Best player without a major win: Henrik Stenson

text size

Greenwood/Getty Images

Henrik Stenson's 66 was one of the best closing rounds in THE PLAYERS Championship history.

Who is the best active golfer who has yet to break through with a major victory? We asked eight PGATOUR.COM writers to each pick a different player and make the argument why that player deserves (or perhaps is stuck with) the label as best player without a major. Read the argument below and click here to see the arguments for seven other players.
BEST PLAYERS WITHOUT A MAJOR: Previous | Next

He's still a young guy in terms of golf, so it's a little premature to start hanging labels off his broad Swedish shoulders, but Henrik Stenson is the best player on the planet who has yet to win a major championship.

Stenson is only 33 and has a solid, if not spectacular record in major championships. His best season was in 2008 when he tied for third at the Open Championship and tied for fourth at the PGA Championship.

He's been a contender again this year. He won THE PLAYERS Championship, finished ninth at the U.S. Open and tied for 13th at the Open Championship. Too bad he's better remembered for stripping to his skivvies to hit a shot at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship. Being among the TOUR leaders in GIR is more important than being leader in shots taken in BVDs.

Stenson has that steely quality that makes him tougher under pressure. Before winning THE PLAYERS this year he had three other top-25s, two of them top-10s, at TPC Sawgrass. He's come up big at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, too, winning in 2007 and finishing third in 2008. He can obviously play at the highest level.

Most impressive was his victory in THE PLAYERS, though. With the field milling around during the final round, Stenson put his foot on the gas and kept it there the rest of the day, shooting a 66. He turned a close tournament into a rout, winning by four shots.

He's currently winless in 18 major championship appearances, but don't expect him to finish his career that way.