Who will emerge victorious and claim their first major golf championship in 2026? Let’s delve into the leading contenders.
By Gabby Herzig, Brody Miller, and Hugh Kellenberger
Winning a golf major is no small feat.
With only nine major tournaments held each year—four for men and five for women—the chances to achieve this prestigious title are limited. When you factor in the brief window of peak performance that athletes experience, it becomes incredibly challenging to earn the label of a major champion. For most players, aside from a select few like Scottie Scheffler, opportunities may be restricted to just one or two throughout their careers.
Still skeptical? A glance at the roster of top-tier golfers who have yet to secure a major title reveals a number of prominent names. Some of these individuals may or may not be highlighted in The Athletic’s projection of golfers poised to win their inaugural major in 2026.
Jeeno Thitikul
It’s quite astonishing that Jeeno Thitikul, widely regarded as the best female golfer in the world today, has never won a major championship. This 22-year-old sensation from Thailand has accumulated nearly every accolade imaginable in women’s golf over the past year but remains without a major title. She was honored as Player of the Year and clinched the CME Group Tour Championship for a second consecutive season, making her the only LPGA player to secure three victories in 2025. Additionally, she shattered the record for the lowest single-season scoring average in LPGA history, surpassing the previous mark set by Annika Sorenstam in 2002. However, despite her impressive resume, she faced disappointment this summer when she lost in a seven-hole playoff to Grace Kim at the Evian Championship, one of five major events for women, narrowly missing another opportunity for her first major win. Since 2021, Thitikul has recorded nine top-10 finishes in major tournaments, indicating that it's merely a matter of time before her exceptional ball-striking skills and consistency lead her to lift a major trophy.
Alongside Thitikul, Charley Hull has also been showing signs that a major victory could be on the horizon. The 29-year-old from the English Midlands boasts four runner-up finishes and has expressed that pursuing major titles is her current focus in the sport. After her latest runner-up finish at the AIG Women’s Open this summer, she has climbed to No. 5 in the world rankings, marking a new career high. — Gabby Herzig
— Tommy Fleetwood (@TommyFleetwood1) October 19, 2025
Tommy Fleetwood
Yes, it might sound predictable to mention him here, but the narrative surrounding Tommy Fleetwood goes far beyond the cliché of waiting for someone consistently good to finally break through. No, something shifted for Fleetwood late this past summer as he began to turn around the conversation about his inability to finish strong. He continued to elevate his performance, culminating in a Tour Championship win, an impressive showing at the Ryder Cup, and a victory in India. This transformation meant that he evolved from merely being a nice player to becoming elite. He developed the confidence necessary to perform under pressure, revealing what seems to have always been a great golfer hidden behind Fleetwood's naturally polite demeanor.
However, this surge in performance can also increase pressure, potentially leading to adverse effects. For the first time, I believe he will approach the Masters with the mindset that he should win rather than simply seeking a solid top-10 finish. The golfer who excelled at the Tour Championship and at Bethpage presented himself as someone capable of competing with giants like Scheffler and McIlroy on their best days—something he likely didn't feel before. — Brody Miller
Cameron Young
I wish I could highlight a dark horse candidate here, someone unexpected like the 2026 equivalent of J.J. Spaun or Wyndham Clark, and later share a screenshot declaring, "Nailed it!" Unfortunately, my research didn’t uncover such a player who met both statistical scrutiny and instinctual appeal.
So, let’s talk about Cameron Young, a player who, until August, hadn’t managed to clinch any event. That all changed when he finally broke through to win the Wyndham Championship. Shortly after, he placed in the top five once again and performed admirably at the Tour Championship. Notably, Young emerged as arguably the best American player at the Ryder Cup, winning points in every format.
Young has unleashed his potential. He has demonstrated the ability to finish strong, something he had struggled with in the past, showcasing the kind of energetic enthusiasm we typically see during Ryder Cups but hadn't witnessed from him before.
There’s a strong case for Young here, especially considering he has already experienced success across all four major tournaments, with six top-10 finishes since 2022 and a runner-up position at the 2022 Open. The U.S. Open stands out as a particular opportunity for Young, a New York native who has undoubtedly played Shinnecock Hills more than a few times.
