of tournaments also known as the PGA Tour, as well as PGA Tour Champions and the Korn Ferry Tour, as well as PGA Tour Canada, PGA Tour Latinoamérica, and PGA Tour China. The PGA Tour is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, a suburb of Jacksonville.

PGA Tour Champions is a men's professional senior golf tour, administered as a branch of the PGA Tour.

This article summarizes the highlights of professional and amateur golf in the year 2020.

Masters Tournament

Augusta National Golf Club

A HISTORY OF EVERY HOLE AT AUGUSTA

EVERY HOLE AT AUGUSTA

Autralian PGA Championship

Cam Smith’s fifth win of 2022 was the least surprising but most emotional

Andy Cheung

BRISBANE, Australia — Cameron Smith’s first trip back to his native Australia in three years wasn’t just about headlining the Australian PGA Championship and showing off the claret jug to family and friends in his hometown of Brisbane. For the World No. 3, who now plays on LIV Golf with its 54-hole events, it was also a return to the traditional form of the game—72 holes of stroke play, a halfway cut and Official World Golf Ranking points. And it was a winning return.

To close out his third career Australian PGA Championship victory, the 2017 and 2018 champion battled two weather delays in Sunday’s final round at Royal Queensland Golf Club en route to securing a three-shot victory at the DP World Tour co-sanctioned event. Three birdies in his final seven holes, and a clutch bunker save at the 18th, gave Smith a closing 68 and a 14-under-par (270) total. Japan Tour regular Ryo Hisatsune (65) and Australia’s Jason Scrivener (67) tied for second at 11 under.

Smith had already won four tournaments in a memorable, if also controversial 2022 season. Three came on the PGA Tour, including the Sentry Tournament of Champions , the Players Championship and the 150th Open at St. Andrews before the 28-year-old joined LIV and went on to win in just his second start on the upstart Saudi-back circuit outside of Chicago. But the Australian PGA Championship was the most emotional triumph, given the amount family in the gallery who hadn’t seen Smith play in person since before the COVID-19 pandemic when Australia introduced harsh travel restrictions.

Among the loved ones at Royal Queensland was Smith’s grandmother, Carol, who recently underwent two chemotherapy treatments. Impressively, she walked all 72 holes this week, including Sunday’s seven-hour, weather-interrupted final day. In all four rounds, Carol wore a custom-made “Team Smith” maroon T-shirt, the color Smith chooses to wear in final rounds because it is worn by his beloved Queensland state rugby team.

“I can’t believe she did it,” Smith said as he choked up on the 18th green at Royal Queensland. “Everyone at the start of the week was telling her to pace herself and she was out there all day every day, so it was pretty amazing. It was definitely inspiring. I don’t know how she did it, but it was also my dad’s birthday as well. After I got back to the tie for the lead there after 11, I really wanted to do it for those two.”

Smith seems stoic, as he showed at St. Andrews when he overcame a four-shot deficit to Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland in the final round. But is he actually an emotional player who handles nerves and sentiment better than most?

The crowds followed Smith in up the 18th fairway as the Brisbane native was putting the finshing touches on his three-shot victory at the Australian PGA Championship.

Bradley Kanaris

“I wouldn’t say I let emotion get in the way of what I’m trying to do, but it’s nice to have a little bit of fire in the belly for sure,” he said.

At the par-3 11th, after the first weather delay, there was a turning point. Smith made a bogey, moments after Scrivener had birdied No. 13. It dropped Smith to a tie for the lead after starting the day with a three-shot cushion. Then, Smith hooked his tee shot into the trees on the driveable par-4 12th. But he pulled off a miraculous flop shot over a tree to close range for birdie. He made it and never looked back. “Scriv is a great player and I knew he’d keep putting the pressure on me,” Smith said.

Smith’s win was also meaningful given he is conscious of criticism he faced after leaving the PGA Tour, where his six career victories were establishing a legacy. That criticism came from icons like nine-time major winner Gary Player, who questioned why Smith would defect to a tour that features 54-hole events, no cut and 48-player fields. “What sort of tour is that?” Player said.

Former Masters winner Fred Couples also spoke up, although his was more of a swipe. He posted on social media: “To all my friends who I missed birthdays & weddings … so sorry, I was busy earning a living on the @pgatour and in my line of work the goal is to EARN your way to work weekends … and by weekends I mean 72 holes.” It was a reference to one of the reasons Smith offered for why he’d left the PGA Tour for LIV: apart from the massive, guaranteed money, which he acknowledged being able to return to Australia for prolonged periods of time was a factor in his move, Smith said it had been “tough to miss out on family and friends’ weddings and birthdays” in the PGA Tour’s wraparound schedule required him to spend the majority of the year in the U.S.

“I wanted to prove to myself and to others that I’m still a great player,” Smith said after winning LIV’s $20 million event in Chicago.

Smith’s return to 72-hole stroke play for the first time since the PGA Tour’s FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis proved he remains one of the world’s best golfers, regardless of the format. He became the second LIV golfer to win a DP World Tour event, joining Spain’s Adrian Otaegui who won the Andalucia Masters in October (a February court hearing in the U.K. will determine if LIV golfers can be prohibited from playing DP World Tour events.)

Although the strength of field at the Australian PGA did not offer the same threat PGA Tour events used to for Smith, he still lined up against DP World Tour winners like Min Woo Lee, who finished tied fourth at seven under, Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard, and Ryan Fox, along with PGA Tour winners like Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Cameron Davis and Lucas Herbert. Smith only won 10 World Ranking points, so there won’t be any movement within the top 10 in the World Rankings. But he will remain World No. 3 and that is not likely to change even if he were to win next week’s Australian Open in Melbourne.

Smith's win was his fifth title in 2022, but the first in which so many family and friends coudl see it in person.

No matter. Smith signed off on a whirlwind year with the Australian PGA Championship’s Joe Kirkwood Cup, which sat beside his claret jug in the clubhouse at Royal Queensland Sunday night. Joe Kirkwood was an Australian PGA pro who is credited with putting Australian golf on the map, via his 13 PGA Tour wins in the 1920s and 1930s but also with a series of trick-shot events he held with Walter Hagen.

Those who drank out of the claret jug and Joe Kirkwood Cup Sunday night included family, friends, and fans. High-profile Australian athletes also wanted a drink out of the jug, like some of the rugby league football players from Smith’s beloved Queensland Maroons, past and present. One of them is ironically named Cameron Smith, considered one of the greatest players in rugby league history, and fellow icon Johnathan Thurston.

“The reception from everyone has been pretty outstanding,” Smith said. “Guys that I have look up to on the [football] field are coming up and asking me for a beer or a game of golf. It’s pretty cool.”

BRISBANE, Australia — The claret jug is one of the most famous trophies in sports, engraved with the names of many of the most iconic golfers in history. Each year, the winner of the Open Championship receives a replica to show off for 12 months and then hand back the following year.

As significant as it may be in the golf world, the claret jug does not, however, get any special treatment by security staff at Los Angeles International Airport. This is something that its current holder, Cameron Smith, found out recently on a long journey back to his native Australia.

Smith, who won the 150th Open at St. Andrews in July, recently undertook the 9,000-mile trek from his base in Jacksonville, Fla., to his home in Brisbane to compete in this week’s Australian PGA Championship. Upon arrival at LAX, airport security made Smith open the traveling case in which the trophy was kept so that they could perform a very routine bomb search before the 15-hour flight to Australia’s east coast.

MORE: Cam Smith has earned a place among pro golf's elite in a way all his own

Once Smith, his father, Des, and childhood best friend and support staffer, Jack Wilkosz, had touched down in Sydney, there was another claret jug curve ball: the case for the trophy, which is 20¾ inches tall and 7¼ inches wide at its base, wouldn’t fit in the overhead for the final flight from Sydney to Brisbane. In the end, airline staff allowed the 29-year-old Smith to stash the jug in the compartment where jackets are kept for business class passengers.

Some 30 hours of travel later, Smith was in his homeland after a three-year absence caused by Australia’s harsh COVID-19 border restrictions.

“Cam had a window seat flying into ‘Brissie’ and his eyes were glued to the view outside after a long time away,” Wilkosz told Golf Digest on Tuesday at Royal Queensland G.C., host of the Australian PGA. Added Smith: “I’ve teared up a few times since I’ve been home. Seeing family and friends, doing stuff I haven’t been able to do for three years, has made it emotional.”

When he arrived at Brisbane airport last Thursday, Smith was swarmed by media and hundreds of Australian fans wanting a photo with one of the country’s most talked-about athletes in 2022—a golf star who sports a famous mullet and who won three PGA Tour events, including the Open at the Home of Golf, then controversially left the U.S. circuit to join the rival LIV Golf series .

"It's insane,” Smith said of Australians’ reactions to the claret jug so far. “It's like they've seen a ghost the first time they've seen it.”

MORE: Cam Smith settles in to life on LIV Golf, but one 'heartbreaking' concern remains

The claret jug’s tour Down Under then made a sentimental stop at Smith’s childhood home course, Wantima Country Club, last Saturday. It’s not really a country club as such, more a blue-collar, publicly accessible golf club 30 minutes north of Brisbane where Smith honed his game before moving onto Royal Queensland as an elite teenage amateur. Wantima hosted a celebration for Smith and 200 members inside its modest clubhouse. Smith sat down for a 45-minute Q&A session before passing the jug around to the members to chug XXXX Gold, Smith’s favorite beer from his home state of Queensland, from its sterling silver spout.

“It was an amazing night for members,” said Jason Patterson, Wantima’s general manager on Tuesday as he showed Golf Digest several proud, but understated, shrines to Smith inside the clubhouse. “Everyone got photos, some were drinking XXXX Gold out of it and some were holding it like a baby.”

Adds Smith: “It was pretty neat for a little club like that on the north side of Brisbane to have that jug in the clubhouse, something those people will never forget.”

The homecoming formalities were turned up a notch Tuesday morning when Brisbane mayor Adrian Schrinner handed the keys to the city to Smith, the 52nd recipient to receive the honor but the first golfer. "Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd get the keys," Smith said, before joking that “thought it was for important people, not golfers."

Smith then held a press conference at Royal Queensland to talk about his primary purpose for coming back to Australia: to try and win a third Australian PGA Championship, having won the 2017 and 2018 edition, and to try and earn a maiden Australian Open win next week in Melbourne. Smith came close at the 2016 Australian Open when he lost in a playoff to Jordan Spieth at Royal Sydney. This week, he’ll face strong competition from solid players such as 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott, Lucas Herbert and Cam Davis, as well as DP World Tour star Ryan Fox from New Zealand and Min Woo Lee. But after some rest following LIV Golf’s Team Championship in Miami last month, where Smith took his all-Australian team to second-place finish the World No. 3 is feeling good.

“I took a couple of weeks off, and now I feel probably more mentally fresh than I ever have coming down to Australia,” Smith said. “The golf course looks great so it should be a good week.”

After this upcoming stretch of golf, Smith will take almost two months off and remain in Australia before LIV’s second season starts in February. He said he was confident he could arrive at the majors in 2023 competitively sharp, despite LIV’s format of 54 holes and no 36-hole cut. If nothing else, he says he’s motivated to win another Open so that he can keep that claret jug for another year.

