14. April 2026

Who will win the next major (PGA Championship) 2026

1. The Obvious Favorite: Rory McIlroy

You can’t bet against a man who has won two of the last four majors and just completed back-to-back defenses at Augusta.

• The Case for Rory: He is playing with "house money" now. The pressure of the Slam is gone, and he has moved into the "Dynasty" phase of his career. Olympic Club requires long, straight driving—Rory’s absolute specialty.
• The Stat to Watch: Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee. If Rory is hitting fairways, the field is playing for second place.

2. The Revenge Candidate: Scottie Scheffler

Scottie’s bogey-free weekend at the Masters was a terrifying reminder of how high his floor is. He didn't lose the Masters; Rory simply won it.

• The Case for Scottie: Olympic Club’s sloping fairways and small greens reward the best ball-striker in the world. Scheffler’s ability to control his distance with "sawn-off" irons is perfectly suited for the coastal winds of Northern California.
• The "Pulse" Factor: He will be itching to reclaim his World No. 1 status and prove that Rory isn't the only dominant force in 2026.

3. The Specialist: Ludvig Åberg

The young Swede has spent the last year proving he belongs in every conversation. After a strong Top-10 showing at Augusta, Åberg heads to a course that favors his robotic consistency.

• The Case for Ludvig: He is arguably the straightest driver of the ball in the top ten. At Olympic Club, if you miss the fairway, you are essentially conceding a bogey. Åberg’s "low-stress" golf is built for the PGA Championship's typically grueling setups.

4. The California King: Jon Rahm

Rahm has a storied history in the Golden State (think Torrey Pines). After a middle-of-the-pack finish at the Masters, Rahm will be looking to re-assert LIV Golf's dominance on a "proper" U.S. Open-style setup.

• The Case for Rahm: He thrives when the scoring is tough. If the winning score at Olympic Club is around -4 or -5, Rahm is the most dangerous man in the field. He has the brute strength to gouge balls out of the thick California rough that would stop other players cold.

5. The Dark Horse: Sahith Theegala

If you’re looking for a "Pulse" pick with high value, look at Theegala. The Californian native grew up playing this style of golf.

• The Case for Sahith: His creativity is second only to Bubba Watson, and his putting on poa annua greens (the grass type at Olympic) is statistically some of the best on Tour. He’s due for a major breakthrough, and doing it in his home state would be a Hollywood script.

Pulse Verdict: The "Olympic" Standard

The PGA Championship at Olympic Club will be a "driving contest." Unlike Augusta, where you can spray it a little and recover with magic, the next major will be about discipline.

Our early prediction? It’s a collision course between Rory's momentum and Scottie's consistency. But don't sleep on Justin Rose—after his Masters performance, he’s proved that age is just a number when your iron play is that pure.