‘ABERG AND ZHANG WILL BOTH WIN MAJORS IN 2024’
Forget New Year’s resolutions; for golf fans, January marks the countdown to the Majors.
As you read this, it’s less than three months until the opening tee shots at Augusta. So, to whet our collective appetite, I’ve looked into my crystal ball to predict who will lift the nine Majors in 2024.
The Masters April 11-14
My winner: Scottie Scheffler
Tied 10th last year with the hullaballoo of being defending champion was pretty good going. He’s World No.1 and has the game and experience now to get the job done around the hallowed grounds of Augusta National. Statistically he’s better tee to green than he was when he won in 2022 and his putting is moving back towards his best. Despite his woes on the greens in 2023, Scheffler still managed to turn up when it mattered most, going T10-T2-3RD-T23 in the Majors.
Chevron Championship April 18-21 My winner: Rose Zhang
The breakout star in the women’s game in 2023, Zhang’s summer saw her win once and finish in the top 10 of three of the four Majors she played. The 20-year-old has all the ingredients to lift a Major title early in her career and I expect her to make the breakthrough in 2024.
PGA Championship May 16-19 My winner: Viktor Hovland
The Norwegian made huge strides with his short game in 2023 and if you couple that with improvements in strategy and mental fortitude, you have a compelling package.
He was in the penultimate group at The Masters and only missed out on last year’s PGA Championship by a couple of shots. Progress in golf doesn’t always happen in a straight line, but it definitely feels like he’s ready to add his first Major.
US Women’s Open May 30-June 2 My winner: Georgia Hall
I believe 2024 will be the year we see
Georgia stake her claim as one of the world’s best female golfers. She was ranked as high as 8th in the world in 2023 but has slipped to 22nd at the time of writing. However, I know she’s been grinding hard in the off season and I believe she is ready to prove she can win on the biggest stage on both sides of the Atlantic.
US Open June 13-16
My winner: Ludvig Aberg
A big call for a man yet to even tee it up in a Major, but the Swede made a huge impression in the last 12 months, rising from 3,064 in the world to 29th as I write this. He won on both sides of the pond and made an impressive Ryder Cup debut, all while going about his business in a very understated manner. Don’t be surprised if he adjusts immediately and calmly and unassumingly picks up a Major title in 2024.
Women’s PGA Champ June 20-23 My winner: Nasa Hataoka Hataoka’s Major championship record tells you that she’s due one.
She has nine top-10 finishes in 29 career starts since 2017 and has twice lost in play-offs. She also finished in the top-four twice in 2023. Expect a breakthrough in 2024.
The Open July 18-21
My winner: Rory Mcilroy
I have a strong feeling this will be the year Rory finally returns to Major-winning ways. We all know what he is capable of when he is in full flow and the Scottish air will bring out the best in him. Personally, I just hope there’s at least one Majorwinning interview with Rory in 2024.
Evian Championship August 11-14 My winner: Linn Grant
The 24-year-old already has five LET wins and one LPGA victory under her belt and she always shows up to compete on the biggest stage. She finished tied eighth at the Evian in 2022 – her best Major result to date – but showed some promising signs in the big events last year. I think there are exciting things ahead for the big hitter in 2024.
Women’s Open August 21-25 My winner: Charley Hull
When I interviewed Charley Hull after her narrow defeat to Lilia Vu at last year’s AIGWO, she told me she was off to the range to “make my hands bleed”. That’s how hungry she is to lift the AIGWO trophy and there is no better stage for the 27-year-old to finally win her first Major than the Home of Golf.
I believe she’s the best ball-striker in the women’s game and she has all the credentials required to lift that coveted title.