GOLF.COM PUBLISHED A PHOTO GALLERY of “Notable Major Champions Under the Age of 25.” I’ve included their list below, but in a different order, from youngest to oldest. I’ve also added each player’s majors total. Plus I’ve included a handful of players (at bottom) Golf.com didn’t list.
(I’m not sure why they didn’t mention Ernie Els, who I believe won his first U.S. Open at the age of 24.)
(Photo: Morgan Pressel.)
Many of the retired players on the list went on to win five or more majors. So obviously it’s good to win early. Maybe you’ll win often. Tseng is the quickest to four. McIlroy has one and a world of potential. But there’s no guarantee you’ll win many or any after the first. Just ask Jerry Pate, who won his first and last major, the U.S. Open, at the tender age of 22.
Young Tom Morris, 17, 1868 British Open
Total majors: 4
Morgan Pressel, 18, 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship
Total majors: 1
Yani Tseng, 19, 2008 LPGA Championship
Total majors: 4
Francis Ouimet, 20, 1913 U.S. Open
Total majors: 3 (includes amateur titles)
Gene Sarazen, 20, 1922 U.S. Open
Total majors: 7
Bobby Jones, 21, 1923 U.S. Open
Total majors: 13 (includes amateur titles)
Nancy Lopez, 21, 1978 LPGA Championship
Total majors: 3
Tiger Woods, 21, 1997 Masters
Total majors: 14
Se Ri Pak, 21, 1998 LPGA Championship
Total majors: 5
Jack Nicklaus, 22, 1962 U.S. Open
Total majors: 18
Seve Ballesteros, 22, 1979 British Open
Total majors: 5
Rory McIlroy, 22, 2011 U.S. Open
Total majors: 1
Gary Player, 23, 1959 British Open
Total majors: 9
Brittany Lincicome, 23, 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship
Total majors: 1
Paula Creamer, 23, 2010 U.S. Women’s Open
Total majors: 1
Annika Sorenstam, 24, 1995 Women’s British Open
Total majors: 10
Others who won a major early: John McDermott (19), Jerry Pate (22), Johnny Goodman (23), Ernie Els (24). (Feel free to help with this list of others, which is probably incomplete.)
−The Armchair Golfer
(Photo credit: Keith Allison, Flickr, Creative Commons license)