With the 2026 golf season getting underway, fans will be looking to the calendar and trying to predict who’ll take home each of the four majors over the next year.
The 2025 season was marked by dominance from two players in particular. Rory McIlroy completed his Career Grand Slam at The Masters, while Scottie Scheffler added both the PGA Championship and The Open Championship to his tally.
Both players enter this season as clear favourites again, but there are a few others who could have something to say about that.
One player with a real shot at breaking through is Collin Morikawa. Although he’s already won two majors, he has yet to add an Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) victory. This year might be his best chance.
Morikawa not only holds course records at two of this year’s major venues but also shares a personal connection with another, giving him plenty of reasons to feel confident about his chances in 2026.
Player with course records at two of 2026’s major sites
Tommy Fleetwood holding the course record at a major venue in 2026 might naturally lead most to think of Royal Birkdale, given his history there.
The Englishman grew up nearby and often found his way onto the course as a youngster. He finished tied for 27th when it hosted The Open in 2017.
But it’s actually the venues for the PGA Championship and US Open where Fleetwood has left his mark.
For those curious, Branden Grace shot a 62 at Fleetwood’s home course back in 2017.
The second major of the year will be held at Aronimink in Pennsylvania. Fleetwood is one of five players to have shot a 62 there, joining Nick Watney, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Kevin Na on that list.
He also stands alone as the only one to have done it twice. Both rounds came during the 2018 BMW Championship, though he finished tied for eighth after less impressive opening and closing rounds.
Over at Shinnecock Hills during the final round of the 2018 US Open, Fleetwood posted a 63 – narrowly missing out on a historic 62 with a short putt on the last hole.
That near-miss didn’t stop him from finishing second that week, showcasing once again how well he can handle these venues under pressure.
Tommy Fleetwood’s path to major glory now feels wide open
While it’s been a while since those rounds were recorded and both courses have likely seen changes, Fleetwood is a different player now than he was in 2018.
Since then, he’s answered the questions about whether he could win on the PGA Tour by claiming victory at the Tour Championship last year. That breakthrough seems to have come at the perfect moment as he now looks ready to chase major honours.
The venue that made him believe that this could be his year was Augusta. So perhaps it would be fitting if his first major win came there.
If that happens, you can bet he won’t mind where it comes.
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