No other way around it. Awful to end the majors season with Woodland and Lowry winning. We didn't have one of these major winners until the last two of the decade. I guess you could argue Willett/Schwartzel/Dufner/Bradley were worse, but I don't think so.
Willett's fallen off, but he was 12th at the time of his victory and one of the best up and coming players at age 28. He reached a high of 9th. Dufner was up to 7th in the world the year before his major win, and outside of winning one of the four big events in 2013 as opposed to 2012, he was probably a better player in 2012. For about a three year stretch, Dufner was a formidable player.
Bradley was similar to Willett, but without the OWGR ranking going into that year. Bradley started out 2011 at 328 in the world, and ended at 29. He then reached as high as 12 the next year and eventually 10. He's fallen off, but Bradley for a 2-3 year stretch was one of the best up and coming golfers in the world at 25. Schwartzel was also an up and coming player. 26 years old at the time of his win with 6 European Tour wins. Schwartzel rose to 6th in the world at one point and also won twice 4 years in a row at one point.
Lowry's career high ranking is 17. Woodland's is 12 right now after his win. Lowry is 32, Woodland is 35. Does anyone think they reach the top 10 in their careers? I think this is probably their peak. And I guess its close between those two and the other four, so its not a big difference in caliber, but at least Dufner was really good for a few years and at least Willett, Bradley and Schwartzel accomplished what they did as up and coming golfers. They just never panned out past the major win. Them accomplishing what they did added prestige, considering it was considered that they could improve and be among the best golfers in the world. Lowry and Woodland are middle of the road in their prime guys that hit their career week two majors in a row. These aren't Ben Curtis at St. George's style winners, but they are very boring major winners.
It's long been thought that we've avoided these winners for so many years because of how strong the fields have become that the best have made sure it wouldn't happen in the four biggest events, but now we've seen two in a row where it has. I know some disagree, but I think this is distinctly bad for golf when these types win.