"I think coming close in a few majors has made me really hungry; I felt like I should have had one before this, but I’m happy this was the first one,” Smith said, referencing his close calls at the Masters, including a tie for third behind final-group partner Scottie Scheffler at Augusta this year and a share of second to Dustin Johnson at the 2020 Masters. “I think I can do it. [St. Andrews] something that I’ll never forget. It still hasn’t sunk in; I still can’t believe I won it. I don't want to give it back. I want to keep hanging onto it."

Golf Digest Favorites

INTERACTIVE: How Tiger hits every shot

PODCAST: The dirty secrets of sandbaggers

Why a PGA Tour pro disappeared into the jungle

Hot List: The best new clubs for you

17 items you need in your golf bag

More from Golf Digest

Trending now.

Australian PGA Championship history, results and past winners

The Australian PGA Championship is one of the two biggest Australian golf tournaments on the schedule, with the event having been conducted since 1929.

The event, which is one of the top events in Australia besides the Australian Open, is considered one of the biggest tournaments in Australian golf.

Like the PGA Championship conducted by the PGA of America, the championship was originally a match-play affair. It remained a professional match-play event from 1929 through 1964 before becoming a 72-hole stroke-play event. It returned to match play in 1973 for just one year.

Kel Nagle holds the record for the most Australian PGA Championship wins with six. Bill Dunk is next best on the list with five wins. Robert Allenby has four wins, and Cameron Smith has three.

The Australian PGA Championship has seen an increase in prestige in recent years.

Australian PGA Championship format

Australian PGA Championship is played over four days, and there is a cut for the qualifying field.

The field, which is 156 players, is reduced to the top 65 players and ties for the final two rounds of the event. At the end of the 72-hole event, the lowest score wins. In the event of a sudden-death playoff is conducted to determine a winner.

Most frequent Australian PGA Championship hosts

• Palmer Coolum Resort: 11
• Royal Melbourne: 10

Australian PGA Championship past sponsors

Australian PGA Championship has had a singular name over the years:

• 2022: Fortinet Australian PGA Championship
• 2004-2008: Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship
• 1996-1998: Mastercard Australian PGA Championship
• 1994: Reebok Australian PGA Championship
• 1991-1993: Ford Australian PGA Championship
• 1987: ESP Australian PGA Championship
• 1984-1986: Toshiba Australian PGA Championship
• 1983: Yakka Australian PGA Championship
• 1978-1982: Mayne Nickless Australian PGA Championship
• 1977: Telecom Australian PGA Championship
• 1965: Guinness Australian PGA Championship
• 1946-1964, 1966-1976, 1988-1990, 1999-2003, 2009-2021: Australian PGA Championship
• 1929-1939: Australian Professional Championship

Australian PGA Championship history & results

Stroke-play results, match-play results, about the author.

Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is the founder, owner and operator of Golf News Net.

Sometimes we post sponsored content from this account, and it is labeled as such.

We also occasionally include links to products and services from merchants of our choice. GNN may earn a commission from sales generated by those links. See more in GNN's affiliate disclosure.

Want to recieve exclusive news, videos, tournament highlights, golf important tips and more ?

I understand and agree that my personal information will be collected, stored and used, in accordance with the PGA of Australia's privacy policy .

Min Woo Lee wins Fortinet Australian PGA Championship

West Australian Min Woo Lee has enhanced his standing as one of world golf’s most electrifying young players with a three-stroke win at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.

Lee bounced back from an early bogey to close out his win with a 3-under par round of 68 and 20-under par total at Royal Queensland Golf Club, Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino (68) showing admirable composure in the final group to snare second at 17-under.

Victorian Marc Leishman, whose 7-under 64 was the best of the last day, birdied his final two holes to claim outright third with Lee’s good friend and fellow West Australian, Curtis Luck, playing the back nine in 4-under for a round of 69 and fourth spot.

“I’ve always thought I could win, but it took a while to get over the hump,” Lee said on the 18th green.

“But two wins in the last month or so, I’m really proud of my team and myself.

“I made it interesting early on and through the middle, but ended up hanging on, so I’m really proud.”

Projected to elevate Lee to a career-high of No.38 on the Official World Golf Ranking, the win is Lee’s second on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and third on the DP World Tour

A leader by one after 36 holes and three through 54, Lee’s pitch-in for eagle at the par-5 ninth restored a buffer that had all but disappeared after just one hole on Sunday at Royal Queensland Golf Club.

A second shot at one that speared towards the enormous gallery behind the green led to an opening bogey, world No.138 Hoshino turning a three-shot deficit into just one with birdie.

He joined Lee at 16-under with a follow-up birdie on two before Lee flirted with a hole-in-one on his way to a birdie at the par-3 fourth.

The 25-year-old played another brilliant approach to set up birdie at the par-4 sixth but it was his miraculous chip-in just prior to making the turn that sent shockwaves throughout RQ.

MIN WOO LEE IS HIM! 🦅 #AusPGA pic.twitter.com/VM9FLEfs4k — PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) November 26, 2023

“That was probably the best atmosphere shot I’ve ever hit,” Lee added.

“I’ve had a few chip ins, but at that point it was getting close and I was in a pretty average position after the tee shot. So to chip that in, it was amazing.

“I want to see it straight away. I would like to see it. It was one of the best shots I’ve probably hit.”

He emerged from the tunnel at the par-3 17th with a four-shot advantage and, despite disappointing the fans by missing the green left, made the putt from four feet for par for a reception befitting the sweet-swinging rock star he is quickly becoming.

A second shot into the back bunker on the 72nd hole kept the tension high until the very end, a closing bogey doing little to dull the celebrations of a maiden Joe Kirkwood Cup victory.

Although it didn’t come on the heaving party hole, Joaquin Niemann delivered one of the highlights of the final round with a hole-in-one at the par-3 fourth, holing his 8-iron from 164 metres.

🚨 AN ACE FOR @joaconiemann 🚨 #AusPGA | #visitbrisbane pic.twitter.com/CJ5yKkBOrq — PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) November 26, 2023

More to come

Headlines at a glance

Quick links, connect with us.

Related Content

The Masters: Aussies in the wars

New Legends Tour events to bolster golf in western NSW

Charles, Peake share Q-School Final Stage lead

The Masters: Stubbs in his element

• Leaderboard
• Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia
• PGA Legends Tour
• adidas PGA Pro-Am Series
• MPP Tournaments
• PGA Professionals Championship
• Qualifying School
• Latest News
• PGA Professionals
• PGA Membership Pathway Program
• PGA Institute
• PGA Academy
• Community Instructor Program
• Benefits of hiring a PGA Professional
• Recruitment Services
• ACE Program
• Challenger PGA Tour Of Australasia
• Where can i play?
• The Scramble
• All Abilities Coaches
• First Tee Australia
• Women’s Golf Network
• Southern Comfort Twilight Rounds
• Official PGA App

• Leaderboard
• FedEx Cup Race
• Race To Dubai
• Schwab Cup Race
• Race To CME Globe
• Twitter – Team USA
• Facebook – Team USA
• Instagram – Team USA
• Twitter – Team Europe
• Facebook – Team Europe
• Instagram – Team Europe
• Rolex Rankings (LPGA)
• PGA Tour Profile
• PGA TOUR Profile
• 2023 LIV Golf
• 2023 PGA Tour
• Send Anonymous Tips

LIV Golf: Anthony Kim Trending on X After Low-Round 65 in…

Golf twitter bashes rory mcilroy for sucker punching henrik stenson, brooks koepka, sam burns get “freedom flow” haircuts, rickie fowler’s rocket victory was pga tour’s 4th most popular on…, watch xander schauffele’s “cringe” draftkings ad, watch: anthony kim discusses journey back to golf, liv golf’s majesticks gc launch docuseries ‘camp confidential’, watch emily pedersen’s historic hole-in-one at solheim cup, video: rory mcilroy’s lucky bounce at the irish open, photos: liv golf builds “party hole” at australia event, photos: justin rose’s 20 big-league trophies, 4 photos: young fan works hard for a henrik stenson fist…, spotted: eric trump’s golf bag gives away the script, icymi: cam smith stuffs claret jug in overhead bin on commercial…, the winningest pga tour golfers of every decade: 1920s-2010s.

Long before it incorporated into a behemoth money-making machine (stylized in all uppercase letters), the “PGA TOUR” was just that: “PGA” pros who “toured” the country playing for money.

For its first forty years, from 1929 to 1968, the tour operated under the umbrella of the PGA of America.

By the late 60s, though, with an increase of revenue due to expanded television coverage, a dispute between the PGA “tournament players” and the PGA “club pros” (over the allocation of money) came to a head.

The friction resulted in a new “tour” entity formed in August 1968, independent of the PGA of America, which eventually became the “Tournament Players Division” of the PGA, and finally the PGA Tour.

As part of the separation agreement, the PGA Tour received ownership of the tournaments, and marketing rights of its players, along with all historical data, going back to 1916. The PGA of America, meanwhile, maintained ownership of two events: the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup matches.

With that as the table setter, here’s a look at the winningest players of the “tour” over the last ten (10) decades, beginning with the first full 10-year stretch: the 1920s.

PGA Tour Decade: 1920s

No surprise here: Walter Hagen compiled 31 of his 45 career wins in the “Roaring 20s.” Nine of those victories were majors – 5 PGAs, 4 British Opens. (The dapperly-dressed golfer had already won a pair of U.S. Opens in 1914 and 1919. The Masters was not founded until 1934.)

Hagen was followed by the underrated Leo Diegel , who won 22 times, including back-to-back PGAs at the end of the decade (1928-29) – which ended Hagen’s four-year winning streak.

The decade’s most celebrated golfer, though, was amateur Bobby Jones , who won five of his seven credited pro majors, along with what was then considered the “Grand Slam” in 1930 – all four major championships in the same calendar year (U.S. and British Opens and U.S. and British Amateurs).

PGA Tour Wins: 1920s

Rank-Player (Decade Wins/Career Wins) 1 . Walter Hagen (31/45) 2 . Leo Diegel (22/28) 3 . Johnny Farrell (18/22) 3 . Bill Melhorn (18/19) 5 . Macdonald Smith (16/25)

Major Wins: 1920s

Rank-Player (Decade Major Wins/Career Major Wins) 1 . Walter Hagen (9/11) 2 . Gene Sarazen (3/7) 3 . Jim Barnes (2/4) 4 . Leo Diegel (2/2) 5 . Multiple 1-major winners

PGA Tour Decade: 1930s

With Walter Hagen now in his late 30s, and Bobby Jones having retired, the decade of the 1930s – historically speaking – belonged to Gene Sarazen , who became the first golfer to win what would become the career grand slam (U.S. Open, British Open, PGA, and Masters).

In the final round of the 1935 Masters Tournament, Sarazen famously hit “the shot heard ’round the world” on the par-5 15th hole at Jones’ then two-year old Augusta National Golf Club.

Trailing Craig Wood by three shots, with just four to play, Sarazen holed out from 232 yards using a “spoon” club – the loft of the modern-day 4-wood, scoring a double eagle (-3) to tie Wood at 6 under. He then parred Nos. 16, 17, and 18 to preserve the tie.

“It was the greatest thrill I’ve ever known in golf, or ever expect to get again,” Sarazen told famed sports writer Grantland Rice after his final round.

The following day, the pair played a 36-hole playoff, with Sarazen winning by five shots.

