LIV CEO Greg Norman atop listing of biggest 2-time main winners

Because the very first Open Championship at Prestwick in 1860, 232 males have claimed a serious championship.

Of that unique group, 42 gamers have gained precisely two main championships, and the listing of those that have accomplished so is sort of spectacular.

That additionally now contains Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, the 2 finest gamers from the 2024 calendar yr. Scheffler, after all, gained once more at Augusta Nationwide in April, claiming his second inexperienced jacket. Schauffele, in the meantime, fended off Bryson DeChambeau at Valhalla after which conquered the wind, rain, and Scottish summer time at Royal Troon, taking part in a wonderful remaining 36 holes to grow to be the Champion Golfer of the 12 months.

Therefore, we at Taking part in By have determined to rank the highest 5 gamers who gained precisely two majors throughout their careers. However inside these rankings, because the sport has modified a lot from when Willie Park Sr. gained The Open in 1860, and because it differs from the pre-World Struggle II period, we determined to rank the highest two-time main winners since 1945.

Alas, listed below are the highest 5 gamers of all time with precisely two main titles:

5. Dustin Johnson (2016-2020)

Some of the constant gamers on the PGA Tour all through the 2010s, Dustin Johnson claimed a U.S. Open title at Oakmont in 2016 and a Masters victory within the fall of 2020.

Johnson gained at Oakmont by three after which breaking the scoring document at Augusta Nationwide throughout the re-scheduled event. He gained the Masters by 5 strokes, ending at 20-under par. Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth beforehand every carded 18-under scores in 1997 and 2015, respectively.

Throughout his profession, Johnson recorded a formidable 21 top-10 finishes in majors, whereas lacking simply 10 cuts.

But, he may simply have extra main titles on his resume.

Dustin Johnson, US Open

On the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Johnson held a one-shot lead on the 72nd gap. He pushed his drive proper of the green, touchdown in one of many waste bunkers that line the Straits course.

Not realizing it was a sand lure, Johnson grounded his membership and was assessed a two-shot penalty after the spherical. He bogeyed the opening, which might have put him in a playoff with Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson, however the penalty modified his rating to a triple bogey, thus dropping him again to a tie for fifth.

Then, on the 2015 U.S. Open, Johnson arrived at Chambers Bay’s par-5 18th, trailing Jordan Spieth by one stroke. He hit a protracted iron 12 ft from the opening, giving himself an impressive alternative for an eagle and victory. However he shockingly three-putted, giving Spieth his second straight main title.

4. Ben Crenshaw (1984-1995)

Broadly thought to be one of many biggest putters of all time, Ben Crenshaw’s main titles got here in a single place: Augusta Nationwide.

In 1984, Crenshaw entered the ultimate spherical trailing Tom Kite by two. However the Texas Longhorn rallied to win on Sunday, taking pictures a 4-under 68 to assert his first inexperienced jacket by two pictures over Tom Watson.

Crenshaw may have gained extra majors all through the Nineteen Eighties, as he recorded 13 top-10 finishes in majors throughout that decade. He had 26 in his profession general.

He additionally misplaced to David Graham in a playoff on the 1979 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in Michigan.

However his second triumph at Augusta lastly got here in 1995, one week after he misplaced his mentor, Harvey Penick. Crenshaw was devastated on the passing of his shut good friend and understandably arrived at Augusta Nationwide not in type.

And but, {the golfing} gods had been on his aspect, as a divine energy helped Crenshaw have top-of-the-line weeks of his profession. He didn’t document a single three-putt en path to his second inexperienced jacket.

Picture by J. David Ake/Getty Photographs

3. Bernhard Langer (1985-1993)

The primary German to win a serious championship, Bernhard Langer, like Crenshaw, gained his two majors at The Masters.

In 1985, Langer completed two pictures forward of fellow legends Seve Ballesteros, Raymond Floyd, and Curtis Unusual. Then, eight years later, Langer cruised to a four-shot victory over Chip Beck.

However his profession spans far past his two triumphs at Augusta Nationwide. He was a perennial Ryder Cup star for Crew Europe, usually serving as a thorn within the American aspect.

