9 Possible Maiden Major Champions in 2020
With little more than a month until the major season gets underway at Augusta National for the 84th Masters tournament, here at Hole19 HQ we've been considering the golfers who are best-placed to break their major duck in 2020.
With 11 golfers grabbing their first championship in the past four years, it seems a safe bet there will be a 'newbie' added to golf's reel of major champions this year. Let's see who we've come up with...
Jon Rahm
Best Major Finish: T-3 (2019 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black)
The current world number two is knocking on the door harder than most in pursuit of a maiden major and will be among the favourites at each of the four championship venues (Augusta National, TPC Harding Park, Royal St Georges and Winged Foot G.C.) this year.
Shots like this ace at the WGC-Mexico Championship last week will help in his quest for a first major.
Hideki Matsuyama
Best Major Finish: T-2 (2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills)
A few years ago it seemed only a matter of time before Hideki Matsuyama would go on to become only the second Asian major champion in the men's game. So far, he hasn't lived up to those lofty expectations.
Only Y.E Yang (2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National) has managed to achieve the feat so far; however, a slight upturn in Matsuyama's fortunes of late points towards a return to form in major championships before too long.
Bryson DeChambeau
Best Major Finish: T-16 (2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont C.C.)
He might not be among the most popular golfers on Tour, but Bryson DeChambeau is firmly amongst the group of golfers who are most likely to grab a first major win in 2020.
As an example of his credentials, DeChambeau, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus are the only players to have won the U.S. Amateur, NCAA Div 1 Champs and three PGA Tour titles by the age of 25. That's pretty impressive company to keep.
Famed for his unorthodox - and at times painfully slow - approach the game, the 'Mad Scientist' looks sure to break his major duck at some point in the not too distant future.
Rickie Fowler
Best Major Finish: Runner-up (2018 Masters at Augusta National)
Over the past few years, Rickie Fowler has been right at the top of the list of best golfers without a major championship to their name. Back in 2014, he finished within the top four in each of the four majors without managing to quite get over the line. Since then a runner-up slot behind Patrick Reed at Augusta National back in 2018 is his only real concerted challenge of note.
He's certainly keeping us all waiting, but it's unlikely you'll find a more popular choice for a first-time major champion golfer in 2020 than Rickie.
Patrick Cantlay
Best Major Finish: T-3 (2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black)
After enjoying a standout 2019 that included five separate top-three finishes, Patrick Cantlay has rocketed into the Official World Golf Ranking's top-10. A super-consistent level of play has allowed him to avoid the halfway cut at every tournament since last year's PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass and a second PGA Tour title came along at The Memorial Tournament in June.
Fancy some iron-striking tips from the current world number seven?
Viktor Hovland
Best Major Finish: T-12 (2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach)
A bit of a curveball this one (or perhaps not) but Viktor Hovland seems to be a major-champion-in-waiting. Having turned professional last June after an impressive amateur performance at Pebble Beach, it was quickly evident that the young Norwegian golfer has everything in place to make waves in the men's game.
Interesting Fact: Hovland shot a score of 280 over his four rounds at Pebble Beach last year and, in doing so, became the lowest-scoring amateur in the tournament's history - beating the great Jack Nicklaus' 59-year record.
Xander Schauffele
Best Major Finish: T-2 (2019 Masters at Augusta National)
While the world watched Tiger Woods secure a 15th golf major at last year's Masters, Xander Schauffele's impressive T-2 flew somewhat more under the radar. The American has posted a T-3 or better in three of the four major championships, so it seems only a matter of time before he finally gets his hands on one of golf's most glittering prizes.
Are you looking to hit bombs from the tee like Xander? Check out these tips from the man himself.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Best Major Finish: T-7 (2016 Masters at Augusta National)
Matt Fitzpatrick has taken the step from being one of Europe's most promising golfers to a stage where he's now thought of as one of the most talented exponents of the game.
Though he's without a win since the tail end of 2018, he already has five victories under his belt in a short career so far, while he continues to climb the Official World Golf Rankings at a great pace.
Tony Finau
Best Major Finish: 3rd (2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush)
Tony Finau has failed to win as many tournaments as would be expected for a man with the abundance of golfing talent he possesses. He has put himself into promising positions in major championships to end up settling for positions in behind the eventual winner. This year could see him secure highly-deserved success.
We've seen it recently in regular PGA Tour events - he seemed to be in the driving seat at the recent Waste Management Phoenix Open before being finally reeled in by Webb Simpson.
Who do you think could break their major duck in 2020? Let us know in the comments below.
Need some 'major' assistance with your game? The FREE Hole19 Mobile App is packed with impressive features that will help make this golf season your best yet. Tap on your app store button below and download:
Know more.
Score less.
The most complete mobile app for golfers.
Download Hole19