The 2026 Major Golf Season: A Year of Upsets and Unpredictability
The 2026 major golf season was a wild ride, full of surprises and upsets that left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads. From the defending champion's fall from grace to the emergence of unlikely winners, this season proved that anything can happen when the stakes are highest. As an expert commentator, I'm here to break down the highs and lows, the stars and the also-rans, and offer my insights into what it all means for the future of the sport.
The Unpredictable Nature of the Majors
What makes the majors so captivating is their unpredictability. Unlike regular tour events, where form and consistency often dictate success, the majors are a different beast. They are the four events that truly matter, the ones that can define a player's legacy and separate the good from the great. This season, more than ever, highlighted the importance of these tournaments, as the money pouring into the sport underscores their outsized impact.
The Top Performers: Grades and Analysis
Let's dive into the grades for the top players, with a focus on their performances in the majors. These grades are relative to expectations, and I've included everyone who entered Birkdale in the top 15 of Data Golf, along with a few others for good measure.
Ryan Fox: The Unlikely Champion
Grade: A+
Fox's win at the Open Championship was a true wildcard moment. Coming into the season, he wasn't even having a particularly good year, ranking No. 54 in Data Golf. But his mental fortitude down the stretch at Birkdale was remarkable, and it earned him his first-ever major championship. This win was a testament to the power of belief and the ability to rise to the occasion, even when the odds are stacked against you.
Aaron Rai: The PGA Champion
Grade: A+
Rai's win at the PGA Championship was just as unexpected as Fox's. He had never finished better than T19 in a dozen major starts until he grabbed hold of the PGA late on Sunday. Rai's performance was a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is one moment of brilliance to change your destiny. His win was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game.
Rory McIlroy: The Consistency Pays Off
Grade: A
McIlroy's performance at the Masters was a reminder of why he's one of the all-time greats. His sixth major victory and back-to-back wins at Augusta were nothing short of impressive. While he didn't have the same success in the other majors, his consistency throughout the season was a testament to his skill and determination. McIlroy's win at Augusta moved him closer to the top of the all-time major wins list, and it was a moment that will forever be etched in golf history.
Wyndham Clark: The Microwave Man
Grade: A
Clark's victory at the U.S. Open was fully earned, despite the crowd turning against him on the weekend. His streaky golf caught fire when it mattered most, and his performance was a reminder of the mental toughness required to win at the highest level. Clark's win was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game.
Cameron Young: The Breakthrough Year
Grade: A-
Young had a breakthrough year, but he just couldn't quite get across the finish line at the Masters and Open Championship. However, his performance at the PGA Championship was a reminder of his top-three potential. Young's win at the Open Championship was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game. I believe he's a bonafide top-three player in the world, and his future major victories are a matter of when, not if.
Sam Burns: The Major Contender
Grade: A-
Burns didn't win a major, but he completely changed his reputation in 2026. Previously known for struggling in majors, Burns has established he can rise to the occasion. His performance at the U.S. Open was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game. Burns was a couple of bounces away from winning two majors this year, and his future is bright.
Justin Rose: The Veteran Contender
Grade: B+
Rose is still very competitive, despite turning 46 years old next week. His performance at the Masters was a reminder of his skill and determination, and his T3 finish was a huge upset. Rose's T10 finish at the PGA Championship was a testament to his ability to rise to the occasion, even at an advanced age. I would give one of my kidneys to see him get a second major, but Father Time is undefeated.
Xander Schauffele: The Consistency Pays Off
Grade: B
Schauffele's performance at the Masters was a reminder of his skill and consistency. His two major victories in 2024 were a testament to his ability to rise to the occasion. While he didn't have the same success in the other majors, his overall performance was a reminder of why he's one of the best players in the world. Schauffele's ceiling is very high in majors, and his future is bright.
Ludvig Aberg: The Next Step
Grade: B
Aberg's performance at the majors was pretty much in line with what you would expect from him. The next step is to see him really want the ball when it comes to getting in contention on Sunday, and I'm not just talking about the majors. He needs to win more, and his performance at the U.S. Open was a huge upset. Aberg's future is bright, but he needs to take that next step.
Russell Henley: The Analytics Darling
Grade: B
Henley's T3 finish at the Masters is the best major result of his career, and it was a positive. His performance at the Open Championship was a reminder of his ability to rise to the occasion. The analytics darling has nibbled at major contention the past few years, but he hasn't seriously threatened the finish line. Henley's future is bright, but he needs to take that next step.
Chris Gotterup: The Rising Star
Grade: B
Gotterup's performance at the majors was a reminder of his potential. It's early in his career, and he's building up to contending in a major, as evidenced by his five Tour victories. The foundation is in place for 2027, and the expectations will be higher. Gotterup's future is bright, and he's a rising star in the making.
