Two of golf’s heavyweights, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka, added to their rising haul of majors in 2023 with spectacular showings at The Masters and PGA Championship respectively.
Much less predictable was the victory of Wyndham Clark on the US Open. He solely received his maiden PGA Tour title a matter of weeks prior, whereas the triumph of Brian Harman on the Open Championship – a participant with two wins in his earlier 345 appearances – was so shocking that Harman himself should have been left scratching his head in surprise.
As consideration begins to show to the 2023/24 season, many will likely be questioning whether or not extra main maidens can have their day within the brightest highlight in 2024.
The Masters
One of many causes that Augusta Nationwide has stood the check of time is that it’s a classical golf course that checks each single facet of a participant’s recreation.
Solely the strongest of all-round gamers can slip into the well-known inexperienced jacket, with the sports betting UK odds for the 2024 Masters studying like a who’s who of the game – Scottie Scheffler (13/2), defending champion Rahm (7/1) and Rory McIlroy chief amongst them.
As for the maidens, two gamers seemingly properly primed for glory are Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele – a duo who routinely rank properly for archaic however important stats like Complete Driving, Greens in Regulation and Scoring Common. They’re the kinds who do every thing properly from tee to inexperienced and with flat sticks in hand; the truth that each have already got top-tens to their title at Augusta additionally swings the needle of their route.
US Open
Pinehurst No. 2, that basic North Carolina format that has hosted numerous majors and a Ryder Cup earlier than, returns to the rotation in 2024.
There will likely be lots within the US Open subject who weren’t even skilled golfers the final time that Pinehurst hosted the occasion in 2014 – the scene of Martin Kaymer’s second main title.
An extended Par 72 observe at round 7,588 yards, Pinehurst No. 2 tends to reward lengthy, straight hitters – the 2014 prime 5 additionally contained the likes of Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day and Koepka.
A maiden main nonetheless eludes Fowler, so what higher solution to cap his latest career renaissance than with victory at a contented looking floor? Given his unbelievable size off the tee, Cameron Younger is one other participant who may enter the dialogue.
PGA Championship
Valhalla Golf Membership in Kentucky will take the honour of internet hosting the PGA Championship subsequent Could.
The Jack Nicklaus design was additionally final seen on the key circuit in 2014, when Rory McIlroy noticed off the cost of Phil Mickelson to win what was, on the time of writing, the Irishman’s final main win.
These two ballistic hitters apart, there was a extra open really feel to the PGA Championship 2014 leaderboard, with shorter, extra exact sorts like Henrik Stenson, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker additionally within the prime ten.
A lot of European gamers carried out properly at Valhalla too, with Bernd Wiesberger one shot off the lead on the 54-hole stage, so maidens like Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton will certainly come into competition.
Open Championship
Hyperlinks golf throws up a specific set of situations which are hardly ever discovered wherever else in golf – some are inclined to thrive when the climate takes a flip.
Possibly the solar will shine on Royal Troon on the 2024 Open Championship, however even when it does the match will nonetheless take some successful – solely 17 gamers completed underneath par on the 2016 version at this venue.
Tommy Fleetwood was only one participant who confirmed his Hyperlinks golf prowess at Hoylake in the summertime, whereas the presence of Stenson, Mickelson and Patrick Reed on the prime of the 2016 leaderboard suggests short-game mastery is required at Royal Troon – Tony Finau and Max Homa are two different maidens who may simply take pleasure in such a check.
Will it’s first-time winners or repeat offenders on the majors in 2024?
