We predicted golf's 2024 major winners so you could yell at us
Rory McIlroy to win The Masters? Jon Rahm to make it three? Brooks Koepka to dominate? Will it be Viktor Hovland's time? Predicting the 2024 major winners.
The 48th Masters will be here before you know it, signalling the start of golf's 2024 major season.
In 2023, Jon Rahm claimed his second major at Augusta National, Brooks Koepka put five on it at the PGA Championship, Wyndham Clark held off Rory McIlroy to claim the U.S. Open and Brian Harman kept his focus in a hostile environment to to win the 151st Open.
At the time of publication we have to wait fewer than 100 days until we hear the tones of Jim Nantz.
"A tradition unlike any other," he'll tell us at the beginning of the broadcast before we are glued to our screens for four days.
In our view, that's just right around the corner! It's never too early to start thinking about golf's biggest events.
GolfMagic's editorial team decided to take a crack at who we think will win each major.
Don't forget to get involved, too, and let us know who you think will be crowned a major champion in 2024.
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Andy Roberts, Editor
Picks:
- The Masters: Rory McIlroy
- PGA Championship: Brooks Koepka
- U.S. Open: Viktor Hovland
- The Open: Jon Rahm
Tell us about your picks:
Mark it. Rory McIlroy completes the career grand slam - at long last - by slipping on the famed green jacket at the 2024 Masters. While it might sound like something of a broken record, McIlroy will be in the perfect place with which to go and win The Masters and end what is coming up to a 10-year wait for his last major victory. McIlroy is no longer a player director on the PGA Tour policy board having stepped down last month, and that will stand him in good stead ahead of Augusta. He can finally concentrate on his golf, and stop worrying so much about the direction of the PGA Tour, which let's face it, is anyone's guess right now as to what is going to happen in light of their framework agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy's game is a perfect fit for Augusta and I expect him to put up his best performance yet in early April.
Next up, I'm going for Brooks Koepka to do exactly what he did in 2019 by defending the US PGA Championship once again. Koepka is a man for the majors, reflected none better than being a five-time major champion. Koepka has half the field beat just from the start simply because of his mentality to perform in the majors. The US PGA is being held at Valhalla, scene of McIlroy's last major victory in 2014, but I think it's a venue that will be right up Koepka's street. Koepka's game looked to be on an upward curve last season and I am fully expecting him to take out another major in 2024. I believe it will come once again at the US PGA.
Viktor Hovland is without question in my mind the best player yet to win a major title and I think that comes to an end in 2024 with a victory at the US Open. Hovland raised his game to new heights in 2023 by winning the FedEx Cup, and he also proved a huge thorn in the US Ryder Cup team in Rome. Hovland will win one of the four majors in 2024, and I think his best chance will come at Pinehurst in June, especially now his short game is much sharper than past years.
Obviously it's difficult to judge exactly who will be in form in seven months time from now, but I fancy LIV Golf's latest new signing Jon Rahm to etch his name on the famed Claret Jug at Royal Troon this July. Rahm will be eager to move one step closer to the career grand slam having already notched victories at the US Open and Masters, and I can see his game being a perfect fit around Troon. Rahm enjoyed a standout season in 2023, but I think with slightly less golf on his plate following his move to LIV Golf, he will be in a fresh state to take the final major of the season in Scotland.
Ben Smith, News Editor
Picks:
- The Masters: Viktor Hovland
- PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy
- U.S. Open: Brooks Koepka
- The Open: Jon Rahm
Tell us about your picks:
Initially, I had Jon Rahm to defend his title at Augusta National. Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Sir Nick Faldo are the only golfers to have ever won The Masters two years on the spin and there is no denying Rahm will look back on a hall of fame career. I expect him to be right in the thick of it come Sunday afternoon, but following Hovland's 2023 I fully expect the Norwegian to become a major champion this year. Since becoming the low amateur in 2019, Hovland has been improving year-on-year at Augusta. He proved at the back end of last season with his exploits on the PGA Tour and subsequently at the Ryder Cup he's a big-time player for big moments. I'm backing Hovland to claim the green jacket.
How can I possibly ignore Rory McIlroy? I'm sure he'd love nothing more than to end his major drought at the Masters but my gut says he'll endure pain in Georgia once again. McIlroy will relish the opportunity to play a major at Valhalla, the site of his last triumph in 2014. It's not exactly a subtle course, either, making it perfect for the Northern Irishman's powerplay.
Moving on, Brooks Koepka is now back and healthier than ever after a knee injury almost ended his career prematurely. He's just so good in high-pressure situations. So much so, that he's been dubbed the 'major whisperer' by Rickie Fowler such is the American's propensity to always be a factor. I reckon Koepka will be in contention in at least three majors next year and am backing him to clinch an electric U.S. Open.
Finally, I have gone for Jon Rahm to lift the Claret Jug. The Spaniard will surely win an Open one day, and I see no reason why it shouldn't be at Royal Troon.
Johnny Percival, Reviews Editor
Picks:
- The Masters: Brooks Koepka
- PGA Championship: Collin Morikawa
- U.S. Open: Jon Rahm
- The Open: Viktor Hovland
Tell us about your picks:
After a crushing fourth round performance at The Masters in 2023, I can't help but feel that Koepka will be back with a point to prove this year, and if he can carry over the form that saw him win the PGA Championship last year, then there is every chance the five-time major champion will be making it six when he tees it up at Augusta National in April.
Despite his form dropping since he last won a major championship I've got a feeling Morikawa is due a big year. We've seen what he's capable of on the biggest stage, and after a relatively lacklustre 2023 by his own high standards, he will undoubtedly want to make his mark on 2024. What better way to do that than lifting the Wanamaker trophy once more.
Despite his departure to LIV, in my books Rahm is still the best player in the world on his day. Pinehurst No.2 will undoubtedly provide a serious test and when it comes to shot making under pressure I would put my house on the Spaniard coming up trumps.
If I could get one prediction right for 2024, Hovland winning The Open would undoubtedly make me the happiest. After coming so close to major success at the PGA, it feels like it's only a matter of time before the smiley Norwegian tastes major success, and where better for him to do it than on European soil.
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Ben joined the GolfMagic team in September 2021, initially as a content executive.
These days, he assumes the position of content manager.
