Golf Major Championships Picks & Predictions
Golf Majors Format and Predictions
In the world of top-tier golf, there are many high-profile events, many of which we’ve covered on our PGA Tour page, but there are four tournaments that stand above all others. These are the four majors.
What are the Golf Majors?
The four golf majors feature as part of the yearly professional golf schedule. They never change and have been a fixture of the yearly calendar for many years.
The four golf majors are:
- The Masters - played at Augusta National in April of each year
- The PGA Championship - played at varying US courses in May of each year
- The US Open - played at varying US courses in June of each year
- The Open Championship - played at varying British courses in July of each year
The format of the four golf majors is much like the format of most PGA Tour events. Each major takes place over four days, during which four 18-hole rounds take place. The stroke-play format is used, meaning that all players start with a score of zero before recording the number of shots taken on each hole. At the end of the second round, players who do not meet a certain score, will be cut from the event. The remaining players then play a further two rounds. At the end of all four rounds, the player with the lowest score will be crowned the champion.
Beginner Bettors - How do the Golf Majors work?
The golf majors differ from regular PGA Tour events in prestige, which means that not all players can play in the majors.
Of all the majors, The Masters has the smallest field, which means it’s the hardest to qualify for. All past champions are extended an invitation to play in the tournament, as are the Top 50 players according to the Official, as well as those who finished in the first 12 places at the previous masters.
For the PGA Championship, it’s a little different. The top 70 players according to the PGA Tour points list qualify, alongside all players who have won a PGA Tour event since the last PGA Championship was played.
At The Open Championship, players can qualify via something known as the ‘Open Qualifying Series’, while the best performers on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour also qualify.
Lastly, at the US Open, there are local qualifying stages, allowing certain amateurs a chance to qualify, while there is also a qualifying stage for top professionals.
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2026 Golf Major Championships Odds
See below for the early odds from our top sportsbooks ahead of the four golf majors in 2026.
2026 Augusta National Odds
- Scottie Scheffler +480
- Rory McIlroy +1000
- Jon Rahm +1200
- Bryson DeChambeau +1200
- Ludvig Aberg +1600
- Xander Schaufele +1800
All other players +2000 or longer.
2026 PGA Championship Odds
- Scottie Scheffler +400
- Rory McIlroy +700
- Bryson DeChambeau +1000
- Jon Rahm +1600
- Xander Schaufele +1800
- Ludvig Aberg +2200
All other players +2500 or longer.
2026 US Open Odds
- Scottie Scheffler +410
- Rory McIlroy +900
- Bryson DeChambeau +1000
- Jon Rahm +1300
- Xander Schaufele +2000
- Ludvig Aberg +2000
All other players +2500 or longer.
2026 Open Championship Odds
- Scottie Scheffler +500
- Rory McIlroy +800
- Jon Rahm +1600
- Tommy Fleetwood +1800
- Xander Schaufele +2000
- Bryson DeChambeau +2200
All other players +2500 or longer.
How to Make Picks for the Golf Majors?
Our PGA Tour page breaks down how to enhance your golf betting and make expert picks, and all of this information applies to the majors, too.
However, there are a few additional things to keep in mind if you want to make expert picks for golf’s four biggest events, and these are:
- The best events are typically won by the best players
- The margin for error is tiny at the majors
- Previous major form is important
The best events are typically won by the best players
It may sound obvious, but it’s worth reiterating. As we’ll see in the stats section below, the cream typically rises in the biggest events. Sure, there are always exceptions, but if you think you’re going to make a habit of finding huge-odds outsiders that triumph in the majors, then think again.
The margin for error is tiny at the majors
The majors, particularly The Open Championship and the US Open, are played on some of the toughest golf courses on the planet. This means that the margin for error is as low as it gets. Volatile players are not ideal for such tests. When making golf picks for the majors, it’s a good idea to avoid players who typically make lots of mistakes or are very up and down with their play.
Previous major form is important
When it comes to the majors, one of the biggest indicators of a strong future performance is past form at the majors. It’s hard to perform at the majors, but some players have a habit of rising to the occasion on the biggest stage of all, and these are the players to look out for when making golf picks. Look for those players who possess a history of strong performance at the majors.
Golf Major Championships Betting Mistakes to Avoid
Now that you have a few tips to follow to increase your accuracy for golf Majors betting, let's have a look at some of the most common betting mistakes to avoid:
- Not comparing odds before placing your bet
- Focusing on the favorites
- Betting without checking out promos/bonuses
- Overlooking tournament history
Taking a few extra minutes to consider the above options before placing your bet can help you avoid missing out on some value plays and leaving potential money on the table.
Golf Major Championships: Key Stats for Your Bets
Here are some key statistics and trends to keep in mind before betting on the four golf majors:
- 2025 Majors: 75% of winners started at +1000 or shorter.
- Last 3 Years: Only 25% of major winners started longer than +2000.
- Since 2020: 58.33% of major winners started lower than +2000.
The Masters (Course History & Ranking)
- Top 10s: 8 of the last 10 winners had a previous top-10 finish at the event.
- Top 20s: 100% of the last 10 winners had a top-20 finish within the previous five years.
- World Ranking: Every winner from the last decade was ranked 25th or higher.
PGA Championship Trends
- Rank Consistency: Only two winners ranked outside the top 50 between 2010 and 2025.
- Elite Performance: 5 of the last 8 winners were ranked in the world top 10.
The Open Championship Trends
- Rank Threshold: 80% of the last 10 winners were ranked 25th or higher.
- Recent Dominance: 4 of the last 5 winners were ranked in the world top 10.
U.S. Open Trends
- Underdog Potential: This major has produced the most winners ranked outside the top 25 over the last decade.
As you can see, your golf majors pick strategy will and should vary according to the tournament. For example, favoring the underdog would be a more sound strategy for your US Open bets, but not for the Open Championship, historically speaking. Of course, nothing is set in stone so be sure to stay tuned to golf picks for the latest betting trends and analyses!
In Short: How to Make Great Golf Major Championships Picks
Now that you know what the golf majors are, when they are played and how they are played, you’re ready to dive into the weird and wonderful world of golf picks.
Having read the info on this page, as well as the helpful golf-betting info on our PGA Tour page, you should be well equipped to make a solid start as a golf bettor. In addition, you’ll also have access to golf picks for all the majors from our golf experts, who will give you the lowdown on their best betting opportunities shortly before each major begins.
