The Ryder Cup could also be over, however golf followers and bettors don’t get a lot time to change off. With Augusta simply months away, eyes are already turning to the 2026 main season — and after the drama of Bethpage Black, there’s loads of intrigue about who may rise to the event subsequent yr.
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Right here’s a take a look at among the key names and storylines that would form the 2026 majors.
Rory McIlroy – Augusta Stress Off
Rory McIlroy has been enjoying with a newfound freedom ever since securing the long-awaited profession Grand Slam at Augusta this yr. He was additionally on hearth for Europe on the 2025 Ryder Cup, ending with 3.5 factors and climbing as much as seventh on the all-time record. He’ll be heading into 2026 filled with confidence and, if he finds type early within the season then anticipate him to be pushing for back-to-back inexperienced jackets.
Scottie Scheffler – Look Past The Data
On the PGA Tour, Scottie Scheffler appears unbeatable, nevertheless it’s been a unique story on the Ryder Cup. He’s now performed a complete of 12 matches on the Ryder Cup, selecting up simply 4.5 factors. However 2.5 of these factors have been in three Sunday singles matches, the place he’s but to lose. When it’s all all the way down to him, Scheffler not often falters and that can doubtless be the identical on the 2026 main. Count on him so as to add not less than a fifth main to his ever-growing trophy cupboard.
Tommy Fleetwood – Main Breakthrough
No European participant within the historical past of the Ryder Cup with not less than 10 matches performed has a better successful proportion than Tommy Fleetwood. His spectacular return of 4 factors from 5 matches on the 2025 Ryder Cup got here shortly after ending his lengthy anticipate a primary PGA Tour title on the Tour Championship. The Englishman will likely be hoping to hold that type into subsequent yr and clinch his first main title.
Cameron Younger – Mr Dependable
It was a Ryder Cup to neglect for many Individuals – other than Cameron Younger. He led the spirited fightback from Crew USA on Sunday after a formidable win over Justin Rose and completed total with three factors from 4 matches. McIlroy and Scheffler might dominate many of the headlines heading into the majors, however Younger is recurrently within the combine and he proved at Bethpage that he can greater than deal with the strain. He’s completed within the prime 10 of a significant not less than yearly since 2022 and he’ll fancy his probabilities of going one higher in 2026.
Justin Thomas – Bounce-Again Potential
After a disappointing 2025 on the majors, Thomas bounced again with a robust displaying on the Ryder Cup. The 2-time main champion has struggled to seek out prime type recurrently, however he received the 2022 PGA Championship a number of months after his shows on the 2021 Ryder Cup. Might Bethpage act as the same springboard for higher issues to come back in 2026?
Don’t Overlook the Darkish Horses
Each main season throws up its surprises. In 2025, J.J. Spaun pulled off a outstanding victory on the US Open regardless of by no means beforehand ending greater than twenty third in his earlier eight majors. There have been indicators early within the yr that he was on the right track for a breakthrough season after impressing on the Sony Open, Cognizant Traditional and Gamers Championship. For punters, maintaining a tally of early-season type in February and March occasions can typically be the distinction between snagging a longshot winner and lacking the boat.
Remaining Phrase
The 2026 majors promise as a lot drama and unpredictability as ever. From Rory’s Augusta breakthrough to in-form stars like Fleetwood chasing their first main title, there’s no scarcity of betting storylines already in play.
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