5 Top Players With Only One Major Golf Championship Win

The Masters Tournament is approaching next month, and the Major Championships take off in 2026 with more money in purses than ever before. That includes the eight $20 million Signature Events that draw smaller, elite fields of top golfers. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has held the top spot for more than 3.5 years, and he has won four major championships, including two Green Jackets at The Masters. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy is a five-time major winner, including the 2025 Masters. But who are notable top golfers who have won just one major championship?

The list is lengthy. I’ve added five top golfers below, including Hall of Famers who won just one major championship since 1986 – the year the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) points system debuted. I’ve added other one-time major championship winners below from the pre-1980s for reference and not to forget their great career triumphs.  

World Golf Hall of Fame Members (include an (*))

5. David Duval won 13 PGA Tour titles between 1997 and 2001, including his one major at The Open in 2001 at Royal Lytham & St Annes. In 1999, Duval won The Players Championship to move to No. 1 in the world rankings over the next four months, briefly taking it away from Tiger Woods. His rise from seven runner-up finishes between 1995 and 1997 to a dominant stretch at the top of the game reshaped PGA Tour betting odds and major championship futures, particularly during golf’s ultra-competitive late-1990s era. He added two more at the 1998 and 2001 Masters and another runner-up finish at the 2009 U.S. Open. 

4. Justin Rose has 13 career PGA Tour victories, including the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club. He’s still playing on the PGA Tour and won the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open at age 45 to reach No. 4 in the world golf rankings. The South African-born and England-raised gent turned pro at age 17 following his 4th place finish at The Open as an amateur. Rose then famously missed the cut in 21 consecutive professional starts to begin his pro career. Rose twice finished runner-up in his favorite major at The (British) Open, and three times a runner-up at The Masters, including in a playoff defeat to Rory McIlroy in 2025. Rose won the Olympic Gold Medal in 2016, the FedEx Cup in 2018, and has 27 professional wins worldwide. Rose’s career awards and contributions to golf also include the prestigious Payne Stewart Award in 2021 for his character, sportsmanship, charitable giving, and respect for the game’s traditions. 

3. Jim Furyk won 17 PGA Tour titles, including the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields. The 2010 FedEx Cup Champion and 2010 PGA Tour Player of the Year had a run of 440 weeks across 17 years, ranked in the top 10 of the OWGR, and reached No. 2 in the world in 2006. Furky finished 2nd in the 2013 PGA Championship and had two top 5 finishes at The Masters and four top 5’s at The Open. At age 48, Furyk finished 2nd behind Rory McIlroy at the 2019 Players Championship. Furyk has also served as captain of the American Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams. 

2. Fred Couples * won the 1992 Masters and set a record with 23 consecutive made cuts at Augusta. He also became the oldest player to make the cut at age 63 during the 2023 Masters. ‘Boom Boom’ won two Players Championships among his 15 PGA Tour titles and 64 worldwide professional wins. Couples had 25 top 10 finishes in major championships, including 12 top 5’s. A most popular player during his era, Couples was a two-time PGA Tour Player of the Year, including in 1992 when he held the world No. 1 ranking for four months. Freddy posted 25 top 10 finishes in Majors (10 in The Open), including 12 top 5’s at The Masters.   

1. Davis Love * – The North Carolina native won 21 PGA Tour titles between 1987 and 2015 with 37 professional victories worldwide. Love’s one major title win was at the 1997 PGA Championship with the famous rainbow over the 18th green at Winged Foot. A prominent and most respected player, sportsman, and advocate of golf for decades, Love is also a two-time Ryder Cup captain. He won two Players Championships and was a five-time winner of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town. He was also runner-up 30 times on Tour, including the 1996 U.S. Open, and the 1995 and 1999 Masters. The 1986 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year also won the prestigious Payne Stewart Award in 2008. The longtime Sea Island, Georgia, resident is the host of the RSM Classic at Sea Island Golf Club. 

Other notable one-win major winners, including pre-1985

Gene Littler – 1961 U.S. Open winner won 29 PGA Tour events and had 10 top 5 finishes in major championships overall, including his lone major. 

Ken Venturi – 1964 U.S. Open winner, among 14 PGA Tour titles, with injuries derailing his career. A 2-time runner-up at The Masters is included in his 10 top 10 finishes in majors. 

Tom Weiskopf – 1973 Open Championship winner, among his five wins that year and 16 PGA Tour wins overall. Four times a bridesmaid at The Masters among his eight 2nd and 3rd place finishes in major championships.

Lanny Watkins – 1977 PGA Championship among his 21 PGA Tour victories, with eight top 3 finishes in majors. 

Paul Azinger gets mentioned as a best friend of the late Payne Stewart. Zinger won the 1993 PGA Championship among his 12 PGA Tour titles. He had 10 top 10 finishes in majors, including six top 5’s among every major, with a runner-up in the 1987 Open Championship and 1988 PGA Championship. 

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