UK Golfers Performance In The Majors

Updated: 559 Golf

There are 4 Major golf tournaments and they carry the most prestige, but how have UK players performed in these Major tournaments? We look at the history and highlights of the Golf Majors with a special focus on UK golfers.

UK Golfers Performance In The Majors
Nigel Skinner Blog Content Manager

Football Manager Expert and Political Betting Specialist across Exchange and Spread Betting Sites

How Well Have UK Golfers Performed At Major Tournaments

The four most prestigious events in Men’s professional golf are known as the Major Championships but just how well have the U.K. Golfers performed at:

  • The Masters Tournament.
  • U.S. Open.
  • The Open Championship. 
  • PGA Championship.

Some major championship moments will live long in the memory.

Sandy Lyle’s up and down from the fairway bunker to win The Masters in 1988, Ian Woosnam crouched down and pumping his fist on the 18th green three years later at Augusta National. 

Sandy Lyle

In 1996 Nick Faldo claimed his third green jacket and sixth major championship when Greg Norman blew a six-shot lead. 

Jean Van De Velde needed a double bogey down the last in the 128th Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999 but found the ‘Barry Burn’ and took seven allowing Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, who started ten shots back that Sunday, to win a three-man sudden-death play-off. 

Jean Van De Velde

Graeme McDowell benefited from a Dustin Johnson collapse at Pebble Beach to win the U.S. Open in 2010 and twelve months later fellow countryman Rory McIlroy lifted the same trophy when he recorded an eight-shot victory at Congressional Country Club to secure his maiden major championship. 

28 days later Darren Clarke strode down 18 saluting the Royal St George's crowd as he became the ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ lifting the Claret Jug to triumph in the 140th Open Championship. Northern Ireland was most definitely the ‘Major Capital of the World’ with three major victories in thirteen months. 

Darren Clarke

Since 2012, there have only been five U.K. major wins

Rory McIlroy has added two PGA Championships and an Open Championship to bring his tally to four and Englishmen Justin Rose and Danny Willett have both become major champions with victories at the 2013 U.S. Open and 2016 Masters Tournament respectively. 

Below we cover the Roll of Honour from 1945 to the present day and take a look at how the U.K. golfers have fared in the major championships dating back to 2010. 

If you think a UK golfer is due a major win or wish to follow golf tipsters please check out the golf tipping pages.


Majors Roll Of Honour For UK Golfers 1945 - Present

GolferThe MastersUS OpenThe OpenPGATotal
Nick Faldo (ENG)3
3
6
Rory Mcllroy (NI)
1124
Henry Cotton (ENG)

3
3
Tony Jacklin (ENG)
11
2
Sandy Lyle (SCO)1
1
2
Fred Daly (NI)

1
1
Max Faulkner (ENG)

1
1
Ian Woosnam (WAL)1


1
Paul Lawrie (SCO)

1
1
Graeme McDowell (NI)
1

1
Darren Clarke (NI)

1
1
Justin Rose (ENG)
1

1
Danny Willett (ENG)1


1

UK Majors Top Ten Finishes - 2010 - Present - The Masters

YearPlayerPlayerPlayerPlayerPlayer
2019None



2018Rory Mcllroy - Tied 5th



2017Justin Rose -  Tied 2ndPaul Casey - 6thRory Mcllroy - Tied 7th

2016Danny Willett -1stLee Westwood - Tied 2ndPaul Casey - Tied 4thMatthew Fitzpatrick - Tied 7thJustin Rose & Rory Mcllroy - Tied 10th
2015Justin Rose - Tied 2ndRory Mcllroy - 4th Paul Casey & Ian Poulter -Tied 6th

2014Lee Westwood - 7thRory Mcllroy - Tied 8th


2013Lee Westwood - Tied 8th



2012Lee Westwood - Tied 3rdIan Poulter -7thJustin Rose - Tied 8th

2011Luke Donald - Tied 4th



2010Lee Westwood -2nd Ian Poulter - Tied 10th



Summary:

In 2016 Danny Willett became the first British victor at Augusta National in 20 years with a three-shot triumph to claim the coveted green jacket. 