While less known than Sarazen, Paul Runyan claimed the most PGA titles in this decade, racking up 29 victories, including 16 in a two-season span (1934-35). He also won a pair of PGA Championships (1934 and 1939) during this time period.

PGA Tour Wins: 1930s

Rank-Player (Decade Wins/Career Wins) 1 . Paul Runyan (29/30) 2 . Harry Cooper (24/30) 3 . Gene Sarazen (22/38) 3 . Henry Picard (22/26) 5 . Horton Smith (18/30)

Major Wins: 1930s

Rank-Player (Decade Major Wins/Career Major Wins) 1 . Gene Sarazen (4/7) 2 . Denny Shute (3/3) 2 . Ralph Guldahl (3/3) 4 . Byron Nelson (2/5) 4 . Tommy Armour (2/3) 4 . Henry Cotton (2/3) 4 . Paul Runyan (2/2) 4 . Henry Picard (2/2) 4 . Olin Dutra (2/2)

PGA Tour Decade: 1940s

Despite missing two full seasons (1943-44) while serving in the U.S. Army, Ben Hogan won 52 times during the decade of the 1940s, including 30 victories in the three full seasons (1946-48) following his discharge from the military.

Hogan’s two main rivals during this time were fellow Texan Byron Nelson , who racked up 41 wins in the decade, and Sam Snead – the folksy long-ball hitter whose career was defined by longevity and lots of trophies.

Snead won four of his seven majors in the 40s, while Hogan and Nelson captured three apiece.

PGA Tour Wins: 1940s

Rank-Player (Decade Wins/Career Wins) 1 . Ben Hogan (52/64) 2 . Byron Nelson (41/52) 3 . Sam Snead (32/82) 4 . Jimmy Demaret (20/26) 5 . Lloyd Mangrum (19/36)

Major Wins: 1940s

Rank-Player (Decade Major Wins/Career Major Wins) 1 . Sam Snead (4/7) 2 . Ben Hogan (3/9) 2 . Byron Nelson (3/5) 4 . Jimmy Demaret (2/3) 4 . Craig Wood (2/2)

PGA Tour Decade: 1950s

Following a serious car accident in 1949, Ben Hogan ‘s playing career was limited to major championships, and a handful of elite events.

For example, in 1951, Hogan entered just five events, but won three of them: the Masters, U.S. Open, and World Championship of Golf. (He finished second and fourth in his other two starts.)

Hogan’s 1953 season was even more impressive, and is considered one of the greatest in history: the then 40-year-old won five of the six tournaments he entered, including all three major championships (Masters, U.S. Open, and British Open). To this day, Hogan remains the only player to have won all three in the same calendar year.

It was Sam Snead , though, who hoisted the most trophies in the 1950s. “The Slammer” chased 32 wins in the 40s with 29 titles in the 50s, including three more majors.

Snead and Jack Nicklaus are the only PGA Tour members to have won more than 25 times in two different decades.

The unheralded Cary Middlecoff won 28 times in the 50s, including back-to-back majors in 1955 and 1956, while the Lloyd Mangrum appeared once again on the decade-ending list, adding 17 to the 19 he’d recorded in the 40s.

Finally, Australian legend Peter Thompson won four of his five British Opens in the 1950s. Although, they were captured in an era (mid 1950s) when very few of the leading U.S. tour pros played in the event. At that time, The Open’s prize money was such that it did not cover the expenses to travel “across the pond.” For instance, Thompson earned just $750 for his 1955 Open Championship title, while Cary Middlecoff was awarded $5,000 for winning the 1955 Masters. (Thomson, though, cemented his legacy with a fifth Open title in 1965 against a strong field which included the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player.)

PGA Tour Wins: 1950s

Rank-Player (Decade Wins/Career Wins) 1 . Sam Snead (29/82) 2 . Cary Middlecoff (28/39) 3 . Lloyd Mangrum (17/36) 4 . Jack Burke Jr. (14/16) 4 . Doug Ford (14/19) 4 . Gene Littler (14/29)

Major Wins: 1950s

Rank-Player (Decade Major Wins/Career Major Wins) 1 . Ben Hogan (6/9) 2 . Peter Thomson (4/5) 3 . Sam Snead (3/7) 3 . Bobby Locke (3/4) 5 . Cary Middlecoff (2/3) 5 . Doug Ford (2/2) 5 . Jack Burke Jr. (2/2)

PGA Tour Decade: 1960s

Arnold Palmer took golf to another level in the 60s. With the advent of TV, the charismatic star transcended golf and became a pitchman for corporate America. “The King” won 43 times in the 60s, including 29 tour titles over a four-season span (1960-1963), five of which were majors (2 Masters, 2 British Opens, 1 U.S. Open).

Palmer’s participation (and wins) at The Open Championship in the early 60s is widely credited with restoring the status of the British Major among U.S. players.

A young Jack Nicklaus became Palmer’s main rival during this period. Nicklaus would win 30 of his 73 titles in the 60s, and go on to become the greatest golfer of all time, while Palmer would become its most beloved.

Billy Casper , one of the most underrated golfers in PGA Tour history, would win 33 times in the 60s against icons such as Palmer, Nicklaus, and Gary Player .

Tony Lema won a dozen times too, including the 1964 British Open. He seemed destined to win so many more, but two months after winning his 12th PGA Tour title (in less than four years), Lema died in a plane crash at the age of 32.

PGA Tour Wins: 1960s

Rank-Player (Decade Wins/Career Wins) 1 . Arnold Palmer (43/62) 2 . Billy Casper (33/51) 3 . Jack Nicklaus (30/73) 4 . Doug Sanders (15/20) 5 . Tony Lema (12/12)

Major Wins: 1960s

Rank-Player (Decade Major Wins/Career Major Wins) 1 . Jack Nicklaus (7/18) 2 . Arnold Palmer (6/7) 3 . Gary Player (4/9) 4 . Julius Boros (2/3) 5 . Multiple 1-major winners

PGA Tour Decade: 1970s

Jack Nicklaus followed up his 30-win decade of the 60s with 38 more titles in the 70s including eight (8) majors. The Golden Bear was particularly dominate for the first six seasons – between 1970 and 1975, when he won seven majors, while finishing inside the top-10 in 22 of 24 major starts, including 14 top-3s.

With Palmer now in his 40s, Nicklaus’ main rivals included Lee Trevino , Johnny Miller , and Tom Watson .

Trevino won 21 times during the decade, highlighted by 14 titles in a four-season span (1971-1974), including four majors (1971 U.S. Open and British Open, 1972 British Open, 1974 PGA).

Part of Trevino’s epic run included a 20-day span in the summer of 1971 when he defeated Nicklaus in an 18-hole playoff to win the 1971 U.S. Open. Two weeks later, he captured the Canadian Open, and the following week claimed The British Open, becoming the first player to win those three Open titles in the same year. These three Opens were one time called the Triple Crown .

For a three-year period, in the middle of the decade, Johnny Miller also threatened Nicklaus’ reign. The California native won 18 times in the 70s, with 15 of those wins coming in a three-season blitz (1974 – 1976). Following his second major at the 1976 British Open, Miller came down with a putting affliction known as the “yips.” He was never the same.

Watson would be Nicklaus’ third rival of the decade. The Kansas City native racked up 15 wins during the final three seasons of the 70s, including three majors.

PGA Tour Wins: 1970s

Rank-Player (Decade Wins/Career Wins) 1 . Jack Nicklaus (38/73) 2 . Lee Trevino (21/29) 3 . Johnny Miller (18/25) 3 . Tom Watson (18/39) 5 . Hubert Green (16/19)

Major Wins: 1970s

Rank-Player (Decade Major Wins/Career Major Wins) 1 . Jack Nicklaus (8/18) 3 . Gary Player (4/9) 2 . Lee Trevino (4/6) 4 . Tom Watson (3/8) 5 . Hale Irwin (2/3) 5 . Johnny Miller (2/2) 5 . Dave Stockton (2/2)

PGA Tour Decade: 1980s

The 80s brought along bigger purses, and the ability to earn a hefty income without actually winning. The game became more global as well, with some of its biggest stars – such as Nick Faldo , Greg Norman , Seve Ballesteros , and Bernhard Langer – competing part-time on the PGA Tour. It marked the first time a decade’s win leader failed to earn 20 titles.

Tom Watson cashed 19 first-place checks, including five majors, while Curtis Strange won 16 times, highlighted by back-to-back U.S. Opens. After that it was a mixed bag of parity… but a lot of money.

Spain’s Ballesteros won seven times on the PGA Tour, but four of those were majors, including a matching pair of Green Jackets and Claret Jugs. Faldo won three times – two of which were major titles.

Similarly, Jack Nicklaus , now in his 40s, won only five more times, but three were majors, highlighted by his iconic victory at the 1986 Masters.

PGA Tour Wins: 1980s

Rank-Player (Decade Wins/Career Wins) 1 . Tom Watson (19/39) 2 . Curtis Strange (16/17) 3 . Tom Kite (11/19) 3 . Calvin Peete (11/12) 3 . Lanny Wadkins (11/21)

Major Wins: 1980s

Rank-Player (Decade Major Wins/Career Major Wins) 1 . Tom Watson (5/8) 2 . Seve Ballesteros (4/5) 3 . Jack Nicklaus (3/18) 4 . Nick Faldo (2/6) 4 . Raymond Floyd (2/4) 4 . Larry Nelson (2/3) 4 . Curtis Strange (2/2) 4 . Sandy Lyle (2/2)

PGA Tour Decade: 1990s

The 90s were more of the same with lots of cash but no dominant force… until the arrival of a young man named Tiger.

Englishman Nick Faldo , who played primarily on the European Tour, continued his dominance on the big stage, with four more major titles, three between 1990 and 1992.

On the tour, Zimbabwean Nick Price won 16 times, with 12 of those coming in a three-season span (1992-94), including three majors.

The end of the decade was dominated by a young Tiger Woods , who won 15 times, bookended by a blowout victory at the 1997 Masters and an eight-win 1999 campaign, which included a second major (PGA).

Co-starring, alongside the two Nicks (Faldo/Price) and Woods, were Hall of Famers such as Phil Mickelson , Davis Love III , Mark O’Meara , and Greg Norman , who each earned a dozen or more victories, including a major (or two).

Finally, David Duval , who just missed the list with 11 titles, at one point seemed like Woods’ most natural rival. His three-season run, from 1997 to 1999, included 11 wins, a world No. 1 ranking, and season-ending finishes of 2nd-1st-2nd on the PGA Tour Money List. He won again in each of the next two seasons, including the 2001 British Open. At just 29, he was a major champion with 13 PGA Tour titles, and considered a surefire Hall of Famer. Yet, the following season, Duval completely lost his form, and by 2004 he was essentially finished.

PGA Tour Wins: 1990s

Rank-Player (Decade Wins/Career Wins) 1 . Nick Price (16/18) 2 . Tiger Woods (15/82) 3 . Phil Mickelson (13/45) 4 . Davis Love (12/21) 4 . Mark O’Meara (12/16) 4 . Greg Norman (12/20)

Major Wins: 1990s

Rank-Player (Decade Major Wins/Career Major Wins) 1 . Nick Faldo (4/6) 2 . Nick Price (3/3) 3 . Tiger Woods (2/15) 3 . Ernie Els (2/4) 3 . Payne Stewart (2/3) 3 . John Daly (2/2) 3 . Jose Maria Olazabal (2/2) 3 . Lee Janzen (2/2) 3 . Mark O’Meara (2/2)

PGA Tour Decade: 2000s

After two decades of parity, the 2000s saw a return to the days of a dominating superstar, ala Hogan, Palmer, and Nicklaus.

