Five Golfers Who Could Earn Their First Major Next Year
By NCG
The world of golf revolves around the major tournaments. The four events every year get fans the most excited, provide the biggest spectacle, and generate the most headlines. While this year’s majors are behind us, there is always next year, and many fans and bettors are looking ahead to what the future could hold. You can bet that some of the players who haven’t won majors yet will have these events circled on their calendars.
Several elite players haven’t won majors yet have great odds of getting the job done next year. These rising talents are high-quality golfers who have come close but have not gotten the job done yet. Let’s look at five favourites to win a major for the first time next year.
Viktor Hovland
Viktor Hovland is the obvious candidate to win his first major next year. The 25-year-old Norwegian finished top ten in two majors and won the FedEx Cup Championship in 2023. He is a rising superstar and will be a high pick on many sports betting sites to get the job done in 2024. Hovland has ended the season on an incredibly strong note, and he could soon be poised to compete for the best golfer in the world title. Gambling sites will have him as a top-five contender in each of the biggest tournaments of next year.
Max Homa
Max Homa hasn’t had the breakthrough most other guys on this list have. He only has one top-ten finish in his career. But Homa has six PGA Tour wins and consistently performs well at the smaller tournaments. It seems he has the potential to be someone who gets hot at the right time and dominates a major. While it hasn’t happened yet, Homa has impressed at several big tournaments, and he could be due for a shining moment. If he plays well at the Ryder Cup, he’ll enter the year with plenty of confidence.
Xander Schauffele
Xander Schauffele is a golfer who has been on the precipice multiple times. He finished top three in three different majors and top-ten in one more. He has shown the ability to show up and perform, but it hasn’t all come together yet. Schauffele is a talented golfer who earned a Gold Medal at the Olympics, so pressure doesn’t phase him. That will be important, as majors are not just tests of skill but of composure. For Schauffele to cement his name amongst the other top golfers in the world, he needs a statement win. I’d wager he gets one next year.
Tommy Fleetwood
Projecting a major win for Tommy Fleetwood might seem bold. The English golfer is a fan favourite but has yet to win an event on the PGA Tour. However, while Fleetwood hasn’t earned a substantial victory at a PGA event, he has won on the European Tour and shown up big in majors. He has three top-five finishes, including two second-place showings. While these were several years ago, Fleetwood has consistently performed well. Odds of him winning will be relatively low on most sportsbooks, but that could lead to a nice payout for bettors.
Patrick Cantlay
Patrick Cantlay is a great golfer who has already had an excellent career. He has eight PGA Tour victories and won the FedEx Cup Championship in 2021, a milestone victory. He will also be starring for the U.S. in the Ryder Cup. However, so far, a major victory has eluded him. While Cantlay has been close before, he will need a breakthrough in 2024 to get the result he has been chasing. Cantlay is in his prime and had a solid 2023. Expect him to work towards bigger things in 2024.
