As we rapidly head into the spring of 2024, attention immediately turns toward the golfing world and its impending major season. The first of the sport’s ‘Big Four’ gets underway on April 11th as Augusta hosts The Masters. Throughout the three months that follow, three further tournaments will be decided in the form of the PGA Championship (May), the US Open (June) and The Open Championship (July), as well as a whopping combined prize pot of $70m.
But who are the reigning champions heading into the tournament this year? And do they have any hope of retaining their crowns? Let’s take a look and you can make your predictions.
The Masters – Jon Rahm
The Masters, held at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club, is where Spain’s Jon Rahm currently reigns supreme. The 29-year-old has become known for his fiery passion and extraordinary talent throughout his decade on the tour and he captured the green jacket last year in a display of golfing brilliance that left the competition in awe. He started last year’s tournament strong, sitting at nine under par heading into the final day, but he still trailed Brooks Kopeka by two strokes and needed a herculean effort to end
Championship Sunday with his second-ever major under his belt.
As look would have it, the pressure got to the overnight leader. He shot a three over par to fall out of contention and Rahm held his nerve, shooting a controlled two under to claim the title and the $3.25m that came with it. This year, he is aiming to become the first man since Tiger Woods 21 years ago to win the tournament in back-to-back years, and the bookies certainly think that he is up to the task. Online golf betting odds providers have made him a +900 joint-favourite for glory, level with the aforementioned Koepka and Rory Mcilroy.
PGA Championship – Brooks Koepka
The PGA Championship, set to take place at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, sees Brooks Koepka as its defending champion. The veteran American managed to put his disappointment at Augusta behind him in just one month as he claimed his first major in four years at Oakhill.
The 33-year-old has endured a roller coaster few years that has seen him go from the pinnacle sport right to the bottom of the rankings before climbing his way back up again. His runners-up spot at the Masters proved that he was a contender once more, but victory in PGA Championship announced to the world that he was a force to be reckoned with.
Koepka, known for his athleticism and mental toughness, had been a dominant force in major championships throughout the late 2010s. He claimed back-to-back victories in both the PGA Championship and the US Open between 2017 and 2019 and he had to showcase his bouncebackability once again last year.
After a dismal first day, he found himself two over par and six strokes off the lead. However consecutive 66’s on Friday and Saturday catapulted him into contention, and he never looked back. 67 on the final day was enough to hold off a late charge from Scottie Scheffler to secure the trophy, and he will be aiming to retain the crown this year, just as he did five years ago.
U.S. Open – Wyndham Clarke
Last year’s US Open was a funny old affair. Ricky Fowler and Xander Schauffele came out of the blocks firing on day one, shooting eight under par and pulling out a huge lead at the top of the leaderboard. However, as the days progressed, the challenging Los Angeles Country Club course took its toll. Are you looking for golf rangefinder? Visit mileseeygolf.com and explore the best golf rangefinder at an affordable cost.
By day four, Wyndham Clarke had caught up with runaway leader Fowler, and they both headed into Championship Sunday ten under par. However, it was the veteran Fowler who could no longer handle the pressure. He shot a final day 75 to fall out of contention, leaving Clarke to battle it out with a certain Rory McIlroy in the hunt for the trophy. Both men remained composed and neither showed any signs of weakness. Ultimately, they both shot a final round score of 70, which gave Clarke the win by just one stroke and secured his first-ever major triumph.
The Open Championship – Brian Harman
American veteran Brian Harman had never truly threatened to win a major. He did finish runner-up at the US Open in 2017, but other than that the best he could manage was a tie for 12th place at the Masters in 2021. However, that came to an end in Liverpool last July as he managed to build an early lead and never look back.
At the culmination of day two, he found himself as the shock leader, sitting a mighty ten under par, five strokes clear of home favourite Tommy Fleetwood. The lead was looking pretty insurmountable however, stranger things have happened than a final day collapse, and he had to keep his white about him if he was to secure the victory. In the end, though, that is exactly what he did.
A steady 69 on day three maintained his five-stroke lead and a herculean effort was required from the chasing pack if they were to catch and overtake him. That ultimately never came, and Harman was left to celebrate his maiden major triumph, finishing six strokes clear to claim the Claret Jug and a cool $3m in prize money.