Man vs AI: Golf majors champions 2026

Jonathan Victoria • 14 Apr 2026 Features

Gut feel meets fairways as data takes its best shot.

The 90th edition of The Masters was as thrilling as always, with Rory McIlroy not wanting to take off his green jacket he finally was able to claim last year.

There were a lot of competitors who stepped forward to try and take down the man from Holywood, and that got me thinking - who will win the remaining three majors this year?

After his win last year, everyone expected Rory to win another during the year, yet he failed to do so. Will it be the same again this year?

I thought I’d go back to my trusty foe, ChatGPT, to see its thoughts on the subject and compare them with my picks for the season.

PGA Championship

Me: Collin Morikawa

Morikawa’s iron play is back to elite levels, ranking 1st in Strokes Gained (SG): Approach, and that’s historically a key stat for PGA setups. A win at Pebble Beach in the AT&T Pro-Am ended a long drought and signals confidence under pressure again.

If he drives it solidly, he’s arguably the most precise major player in the field right now, and with Aronimik made up of a classic layout with an emphasis on approach play, I can see him thriving.

ChatGPT: Scottie Scheffler

My pick is Scheffler at Aronimink. He nearly stole Augusta with a bogey-free weekend of 65-68, finishing runner-up, and that sort of major pressure form usually travels.

He also won the 2025 PGA Championship and remains one of the Tour’s most reliable all-rounders, sitting third in 2026 for SG: Total. In summary, Scheffler is the percentage play.

US Open

Me: Scottie Scheffler

Scottie is still the world number one for a reason. He’s the most complete player on the tour and has been for the past four years. Even on his off weekends he’s still in contention.

The US Open will test players, being hosted at the brutal Shinnecock Hills. It punishes even the slightest mistakes but also rewards tee-to-green consistency and scrambling - two categories Scottie has historically ranked well in.

The US Open is designed to be the hardest golf major to win, given that the USGA chooses the toughest courses the states has to offer. It has proved to be Scottie’s kryptonite so far, but with a career Grand Slam on the line, motivation won’t be lacking.

ChatGPT: Rory McIlroy

I’m backing Rory again at Shinnecock Hills. He’s already shown in 2026 that he can start fast, control a course with driver, and hang on when things get messy, which is basically the U.S. Open job description. He’s also a past U.S. Open champion and now a back-to-back Masters winner. On pure tee-to-green quality, nobody is setting up better for a brutal Shinnecock test.

The Open

Me: Tommy Fleetwood

Of course my pick is Tommy. Himself and Tyrrell Hatton are two players I believe are more deserving of a major championship than anyone else currently on the tour.

For Tommy, this is his big chance. He’s not only at home at The Open, he’s literally at home. Royal Birkdale was his local, growing up in Southport and sneaking onto the course as a youngling.

After finally capturing his first tour win at the end of last year - and the big one at that, claiming the season ending Tour Championship - the feeling of closing out a championship should be there.

He was solid in the Ryder Cup and is staying solid so far this year, making six of six cuts with four top 25 finishes. He’s also 14th currently for SG: Total which is strong. If he can carry this form throughout the summer I wouldn’t be surprised to see him at least add to his tour win total and hopefully claim his first major in front of his adoring family and friends of Southport town.

ChatGPT: Xander Schauffele

This is my slight swing-for-value pick. Schauffele quietly finished T9 at the Masters, currently sits 12th in 2026 SG: Total, and his major temperament is still elite.

Royal Birkdale usually rewards patience, trajectory control and avoiding the silly number rather than going flag-hunting.

Scheffler is the obvious favourite after winning the 2025 Open, but Xander feels like the man most likely to nick it if conditions get awkward.

Wildcard winners

On top of these three picks, we’ve also given three wildcard choices for players who we wouldn’t be surprised of popping up with a win this year.

Tyrrell Hatton: Like I said, he’s deserving of a major victoryHe’s a strong player on his day but is also widely inconsistent. The Open may be a good chance for him to win if he stays calm.
Cameron Young: Cam Young has been in contention for a major win for all four at some point over the past four years. He’s been improving and refining his game; eventually his time will come, and I have a sneaking feeling it may be coming this year, potentially as early as the PGA Championship.
Justin Rose: Rose is playing arguably the best golf of his career right now. He looked good at Augusta for much of the weekend but faltered at the end. If there was ever a time he could add to his lone major win, it could be this year. He’s won once at the US Open, maybe he could postpone Scottie’s Grand Slam for another year.

ChatGPT

Ludvig Aberg: Åberg’s elite driving sets him up perfectly for long, demanding layouts like Aronimink and Shinnecock. He gains strokes consistently off the tee and is improving with his irons, which is crucial for both venues. If he gets into contention, his calm temperament suggests he won’t be fazed by the occasion.
Justin Rose: Rose’s current form and experience make him a strong fit for a traditional PGA setup. Aronimink should reward his control and course management, and if he carries momentum from Augusta, he’s the type who can quietly plot his way into contention and capitalise late.
Tommy Fleetwood: Birkdale is a proper links test, and Fleetwood is one of the best links players of his generation. He’s consistently strong in The Open, thrives in wind, and has the crowd behind him. Like Hatton, it’s a “due a major” narrative - but with elite course fit to back it up.