At Pebble Beach, while others sensibly focused on Tiger Woods, Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Dustin Johnson and ultimately GMAC, I was sadly considering the other end of the leaderboard where 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell was once again found floundering. The 19 over par score may have been worse than usual, but for Campbell, missing cuts in majors is no novelty. In the years since holding off Tiger at Pinehurst, Campbell has failed to make the weekend or withdrawn 13 times out of 18 majors played, with a best finish of tied 35th at the following year's Open Championship. Cambo has had slumps before and may come back, but in all likelihood, he is another one major wonder – players who appear, seemingly from nowhere, and take home one of golf’s greatest prizes.
Why is this an issue? Well, when players of the calibre of Colin Montgomerie, winner of eight European Tour Order of Merits and without question one of the finest talents ever to play the game, is seen as a failure for his lack of a major title, it makes it painful to see one of these jewels being snatched by journeymen who have achieved little of note before or since. It got me thinking of other examples of these major mediocrities of modern times....