Tiger Woods won a mind-blowing 59 times in the decade with six seasons of five or more victories. During this span, he also won 12 more majors, including a record four straight, stretching over two seasons: 2000 (U.S. Open, British Open, PGA) and 2001 (Masters), which is known as the “Tiger Slam.” (The reigning champion of all four majors at the same time.)

Woods’ rivals during the 2000s were mainly Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson , who each won over 20 titles and multiple majors.

Ernie Els , who split time between the tours in Europe and the U.S., won nine times, as did Jim Furyk and David Toms .

Irishman Padraig Harrington won five PGA tour titles in the decade, including three majors in a two-season span (2007 and 2008 British Open, 2008 PGA).

PGA Tour Wins: 2000s

Rank-Player (Decade Wins/Career Wins) 1 . Tiger Woods (59/82) 2 . Vijay Singh (26/34) 3 . Phil Mickelson (24/45) 4 . Ernie Els (9/19) 4 . Jim Furyk (9/17) 4 . David Toms (9/13)

Major Wins: 2000s

Rank-Player (Decade Major Wins/Career Major Wins) 1 . Tiger Woods (12/15) 2 . Phil Mickelson (3/6) 2 . Padraig Harrington (3/3) 2 . Vijay Singh (2/3) 2 . Retief Goosen (2/2) 2 . Angel Cabrera (2/2) 2 . Retief Goosen (2/2)

PGA Tour Decade: 2010s

Controversy and injury ended what many expected to be a second decade of dominance for Tiger Woods . Just 35 years-old when the 2010 decade started, Woods was a shell of his former self.

Instead the decade was headlined by a batch of younger stars who grew up idolizing the golf icon.

Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson each won 18 times during the decade with Bubba Watson and Jason Day picking up 12 wins each. Eight (8) of Day’s wins came in a 10-month blitzkrieg (July 2015 – May 2016) that saw the Aussie dominate in Woods-like fashion.

Jordan Spieth won 11 times between 2013 and 2017, while Justin Thomas matched his good friend with 11 titles between the 2016 and 2019 seasons. Woods also hoisted 11 trophies, punctuated by a long-awaited 15th major at the 2019 Masters.

In terms of majors, it was McIlroy, Spieth and Brooks Koepka , with each dominating one-third of the decade. McIlroy owned the early part, with four majors between 2011 and 2014, including consecutive titles in the summer of 2014 (The Open and PGA), while Spieth reigned in the middle portion, highlighted by an historic 2015 campaign. Koepka became something of a major specialist, claiming four titles at the end of the decade, featuring back-to-back U.S. Opens (2017 and 2018) and PGAs (2018 and 2019).

PGA Tour Wins: 2010s

Rank-Player (Decade Wins/Career Wins) 1 . Rory McIlroy (18/20) 2 . Dustin Johnson (18/24) 3 . Bubba Watson (12/12) 3 . Jason Day (12/12) 5 . Justin Thomas (11/14) 5 . Jordan Spieth (11/12) 5 . Tiger Woods (11/82)

Major Wins: 2010s

Rank-Player (Decade Major Wins/Career Major Wins) 1 . Rory McIlroy (4/4) 1 . Brooks Koepka (4/4) 3 . Jordan Spieth (3/3) 4 . Phil Mickelson (2/6) 4 . Bubba Watson (2/2) 4 . Martin Kaymer (2/2)

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

The 2024 masters tournament: power rankings, dustin johnson confident ahead of liv miami, masters, what would arnie think of today’s limited-field, $20m arnold palmer invitational, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

LATEST CONTENT

The 2024 masters primer: history, tv, field, odds, 2024 valero texas open recap: akshay bhatia claims ot victory, liv golf miami: burmester edges sergio in ot; marquee names head..., brendan steele is flying high with liv golf, amid a career-defining slump, justin thomas fires jim bones mackay, golf getaway: trump national doral in miami, liv golf stars like league’s chances at the masters, vault virals, tyrrell hatton admits he “super sucked” after blowing five-shot lead at..., the 10 most smug, self-righteous media reactions to phil mickelson, daly injures knee in hooters parking lot crash, paige spiranac poses nude in #siswim to promote #hashtags (or something), pga tour gets hammered for “raunchy” caption of spieth and kelly..., is the sanderson farms chicken trophy the tour’s worst, holly sonders bounced from fox’s us open coverage, michelle wie jabs lpga’s dress code with offseason attire.

Who has won the most PGA Tour tournaments?

• Alex Kennedy

Who has the most career wins on the PGA Tour ? Let's examine the five winningest golfers in PGA Tour history and their incredible trophy cases.

Tiger Woods , 82 WINS

With a victory at the Zozo Championship on Oct. 27, 2019, Woods won his 82nd PGA Tour victory, tying the record held by Sam Snead. His first PGA Tour win came 23 years earlier, on Oct. 6, 1996, at the Las Vegas Invitational. In Woods' fifth start as a pro, he beat Davis Love III in a sudden-death playoff. Woods holds the record for most consecutive weeks as the No. 1 golfer in the world and the record for most total weeks at No. 1. Woods is an 11-time PGA Player of the Year, which is also a record. He won 15 major championships, trailing only Jack Nicklaus' 18. Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021. For more on Woods' decades-long dominance, check out this breakdown of his PGA Tour victories .

Sam Snead , 82 WINS

Snead's longevity was extremely impressive, as his career spanned 30 years and he competed well into his 60s. In the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open, the 52-year-old became the oldest golfer to win a PGA Tour tournament -- a record he still holds today. Snead won 82 PGA Tour events and seven majors. He was the PGA Golfer of the Year in 1949 and a three-time PGA Tour money list winner. He earned the PGA Tour's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

Jack Nicklaus , 73 WINS

Jack Nicklaus was widely regarded as the greatest golfer in the world during the 1960s and 1970s. He continued winning majors in the 1980s - with his final victory coming at 46 years old. Nicklaus holds the record for most major championships (18) and most Masters (six), and he's tied for the most PGA Championships (five) and U.S. Opens (four). "The Golden Bear" also finished as a runner-up 19 times in majors. From 1970 to 1979, Nicklaus never finished worse than eighth at the Masters. In 44 majors over that span, he missed just one cut. Nicklaus was a five-time PGA Player of the Year and the PGA Tour's money list winner 8 times. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

Ben Hogan , 64 WINS

Hogan won nine majors -- tied for fourth most all time -- and he's one of only five golfers to win all four major championships. Hogan was a four-time PGA Player of the Year. In 1943, Hogan was drafted and joined the U.S. Army and over the next three years, he rose to the rank of second lieutenant. In 1946, he returned to the PGA Tour and won 13 events. Hogan was named the AP's Male Athlete of the Year in 1953 and inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

Arnold Palmer , 62 WINS

Palmer was a fan favorite who helped golf skyrocket in popularity. He won seven majors -- with all his victories coming between 1958 and 1964 -- and he was the first golfer to win four Masters. Palmer was a two-time PGA Player of the Year and a four-time PGA Tour money list winner. He earned the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Palmer also launched many products, owned and designed golf courses, and co-founded The Golf Channel.

Check out ESPN's golf page , which features breaking news , in-depth analysis , features , rankings , and more.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• March Madness
• AP Top 25 Poll
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Min Woo Lee serves up a victory at the Australian PGA Championship

Australia’s Min Woo Lee reacts on the 17th hole during the final round of the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (Jono Searle/AAP Image via AP)

Australia’s Min Woo Lee holds his trophy after winning the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (Jono Searle/AAP Image via AP)

• Copy Link copied

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Min Woo Lee started celebrating his first Australian PGA Championship title on the next-to-last hole Sunday when he put on a chef’s hat and did a synchronized clap along with the boisterous crowd before jogging off to the 18th.

He narrowly missed par at the last but still closed with a 3-under 68 to finish 20 under for the tournament and a three-shot win over Japan’s Riyuka Hoshino, who also closed with 68.

Lee, who is ranked No. 45 and comes from Western Australia, has made “let him cook” his popular catch phrase.

And so, with a four-shot lead going into the final hole, he put on a chef’s hat and clapped his hands above his head in time with the crowd at the 17th, the so-called Party Hole at Royal Queensland Golf Club.

He also brought the crowd alive with a long chip for an eagle at the par-5 ninth.

“The best atmosphere shot I’ve ever hit,” Lee said. “That one, at that point, it was getting close.

“I was in a pretty average position. To chip that in — it was amazing. It’s one of the best shots I’ve probably hit.”

Lee had a wire-to-wire win in the Asian Tour’s Macau Open last month for his first victory since 2021, and added this one quickly on home soil. It was his fourth career title.

Marc Leishman made seven birdies in a closing 64 to move into third place at 16 under, one ahead of Curtis Luck (69). Joaquin Niemann of Chile was fourth at 13 under, his final round 67 highlighted by an ace at the 160-meter, par-3 fourth.

Adam Scott slipped back to sixth place at 12 under with a 70 on Sunday after threatening Lee’s lead in the second and third rounds.

The Australian PGA, co-sanctioned by the Australasian Tour and DP World Tour, gave Lee a third title on the European circuit.

“I’ve always thought I could win, but it took a while to get over the hump,” he said. “Two wins in the last month or so .... really proud of it.”

He was targeting a victory on the European tour in 2023 and while he didn’t achieve it in the season that ended last week, he still made it within the calendar year that also included a tie for 5th at the U.S. Open.

Lee will play next week at the Australian Open that has a joint tournament format to feature men’s and women’s fields. His sister, two-time major winner Minjee Lee, will also be playing in Sydney.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Search Golf Compendium

Golf compendium, active wins leaders on the pga tour, the list: active golfers with most pga tour victories, popular posts from this blog, golfers with the most wins in major championships, 2024 masters tournament dates, schedule, players, 24 famous golfers who were photographed in the nude.

Advertisement

After denny mccarthy's wild comeback, akshay bhatia prevails in playoff to win the 2024 valero texas open, share this article.

For those who have followed Akshay Bhatia’s decorated golf career, the fact that the 22-year-old phenom captured his second PGA Tour title on Sunday — earning his first berth into a major tournament — might come as no surprise.

But the way Bhatia won, running away from most of the field early and then outlasting a wily veteran in a playoff at the 2024 Valero Texas Open to earn a spot in next week’s Masters? That certainly might have the golf world doing a collective double-take.

Bhatia finished off one of the most impressive and improbable wire-to-wire victories in recent memory, fending off a heroic charge by runner-up Denny McCarthy on Sunday afternoon, and finding his way into the winner’s circle at the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course.

McCarthy forced a playoff with an incredible string of eight birdies over the final nine holes, and after he buried a seventh straight birdie putt on 18, it appeared he might be poised for his first PGA Tour victory.

Bhatia responded with a huge birdie putt of his own on the tournament’s 72nd hole, and then watched as McCarthy made a surprising and fatal mistake by chunking a wedge from 99 yards out on the playoff hole — and splashing it into a creek.

