The Race for Golf's Most Elusive Achievement: Who Will End Their PGA Tour Drought First?

Question

The competitive landscape shifted dramatically in recent weeks as Tommy Fleetwood and Cameron Young both secured their maiden PGA Tour victories, refocusing the golf world’s attention on an increasingly exclusive club—elite players still chasing their first tour win. The conversation has naturally centered on identifying the frontrunner in this unexpected race.

Denny McCarthy emerges as the clear focal point in this discussion. Despite a relatively quiet 2025 season, his performances in 2023 and 2024 paint a different picture entirely. Across those two years, McCarthy accumulated 13 top-10 finishes and reached runner-up status on two occasions, demonstrating consistent excellence despite his winless drought on the PGA Tour. His sole professional victory came via the 2018 Korn Ferry Tour Championship. Currently holding a World Golf Ranking position of 44th, McCarthy possesses the resume expected of a tour winner—a matter of timing, many believe, rather than capability.

However, Max Greyserman has emerged as perhaps the most tantalizing storyline among winless competitors. Since rejoining the PGA Tour in 2024, Greyserman has compiled an remarkable—and simultaneously frustrating—record of four runner-up finishes. Most recently, he endured heartbreak at the 2025 Rocket Mortgage Classic, losing in a five-hole playoff to Aldrich Potgieter. His pattern of near-misses, combined with a strong record in fall-season competitions, suggests he may be the closest to finally breaking through. Coming into 2026 with full PGA Tour status, Greyserman appears poised to end his winless streak in the coming months.

Other notable contenders deserve consideration. Byeong Hun An of South Korea demonstrated stronger form in 2024, including a playoff defeat at the Sony Open and five top-10 finishes overall, earning him a respectable 21st-place FedEx Cup finish. Though 2025 has proved less productive with only two top-10s, his previous year’s trajectory suggests further breakthrough opportunities lie ahead. Currently ranked 59th in the world, Alex Noren remains another persistent outsider, having finished runner-up at the 2023 Butterfield Bermuda Championship and 2022 Barracuda Championship—both secondary events lacking the depth of full-field competitions. His struggle against elite fields remains the primary barrier to victory.

With two champions crowned, the title of professional golf’s “best player still seeking a maiden tour victory” now belongs to a increasingly narrow field. Greyserman’s consistency and his demonstrated ability to compete in high-stakes moments place him at the forefront of those expected to erase this distinction next.