Next First-Time Golf Major Winner Odds: Will Duck Be Broken At Royal Portrush?
JJ Spaun became the latest first-time major winner when he won the US Open in dramatic fashion after four draining days at Oakmont.
The American holed a birdie putt from 64 feet at the 72nd hole to finish two shots clear of Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre on one under par.
Spaun started his final round one shot off the lead, but seemed to be out of contention when he bogeyed five of his first six holes.
However, he went through the back nine in three-under-par, picking up birdies on the last two holes to complete a life-changing victory.
Gambling.com has checked out the best betting sites to see which player will follow in Spaun’s footsteps and become the next first-time major winner.
Next First-Time Major Winner Odds: Aberg Leads The Way
Ludvig Aberg has only been a professional for two years, but during that spell he has won two PGA Tour titles and the European Masters in Switzerland.
He was also a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning team in 2023, just four months into his pro career.
Although Aberg has only competed in seven majors, he was runner-up in his US Masters debut last year and seventh in April.
On his US Open debut in 2024, Aberg finished 12th, although he missed the cut in his four other major appearances.
Aberg is third favourite with Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm at 14/1 to win at Augusta in 2026.
He’s also among the top-six contenders for the other two American majors, so it’s clear he is a stand-out candidate.
The 25-year-old Swede is slightly ahead of Shane Lowry in the betting at 28/1 to win The Open at Royal Portrush, so it’s understandable why he is 5/4 to be the next first-time major champion.
Next First-Time Major Winner: Hovland Next In Line
Viktor Hovland has finished inside the top 10 of all four majors at least once in the last four years, but has yet to get over the line.
The Norwegian was four shots clear alongside Rory McIlroy heading into the final round of The Open in 2022 only for his hopes to go up in smoke with a closing 74 at St Andrews.
His best major performance came at the USPGA Championship two years ago when he finished runner-up to Brooks Koepka.
Hovland missed the cut at last year’s Open, but finished inside the top 15 in his three previous appearances, so there is every reason to think he will be a contender in Northern Ireland for which he is 28/1 with golf betting sites.
The world number nine struggled in 2024 as he went in search of the perfect swing and also missed numerous missed cuts this year until out of nowhere he won the Valspar Championship.
Strong from tee-to-green and on approach this season, Hovland was third at the US Open and is knocking on the door to be the next first-time major winner at 5/2.
First-Time Major Winner Odds: Straka Next To Strike?
Sepp Straka has won twice on the PGA Tour this season to bring his total number of titles to four since winning the Honda Classic in 2022.
His excellent form saw him break into the world’s top 10 after his Truist Championship triumph which he followed with third at the Memorial.
Although his form on the PGA Tour is excellent, the Austrian has struggled to make an impact in majors, missing the cut in all three this year.
That said, he was a distant runner-up to Brian Harman with three other players at Hoylake in 2023 and was inside the top 25 at Troon last year, so he has the form to perform well at The Open.
Straka also finished seventh at the Scottish Open and is 3/1 third favourite to be the latest player to break his major duck.
Next First-Time Major Golf Winner Odds:
Golfer | Odds | Probability |
Ludvig Aberg | 5/4 | 44.4% |
Viktor Hovland | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Sepp Straka | 3/1 | 25% |
Robert MacIntyre | 7/2 | 22.2% |
Tyrrell Hatton | 4/1 | 20% |
Tommy Fleetwood | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Joaquin Niemann | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Patrick Cantlay | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Russell Henley | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Corey Conners | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Cameron Young | 9/1 | 10% |
Max Homa | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Min Woo Lee | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Next First-Time Golf Major Winner: MacIntyre Leads British Challenge
The sight of Robert MacIntyre's reaction to Spaun’s lengthy putt to win at Oakmont was a classy gesture, but could the Scot soon be the one to milk the applause from his peers?
The Open is generally viewed as MacInytre’s best opportunity to win a major, but his first season on the PGA Tour in 2024 saw him win the Canadian Open.
Just over a month later he proved his liking for links golf by winning the Scottish Open in front of his home fans at the Renaissance Club.
MacIntyre’s Open debut in 2019 saw him finish sixth at Portrush, which is hosting this year’s final major of the season, and he was eighth at Royal St George’s in 2021, so it is no surprise to see him priced at 33/1 to land the big one this week.
Even if he fails, MacIntyre has shown enough to suggest he could win one of the three majors across the pond, finishing 12th on his Masters debut in 2021 and eighth at the USPGA Championship last year.
MacIntyre was runner-up at Oakmont, so the signs are promising he could pick up a major in the next few years which is priced at 7/2 with betting apps.
Hatton And Fleetwood Just Behind MacIntyre
Tyrrell Hatton enjoyed his best major performance at this year’s US Open where a closing 72 gave him a share of fourth.
Hatton, playing on the LIV Golf Tour for the last two years, has seven top 10s in major championships since 2016 and is 4/1 to break his duck.
The 33-year-old from High Wycombe has missed the cut in seven of his 12 appearances at The Open, but was inside the top 20 in 2022 and 2023, having tied for sixth at Portrush in 2019, so perhaps this course will treat him kindly again.
Tommy Fleetwood has eight top 10s in major tournaments, five of which have come at The Open where he was a distant runner-up to Lowry at Portrush six years ago.
Could he go one better and finally get the major monkey off his back?
The feeling persists that Fleetwood does not win often enough to be a major contender, proved by the fact he has yet to bag a title in seven years on the PGA Tour.
His curse continued at the Travelers Championship where he led by two shots with three to play and by one on the final hole, but he three-putted which allowed Keegan Bradley to sneak an unlikely win with a birdie.
Despite going close at the 2018 US Open where a closing 63 ensured he finished one shot behind defending champion Koepka, his eggs seem to be in The Open basket and is now 9/2, from 4/1, to become the next maiden major champion.
Next First-Time Major Winner: Niemann On Fire
Joaquin Niemann has won four of this year’s 10 tournaments in the LIV Golf League and is 5/1 to be the latest player to get his hands on a major trophy for the first time.
The Chilean was eighth at this year’s USPGA Championship, but that was his first top 10 in 24 attempts and he missed the cut at the US Open.
Elsewhere, Patrick Cantlay’s star seems to be waning and he is 6/1 to be the next first-time major winner.
Without a victory since 2022, the American has top 10 finishes in all the majors and he was in contention over all four days at last year’s US Open only to finish a couple of shots behind Bryson DeChambeau.
Russell Henley is showing signs he can compete in majors, having posted back-to-back top 10s at the US Open and he was fifth at Royal Troon last year.
His form on the PGA Tour has been excellent this season and is 7/1 to be the latest maiden major winner.
The US Open seems to be his best hope, but the unassuming American can take hope from Brian Harman’s Open success two years ago.
Consistent Canadian Corey Conners is 8/1, Cameron Young 9/1, fellow American Max Homa 10/1 and big-hitting Aussie Min Woo Lee is 12/1.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