Winning is hard. Denny McCarthy has found the water from 99 yards out on the first playoff hole. pic.twitter.com/41GpsUEvEZ — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 7, 2024

“Wish I could have had that wedge shot back there. I backed off a couple times,” McCarthy said. “There was a bug on my ball and some noise in the stands and a bug jumped back on my ball. I probably should have backed away again, but I thought I could kind of not let it distract me and maybe it did a little.

“Maybe a learning experience for me, but all in all I handled myself really well today.”

Adding a little more drama, Bhatia then asked for his shoulder to be taped up by a trainer before his approach on the playoff hole, telling those on hand that he pulled it out of its socket during a fist-pump celebration after hitting the putt on 18.

But he safely found the green and then dropped a six-footer to earn the trip back to Augusta.

The field for the 88th Masters Tournament is set. See you back at Augusta National, Akshay. #themasters — The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 2024

“Denny played unbelievable. It’s tough, he’s one of the best putters out here. Yeah, it’s scary how good he played. To shoot 8 under on the back is like unheard of,” Bhatia said. “You think he might miss one, but it was awesome to see that. It made me feel like, OK, I really need to step up here, I can’t just cruise in. I did such a good job just coming out, sticking to my game plan.

“I still had to shoot 5 under to just get into a playoff, so it was pretty crazy.”

Bhatia has won at every level and Saturday marked the 10th anniversary of his appearance at the Drive, Chip & Putt at Augusta National , where he finished sixth in the 12-13 age category.

At the ripe age of 15, Bhatia won the 2017 Junior PGA Championship, breaking a course record at the Country Club of St. Albans, and cruising to a three-stroke victory. He added a number of major junior events a year later, including the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley and the Rolex Tournament of Champions.

Akshay Bhatia talks with his caddie before teeing off at the first hole during the final round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

He later became the third-youngest player to win a Korn Ferry Tour event, when he took home the title at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, with only Sungjae Im and Jason Day doing so at a younger age.

None of this has fazed Bhatia, who continues to work hard, keep his nose to the grindstone and focus on the next major hurdle.

“I’m just true to myself. I’ve never had an easy life growing up, so anytime anyone sees that, oh, this kid’s making a ton of money, he’s playing on the PGA Tour, he’s won on the PGA Tour, that’s just not it,” Bhatia said after his third round of play, “There’s so much more to it than just the golf. For guys coming up from PGA Tour U or Nick Dunlap, for instance, winning on the PGA Tour, like there’s going to be a lot for them to learn and hopefully being peers with them, it kind of can help them along the way and kind of grow up faster.”

Bhatia conducted himself like a veteran in the latter stages on Sunday, as he had a four-stroke lead heading into Sunday, pushed that advantage to six after the fourth hole, but then watched as McCarthy put on an impressive display on the back at the Greg Norman-designed course.

Denny McCarthy hits a tee shot on the tenth hole during the final round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

McCarthy’s birdie barrage started just after the turn as he knocked off strokes on Nos. 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 to pull within one.

On the 17th, a drivable par-4, McCarthy missed right in the rough, while Bhatia dropped his in a bunker off to the right side of the hole. Both players put their second shots to within five feet, but Bhatia missed his putt, marking the first time in 52 times during the tournament that he missed from that distance.

Both players made birdies on the 18th hole, then Bhatia capitalized on McCarthy’s playoff miscue to take the $1.65 million first prize and the final spot in the 2024 Masters.

“t’s cool. It’s a dream come true. I didn’t know what to expect this week,” Bhatia said. “This is just kind of a week where I played a couple times and I was a little more comfortable, I think. I wrote on my wrist today “W-T-W,” which is wire-to-wire. Just kind of pictured a straight wire from the first hole to the 72nd hole and I just tried to really stick to that, and my caddie did an awesome job reminding me of that.”

As for McCarthy, he’ll take plenty away from this week, even though he missed out on the hardware.

“I’m hitting the ball really nice, chipping and putting really nice. Just kind of committing to my process and freeing it up and not really caring where it goes,” McCarthy said. “I did that really well all week, especially today also, Sunday afternoon, last group. It stings right now, but I found a lot of good things in my game this week mentally and physically, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”

Check out the latest from Augusta with our live Masters leaderboard and coverage .

Most Popular

Meet the 13 liv golf players competing at the 2024 masters at augusta national, masters 2024 odds, course history and picks to win, masters survey 2024: hoodies, hats and pin flags. these are among the must-have items at the augusta national pro shop, masters survey 2024: gary player, steve stricker, will zalatoris dish on the times they stepped out of line at augusta national, 10 of the best players at the masters over the last 5 seasons, 2024 masters: meet the 5 amateurs teeing it up at augusta national, best masters-themed 2024 golf apparel and clothing.

Advertisement

2024 masters odds, picks and pga tour predictions, share this article.

It’s been a year of underdogs winning on the PGA Tour this season, but this week features the strongest field in golf. The 2024 Masters is here as the world’s best descend for the 88th time upon Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., for the 1st major of the year. The 1st round begins on Thursday morning.

Below, we look at the 2024 Masters odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions .

Jon Rahm will look to defend his title and earn a 2nd green jacket in his 1st major start since joining LIV Golf, while favorite Scottie Scheffler (+400) is seeking to win his 2nd Masters in 3 years. Rory McIlroy , Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka are among the favorites trying to win their 1st green jacket, as well. Past champions teeing it up at Augusta include Jordan Spieth , Hideki Matsuyama , Patrick Reed , Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson .

Oh, and 5-time champion Tiger Woods is in the field, too.

Augusta National is a par 72 and will play at 7,555 yards, 10 yards longer than last year. All of the par-5s offer terrific scoring opportunities but with undulating greens and a number of false fronts, players must be accurate with their irons to hit the proper sections to stay close to the strategically placed pins. The winning score has been between 8-under and 18-under each year since 2010 with the exception of Danny Willett’s win in 2016 when he was just 5-under par.

WATCH: PGA Tour is live on ESPN+! Get ESPN+

Masters – Expert picks

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook ; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 11:01 a.m. ET.

Jon Rahm (+1200)

Repeating as the Masters champion is incredibly difficult. Only 3 players (Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldon, Woods) have ever accomplished it, which shows how tough it is to do. Yet, no one should be surprised if Rahm pulls it off. His odds are longer now than they were pre-tournament last year when he was at +900, and that’s strictly because the exposure to him has been lessened by his move to LIV. Rahm is still a world-class player who has finished in the top 10 in 4 of his last 5 starts at Augusta.

Brooks Koepka (+2000)

Koepka was in the driver’s seat here last year before a final-round 75 dropped him out of 1st place and gave Rahm the green jacket. He’s the best big-game hunter in the world, almost always performing well in the majors no matter his recent form in smaller events. Even after finishing T-45 (out of 53) in LIV’s Miami event, Koepka is someone to back this week in Augusta. The move to LIV obviously hasn’t hurt his game either, considering he won the PGA Championship last year.

Hideki Matsuyama (+2000)

You could find Matsuyama at around +2500 before his 7th-place finish in San Antonio this past week but he’s still a good bet at +2000. He’s a past champion and one of the best players in the world around the greens, which is always beneficial around a place like Augusta where you’re bound to miss greens all week. He’s notched 4 straight top-12 finishes this season, including a win at Riviera, so he’s in excellent form entering the Masters.

Will Zalatoris (+2800)

Zalatoris was forced to withdraw from the Masters last year, which was extremely disappointing given that he had finished 6th and 2nd in his 1st 2 starts at this great event. Now that he’s gone to the broomstick putter, he’s gotten more reliable on the greens. And he still ranks 21st in strokes gained: tee-to-green this season. He doesn’t need to putt magnificently this week, but he just can’t give away strokes on the greens because he’s one of the best ball-strikers in the field.

Masters picks – Contenders

Sahith theegala (+4000).

Theegala’s odds have been on a steady climb all season thanks to his 5 top-25 finishes in 9 starts this season, including a quartet of top-10s. He finished 9th in his Masters debut last year, largely thanks to a final-round 67, so maybe he’s figuring Augusta out in the little experience he’s had here. Now that he’s gotten over the “debutants rarely win the Masters” hurdle, he’s a good bet to contend again this week.

Corey Conners (+6600)

Conners surprisingly missed the cut last year, but he finished 6th, 8th and 10th in his previous 3 starts at Augusta prior to that. This is a 2nd-shot course and Conners is one of the best iron players around, which has helped him have so much success here in the past. He ranks 4th in SG: approach and 11th in SG: tee-to-green this season, to give you an idea of his ball-striking numbers.

Shane Lowry (+4000)

Lowry skipped the Texas events before the Masters after a successful Florida swing, but that’s no reason for concern. He heads back to Augusta ranked 5th in SG: tee-to-green and 3rd in SG: approach, so his ball-striking has been phenomenal all year. He’s finished inside the top 25 at the Masters in each of the last 4 years, with a peak in 2022 when he finished 3rd. If the putter cooperates, expect to see him in contention on Sunday.

Masters picks – Long shots

Akshay bhatia (+10000).

Bhatia held off Denny McCarthy on Sunday at the Valero Texas Open for his 2nd PGA Tour win, earning him a spot in the Masters for the 1st time. The 22-year-old is on the verge of a major breakout and he looked every bit like someone who can make some noise at Augusta. He was hitting 350-yard cuts down the middle of the fairway at TPC San Antonio and his wedge game was excellent, as well. He’s made 6 cuts in 10 starts this season and finished in the top 20 each time he played the weekend.

Nick Taylor (+15000)

Taylor is a better player than these odds suggest, winning twice in the last 2 seasons – including this year’s WM Phoenix Open, a signature event. He finished T-29 in his Masters debut in 2020 when it was played in the fall, so at least he’s seen the course before, which takes the pressure of being a debutant out of the picture. He’s a terrific iron player, ranking 13th in SG: approach, and his putter is hot (19th in SG: putting), so he could put it all together this week and contend at Augusta National.

Stephan Jaeger (+12500)

Jaeger has the length to play well at Augusta and he clearly isn’t afraid of the big guns after taking down Scheffler in Houston, but this will be his Masters debut, which puts him at somewhat of a disadvantage. He doesn’t rank lower than 70th in any strokes gained metric and is 23rd in tee-to-green. Even his putting (69th) hasn’t been terrible by any stretch. He has 4 top-25s, including a win, in just 9 starts this season.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now !

For more sports betting picks and tips , check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW .

• Master Survey 2024: These are the most annoying things about playing in the Masters
• Custom Masters eclipse solar glasses handed out Monday at Augusta National

Follow @camdasilva on Twitter/X . Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook .

Like this article?

Sign up for our newsletter to get updates to your inbox, and also receive offers from us, our affiliates and partners. By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy

More PGA Tour Odds, Picks and Predictions

Best masters betting promos & bonuses | grab $3800 in offers at 2024 masters betting sites, betmgm bonus code sbwire | get huge $1500 offer for nba odds, masters betting lines & more, 2024 masters prop bet picks and pga tour predictions.

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

BetMGM Bonus Code SBWIRE | $1500 Promo for Iowa-South Carolina NCAA Title Game Today & More

Valero Texas Open Betting Promos | Grab $3800+ in Bonuses at Best PGA Betting Sites

2024 Valero Texas Open final-round odds, golfers to watch

Sports betting resources.

