• Ask Steven

Just Jack

Steven Lynch December 29, 2014
Jack Nicklaus has won 18 golf majors - can Rory McIlroy succeed that? © Getty Images
Enlarge

Who has finished second most often in golf's majors? asked Martin Rose

Jack Nicklaus has won the most golf majors - 18, to Tiger Woods's 14 so far - and Big Jack leads the second-place list too, with 19. Seven of Nicklaus's runners-up spots (including ties) were in the British Open, with four at each of the other three majors, including the US Open of 1960 when he was still an amateur.

Next on the list is Arnold Palmer, with ten second places to set alongside his seven major wins. He's just ahead of Phil Mickelson, whose second place at the PGA Championship in 2014 was his ninth runners-up spot.

Greg Norman, Sam Snead and Tom Watson all collected eight second-place finishes in majors: Watson's last one, his agonising near-miss at the 2009 British Open, came 22 years after his seventh.

Woods has finished second six times - twice in each of the three majors played in America. And as mentioned on here recently, Colin Montgomerie holds the record for the most runners-up finishes in majors (five) without ever winning one.

Ask Steven features a number of experts, headed by Steven Lynch, who answer your questions across a variety of sports

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
Steven Lynch Close
Ask Steven features a number of experts, headed by Steven Lynch, who answer your questions across a variety of sports Ask Steven features a number of experts, headed by Steven Lynch, who answer your questions across a variety of sports

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices