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PGA Tour: Could we see an old guy win a major this year?

By Christopher O'Day

CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 28: Phil Mickelson of the United States gives a thumbs up on the 18th green during the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 28, 2020 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 28: Phil Mickelson of the United States gives a thumbs up on the 18th green during the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 28, 2020 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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We are finally at that point in the year where we will see seven Majors held over the next 12 months. Can an old guy, for lack of a better term, win one of those massive PGA Tour events?

Now, I’m not trying to be rude by saying “old” guy when talking about these PGA Tour major winner hopefuls. When talking about sports, being “old” is something completely different than anything else in life. Heck, I’m 32, and I’m finally starting to feel like a real adult. In sports, you might be past your prime, over the hill, or even retired already from a wildly successful career. You probably played for the Detroit Lions if that’s the case though.

I’m not here to make fun of the Lions though (to easy to do). In golf, age is a lot different than any of the other sports, save for maybe a craft lefty, the occasional hockey player, and Vince Carter.

Woof. Detroit Lions, Jamie Moyer, and Vince Carter? Don’t worry, I’ll get to my point soon.

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With an unprecedented schedule, we are about to see a new entry into the “old guys” dominating, with an old guy winning a PGA Tour major event.

That’s right. I’m calling it. Right now, there have been ten guys to win a major once they got to the age of 43 and four months. Ted Ray is the youngest old guy, holding it down at that age with his win at the 1920 U.S. Open. 100 YEARS AGO!

We haven’t seen a new entry into the old guys dominating list since 1990 when Hale Irwin, at the age of 45 years and 14 days won the U.S. Open.

It’s been 30 years. We are due for a new entry, right? (Yes, I know it doesn’t work that way… don’t care)

Originally, I was going to write about some contenders for breaking into the other side, youngest to win a major. Only to see that the list is more extensive than I thought, no one could break either the all-time record by John McDermott who wasn’t quite 20 or the modern record set by Eldrick at 21 years and three months. Only one or two could even realistically enter the youngest ten to do so.

Which is why we are here looking at the elder statesmen instead. Guys who have been around for a while, playing on the PGA Tour since before the likes of Matthew Wolff, Joaquin Niemann, and Viktor Hovland were even born.

Let’s start off with Lefty. He just turned 50, and would probably argue you till he was blue in the face that he is in the best shape of his life. You couldn’t argue with his calves, that’s for certain.

He’s been in serious contention twice this season already. First, at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he faltered on the final day with a 74 to finish in third place. Then, a few weeks ago at the Travelers, he was at the top of the leaderboard heading into the weekend after shooting 64-63. He crashed after that, shooting 71-71, finishing in a T-24th.

In one of the cases of Wikipedia being incorrect (yes it happens, make sure to read carefully… the internet isn’t always right), Phil hasn’t won the U.S. Open three times.

In fact, he won the Open Championship once, whereas Wiki says he never did.

Phil is famous for having finished second six different times at the U.S. Open (he’s like Katherine Heigl in 27 dresses). Let’s go out on a limb and say he wins one of the next two, not only notching the career grand slam but becoming one of the oldest to ever win a PGA Tour event.

I love Jim Furyk and his doofy swing, but he is a long shot.

Ian Poulter will occasionally put a great week together, and seems to perform well under pressure.

Zach Johnson is already 44! You could’ve won a lot of money off me with that one. He’s been a little feisty lately and could make a run.

Stewart Cink would be making a run at the all-time record at 48 years and four months by Julius Boros, as Cink is already 47. If he wins one of the next seven majors, regardless of which one it is, he will actually be the second-oldest major winner.

I have two sleepers here. Like Zach Johnson, I had no idea they were eligible. Ryan Palmer is almost 44 and will make the list if he wins any of the majors in the next 12 months. With four top-tens this year and made cuts in 10 of 14, he is having a great year.

Next is Ryan Armour, who will be 44 for this year’s events, and 45 for all of next years. He has three top-tens, which include a T-6th at the Travelers and a T-4th at the Rocket Mortgage in back-to-back weeks within the last month.

Don’t forget TIGER! He’s going to be 45 at the end of December. If he wins next season, he hops into the top four of all-time to win a major. I will never count the GOAT out until he retires from golf. Even then, if you told me he was coming back for one final run… I wouldn’t bet against him.

Next. Golf Tips: Eliminating your misses by changing your aim. dark

Will we see another elder statesman win a major over the next 12 months? I say yes, and I won’t be surprised at all when it happens.

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