The United States has dominated major golf throughout its history, and this year the nation’s leading stars could secure one of the greatest collective years on record.
Since the first major championship competition began in 1860, 468 events have taken place – as of the halfway point of the 2024 calendar – and American golfers triumphed in a remarkable 285 of them.
Almost 100 years ago, Bobby Jones completed the original Grand Slam, and since then, only Tiger Woods has held all four titles simultaneously, though not in the same year. So while it seems unlikely we will see an individual Grand Slam anytime soon, 2024 is a good chance for leading US golfers to sweep all four major titles. The last time the nation’s players did not claim at least two titles was a decade ago, so with two out of the four majors already secured, this a historical opportunity for US golf.
Scheffler is the US Open favourite
Scottie Scheffler has already won the US Masters this year and his position as the US Open favourite means, alongside PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, he could carry the nation’s year of Grand Slam perfection into The Open.
The world number one is a comfortable frontrunner in the US Open odds at 4/1, and the recent major winner Schauffele is also amongst the favourites in the golf betting odds at 12/1 making an American winner quite likely, one way or another.
A positive omen for American individuals is that a star from their nation has become the champion of the US Open in seven of the last nine years. Most recently, Wyndham Clark ensured the trophy remained on US soil in 2023, and few would doubt Scheffler’s ability to replicate that this summer.
Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy is also set to be in the mix for the honours in New York City, although it would be a surprise if he ends his 10-year major drought at the expense of preventing an all-time year of American dominance.
Scheffler is also predicted to lead the way in the 152nd Open
If one of the Americans manages to win the US Open, then they will be in a strong position to secure the nation’s first Grand Slam clean sweep since 1982.
Scheffler will again be the top US candidate to achieve major glory when it comes to the British leg of the major calendar. He is the leading favourite in the odds for the Open Championship at 5/1 which shows that while the competition will be wide open, his elite-level consistency on the green should give him the edge.
McIlroy and Jon Rahm are expected to provide strong European opposition in the final Grand Slam of the year, and it will probably be the toughest major for an American to win this year.
There has been an American winner in exactly half of The Open Championships since 2013, as the annual July meeting is the only Grand Slam the US has not heavily dominated.
Schauffele will also enter the fierce battle as one of the frontrunners in Scotland this year and between him and the number one, there will be a strong chance of American success.
Brian Harman won The Open for the first time in 2023, an American success that will have to be replicated if they are to record their greatest collective season in 42 years.
Scheffler’s level of ability and growing CV may lead to a legacy that challenges the greats in the coming years. However, this year, he could already create history for his nation by being the leading figure behind an unparalleled feat of 21st century Grand Slam dominance.
