Golf 2026 So Far: McIlroy Repeats, Two First-Time Majors and a US Comeback
A back-to-back green jacket, an English breakthrough, a second US Open and a Kiwi at Birkdale. The season in four majors and two big finishes.
MAN TARGET EditorsOctober 30, 2026 3 min read
Golf in 2026 refused to follow a script. The most decorated player of the moment, Scottie Scheffler, won the biggest pay day of the season but no major. Rory McIlroy did what only three men had done before him at Augusta. And two of the four majors went to players who had never won one. It was also a season of near misses, in which a single shot often separated triumph from heartbreak. Here is how the year unfolded.
The four majors
- The Masters, Augusta National, April. McIlroy finished at 12 under, one ahead of Scheffler, to defend his green jacket and join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as back-to-back winners.
- PGA Championship, Aronimink, May. England's Aaron Rai closed with a 65 to finish at 9 under, three clear of Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley, for his first major.
- US Open, Shinnecock Hills, June. Wyndham Clark held on at 4 under to beat Sam Burns by one and win his second US Open, three years after his first.
- The Open, Royal Birkdale, July. New Zealand's Ryan Fox holed a birdie putt on the 18th to finish at 10 under, one ahead of Cameron Young, and win his first major.
The storylines
Fox became the third New Zealander to win a major, and the oldest first-time major champion in a decade. Sam Burns was the hard-luck figure of the summer: runner-up at Shinnecock, then 54-hole leader at Birkdale before fading. Scheffler's season was consistency itself, second at Augusta and tied fourth at the Open, before he won the Tour Championship at East Lake by three shots over Viktor Hovland to take his second FedEx Cup.
In 2026, the favourite kept showing up. The trophy kept going to somebody else.
Medinah: the comeback
The Presidents Cup at Medinah, near Chicago, looked like the International team's best chance in years. They led 10.5 to 7.5 going into Sunday. The United States then won the singles 9.5 to 2.5 to take the cup 17 to 13, their 11th straight victory, with Jacob Bridgeman earning the decisive point against Min Woo Lee.
What to watch next
- The DP World Tour's season-ending events in the Middle East decide the Race to Dubai in November.
- Qualifying races for the 2027 majors and the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland begin to take shape.
- Expect McIlroy to chase a third straight green jacket in April 2027, something no player has ever achieved.
Key takeaways
- McIlroy won a second straight Masters, joining Nicklaus, Faldo and Woods.
- Aaron Rai and Ryan Fox won their first majors; Wyndham Clark won his second US Open.
- Scheffler won the Tour Championship and his second FedEx Cup.
- The US came from behind to win the Presidents Cup 17-13 at Medinah.
FAQ
Who won the golf majors in 2026?
Rory McIlroy (Masters), Aaron Rai (PGA Championship), Wyndham Clark (US Open) and Ryan Fox (The Open).
Who won the 2026 FedEx Cup?
Scottie Scheffler, who won the Tour Championship at East Lake by three shots over Viktor Hovland, his second FedEx Cup title.
Who won the 2026 Presidents Cup?
The United States, 17 to 13 at Medinah Country Club, after trailing 10.5 to 7.5 going into the Sunday singles.
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