The Sheffield native closed with a final round of 67 to finish clear of Jordan Spieth and fellow countryman Lee Westwood. 

That runner-up finish for Lee Westwood was the Englishman’s sixth Top 10 in The Masters Tournament and he also finished second to Phil Mickelson back in 2010. 

Many will remember the American’s magical shot from the pine straw on the par 5 13th hole, 187 yards to clear Rae’s Creek, a 6-iron that will go down in history. 

Rory McIlroy has five Top 10’s at Augusta National, his best performance coming in 2015 when the Northern Irishman finished fourth. 

The four-time major winner blew a four-shot lead in 2011 with a final round of 80 and the 31-year-old still chases that elusive Masters win to complete the Career Grand Slam. 

Since 2007 Justin Rose has posted five Top 10’s at Augusta National, Paul Casey has recorded the same number dating back to 2004. 

Ian Poulter has only missed the cut once in his fourteen appearances, registering three Top 10 finishes in Georgia.


UK Major Top Ten Finishes - 2010 - Present - PGA Championship

YearCoursePlayerPlayerPlayerPlayer
2020TPC Harding ParkPaul Casey - Tied 2ndJustin Rose -9th

2019Bethpage BlackMatt Wallace - Tied 3rdRory Mcllroy - Tied 8th

2018Bellerive Country ClubTyrrell Hatton - Tied 10th


2017Quail Hollow Golf ClubJordan Smith - Tied 9th


2016Baltusrol Golf ClubTyrrell Hatton & Paul Casey - Tied 10th


2015Whistling StraitsJustin Rose - 4th


2014Valhalla Golf ClubRory Mcllroy - 1st


2013Oak Hill Country ClubRory Mcllroy - Tied 8th


2012Kiawah Island Golf ResortRory Mcllroy - 1stDavid Lynn -2ndJustin Rose & Ian Poulter - Tied 3rdJamie Donaldson - Tied 7th
2011Atlanta Athletic ClubLuke Donald & Lee Westwood - Tied 8th


2010Whistling StraitsRory Mcllroy - Tied 3rd



SUMMARY:

Two of Rory McIlroy’s four major victories have come in the PGA Championship, the Northern Irishman lifting the Wanamaker Trophy in 2012 and 2014. 

McIlroy won by eight strokes from Englishman David Lynn at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in 2012 and two years later held off Messrs Mickelson, Stenson, and Fowler to win by one shot at Valhalla Golf Club.

Justin Rose has recorded four Top 10’s in the major championship conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. 

Paul Casey was tied second alongside Dustin Johnson in the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park, the pair finished two shots behind winner Collin Morikawa in San Francisco.

High Wycombe’s Tyrrell Hatton has seven Top 25 finishes in his twenty-one major appearances and after winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, you feel the time is now for the five-time European Tour winner to take the next step up and become a major champion. 

Hatton registered Top 10’s at Baltusrol Golf Club and Bellerive Country Club over the last five years and is now amongst the top ten players in the Official World Golf Rankings.


UK Major Top Ten Finishes - 2010 - Present - US Open

YearCoursePlayerPlayerPlayer
2020Winged FootRory Mcllroy - Tied 8th

2019Pebble BeachJustin Rose - Tied 3rdRory Mcllroy - Tied 9th
2018Shinnecock HillsTommy Fleetwood - 2ndTyrrell Hatton - Tied 6thJustin Rose - Tied 10th
2017Erin HillsTommy Fleetwood - 4th

2016Oakmount Country ClubNone

2015Chambers BayRory Mcllroy - Tied 9th

2014Pinehurst No 2None

2013Merion Golf ClubJustin Rose - 1stLuke Donald - Tied 8th
2012Olympic Club Graeme McDowell - Tied 2nd

2011Congressional Country ClubRory Mcllroy - 1stLee Westwood - Tied 3rd
2010Pebble Beach Graeme McDowell  -1st


SUMMARY: 

We have seen three U.K. winners of the U.S. Open since 2010, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy going back to back for Northern Ireland at Pebble Beach and Congressional Country Club in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

 Two years later in Pennsylvania, Justin Rose held off Jason Day and Phil Mickelson to claim his maiden major championship by lifting the U.S. Open Trophy at Merion Golf Club.

Tommy Fleetwood posted consecutive Top 5 U.S. Open finishes in 2017 and 2018, the Southport resident carded a Sunday 63 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club to finish one shot behind American Brooks Koepka. 

The Englishman is amongst the very best in the game tee-to-green and you feel it’s only a matter of time before the five-time European Tour winner joins the illustrious list of major-championship winners.

Lee Westwood has 25 European Tour wins to his name and the U.S. Open was always a major many believed best suited his precision Ball Striking. 

His tee-to-green game coupled with accurate iron play has seen Westwood register 19 Top 10 finishes in major championships, five of these coming at the U.S. Open.

UK Major Top Ten Finishes - 2010 - Present - Open Championship

YearCoursePlayerPlayer
2019Royal PortrushTommy Fleetwood -2ndLee Westwood - Tied 4thTyrrell Hatton & Robert MacIntyre & Danny Willett - Tied 6th
2018CarnoustieRory Mcllroy & Justin Rose - Tied 2ndEddie Pepperell - Tied 6th
2017Royal Birkdale Rory Mcllroy - Tied 4th Matthew Southgate - Tied 6th
2016Royal Troon Tyrrell Hatton & Rory Mcllroy - Tied 5thAndrew Johnston - 8th
2015St AndrewsJustin Rose & Danny Willett - Tied 6th

2014Royal Liverpool Rory Mcllroy - 1stGraeme McDowell - Tied 9th
2013Muirfield Ian Poulter & Lee Westwood - Tied 3rd

2012Royal Lytham & St AnnesLuke Donald & Graeme McDowell  - Tied 5thIan Poulter - Tied 9th
2011Royal St GeorgesDarren Clarke - 1stSimon Dyson - Tied 9th
2010St AndrewsLee Westwood -2ndRory Mcllroy & Paul Casey - Tied 3rdRobert Rock - Tied 7th


SUMMARY: 

The Open Championship has seen two U.K. winners since St. Andrews hosted the 139th edition in 2010 with both Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy lifting the Claret Jug. 

Darren Clarke finished three shots clear of Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson at Royal St. George’s to became the first Northern Irishman to win The Open since Fred Daly in 1947, a career-defining moment for the man from Dungannon. 

Three years later, good friend and fellow countryman Rory McIlroy became the ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ at Hoylake, a 17 under par total seen him finish two shots clear of Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia at Royal Liverpool.

Major winners Justin Rose and Danny Willett have both posted a couple of Top 10 finishes in The Open Championship since 2015 and Tyrrell Hatton was tied 5th at Royal Troon in 2016 before finishing in a tie for 6th at Royal Portrush in 2019. 

That’s five Top 10’s for the Englishman in major championships and his career is trending in the right direction. 

47-year-old Lee Westwood has five Top 5 finishes in The Open Championship and the former world number one still has the game to contend for a title he would dearly love to win.

In 2013 Westwood took a two-shot lead into the final round at Muirfield before carding a Sunday 75 to finish four shots behind Phil Mickelson. 

The American birdied four of his last six holes to capture the Claret Jug, 

This was just a week after winning the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

43-year-old Mickelson followed in the footsteps of Darren Clarke (2011) and Ernie Els (2012) who both won The Open in their forties, perhaps Lee Westwood’s finest day is yet unknown and he gets that one moment in time.

Conclusion

Now you know which  UK golfers have performed well at the Majors you can consider your bets and tips on the forthcoming major championships. 

To add a tip on OLBG please visit the golf tips pages

To check the best bookmakers for your golf bets please visit the best bookmakers for golf betting.

Further reading on all things golf is available at the betting school via the golf betting advice article.

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