Majors Picks and Driver Giveaway!

After the first few weeks of the new season, I can’t believe that I forgot to make my predictions for the 2024 Majors.

Masters (Augusta)-Joh Rahm is the defending champion, and now is on the LIV circuit. Many golf experts say this move will hurt his game and that he won’t get the same level of competition to prepare for the Masters. Well, Brooks Koepka will disagree with that statement. Rahm also did not defend his title at the Sentry TOC in Hawaii. This is a bigger deal to than the LIV stuff, Kapalua is a major proving ground and prep for the Masters. With the greens, elevation changes, and all the slopes in the fairway a player can take success here and take it to Augusta. You know who else had success both in Hawaii and Georgia? Jordan, DJ, Patrick Reed, and Cam Smith. A concern I do have is LIV guys will only have 4 tournaments of play before the Masters, the schedule does say there is an event in the USA the week prior, but who knows how many of those guys will play that close to the Masters. Rahm hasn’t played since the Spanish Open, but he is my pick for the 2024 Masters and the first repeat champion since Tiger in ’01-’02. Unlike Scottie his putter seems to stay pretty consistent, and Rahm as proven once before he can plot his way around Augusta. I do think for Rahm the time off has been good, he doesn’t need the practice rounds to get ready for big tournaments, and I think he can pull off a repeat.

PGA Championship (Valhalla) -Do you know the last time the PGA was played at Valhalla Golf Club? 2014, and do you know who won that year? Rory did at -16. Rory has been going through a lot lately, but in the last few years he has found success at the Majors, recording a top 10 in all the Majors in 2022 and all but the Masters in 2023. This includes a second place finish at the US Open at LACC. It seems like now the LIV stuff is gone (kind of) and there is no longer this outside pressure on Rory to defend the PGA Tour. I think he is going to play with a lot more freedom and will have success at Valhalla. After watching him lose to Tommy in Dubai the putter is a concern, just see his 3 putt from inside 2 feet. Driving accuracy was also not as sharp as it could have been, but Valhalla is a course that is long and has even longer par 3’s. 3 of them over 200 yards, which helps Rory as his long iron play is still excellent. It is hard to not want the home town hero Justin Thomas to become victorious, yet he hasn’t quite shown enough for me to pick him over Rory.

US Open (Pinehurst #2) – If there is one course(outside Augusta) that I have on my bucket list of Major venues, it is Pinehurst #2. I have seen so many videos of others paying this course, it makes me try to convince my wife to take a weeklong trip to South Carolina and see “family”. The greens at #2 are the primary defense against the golfers, and knowing how the USGA likes to ramp up the difficulty I am excited to see how tough these greens are. What make Pinehurst unique as well is there is no rough, just pine and sand waste areas. A player that comes to mind that I believe will have success is Bryson DeChambeau. The 2020 US Open champion has come down in body size, yet is still hitting the ball a country mile. Not to mention shooting a 58 at LIV Greenbrier. This course does require some accuracy off the tee, but really one needs to be able to control their approach shots on the green. Bryson won’t have to bully the course like he did at Wingedfoot, hitting the ball into the rough and swinging out of his shoes to get the ball on the green. The waste area will be punishing enough but good contact can still be made. While most players will be hitting 6 and 7 irons into some of these greens he will have PW or even lower. This I think gives Bryson a huge advantage at this course. He is also the one LIV golfer we have seen a lot of due to his YouTube channel and his game does look sharp. Everything from driver to irons to putting, he looks ready for a second major title.

The Open Championship (Royal Troon)- In all honesty I don’t know much about Royal Troon, and the only memory I have is the duel between Phil and Henrik Stenson in 2016. But, what I do know is Tommy Fleetwood is playing some good golf. He outlasted Rory in Dubai while not making many mistakes. At one point him and Rory were tied, then Rory took the lead. I didn't see Tommy get down on himself or just throw in the towel. He kept the pressure on and pulled off an upset. His bunker play and pace control on the greens was outstanding. I did think that when he took less than driver off the tee his accuracy wasn’t where it could have been, but he did make up for it. I think Tommy has had enough close calls at the Open Championship that I think this year he becomes victorious and will finally hold the Claret Jug.

If you are reading this, that means you’re a golfer, and/or possibly a first responder. Well, what do golfers and first responders love, a good wager. Comment below if you agree or disagree with these picks. Those who comment before the Masters (April 8th is the Thursday round) will be entered for a giveaway. If one of my picks wins, then I will give away that players EXACT driver to a lucky fan. Everything from shaft, to grip, to loft will be the same specs. The more predictions that win, the more drivers I give away. Winners will be announced after the final round of the tournament.