Skip to content

5 golfers who could win their 1st major in 2020

Sam Greenwood / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The countdown is on until the Masters, with less than 100 days until golf's greatest players descend on Augusta National for the best tournament in the world.

With that in mind, it's a good time to take a look at the entire 2020 major championship season as a whole and identify players who could earn their first major title this year, as well as their betting odds for each event.

The following list doesn't mean that Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, or any of the other elite players in the game shouldn't be considered as bets. They are all very capable of winning majors, but these potential first-timers offer a little more value than proven major champions.

Major venues

The Masters: Augusta National Golf Club - Augusta, Georgia
PGA Championship: TPC Harding Park - San Francisco
U.S. Open: Winged Foot Golf Club - Mamaroneck, New York
Open Championship: Royal St. George's Golf Club - England

Here are the five golfers that could win their first major championship in 2020:

Jon Rahm

Andrew Redington / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Tounament Odds
The Masters 12-1
PGA Championship 16-1
U.S. Open 20-1
Open Championship 16-1
To win a major 11-4

Jon Rahm is the most obvious candidate to earn his first major championship in 2020. He continues to take massive strides in both his physical and mental game while climbing to No. 3 in the world rankings.

The Spaniard is a proven winner with nine worldwide victories over the last three years. It won't be long before he starts racking up majors in the same way McIlroy, Koepka, and Jordan Spieth managed to do. It's worth noting that two of his three PGA Tour wins came in California, where the PGA Championship will be played.

The 25-year-old has also had recent close calls in majors, which is what you're looking for from a player who's about to break through. In his last eight majors, Rahm has three top-five finishes and a T-9 at the 2019 Masters. His current odds don't reflect where he stands in today's game, as he's arguably the best player in the world.

Favorite bet: 16-1 to win the PGA Championship

Xander Schauffele

Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Tournament Odds
The Masters 22-1
PGA Championship 33-1
U.S. Open 28-1
Open Championship 25-1
To win a major 7-1

Xander Schauffele's odds to win a major in 2020 are criminal and don't remotely reflect the caliber of golfer he is.

The San Diego native has done nothing but contend in major championships since playing his first at the 2017 U.S. Open, where he finished tied for fifth. Since then, he's added four more top-six results, two of which were at the U.S. Open. If you're counting at home, Schauffele's worst finish in three U.S. Opens is a tie for sixth.

The 26-year-old is going to eventually win a major and his 2020 odds are as juicy as bettors will ever see them. Schauffele possesses all the skills needed to take down a big-boy event, and when firing on all cylinders, few can compete with him.

Favorite bet: 33-1 to win the PGA Championship, 28-1 to win the U.S. Open

Patrick Cantlay

Tom Pennington / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Tournament Odds
The Masters 28-1
PGA Championship 33-1
U.S. Open 20-1
Open Championship 33-1
To win a major 11-2

It's a matter of when, not if, for Patrick Cantlay and winning his first major championship. The American has all the tools a golfer could ask for to remain a contender at the biggest tournaments for the next decade.

Injuries hampered Cantlay after an illustrious amateur career. He finally played all four majors during the same season in 2018 and made noise in two of the contests last year, finishing in the top 10 at both the Masters and PGA Championship.

Even with his immense talent, Cantlay feels like a player who will earn his first major victory at the PGA Championship, similar to how Thomas and Jason Day claimed their first major wins. It's not a slight on Cantlay, but he lacks an abundance of major experience and only has two PGA Tour titles. However, that number could easily double by the time the Masters rolls around.

Favorite bet: 33-1 to win the PGA Championship

Rickie Fowler

David Cannon / David Cannon Collection / Getty
Tournament Odds
The Masters 22-1
PGA Championship 22-1
U.S. Open 25-1
Open Championship 25-1
To win a major 6-1

Rickie Fowler's odds are often suppressed due to his popularity among casual golf fans, so he rarely offers value in the betting market. With that said, odds don't dictate his actual chances of winning a major.

The 31-year-old took over the title as the best player without a major when Sergio Garcia won the Masters in 2017. In 40 major championships played during his career, Fowler has 11 top-10 finishes, eight top-5 results, and three runner-up finishes. What's more impressive is the fact he's given himself a chance to win all four majors, meaning no individual tournament suits his game over the others.

The 2020 set of venues lines up well for Fowler, mainly because he has no real weaknesses. He seemingly always plays well at Augusta, and his well-rounded game fits golf courses overseas. The PGA Championship is in his home state and he's found success in the Northeast before, where the U.S. Open will be played. If there's any year Fowler will shake off the burden of being golf's best non-major winner, it's going to be 2020.

Favorite bet: 25-1 to win the Open Championship

Tommy Fleetwood

David Cannon / David Cannon Collection / Getty
Tournament Odds
The Masters 28-1
PGA Championship 33-1
U.S. Open 33-1
Open Championship 22-1
To win a major 6-1

The knock on Tommy Fleetwood is he's never won on the PGA Tour, which is slightly concerning. However, he typically only plays in top-tier PGA Tour events and he's won four times on the European Tour since 2017.

The 28-year-old also has recent success at major championships working in his favor. He was the runner-up at both the 2018 U.S. Open and 2019 Open Championship. Additionally, he collected a top-five finish at Erin Hills for the 2017 U.S. Open. The point is, he tends to show up for big events.

Fleetwood, who's ranked No. 10 in the world, has yet to figure out Augusta National, likely due to his struggles on the greens. His best finish at the Masters was a T-17 in 2018. Target Fleetwood during the other three majors, where he can separate himself from the field thanks to his incredible ball-striking skills. Plus, you have to like the Englishman's chances to hoist the Claret Jug with the Open Championship being played in his native country.

Favorite bet: 33-1 to win the U.S. Open

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox