By Steve Walsh*
FOLLOWING Adam Scott’s Master Stroke, who’ll be the next to win a big one for us Aussies??
C’mon Aussie C’mon!
Who doesn’t love that chant?
Adam Scott’s 2013 Masters win was the most dramatic victory by any golfer in a major this year. With his awesome playoff win over Angel Cabrera, Scott became the 10th Australian golfer to win a major, and the first since Geoff Ogilvy way back in 2006. Peter Thompson, of course, with his five Open Championships, is the all-time leader in major victories by an Aussie, so Scotty has a long way to go to rise to the top of that list. Still, if he keeps his form at his current levels who knows how many he’ll bag throughout his career. C’mon Scotty!
Prior to his breakthrough playoff win, pretty much anyone with half a golf brain considered Scott the best golfer without a major. While there may be only one Australian (Jason Day) on that list now, there’s a ton of talent from down under teeing it up in every major.
Here’s a look at the Australians most likely to lift a major trophy next.
Jason Day
The Aussie most likely to next win a major, Jason Day, has come pretty close to victory on golf’s grandest stages lately. In 2013, Day notched three top-10s in the majors. In fact, J.D. has finished inside the top 10 in an incredible 70 percent of the majors he’s made the cut in. Victory can’t be far away for this Queensland native. We hope like the mighty maroons he wins one and then bowl’s the rest over for eight in a row!
Marc Leishman
Marc Leishman tied for fourth at the Masters this year, and although the 29-year-old missed the cut in 2013’s succeeding major, he finished tied for 12th at the PGA Championship—no small feat. With 16 of 23 cuts made on tour this year, Leishman is developing into a consistent player and one with the chops to raise major silver.
Matt Jones
Nearly a participant in the season-ending Tour Championship, Matt Jones had a fantastic 2013 golf season on the PGA Tour. Jones, who finished just outside the top 30 in the FedExCup points race, made the cut in 18 of 24 events and finished second at the Greenbrier Classic. Jones is one of our hottest golf prospects and everyone would love the see this likeable character lift holding a major at some stage.
John Senden
The man from Brisbane has teed it up in at least one major every year since 2002. Indeed, John Senden has finished inside the top 10 on two occasions, most recently at the U.S. Open in 2012. He competed in all four majors in 2013 and made the cut in three. Clearly, the 42-year-old is getting better with age.
Aaron Baddeley
Probably the most recent great Australian hope, Aaron Baddeley’s career thus far has been something of a disappointment. After leading the 2007 U.S. Open after three rounds, Badds infamously fired a final-round 80 to torpedo the best chance he’s had for a major win. Unfortunately, he hasn’t had a better chance since. Regardless, with his pure ballstriking, a return to form and a major win aren’t out of the question.
We can give a nod, too, to the best Australian golfers since Greg Norman, Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby. Although the two 42-year-olds haven’t been in the best form of their careers of late, there’s always the possibility of a major victory in the twilight of their respective careers.
* Hi, I’m Steve Walsh and I’m an avid golfer, jokester and all things in between.In fact, I love golf so much I run a business supplying awesome priced golf balls to golfers all round Australia. You can find them at Lost Golf Balls where we stock used golf balls at up to 70% off RRP. Follow all our updates at on Twitter through https://twitter.com/lostgolfballsAU or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LGBAustralia