Langer additionally was the top-ranked participant within the Official World Golf Rankings after they debuted in 1986.

Moreover, Langer is certainly one of 5 gamers to have gained an expert occasion on 5 continents. He has the second most all-time victories on the European Tour and has gained greater than anybody else on the PGA Tour Champions.

He has 19 top-10 finishes in majors, two of which got here at The Open Championship in 1981 and 1984—the latter of which Taking part in By ranked as one of many biggest of all time.

picture by David Cannon/Getty Photographs

The 66-year-old German has additionally aged like a advantageous wine, having gained 12 Champions Tour majors. That’s three greater than Gary Participant and 4 forward of Jack Nicklaus for essentially the most ever.

2. Johnny Miller (1973-1976)

Golf followers these days keep in mind Johnny Miller because the longtime analyst for NBC Sports activities. Since Miller’s retirement in 2018, Paul Azinger served because the lead coloration commentator. However Azinger departed from NBC within the fall of 2024, because the community has changed him with a rotating solid that features Brad Faxon, Kevin Kisner, Curt Byrum, Paul McGinley, Brandel Chamblee, and Luke Donald.

Alas, Miller’s taking part in days had been extra spectacular than his days behind a microphone—which is sort of the praise, contemplating he’s extensively thought to be one of many biggest golf announcers ever. However he’s additionally top-of-the-line ball-strikers of all time.

He gained the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont, due to the best remaining spherical ever performed. He shot an 8-under 63 on that Sunday, passing hometown favourite Arnold Palmer and the sport’s high participant Jack Nicklaus within the course of. Miller hit each inexperienced in regulation, an otherworldly feat contemplating how tough Oakmont is.

Miller then gained the 1976 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale by six pictures over Ballesteros and Nicklaus. He confronted a two-shot deficit heading into the ultimate spherical however carded a 6-under 66 on Sunday to race previous the 19-year-old Ballesteros.

General, Miller recorded 17 top-10 finishes in majors, together with his most up-to-date top-10 coming in 1985. He completed solo eighth within the U.S. Open at Oakland Hills.

Getty Photographs

1. Greg Norman (1986-1993)

Merely put, Greg Norman is among the finest gamers ever to play the sport.

Throughout his profession, Norman held the highest rating within the Official World Golf Rankings for 331 whole weeks—second solely to Tiger Woods all-time. Extremely, third place is the aforementioned Dustin Johnson, with 139.

He has 88 skilled victories to his title, together with two Open Championships.

However he recorded eight runner-up finishes in majors, which included loads of shut finishes. ‘The Shark’ has 30 top-10 finishes at majors—a reasonably spectacular feat.

And consequently, Norman is most frequently remembered for developing simply quick.

On the 1987 Masters, the Aussie watched Larry Mize chip in on the second playoff gap—the well-known par-4 eleventh—to grab the inexperienced jacket away.

Then, in 1989, Norman missed out on a playoff by one stroke at Augusta Nationwide after which misplaced to Mark Calcaveccia in a playoff at The Open Championship a number of months later.

Seven years later, in 1996, Norman suffered his worst main heartbreak.

He held a six-shot lead going into the ultimate spherical at Augusta Nationwide, however he shot a 6-over 78 on that fateful Sunday, dropping to Nick Faldo by 5.

Nonetheless, Norman dominated the game within the late Nineteen Eighties and early Nineties.

The 2001 World Golf Corridor of Fame inductee gained the Byron Nelson Award 5 occasions, the Arnold Palmer Award thrice, and captured the Vardon Trophy, awarded to the bottom adjusted scoring common thrice.

His presence continues to be felt as we speak, principally via LIV Golf, of which he’s the commissioner.

Picture by Jason Butler/Getty Photographs

Honorable Mentions in No Explicit Order:

Angel Cabrera (2007-2009)

Retief Goosen (2001-2004)

Jon Rahm (2021-2023)

Scottie Scheffler (2022-2024)

Xander Schauffele (2024)

Curtis Unusual (1988-1989)

Fuzzy Zoeller (1979-1984)

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. You should definitely try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.