The decade in golf: NCG’s biggest disappointment

Plenty was expected of these four players from our Fourball team but things haven’t, relatively speaking, quite worked out in the past decade. Who is your biggest disappointment in golf in the ’10s?

Dan: I tend towards cynicism when it comes to pronouncing the next great talent but I must admit that I thought Matteo Manassero was destined for great things.

Not only has he failed to win a major or play in a Ryder Cup but he ends the decade without even a tour card. That’s desperately sad. 

Steve: For a former World No. 1, Ryder Cup hero and demolisher of Pinehurst, it’s been sad to see Martin Kaymer struggle to find any consistency. 

Mark: In October 2010 Westwood reached the World No. 1 spot and he seemed to be edging closer to that breakthrough major. The driving and ball striking was always going to be imperious, the chipping woes were long gone and if he could hole a few then we could finally get rid of the Best Player To Never… well, you know the rest.

I’ve got a lot of time for Westwood and, these days, particularly his longevity – imagine being near the top of your sport for around 20 years – and the way he’s made himself a force again but to not have that elusive major is faintly ridiculous when you look at all those who have got over the line since 2010.

It’s a nonsense, given their particular skills, that he and Monty will likely end their careers without one.

Andy: In terms of not fulfilling potential, I think DJ has disappointed massively. On the face of it, he’s super consistent and a serial winner. But with all the attributes you’d want to create a golfing superpower, one lone major win is nowhere near a good enough return.

It remains to be seen if he’ll add to his tally but the list of challengers grows every year and time is running out.

Which player has disappointed you the most in the past decade? Let us know in the comments below or you can tweet us.