The major golfing championships have been dominated by players from the United States in recent years, as they have won nine of the past 10 events.
Jon Rahm’s 2023 US Masters win served as the only pause to American success since Justin Thomas claimed the PGA Championship in 2022. The Spaniard’s victory was followed up by seven straight tournament wins for players representing the US.
In the 2024 schedule, players from the historical golfing nation completed a clean sweep, with Xander Schauffele claiming his first two major honours, and Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau nailing a second career win each.
The destination of the 2024 awards has resulted in the US threatening to mount a historic feat of dominance of the major golfing world. However, several European stars stand out as having the greatest chance of halting the American momentum in 2025.
Rory McIlroy
A potential Rory McIlroy win in 2025 would be an extraordinary personal achievement, as well as ensure America’s unprecedented modern-era domination is stopped. His greatest hope according to golf betting with Paddy Power should rest on the PGA Championship as he is offered at 8/1 to win the second major event of 2025.
Scheffler is a significant favourite for the US-held event, which means it will be a tough ask for McIlroy to topple him, despite the fact he is predicted to be the strongest non-American competitor.
Harry appreciation post ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5Xgq7CEmqz
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
The Northern Irishman has an unwanted personal record to overcome, which is perhaps an even bigger deal than preventing sustained American success in 2025. He is on a streak of having not won a major for more than a decade, despite consistently holding a place as one of the top players throughout that period.
McIlroy is expected to push Scheffler the hardest across all four majors next year – despite his historical winless run – and perhaps his drought will finally come to an end. He has won the PGA Championship twice in the past, so success there seems most likely, although he can certainly have realistic hopes at any of the venues.
Jon Rahm
The last non-American star to experience major success is unsurprisingly one of the leading candidates to perform a similar feat in 2025.
Rahm’s 2023 success came in the Masters and before that, his only major win was the US Open of 2021. Heading into 2025, he is most strongly predicted to secure a double for his career in the latter as he is offered at 10/1 in the US Open odds.
Like McIlroy, Rahm should be competitive across all of the 2025 majors although he is most likely to build on past successes and win at venues he has peaked at before.
Final 9 of prep in 90 seconds. @ValhallaGolf is looking pure!
— Jon Rahm Rodriguez (@JonRahmOfficial) May 15, 2024
VAMOS!!!! pic.twitter.com/CIPcatrjrd
Ultimately, both of the European stars will have to deliver their absolute best across all of the 2025 majors and hope that is enough to prevent a host of US players. Besides Official World Golf Ranking number one Scheffler, Schauffele has shown his credentials at the major level this year, and it would not be a surprise if he carries his momentum into 2025.
Next year’s majors could see Scheffler and co. ensure that their era is one of US golf’s greatest ever, or it could see a major honour come to Europe for the first time in several years, with McIlroy and Rahm set to lead the hopes.
