Top 6: Players who could break their major duck in 2017
In 2016 there were four maiden major winners in the same year for the first time since 2011. Danny Willett snatched the green jacket off Jordan Spieth with Dustin Johnson then going onto win the US Open. Henrik Stenson lifted the Claret Jug before Jimmy Walker took home the Wanamaker Trophy in the final major of the year.
The level of golf on the PGA and European Tour’s has increased in recent years meaning we are seeing more first time major winners. Could these players finish 2017 with their first major in the bag?
Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama had his best year as a professional in 2016 climbing from 15th to sixth in the world golf rankings. He finished the year by becoming the first Asian winner of a World Golf Championship in 18 years. The win was also impressive as Matsuayma beat the Open Champion Stenson by seven shots.
The Japanese golfer won $4,193,954 on tour last season and looks on course to break that mark this season. Matsuyama has already brought in $2,376,000 this season and went on to win the Hero World Challenege in December.
At the age of 24, Matsuyama has plenty of time on his side but if his form and momentum carries through into the Masters and into the other majors don’t look past him to win his major in 2017.
2016 major record:
Masters- T7th
US Open- Missed Cut
The Open- Missed Cut
PGA Championship- T4th
Matthew Beedle
Matthew has been playing golf since he was around 13 and took up the game at a local nine-hole municipal course with his friends before joining Pontefract & District Golf Club just over the hedge.
Still a member of Pontefract with a handicap of 3, he currently sits on the board of directors to help with digital and marketing initiatives in order to improve membership and visitor income.
Matthew graduated university with a First Class in Sports Journalism from Leeds Trinity University and has been working in the golf industry since graduating.
NCG’s social media & marketing manager, Matthew’s main job role is to increase website traffic to the National Club Golfer website via our email and social media channels as well as driving entries to grow our NCG Top 100s Tour events amongst other tasks.
Not one to change his equipment too often, Matthew currently plays the TaylorMade M2 driver which has lasted the test of time in his bag. Elsewhere, you’ll find him using the TaylorMade Stealth 2 three-wood with a Ping G425 Crossover 2-iron to aid his long game.
Through his 4-iron to Gap Wedge, Matthew uses the Ping i500 irons accompanied by Ping’s Glide 3.0 56-degree and 60-degree wedges.
Another club that has stood the test of time in his bag is a Nike Method Core MC-3i putter which has had to have the SuperStroke grip changed at least three times. Ball of choice is the Titleist ProV1.
