Who will win golf's majors in 2026?

If picking major winners was easy then we would all be millionaires. When Tiger Woods was in his pomp it was an easier task but even he lost far more than the 15 he won.

If it were all about the world rankings then Scottie Scheffler would sweep the boards. He won two of them in 2025 - The US PGA and The Open. Of course, there was barely a dry eye in the house when Rory McIlroy finally ended his major drought and claimed The Masters and, with it, the Career Grand Slam. 

But who would ever have predicted that JJ Spaun would have won the US Open, especially in the circumstances that prevailed when he drained that monstrous putt on the 72nd green to deny Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre his first major?

So we turn our attention to the 2026 men's majors. We set Derek Clements and Kieran Clark the task of picking next year’s winners. As you will see below, they both named several of the same players but could not agree on who would win what.

The Masters, Augusta National, April 9-12

Kieran: "It could be decades until we witness another major victory that’s truly as resonant and meaningful as what Rory McIlroy accomplished at Augusta National back in April. Returning to The Masters will be a special experience for the world number two during a week that will include the Champions Dinner. Despite those emotional distractions, I am going to back him to follow in the footsteps of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods by retaining his title."

Derek: Rory McIlroy will make a triumphant return to Augusta as defending champion and will be under huge pressure to join an elite club who have won the Green Jacket in successive years. While I believe he will make a decent fist of it, I am certain that he will come up short. I make no apologies for being predictable but I simply cannot see beyond Scottie Scheffler. The world number one is a machine. Even when he doesn’t have his A-game he still finds a way to win. In fact, his C-game is better than 80% of his rivals. He loves Augusta National, he has already won twice here and I expect him to complete a hat-trick in 2026.

US PGA Championship, Aronimink, May 14-17

Kieran: "2025 was a season defined by Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler - with the latter lifting the Wanamaker Trophy at Quail Hollow. The PGA Championship heads to Aronimink next May, but while there is temptation to say that Scheffler will successfully defend, I am favouring another former winner in Xander Schauffele to put a troubled year behind him by reminding us just how good he really is."

Derek: "Donald Ross designed many wonderful golf courses but Aronimink may well be his masterpiece. Located just outside Philadelphia, it will be hosting the PGA Championship for the second time. It was last staged here in 1962 and was won by Gary Player. We have seen some dramatic finishes to the US PGA in recent years, never more so than in 2024 when Xander Schauffele held off a charging Bryson DeChambeau, who thrilled the crowds with his astonishing attacking play - the following month DeChambeau would win the US Open. And I expect him to bring Aronimink to its knees in 2026."

US Open, Shinnecock Hills, June 18-21

Kieran: "Shinnecock Hills is among America’s greatest courses, and it hosts the US Open in 2026. The last time the championship was held here in 2018, Tommy Fleetwood shot a heroic final round of 63 to finish second behind Brooks Koepka. And I am going to predict that the ever-popular Englishman, who is now bursting with confidence after winning the Tour Championship, will finally secure his first major title on Long Island."

Derek: "It is fair to say that Rory McIlroy does not have fond memories of Shinnecock Hills. During the first round of the 2018 US Open at this venue the Northern Irishman shot an horrific 80 and comfortably missed the cut. He finished runner-up at the US Open in both 2023 and 2024 and should have won both times. He ended his major drought when he won the 2025 Masters to complete the Career Grand Slam and also won the Irish Open, Players Championship, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and starred for Europe in the Ryder Cup. He will feel that the US Open owes him one - and I have to agree."

The Open, Royal Birkdale, July 16-19

Kieran: "The Open is back at Royal Birkdale and it’s tempting to once again choose local boy Tommy Fleetwood to triumph in Southport. It almost sounds too good to be true for him to lift the Claret Jug in his hometown - and it probably is. That would be a wonderful story, but I’m instead going to declare that world number one Scottie Scheffler will remain the Champion Golfer of the Year."

Derek: "When The Open was last staged at Royal Birkdale in 2017 Jordan Spieth produced a finish for the ages to break Matt Kuchar’s heart. Since then, Spieth’s game has gone into freefall. Tommy Fleetwood grew up not far from the course and knows it like the back of his hand. He has done everything but win a major and has now taken his game to a different level. After so many near-misses he finally broke his duck on the PGA Tour in 2025 when he won the Tour Championship and was crowned FedEx Cup champion. And since then he has looked like winning every time he tees it up. Royal Birkdale 2026 is surely his date with destiny."

So there you have it. We don’t expect Kieran or Derek to be retiring on their winnings from these predictions (actually Derek has already retired anyway!) but it will be fascinating to see whether either of them get any of their predictions right. Watch this space.