We’re not usually in the business of predicting failure in professional golf, especially in the festive season.
Remember, if you’re a tour star reading this column and you find your name on the wrong list, it’s all in jest. If anything, it should act as motivation.
We’ve predicted which players will excel in the 2026 season and which players might disappoint us based on previous seasons on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
Interestingly, players that some of the NCG team have tipped to excel in 2026 have also been tipped to plummet over the next 12 months, too. How exciting.
With no further delay, here is who the NCG team think will fly and who they think will flop in 2026:
Golf predictions 2026
Players to fly
Dan Murphy: Jon Rahm – It’s a big year for Rahm. Aged 31, he ought to be at or approaching the height of his powers and presented as such at the Ryder Cup. Without truly threatening to win any of them, he has finished in the top 14 of four of the last five majors, including three top 10s, which tells you about his pedigree.
Steve Carroll: Marco Penge – It looks like he has the game to compete on the PGA Tour and could do very well Stateside – though it will be interesting to see how he handles playing on two fronts.
Matt Chivers: Matt Fitzpatrick – The season ended too soon for Matt Fitzpatrick. He finished well, had a great Ryder Cup, then beat Rory in a playoff in Dubai. Here’s to a great 2026, and hopefully another major, which I think is well within his reach.
Matt Coles: Jordan Spieth – It has been eight years since Spieth won his third major championship, and in that time, he has only recorded two more victories, the last of those coming in 2022. Over the last few years, the American has suffered with wrist and back injuries, and has never really found any form, missing the Ryder Cup for the first time in a decade with his non-appearance at Bethpage Black.
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I fancy Spieth to come back fighting in 2026, and although he won’t win a major, I can certainly see him coming back into form and taking PGA Tour victories once more. The Tour is all the better for it when Jordan Spieth is at his best!
Mike Robertson: Tommy Fleetwood – he will make a real push at World No.1
Darren Tear: Ludvig Aberg
Max McVittie: They don’t call him the flying Scotsman for nothing. I think Bob MacIntyre is going to have himself a year. There only seems to be one way MacIntyre is heading, which is up. He’s already picked up a couple of national open titles, including his own, and I predict he will kick on to contest more frequently at the majors this year.
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Players to flop
Dan Murphy: Jordan Spieth – It’s been a long time now since Jordan Spieth played anything like he did when he was winning majors. I think we at least have to consider that he is a spent force at the highest level.
Steve Carroll: John Parry – It hasn’t been too happy a hunting ground for the DP World Tour 10 in America since its introduction and I think veteran John Parry might struggle. But I hope he smashes it.
Matt Chivers: Marco Penge – I’m pitching this in a way that I can’t lose. If Marco Penge doesn’t play well next year, I’ll be right, and who doesn’t enjoy being right? But, if he plays well and conquers the PGA Tour, I will be more than happy as I’m a big fan. I’m just concerned about the record that these DP World Tour players have when trying to crack the States.
Matt Coles: Joaquin Niemann – Now, I know this is harsh because how do you do better after winning five times in the LIV Golf League in 2025?
However, I think that the Chilean has peaked, and that he will struggle to keep that form going in 2026. We know that he has no major form, with his T8 finish at the PGA Championship this year having been his first-ever top-15 finish at one of the sport’s premier tournaments.
In 72-hole competitions, Niemann has only four victories on the big tours (2 PGA, 1 DPWT, 1 Asian Tour). I don’t think he adds to that tally in 2026…
Mike Robertson: J.J. Spaun – I can’t help but think J.J. Spaun drifts away well outside the top 20.
Darren Tear: J.J. Spaun
Max McVittie: Bryson DeChambeau. I know merely mentioning his name causes plenty of discourse, for good and bad. But I for one don’t have much of a problem with Bryson out on the golf course. Not all the time, but overall, I do think he’s good for golf. Unfortunately, I think it may be a year to forget for the two-time major winner in 2026.
He, amongst most on the US team, had a torrid Ryder Cup and I can see that weighing down on him going into the new year. With the standards DeChambeau has set for himself, anything less than a major win can be considered something of a failure, such is his talent. I can’t see one of those coming next year.
NOW READ: What clubs does Jordan Spieth use?
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NOW READ: What clubs does Jon Rahm use?
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