Way Too Early 2025 Major Winners Predictions
The 2024 PGA season has come to a close for most of the top names. While a few have been competing in some DP World Tour and PGA Fall Tour events, the PGA Tour and LIV Tour seasons have ended. With professional golf in its “offseason,” now could be a fun time to make some way-too-early predictions for next year’s majors. During the 2024 majors, all the big names flexed their muscles and showed why they’re considered the best in the world. How will things shake out in 2025?
1. The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club (April 10th-13th): Xander Schauffele
The major season will once again kick off with the illustrious Masters Tournament at Augusta National in Georgia, and Xander Schauffele will finally get his hands on that elusive green jacket. Out of the seven times he’s played the tournament, he’s been the runner-up once, finished in the top 10 four times, and the top 25 five times. His game, from driving, iron play, and short game, to putting, is so consistent that it can fit any course, but it fits Augusta National particularly well. With the “Major Monkey” finally off his back after winning two majors in 2024, he’s mentally free to have a great showing at the Masters in 2025.
2. PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club (May 15th-18th): Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy is currently on an 11-year major win drought. He’s come extremely close in recent years, including a second-place finish in the 2024 U.S. Open, finishing second in the 2023 U.S. Open, a second-place finish in the 2022 Masters, and a third-place finish in the 2022 Open Championship. He’s essentially played better than anyone to win but just hasn’t been able to close out a tournament. The putts just haven’t been dropping when he’s needed them to. With the PGA Championship heading to Quail Hollow in 2025, McIlroy’s chances of getting into the major winner’s circle are better than ever. In 12 career starts at Quail Hollow, he has four wins and eight top 10s, so it’s safe to say that he loves playing there. Course familiarity and comfortability could easily go a long way for McIlroy as he tries to end his major win drought.
3. U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club (June 9th-15th): Ludvig Aberg
Ludvig Aberg is one of the best-rising stars on the PGA Tour right now. Despite finishing in the top 10 in eight out of the 19 events played, including three runner-up finishes, by most accounts, his 2024 was somewhat disappointing, especially in the majors. He finished second in the Masters, missed the cut in the PGA Championship, tied for 12th in the U.S. Open, and missed the cut at the Open Championship. Other than his Masters finish, his play in the majors has been less than stellar. The kicker with that, though? This year was his first time teeing it up at each of the majors, and he was dealing with nagging injuries all year. Taking the offseason to get his body right and with a better understanding of how he’ll feel during the majors, it’s fully expected that he’ll do much better in 2025. The U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club would be the perfect way for him to enter the major winner circle.
4. The Open at Royal Portrush (July 17th-20th): Rory McIlroy
You’re reading that right. Rory McIlroy will win two majors in 2025 after going 11 years without a major win. In golf, sometimes the biggest thing keeping you from a win is yourself and your mindset. The pressure and desire to win can sometimes overtake muscle memory and cause your swing to do weird things. For McIlroy, it seems like because he’s come so close so many times, the pressure to close just keeps getting bigger and bigger. If he wins the PGA Championship and gets that monkey off his back, he could pull a 2024 Schauffele and win two majors in a year, and there’d be no better place to do it than at Royal Portrush in his home country, Northern Ireland.
