Who will win majors this year? McIlroy seems freed up, so I’d ex- pect him to pick off another, possibly Aronimink for the PGA or Royal Birk- dale for the Open. Scheffler will want revenge at Augusta after struggling last year. Otherwise, two players who got the monkey off their backs in 2025 are Cameron Young and Tommy Fleet- wood. Young will use his first tour vic- tory at the Wyndham to propel him to big things. The way he drives the ball is such an asset in major champion- ships. He also played well at the Ryder Cup, so he’ll have a ton of confidence in 2026. Aronimink could set up well for him, too, as he is a North-east guy. Capturing the FedEx Cup was a state- ment win for Fleetwood, whose game has no flaws. He played well at Shin- necock in 2018. If he can bring that same confidence to 2026 that he had in 2025, perhaps the US Open will be his time. Always study the headspaces. —WITH STEPHEN HENNESSEY “Yes, I’m coaching my players when I’m on the range, but I’m also paying attention to other interactions.” and practice rounds, and everything seems stress-free, it’s probably be- cause it is. If somebody is changing his schedule all week, that means he’s struggling to adjust to something. You’ll see young players have difficulty with scheduling after wins when more responsibilities come their way. Mat- thew Wolff comes to mind. I think that’s a big reason he jumped at LIV and the freedom he’d have. Consider 2024. McIlroy wasn’t quite himself after his temporary separation from his wife became news. We faded him every chance we got. If a player is distracted, most can’t overcome it. Tiger, it seemed, thrived on chaos. Once Rory figured out his family situa- tion and recused himself from the PGA Tour battle against LIV, he focused on golf. That led to me betting on him for two of his first three victories in 2025.
paradise. After seeing him contend in Mexico, play well at Torrey Pines and then watching his work with swing instructor Justin Parsons on social media go so well, I had a feeling the strong South African rookie was due. You can also glean a lot from watch- ing coverage and reading a player’s reaction to shots. If a golfer is hitting approaches pin high but just not get- ting putts to drop, and he doesn’t look super pissed off, you might bet on him the next few weeks. Field strength mat- ters, too. Ben Griffin at 14-1 was my pick in Mexico. He had played well the month prior at the Ryder Cup and had been a top-10 player all year. He was the best player in the field, and the odds should have been shorter. Yes, I’m coaching my players when I’m on the range, but I’m also paying attention to other interactions. When another coach and a pro aren’t mesh- ing, it’s tough not to notice. Tensions get high because the stakes are high. I remember watching Collin Morikawa and Rick Sessinghaus go at it before a few big events last year. Unsurprisingly, Morikawa wasn’t himself. I faded him in matchups in the GolfDigest.com column, which means picking another top player to beat him in a 72-hole bet. You can do this, too. Especially during majors, TV broadcasts often show hours of content from the range. Watch carefully if a player seems frus- trated. It’s how I often find my edge. Big changes are often a major tell. If someone makes a caddie or coaching change, even if it’s a good long-term decision, most times panic is power- ing the decision, so the player will have at least a month of adjustment. Max Homa rifled through swing coaches and caddies last year. He was search- ing. We faded him successfully in the betting column. Juicy stuff like divorces are huge things to utilise, although it’s rare to get that info before it’s already very public. Most of these young kids are pretty boring these days. Being on tour often helps me to evaluate a player’s headspace. These guys are creatures of habit. If a player is early or on-time for his workouts, he’s smiling during range sessions
also weren’t there to challenge Scheffler and McIlroy on a weekly basis. With few- er players in these signature events, elite players can separate themselves, and it’s been easier than ever to pick winners. If you’re a casual PGA Tour fan, you know certain courses favour certain statistical profiles. Harbour Town re- wards driving accuracy. I picked Potgi- eter at 125-1 odds at the Rocket Classic because Detroit Golf Club is a bomber’s
PATIENCE PAYS Wait a month to bet on golfers who’ve changed caddies.
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 9
MAY 2026
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