Sports Scores and Odds Hub Sports Betting Legality Map Parlay Calculator

Most Popular

Boston celtics at milwaukee bucks odds, picks and predictions, golden state warriors at los angeles lakers odds, picks and predictions, uefa champions league: real madrid vs. man city odds, picks and predictions, detroit pistons at philadelphia 76ers odds, picks and predictions, dallas mavericks at charlotte hornets odds, picks and predictions, sacramento kings at oklahoma city thunder odds, picks and predictions, miami heat at atlanta hawks odds, picks and predictions.

Please enter an email address.

Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.

Something went wrong.

Follow Playing Through online:

• Follow Playing Through on Twitter
• Follow Playing Through on Instagram
• Follow Playing Through on Facebook

Site search

• Champions Tour
• DP World Tour
• Latest News

Filed under:

• Masters Tournament
• Golf Majors

Masters 2024: 5 International players that can triumph at Augusta National

The Masters Tournament prides itself on having the best players from around the world, so which International stars can don the Green Jacket?

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Twitter
• Share this on Reddit
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: Masters 2024: 5 International players that can triumph at Augusta National

Augusta National welcomes the best players from around the world to the Masters Tournament every year.

Over 20 countries are represented among the 89 players in this year’s tournament, a great example of how global this event has become.

The club prides itself on being one, too, which explains its commitment to the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and the Latin America Amateur in recent years. The winners of each earn a trip to The Masters.

As such, SB Nation’s Playing Through has identified five international golfers with the best chance of winning the Green Jacket come Sunday evening. We did not count any European players, so this exercise compares to the format of the upcoming Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal in September.

Unlike the 2024 International Team, however, our selections below include players from LIV Golf .

5. Corey Conners

Despite being a poor putter, Corey Conners feels comfortable on Augusta National’s undulating greens.

Before his missed cut in 2023, Conners recorded three straight top-10 finishes at The Masters, with his best finish coming in 2022, when he tied for sixth. Conners was one of nine players under par when Scottie Scheffler won that week, shooting 70-72-73-70 to finish at 3-under.

Last year, Conners opened with a 73 and then shot a 7-over 79 on day two, as the par-5 13th hole sent the Canadian off the rails. He made a double bogey at ‘Azalea,’ three more bogies, and one more double followed after that.

But Conners looks to turn things around at Augusta this season. He has made it to the weekend in all eight events he has played in 2024. Plus, Conners ranks 6th in strokes gained approaching the green. He is playing consistent golf and finding greens, which typically translates to success at Augusta.

4. Si Woo Kim

Si Woo Kim is quietly trending in the right direction, currently ranking 23rd in the FedEx Cup standings three months into the season.

He has not missed a cut in 2024, and most recently tied for 17th at the Texas Children’s Houston Open . Before that, he tied for sixth at The Players, his best finish of the year.

But Kim has struggled on the greens this year. He ranks 138th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting, and yet, despite being a below-average putter, Kim can lag it better than most. He ranks 12th on the PGA Tour in three-putt avoidance, an essential attribute for playing well at Augusta.

Plus, Kim plays beautifully, ranking third on tour in strokes gained: tee to green. He is a terrific ball striker, keeps the ball in play, and rarely makes mistakes. He has a solid chance of becoming South Korea’s first Masters champion.

3. Cameron Smith

Widely regarded as one of the best putters on the planet, Cameron Smith’s game fits Augusta National beautifully.

In his seven appearances at The Masters, the Aussie has never missed the cut. His best finish came in 2020, when he tied for 2nd, shooting all four rounds in the 60s in the process. Some dismissed that as a fluke due to the soft autumn conditions, but Smith debunked that notion five months later. He tied for 10th in 2021 and then followed that up with a 3rd-place finish in 2022, proving that he has the game to win a Green Jacket.

Since jumping to LIV Golf after the 2022 Tour Championship, Smith has racked up three wins on the Saudi-backed circuit.

This year, the Brisbane native ranks first in strokes gained putting on LIV Golf, which should surprise nobody.

But his driver is his weakness. And yet, Augusta National does not punish wayward tee shots like other courses do. Poor drivers can get away with it there—ask Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, or Jordan Spieth.

Smith had to withdraw from last week’s LIV Golf event at Doral in Miami because of an illness, but all signs point to him being healthy for this year’s Masters.

2. Hideki Matsuyama

Hideki Matsuyama conquered Augusta National in 2021, becoming the first Asian-born player to win a Green Jacket. He can surely do it again.

Matsuyama has had his fair share of injuries over the past few years, dealing with ailments in his neck and back. Those have prevented him from ascending to the top of the sport once again, but as we witnessed at Riviera, Matsuyama has the talent to beat anyone on any course.

He is trending in the right direction, too. After Matsuyama’s win at the Genesis Invitational , he tied for 12th at Bay Hill, then tied for 6th at The Players, shooting in the 60s during all four rounds at TPC Sawgrass.

This past week, Matsuyama shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday to climb the leaderboard at the Valero Texas Open. He ultimately finished tied for 7th.

Watch out for Matsuyama at Augusta, as his superior ball striking and short game will give him ample opportunity to contend. He ranks third on the PGA Tour in strokes gained tee-to-green, trailing only Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.

1. Joaquin Niemann

One could argue that outside of Scheffler, no player has had a better 2024 than Joaquin Niemann . He began the LIV Golf season with a 59 at Mayakoba , which led to his first win of the calendar year.

Two months before, Niemann fended off Rikuya Hoshino in a playoff to win the Australian Open. The Chilean eagled the second playoff hole to capture the victory.

Since then, Niemann has continued his strong play. He leads all LIV Golf players in overall strokes gained, an impressive feat considering that Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau have all played well over the past 12 months.

Nieman won LIV Golf’s event in Saudi Arabia in March, prevailing by four shots over Louis Oosthuizen and Sergio Garcia. The 25-year-old also finished third at the International Series Oman and tied for fourth at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, which Rory McIlroy won.

He tied for 16th at Augusta National in his fourth start there a year ago, but Niemann has an excellent chance to finish much better than that this time around. It should surprise nobody if Rahm drapes the Green Jacket around Niemann’s shoulders come Sunday evening. If that were to happen, he would become the first Chilean to win the Masters and the second South American to do so. Angel Cabrera became the first in 2009.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

Next Up In Golf

• Masters: Jon Rahm status for Augusta National should strike fear in players
• Viktor Hovland confirms a surprising Masters swing coach change
• Masters: Fred Couples fires Tiger Woods warning shot after practice round
• Masters: Scottie Scheffler approach to Augusta National will inspire golf fans
• Masters 2024: Tiger Woods aside, here are Top 10 pairings at Augusta National
• Tiger Woods says when not if Rory McIlroy squashes Masters demon, earns Grand Slam

Loading comments...

Sign up for the newsletter sign up for the playing through daily roundup newsletter, thanks for signing up.

Check your inbox for a welcome email.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.

The First Look: Masters Tournament

The First Look

Change Text Size

It's time for the first major championship of the PGA TOUR season.

Augusta National is primed and ready for the 2024 Masters Tournament after a fabulous finish to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the wonderful Drive, Chip & Putt National Final.

Scottie Scheffler recently added a second PLAYERS Championship to his resume. Can the defending champ do the same at the Masters? He is the unquestioned No. 1 player in the world right now, but he will have plenty of challengers.

Here's everything you need to know as the TOUR returns to Augusta.

NOTABLE INVITES AND AMATEURS: Fred Ridley, the chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, extended three special invitations for 2024 to Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen , Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann . Olesen, who holds dual DP World Tour and PGA TOUR membership, has won three years in a row on the DP World Tour and finished T6 in his Masters debut in 2013. Hisatsune was last year’s Rookie of the Year on the DP World Tour and has made seven of 10 cuts on the PGA TOUR this season. This will be his Masters debut. Niemann will be playing his fifth Masters… World No. 1 amateur Christo Lamprecht of South Africa headlines the amateur contingent. Lamprecht, who is in the field as the reigning British Amateur champion, made headlines by holding the first-round lead at The Open. Lamprecht also is No. 2 in PGA TOUR University. The other amateurs in the Masters are Santiago de la Fuente of Mexico (the Latin America Amateur Championship winner), Neal Shipley of the United States (U.S. Amateur finalist), Australia’s Jasper Stubbs (Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner) and Stewart Hagestad (U.S. Mid-Amateur champion). All of the amateurs except Hagestad are making their Masters debut. Hagestad is playing for a third time; he was the low amateur in 2017.

SIGNATURE EVENT STORYLINES: The Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 for the RBC Heritage will be finalized this week. Though the Masters does not count towards the Aon Swing 5, it could change if Peter Malnati or Thomas Detry are bumped from the Aon Next 10 this week. Malnati and Detry would move into the Aon Swing 5 if they fall out of the Aon Next 10. Click here for the full standings.

COMCAST BUSINESS TOUR TOP 10 UPDATES: Ludvig Åberg and Chris Kirk swapped spots in the TOUR TOP 10 after the Valero Texas Open, with Aberg now at No. 8 and Kirk at No. 9. The rest of the TOUR TOP 10 remained the same… Akshay Bhatia jumped from No. 55 to No. 12 in the standings after his victory and is within shouting distance of the TOUR TOP 10 for the first time… Denny McCarthy , who Bhatia topped in a playoff in San Antonio, moved from No. 85 to No. 19.

FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 750 FedExCup points.

COURSE: Augusta National Golf Club, par 72, 7,555 yards. After multiple changes in 2022 and 2023, there was just one update for 2024, as the par-5 second was lengthened by 10 yards. Over the past three Masters, the second hole played as the easiest each year.

Rory McIlroy, in his pre-tournament press conference at the Valero Texas Open, also mentioned there were changes to the greens on Nos. 2, 4 and 6.

“There's like a back middle hole location on two, there's a slightly bigger area in there where they can sort of move that around a little bit," he said. "On four they've sort of made the back right section a little bit bigger for an extra pin position there. And then six is different, like the top right plateau is definitely bigger and then they've flattened out a section in the back left to maybe have an extra hole location there, too."

72-HOLE RECORD: 268, Dustin Johnson (2020)

18-HOLE RECORD: 63, Nick Price (third round, 1986) and Greg Norman (first round, 1996)

LAST TIME: Jon Rahm won the green jacket in a come-from-behind triumph on a marathon final day at Augusta National. Rahm was four shots back of the leader, Brooks Koepka, to start Sunday and had to play 30 holes due to weather knocking out much of Saturday’s third round. Rahm shot a final-round 69 to win by four over Koepka and Phil Mickelson. Jordan Spieth and Russell Henley finished tied for fourth, along with Patrick Reed.

HOW TO FOLLOW:

Television :

• Thursday-Friday: 3-7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Saturday: 3-7 p.m. (CBS)
• Sunday: 2-7 p.m. (CBS)
• Thursday-Sunday: 2 p.m. until play is complete (Masters Radio; SiriusXM 92)

Stream via Masters.com (and Paramount+, ESPN+, CBS Sports App); choose from:

• On the range
• Hole Nos. 4-6
• Featured Groups coverage
• Amen Corner
• Hole Nos. 15-16

Note: Augusta National, which owns and operates the Masters Tournament, controls all digital streaming and broadcast rights to this event. PGA TOUR LIVE coverage will resume next week at RBC Heritage.

‘You sh**ting me?’: Irony in golf farce; cracks show as $900m lie exposed - Burning Qs

The gates to golf’s utopian fields are open once more with Augusta welcoming the biggest stars of the PGA Tour, and LIV Golf, for the Masters.

