Augusta fever is in the air and I’m all for it. The Masters is one of three events that commands the attention of not only the golfing world, but the broader sporting community (the other two being the Open and the Ryder Cup).
In the spirit of all things Mastery, I have decided to compile my personal list of the five best players to never attain Augusta glory. These are great players who couldn’t get past arguably the most iconic boss in the entire game (forgive my gaming analogy).
5. Johnny Miller
Johnny Miller, like the late Tom Weiskopf, is one of the great unsung heroes of golf’s 70’s boom. Miller was arguably the most consistent player on tour in the early to mid-70’s, winning 18 of his 25 PGA Tour titles between 1971 and 1976. But despite being arguably the purest ball-striker in his heyday, Miller had that Norman-equse ability to press the self-destruct button on major Sundays. And three T2 finishes at Augusta speak to his lack of killer instinct. He led with four holes to play in 1971, only to casually bogey 16 and 18. He couldn’t catch the Golden Bear in 78 (this despite shooting weekend rounds of 65 and 66). In terms of sheer golfing talent, Miller is one player who surely deserved a snug-fitting Green Jacket.
4. Brooks Koepka
The only active player on this list, five-time major winner Brooks Koepka could very easily capture that elusive Green Jacket before the end of his playing career. Koepka is an assassin come major time, putting aside indifferent tour form to win five majors. He brought serious sigma energy to the major championship roster, winning four out of eight majors between the 2017 US Open and 2019 PGA Championship. But he hasn’t quite been able to crack the Augusta code, finishing T2 in Tiger’s 2019 comeback win before letting a Sunday lead slip against Rahm in 2023. Can Kopeka rediscover his juice now that his mercenary LIV escapade is over? It remains to be seen.
3. Greg Norman
For a man who spent a whopping 330 weeks as World No.1, Greg Norman’s career is largely thought of in terms of ‘what might have been’. How is it that a man with his talent could only win two major titles? But he did, and Augusta was the home of many of his greatest heartbreaks. Norman had eight top-five finishes at Augusta without claiming a jacket. IN 1986, he horribly pushed his approach on the 18th to put an end to his chances. He followed that up by being on the receiving end of Larry Mize’s sensational chip-in in 1987. But he will forever be remembered for throwing away a six-stroke lead against Faldo in 1996, falling to his knees in anguish as his eagle chip-in attempt somehow conspired to miss at the 15th. I don’t think you need to be Freud to surmise that all his major heartbreaks led to a certain disenchantment with the sport. That may have informed his attempts to dismantle the traditional golfing establishment during his time with LIV (armchair psychology at its finest).
2. Ernie Els
Before putting yips put a premature end to his great career, Ernie Els was one of the key figures in the world game. The ‘Big Easy’ was one of many who got swallowed up in Tiger-Mania. Still, four major titles and 79 worldwide wins speak to his languid greatness. But how on earth did Els, with his million-dollar swing and preternatural scrambling skills, fail to capture golf’s most famous jacket? Els picked up five straight top-ten finishes between 2000-2004, finishing solo 2nd behind Woods in 2000 and Mickelson in 2004. That Mickelson one will always be the hardest for South African golfing enthusiasts to swallow. Els and Mickelson enjoyed a wonderful duel that fateful Sunday, with Els briefly leading by three shots after eagle at the 13th. Mickelson clawed his way back into proceedings and held a remarkable 18-footer on the final hole to win his first major championship. Els was left looking somewhat ridiculous, chomping on an apple while Mickelson waltzed to glory on the 18th.
1. Lee Trevino
Beating ‘The Big Easy’ by a sliver is Supermex himself, Lee Trevino. One of the most beloved players in the history of the sport, Trevino enjoyed a stellar career playing in an era of giants. The charismatic Trevino won six majors spanning from the late 60’s to the mid 80’s, holding his own against the likes of Nicklaus, Player and Palmer. But he owned an inexplicably awful record at Augusta National, picking up just two top-10 finishes in 20 appearances (he finished T10 in both). He controversially opted to boycott the event in 1970, 71 and 74 (decisions that he would later regret). Trevino was a natural fader who just couldn’t get to grips with this dog-legged paradise. The course also brought out the pricklier side of his persona, as complaints of caddie abuse and disrespectful treatment towards his entourage became the norm. He had a dysfunctional relationship with Clifford Roberts that may have coloured his entire Augusta experience
