Who Can Win Multiple Majors In 2020?
Who Can Win Multiple Majors In 2020?
Typically in sports, we can’t help but pay special attention to teams and players that win championships in clusters. It’s why the NBA’s Golden State Warriors were instant legends; it’s why people like Roger Federer and Tom Brady transcend their sports. And ultimately it’s behind what makes golf fans admire Tiger Woods so thoroughly.
In 2019, golf didn’t have a multi-major winner. This doesn’t mean there might not be someone in the sport prepared to win championships in a cluster though, which is why we’re taking a look ahead to 2020 to ask who, if anyone, could land multiple majors.
Brooks Koepka
The obvious answer is Brooks Koepka, who did win two majors in 2018 (the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship), as well as one in 2019 (the PGA again). Most would agree that Koepka is currently the best big tournament player in the game, and he himself once predicted double digits when asked how many majors he could win. There is no more sensible bet for this unofficial distinction than Koepka, and if he does in fact win multiple majors in 2020, we may wind up looking at his multi-year streak as being almost prime Tiger Woods-like.
Tiger Woods
Woods had an up-and-down 2019, regaining his former glory with a triumph at the Masters but wrapping up the season with renewed injury concerns. This makes it difficult to project what lies ahead in 2020, though it’s worth noting that some of the online bookies already have him lined up among the favorites at next year’s majors. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but it does inspire some confidence that Woods can bounce back strong. The only question might be whether his 2019 Masters win keeps him from tapping into the same drive to reach his peak form.
Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm has established himself in the last couple of years as the kind of player who always lurks near the top of majors. The Spaniard has yet to win, but it’s not hard to imagine that once he breaks through he could win a handful of majors. The Open has been a challenge for Rahm, but he’s shown that he’ll likely be in the mix at the PGA, U.S. Open, and Masters.
Rory McIlroy
Golf fans’ attitude toward Rory McIlroy seems complicated these days. It’s been quite a while since he seemed genuinely threatening at a major, and he hasn’t actually won one since 2014 (when he won the Open and the PGA consecutively). When it comes to general form though, McIlroy may once again be the most consistent player on tour. That sets him up either to disappoint major watchers in 2020, or to regain his place as perhaps the best golfer, all around, since Tiger’s prime.
Jordan Spieth
For some golf fans it feels like it’s been an eternity since Jordan Spieth’s spellbinding back-to-back wins in 2015 at the Masters and the U.S. Open. He won the Open in 2017 as well, but has since fallen off the map at the majority of the majors. He’s had some extremely frustrating moments, but remains very young and more than capable of a full return to form. The golf world seems to be rooting for him (this past summer saw “Spieth is back” posts all over the internet), and you get the feeling that if he gets off to a hot start in 2020 he’ll be a threat at all four majors again.