This year’s first major will be welcome relief from the partisan ramblings and posturing that still emanate from the game’s never-ending merger negotiations.

Even so, some harsh truths about golf’s great, multi-billion dollar mess will linger in the shadows of the Georgian pines.

These are the burning questions ahead of this week’s Masters Tournament.

Watch every round of The Masters LIVE & Exclusive on Fox Sports, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

TEE TIMES: Day in blockbuster Woods group; ‘troll job of the century’ revealed

MASTERS ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know

‘YOU SH**ING ME?’: GOLF NIGHTMARE THAT JUST WON’T END

Players from both sides of golf’s great divide almost unanimously agree on one thing this week: The game needs to finally unite.

Exhausted fans could be forgiven for almost choking on their Pimento sandwiches at Augusta as each player speaks of fixing the divide they’ve created.

At least the best players in the world will all be in one spot this week.

But that we still only see such an event four times a year – nearly two years since LIV Golf’s inaugural tournament – boggles the mind.

A framework agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s Saudi paymasters feels a thing of the distant past. The self-imposed December 31 deadline to ratify the deal? Utterly meaningless. Finalising a multi-billion dollar agreement with US investors? Not enough, only because there’s more to be had.

And so now we stand here; another majors cycle is upon us and a deal to unite golf still not forthcoming. It’s sure to infuriate the masses.

“I’m like a lot of people in that I’m like, “are you guys shitting me?” Fire Pit Podcast host Mat Ginella said ahead of the Masters.

“Have you guys not figured this out yet? Do something. Do anything other than point fingers, look confused, turn on each other. Figure it out.”

Ginella’s words capture the general mood of golf fans in 2024.

Painted grass, banned words and $2 sandwiches: Inside weird world of The Masters

ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know about the 2024 Masters

Cries for unity on either side of the ledger feel at best ironic and at worst utterly disingenuous.

LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau recently said: “We can’t keep going in this direction. It needs to happen fast ... too many people are losing interest.”

DeChambeau pocketed a reported A$190m to join LIV Golf — so it’s little wonder that his comments were met with some scoffs.

“Adlai Stevenson described Richard Nixon as the kind of man who would cut down a tree then mount the stump to deliver a speech on conservation,” Eamonn Lynch wrote in his Golfweek column. “So one wonders what he’d say of Bryson DeChambeau, one of the arsonists who set golf’s house on fire and who is now complaining that others aren’t moving quickly enough to extinguish the blaze.

“(DeChambeau) made a decision to cleave the sport for the sole purpose of personal enrichment, and his new-found enthusiasm for a peace agreement is a shameless effort to have others insulate him from the consequences of that decision.”

LIV Golf stars are indeed responsible for this “disruption phase” — Phil Mickelson’s words, not ours — in the first place.

But PGA Tour players are not without a case of their own to answer. Select members have retaliated to LIV Golf in such a way that made the task of unification harder than ever, even if it ultimately earnt them just financial rewards.

Sure, we can’t ignore the bottomless pit of Saudi money, and the model that exploited the PGA Tour’s shortcomings, that split golf in two in the first place. But no divide would exist without the mutual player greed that sparked, and now sustains, it.

A glass-half-full approach, however, would be to say, ‘at least we still have the majors’.

Golf author Alan Shipnuck describes this year’s Masters as “welcome respite” from the will-they-or-won’t-they discussion that has swallowed the game whole.

Even if for only four days, golf itself will become a focal point.

Amen (Corner) to that.

But the combustible nature of what’s bubbling in the background means we’re never far away from another escalation in the golf war.

Shipnuck added that this week also serves as a stark reminder that, for all the beauty of the majors, there’s mess elsewhere that must be solved for the sake of both parties.

“The majors pulsate with that tension,” Shipnuck said on the Fire Pit podcast. “They become more major, they have more meaning.

“It also throws into sharp (focus) that the events that matter are not on the PGA Tour or on LIV Golf. There are these other things (majors). And that’s another structural problem for the game.

“Thank god the Masters is here, all these background issues will subside for four days … but who wins and who loses takes on different shades of meaning. It’s a fascinating moment.”

MORE COVERAGE

‘Tough to beat’: Smith resurgence looms; why ex-champ can‘t be ignored — Every Aussie at Masters

Jailed ex-champ faces fresh Masters exile after remarkable fall from grace, prison release

How ‘thousands of rounds’ on PlayStation has Aussie world No.335 ready for Masters ‘dream’

WAS RAHM SOLD A $900M LIE?

No one symbolises golf’s player-led problem in 2024 more than the Masters’ defending champion, Jon Rahm.

LIV Golf had many naysayers in its infancy, but few struck it down harder publicly than Rahm who dismissed the rebel tour for its lack of prestige, and 54-hole format.

Awkward that he then became its biggest-ever signing less than two years later. But, then again, he’ll make a reported A$900m to get over that.

But it hasn’t taken long for Rahm, now just five tournaments into his LIV Golf switch, to show a glimmer of remorse.

While LIV Golf recruits have spent nearly two years toeing the party line and waxing lyrical about its format, Rahm this week called for the Saudi-backed circuit to move to traditional 72-hole tournaments.

“If there ever was a way where LIV could go to 72 holes, I think it would help all of this argument a lot,” Rahm told the BBC. “The closer I think we can get LIV Golf to some other things the better. I think it would be for some kind of unification to feed into a world tour or something like that.

“I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I definitely wouldn’t mind going back to 72 holes.”

In a separate conference call after releasing his Champions Dinner menu, Rahm made no secret of how much he misses playing a number of events on the PGA Tour.

“I’m not going to lie; for everybody who said this would be easy, some things have been, but not being able to defend some titles that mean a lot to me hasn’t,” he said.

“I love Palm Springs. I’ve been able to win twice there. Riviera is about as charismatic of a golf course as we have. It’s definitely a week that it’s fantastic for a lot of us, and it’s a fan and player favourite. Not being there was difficult.

“I still watched the broadcast. I still watch golf because I love watching it, but it’s hard.

“It was hard not to be at the Phoenix Open at the end of February, and it was hard not to be at Hawaii because it’s another tournament that my family enjoys and I’ve done fantastic on.”

That’s four PGA Tour events since early January Rahm misses. Certainly no small number.

That said, it will be hard for many to find sympathy for Rahm given the fuel his switch to LIV Golf handed PIF in merger negotiations.

Rahm’s move came at a time that a deal was meant to be on the verge of being finalised. All that has happened since, however, is a sustained standoff. The PGA Tour even went elsewhere and struck a separate, lucrative partnership with the Strategic Sports Group to muddy the waters further.

Former pro and golf analyst Brandel Chamblee says that Rahm’s comments speak to a player who thought he was going to be the agent of change, but only ended up as a pawn within the wider battle.

“He sounds like he was misled. Like his departure was going to be the tipping point. It turns out it wasn’t at all,” Chamblee said on the Golf Channel.

“He went from being viewed as his own man to being somebody that can be bought.”

He added: “Sounds to me, reading between the lines, he thought his movement there was the domino and it would lead to this coming together of the different factions.

“I think if anything, it’s brought them further apart. I don’t see them coming together any time soon.”

This was effectively confirmed by Rahm on Tuesday when he fronted the press at Augusta.

“I understood that it could be, what I hoped, a step towards some kind of agreement, yes. Or more of an agreement or expedited agreement,” he said.

“ I would hope it would be something that would help expedite that process. But at the end of the day, I still did what I thought was best for myself.

“I still love the PGA Tour, and I still hope everything the best, and I still hope that at some point I can compete there again.”

IS THIS THE MOST OPEN MASTERS EVER …

The poor form of many of the world’s top-ranked golfers, and the noise surrounding golf’s protracted merger talks, can no longer be considered a coincidence.

Seven of the world’s top 10 golfers are winless this year, while there has been an avalanche of shock results from underdogs.

For example, amateur Nick Dunlap became the first amateur since 1991 to win a PGA Tour title this year when he clinched the American Express.

Peter Malnati had only won once on the PGA Tour since turning pro in 2009 before he took out this year’s Valspar Championship in a teary triumph.

Outside of world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who has won twice, the game’s big guns have been largely out of form.

Patrick Cantlay, now the lead player director on the PGA Tour policy board, has only one top-10 finish this year. He’s also seen his ‘strokes gained’ stat – the PGA Tour’s main metric for comparing players – blow out by 1.77 strokes.

Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, Tommy Fleetwood and Collin Morikawa have all had their figures decline by more than 1.40 strokes.

Keegan Bradley and Rory McIlroy are also worse off this year with 0.84 and 0.58 declines respectively.

There are some other factors at play. For example, McIlroy is undergoing some swing finetuning with new coach Butch Harmon, and others are chasing distance.

But the one factor that unites the top players and their struggles is the disturbance outside of the ropes.

“I think there’s just an epidemic of distraction on the PGA Tour,” Chamblee said.

“When you think what about they’re dealing with, I think they’re obsessed with what they’re entitled to, they’re negotiating, instead of being obsessed with what it takes to win titles.”

Chamblee offered no sympathy, however.

“When you treat the game as transactional, which I think so many of the best players in the world are doing … I think that just hinders your ability to play at highest level.

“They’re being robbed of their best games and fans are being robbed of the stars. I think they need to rediscover the reason to pursue the highest level, and it’s not money.”

He added: “I think if Scottie (Scheffler) is a bit off his game it sets up for the most wide open Masters you can imagine.”

Meanwhile, fellow Golf Channel analyst Johnson Wagner said it’s not just distractions infecting the big stars, but also complacency.

“Look back to Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, that generation – they had to go out and win to pay the bills,” he said.

“Now, playing no-cut signature events, and maybe there’s a bit of complacency now that they can go out and play decent, make a ton of money, and go to the next week.”

… OR WILL ONE FREAK ANNIHILATE FIELD – IF NOT HAUNTED BY TWO-FOOT ABYSS?

This year’s Masters is only wide open if one man lets it be.

That man is Scheffler who is in the Tiger realm with his ball-striking matching it with the all-time greats.

Already a Masters champion and world No.1, Scheffler is taking his greatness to a scary new level, as evidenced by wins this year at the Arnold Palmer and Players Championship.

It’s widely believed a second green jacket has his name on it, should he keep it together between the ears.

Scheffler is hitting an absurd 76.1 per cent of greens in regulation this year, which is the highest season total since the PGA Tour started recording the stat.

Just as incredible is his tenacity – Scheffler is bouncing back from a bogey with a birdie 50 per cent of the time this season.

The big question mark that lingers, however, surrounds his putting.

For years, Scheffler’s ascendancy has come with the asterisk around his putting, which has often ranked below average on the PGA Tour.

It’s true that his putting numbers have been made to look worse by the fact that he hits the green in regulation more than anyone. More GIRs simply means more putts are required.

That said, there was no denying his greater tendency for more three putts, and yippy strokes from close range.

Everything at least appeared to be changing early this season when, at the Arnold Palmer, his putter turned red-hot. Ridiculously, he sunk every putt inside 15 feet over the weekend.

If Scheffler learnt how to putt like he ball-struck, it was game over for everyone.

“We talked last year about how great and historic (Scheffler’s rise) was, compared it to mid-2000s Tiger Woods. He’s getting better and it should be scary for everyone in this field,” Wagner said.