Scottie Scheffler: The Lost Year
Grade: B-
Scheffler's performance at the majors was a reminder of how hard it is to win them. He factored into every major, but his measuring stick is against greatness. Ultimately, this was a lost year of sorts for Scheffler. His performance at the Masters was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game. Scheffler's future is bright, but he needs to take that next step.
Patrick Reed: The Underwhelming Performance
Grade: B-
Reed was a little underwhelming in the majors, given his strong play at the start of 2026. However, his performance at the PGA Championship was a reminder of his skill and determination. Reed's performance at the U.S. Open was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game. His future is bright, and he's a player who can rise to the occasion.
Justin Thomas: The Breakthrough Year
Grade: B-
Thomas had a breakthrough year in the majors, but he just couldn't quite get across the finish line. His performance at the PGA Championship was a reminder of his potential, and his Sunday at the PGA was a huge upset. Thomas's future is bright, and he's a player who can rise to the occasion.
Collin Morikawa: The Weird Season
Grade: B-
Morikawa had a weird season, with a back injury seemingly cooling him off prior to major season. However, he made all four major cuts, showed some grit at the Masters, and is a top-10 player in Data Golf. On the other side, Morikawa has gone five years without a major victory. His future is bright, but he needs to take that next step.
Tommy Fleetwood: The Major Question Mark
Grade: C+
Fleetwood's performance at the majors was decent, but he's the No. 4 player in the world and expectations should be high. His performance at the Open Championship was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game. Fleetwood's future is bright, but he needs to take that next step and prove himself in the majors.
Brooks Koepka: The Struggling Veteran
Grade: C+
Koepka's performance at the majors was a slight improvement on his previous year, but he still missed three of four major cuts in 2025. His performance at the U.S. Open was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game. Koepka's future is bright, but he needs to get more involved next year.
Jon Rahm: The Lackluster Performance
Grade: C
Rahm's performance at the majors was lackluster, to say the least. His performance at the PGA Championship was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game. By the time the Masters begins, it will be four years since Rahm's last major title. His future is bright, but he needs to take that next step and prove himself in the majors.
Si Woo Kim: The Rising Star
Grade: C
Kim's performance at the majors was a reminder of his potential. His T6 finish at the Open Championship was his best-ever major finish, and it was just his second top-10 finish in a major. Kim's future is bright, but he needs to have a higher ceiling in majors.
Akshay Bhatia: The Hype Man
Grade: C-
Bhatia's performance at the majors was a reminder of the hype surrounding him. His ceiling is high, but he hasn't registered a single top-10 major finish so far. His future is bright, but he needs to take that next step and prove himself in the majors.
Patrick Cantlay: The Major Struggles
Grade: C-
Cantlay's major record is putrid, and his performance at the majors was a reminder of his struggles. His future is bright, but he needs to take that next step and prove himself in the majors.
Matt Fitzpatrick: The Disappointing Year
Grade: C-
Fitzpatrick's performance at the majors was a disappointment, given his overall season. His major championship campaign was lacking, and he really never even sniffed meaningful contention on a major Sunday. His future is bright, but he needs to take that next step and prove himself in the majors.
Jordan Spieth: The Unspectacular Tour Player
Grade: C-
Spieth's performance at the majors was a reminder of his unspectacular nature. His future is bright, but he needs to take that next step and prove himself in the majors. Spieth's performance at the majors was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game.
Cameron Smith: The Struggling Star
Grade: D+
Smith's performance at the majors was a reminder of his struggles. His future is bright, but he needs to take that next step and prove himself in the majors. Smith's performance at the PGA Championship was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game.
Viktor Hovland: The Snoozer
Grade: D
Hovland's performance at the majors was a snoozer, to say the least. His future is bright, but he needs to take that next step and prove himself in the majors. Hovland's performance at the majors was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game.
Bryson DeChambeau: The Disastrous Season
Grade: D-
DeChambeau's performance at the majors was disastrous, to say the least. His future is bright, but he needs to get back in the lab and work on his wedges and irons. His performance at the Open Championship was a huge upset, and it further solidified the idea that the majors are anyone's game. DeChambeau's performance at the majors was a reminder of the importance of consistency and preparation.
The Takeaway
The 2026 major golf season was a year of upsets and unpredictability, and it was a reminder of the importance of these tournaments. The majors are anyone's game, and the money pouring into the sport underscores their outsized impact. As an expert commentator, I believe the future of golf is bright, and the majors will continue to be a platform for the best players to rise to the occasion. The grades I've given are relative to expectations, and I believe they accurately reflect the performances of the top players. The majors are anyone's game, and the future of golf is full of possibilities.
