Sporting greatness

An interesting discussion and one worthy of this organ’s debate is what exactly constitutes sporting greatness?

Or, put another way, does a sportsman have to win major honours to be considered “ great”?

In my sport of golf Luke Donald and Lee Westwood were at the pinnacle of golf but neither have won majors. Colin Montgomerie won the European Order or Merit eight times but never a major.

Andy North and Orville Moody are hardly legends but got 3 majors between them. Many golfers are content to make the cut, earn millions of dollars on the US PGA Tour but no major trophy.

No one can accuse Brooks Koepka of taking the easy money option. He has won more majors than US PGA tourneys. He is a serial winner.

Another feature of the winner is how long he can stay winning? Rory McIlroy has not anything since 2014. Perhaps he is the comfort zone but I don’t back him these days as you can’t rely on him to close out on the final day.

All sorts of variables affect a sportsman’s ambition: injury, bad management, personal issues like a divorce or addiction – all of these I have know to affect golfers and other sportsmen. It’s hard to imagine they will affect Brooke Koepka. He is uber-fit, working out daily with his best friend – Dustin Johnson – and totally motivated.

So where are Koepka’s challengers? Of his peers, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy have stopped winning majors and Ricky Fowler yet to win any.

Bryson deChambeaud, Xander Scahuffele and Patrick Cantlay are the Young Turks but don’t have any majors yet. Joe Rahm has a power game,age on his side but a suspect temperament.

Of the Brits, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Wallace deserve more recognition but it’s always Rory who gets the publicity.