In Houston last month, however, Scheffler missed a putt from inside two feet, ending his 28-round streak of playing under-par.

Sometimes, those final two feet can look like the great abyss, even to the game’s best.

While the miss hardly means he’s back to where he started, it’s clear that the chapter on Scheffler’s putting woes is far from over.

Meanwhile, the super slick nature of Augusta’s greens will only exacerbate any doubt with the flat stick.

The good news for Scheffler is that the rest of his game leads the field by so far that he merely needs to putt respectably, not well, to win the green jacket again, according to Chamblee.

Chamblee said that Scheffler can afford 116 putts – or 1.6 a hole – and still win the Masters.

“Last year he led in GIR and had 127 putts, the worst in the field. They’re correlated, but … if he putts good, I can see him winning by eight or ten shots.”

For context, Denny McCarthy still lost in a playoff last weekend at the Texas Open having only had 91 putts for the tournament.

“It’s mind-boggling to think you’re talking 15 more putts than a guy who was in contention last week,” Wagner said of Chamblee’s prediction.

Which golfer won the most PGA Tour events in a row in history?

Scottie Scheffler is vying to win his third consecutive start at the 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open, which would put him in incredibly rare company in the history of the PGA Tour.

In the history of the PGA Tour, there have only been six streaks of five or more consecutive PGA Tour wins. The longest still belongs to Byron Nelson, who won an incredible (and unlikely to be ever matched) 11 PGA Tour events in a row from March 11 - Aug. 4, 1945, including the 1945 PGA Championship.

Nelson actually won a 12th event in the stretch, but it wasn't considered an official PGA Tour win because the purse was below the Tour's standards at the time.

Nelson's streak also happened during the closing stretch of World War II, when a number of professionals at the time were serving in the military. That still doesn't diminish winning 11 times in a row on the PGA Tour.

Tiger Woods holds the second-longest run of PGA Tour wins in a row. He won seven consecutive starts from July 23, 2006 through Jan. 28, 2007, including wins in the 2006 Open Championship, which started the streak, and the 2006 PGA Championship.

Woods also had a streak of six consecutive PGA Tour wins from the summer of 1999 to February 2000. And that was before he started winning all four majors in a row, in what is now known as the Tiger Slam and ended in him winning the 2001 Masters Tournament.

Ben Hogan is the only other golfer in the history of the PGA Tour to have a winning streak of at least five tournaments. He won five in a row in 1953, five years after winning six in a row in 1948.

Most wins in a row in PGA Tour history

• 11 -- Byron Nelson (March 11, 1945 - Aug. 4, 1945)
• 7 -- Tiger Woods (July 23, 2006 - Jan. 28, 2007)
• 6 -- Ben Hogan (June 12, 1948 - Aug. 22, 1948)
• 6 -- Tiger Woods (Aug. 29, 1999 - Feb. 6, 2000)
• 5 -- Ben Hogan (April 12, 1953 - July 10, 1953)
• 5 -- Tiger Woods (Sept. 9, 2007 to March 16, 2008)

The post Which golfer won the most PGA Tour events in a row in history? first appeared on Golf News Net: What you need to know about golf .

Copyright, Golf News Net. All rights reserved.

• CBSSports.com
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• CBS Sports Home
• Masters Live
• Champions League
• Motor Sports
• High School
• Horse Racing 

Men's Brackets

Women's Brackets

Fantasy Baseball

Fantasy football, football pick'em, college pick'em, fantasy basketball, fantasy hockey, franchise games, 24/7 sports news network.

• CBS Sports Golazo Network
• PGA Tour on CBS
• UEFA Champions League
• UEFA Europa League
• Italian Serie A
• Watch CBS Sports Network
• TV Shows & Listings

The Early Edge

A Daily SportsLine Betting Podcast

With the First Pick

NFL Draft is coming up!

• Podcasts Home
• Eye On College Basketball
• The First Cut Golf
• NFL Pick Six
• Cover 3 College Football
• Fantasy Football Today
• My Teams Organize / See All Teams Help Account Settings Log Out

2024 Masters odds, picks, golf predictions: Tiger Woods projection from same model that hit last two winners

Tiger woods, an 82-time pga tour champion, is expected to be part of the 2024 masters field at augusta national golf club.

Nobody has won in their Masters debut at Augusta National Golf Club since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 and there will be plenty names looking to defy the odds at the 2024 Masters beginning on Thursday. Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Aberg, Nick Dunlap and Jake Knapp have all captured their first career PGA Tour victories in the last calendar year and now they'll all be making their Masters debut as a result. Clark is already a major champion and is priced at 31-1 in the 2024 Masters odds, while Aberg made the European Ryder Cup less than four months after turning professional and is priced at 24-1.

Meanwhile, Knapp (120-1) and Dunlap (190-1) are longshots while five-time green jacket winner Tiger Woods (100-1) is also a longshot. Scottie Scheffler is the 13-4 favorite in the 2024 Masters outrights. Before locking in your 2024 Masters picks or Tiger Woods props, be sure to see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine .

SportsLine's proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, has been red-hot since the PGA Tour resumed in June 2020. In fact, the model is up nearly $9,500 on its best bets since the restart, nailing tournament after tournament.

McClure's model predicted Scottie Scheffler would finish on top of the leaderboard at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship this season. McClure also included Hideki Matsuyama in his best bets to win the 2024 Genesis Invitational. That bet hit at +9000, and for the entire tournament, McClure's best bets returned nearly $1,000.

The model also predicted Jon Rahm would be victorious at the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express. At the 2023 Masters, the model was all over Rahm's second career major victory heading into the weekend. Rahm was two strokes off the lead heading into the third round, but the model still projected him as the winner. It was the second straight Masters win for the model, which also nailed Scheffler winning in 2022.

In addition, McClure's best bets included Nick Taylor (70-1) winning the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, Jason Day (17-1) winning outright at the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson, and Rickie Fowler (14-1) finishing on top of the leaderboard at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic. 

This same model has also nailed a whopping 10 majors entering the weekend. Anyone who has followed it has seen massive returns. 

Now that the Masters 2024 field is set, SportsLine simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard.

Top 2024 Masters predictions 

One major surprise the model is calling for at the 2024 Masters: Ludvig Aberg, a 25-1 longshot, makes a strong run at the title. He's a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. Aberg's rise to prominence has been rapid, as the former Texas Tech star turned professional in June before the RBC Canadian Open and found himself helping the European Ryder Cup team to victory by late-September.

Aberg earned his spot on the European team with a win at the 2023 Omega European Masters and then he followed up on his Ryder Cup success by scoring his first PGA Tour win at the 2023 RSM Classic. Aberg added a runner-up finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and then was eighth at The Players Championship to move up to No. 9 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

The model has also examined where Tiger Woods finishes. Jack Nicklaus is still the oldest golfer to win the Masters, posting a historic win at age 46 in 1986. Woods, who is currently 48 years old, could break that record while tying Nicklaus for the most Masters victories of all-time (six) this week.

He made the cut at Augusta National for the 23rd consecutive time last year before having to withdraw after seven holes in the third round. Woods has struggled to complete four rounds in PGA Tour events in recent years, and this is one of the most difficult courses to walk in the country. However, the five-time Masters champion can never be counted out, especially after his surprising win in 2019.  The model just locked in its Tiger Woods Masters picks here .

How to make 2024 Masters picks

The model is also targeting six golfers with Masters odds of 20-1 or longer to make a strong run at the title. Anyone who backs these longshots could hit it big. You can only see the model's PGA picks here .

Who will win the 2024 Masters, which longshots will stun the golfing world, and where will Tiger Woods finish? Check out the Masters 2024 odds below, then visit SportsLine to see the projected Masters leaderboard, all from the model that's nailed 10 golf majors, including the last two Masters winners .

2024 Masters odds, golfers, field

See the full Masters picks, best bets, and predictions here .

Scottie Scheffler +325 Rory McIlroy +1000 Brooks Koepka +1100 Jon Rahm +1200 Wyndham Clark +1500 Xander Schauffele +1800 Will Zalatoris +2000 Hideki Matsuyama +2000 Jordan Spieth +2000 Viktor Holland +2200 Ludvig Aberg +2500 Joaquin Niemann +2500 Cameron Smith +2800 Justin Thomas +2800 Patrick Cantlay +2800 Collin Morikawa +3000 Dustin Johnson +3300 Tony Finau +3500 Bryson DeChambeau +3500 Brian Harman +3500 Shane Lowry +4000 Max Homa +4000 Cameron Young +4000 Jason Day +4000 Matt Fitzpatrick +4000 Min Woo Lee +5000 Sam Burns +5000 Sahith Theegala +5000 Tommy Fleetwood +5500 Sergio Garcio +6000 Tyrrell Hatton +6000 Byeong-hun An +6500 Chris Kirk +7000 Tom Kim +7000 Russell Henley +7000 Patrick Reed +7000 Rickie Fowler +7500 Akshay Bhatia +7500 Corey Conners +7500 Sungjae Im +7500 Si Woo Kim +8000 Denny McCarthy +9000 Adam Scott +9000 Justin Rose +9000 Phil Mickelson +10000 Tiger Woods +10000 Stephen Jaeger +12500 Sepp Straka +12500 Nick Taylor +12500 Erik Van Rooyen +15000 Eric Cole +15000 Adrian Meronk +15000 Jake Knapp +15000 Keegan Bradley +15000 Matthieu Pavon +15000 Nicolai Hojgaard +15000 J.T. Poston +15000 Emiliano Grillo +15000 Harris English +15000 Thorbjörn Olesen +17500 Lucas Glover +17500 Luke List +17500 Adam Hadwin +17500 Taylor Moore +20000 Ryan Fox +20000 Kurt Kitayama +20000 Bubba Watson +20000 Nick Dunlap +20000 Peter Malnati +20000 Cam Davis +20000 Austin Eckroat +22500 Ryo Hisatsune +25000 Lee Hodges +27500 Adan Schenk +30000 Danny Willett +35000 Charl Schwartzel +35000 Gary Woodland +50000 Grayson Murray +50000 Camilo Villegas +50000 Zach Johnson +75000 Christo Lamprecht +75000 Fred Couples +100000 Mike Weir +100000 Neal Shipley +150000 Vijay Singh +150000 Stewart Hagestad +150000 Jasper Stubbs +200000 Jose Maria Olazabal +200000 Santiago de la Fuente +250000

Our Latest Golf Stories

2024 Masters prop picks, bets, parlay, odds

Cbs sports staff • 3 min read.

2024 Masters best bets, props, expert picks

2024 masters expert picks, odds, best bets, field, cbs sports staff • 4 min read, 2024 masters one and done picks, dfs, fantasy lineups, cbs sports staff • 5 min read.

2024 Masters odds, computer picks, bets, field

How to watch Round 1 featured groups at Masters

Patrick mcdonald • 1 min read, share video.

2024 Masters odds, picks, Tiger Woods predictions

Expert picks, predictions, odds for Masters 2024

Ranking the field at Augusta 1-89

Scheffler's dominance leads storylines

Root for these golfers at 2024 Masters

Tee times, pairings set for Round 1 at the Masters

Masters odds: Scottie Scheffler still clear favorite

2024 Masters TV schedule, complete viewer's guide

Trends to help you pick a winner at 2024 Masters

Best ball-strikers get rewarded at the Masters