First-timers showing the way
IN THE nearly three years since Rory McIlroy won the last of his four major titles, when he triumphed at the USPGA, golf has witnessed a cavalry charge of first-time winners of the biggest prizes in the game. Of the nine major champions since McIlroy saw off Phil Mickelson at Valhalla in 2014, seven tasted major glory for the first time. That included all four in 2016 — Danny Willett, Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson and Jimmy Walker — with Sergio Garcia continuing that trend at this year’s Masters.