When he donned the coveted green jacket for the first time after winning The Masters earlier this month, Jon Rahm also re-claimed the No. 1 spot in the Overall World Golf Rankings. With four total wins on the PGA Tour already this season, it’s clear Rahm is in peak form.
But will he win a second Major Championship in 2023? Across North Carolina sports betting, let's just say it's no sure thing.
The last golfer to win multiple Majors within a calendar year was Brooks Koepka, who just so happened to be in the final pairing with Rahm during the last two rounds of The Masters.
Brooks captured his first Major Championship in 2017 when he won the U.S. Open at Erin Hills in dominating fashion. Then in 2018, Koepka would successfully defend that title at Shinnecock Hills, narrowly defeating Tommy Fleetwood at one of the most challenging U.S. Open’s in recent memory (he won with a score of +1).
Brooks won his third major — and his second of 2018 — at the PGA Championship, when he bested Tiger Woods by two strokes at Bellerive Country Club. He would defend that title a year later, too.
It was an incredible run by Koepka, highlighted by his multiple Major 2018 season. However, he’s not the only one in recent memory to accomplish this feat.
Jordan Spieth’s incredible 2015 season had him winning both The Masters and the U.S. Open. In 2014, Rory McIlroy won the Open Championship and the PGA Championship. Padraig Harrington did the same thing in 2008.
So, can Rahm join the ranks of these modern golf legends and become the fifth pro in the last fifteen years to win multiple Majors in a single calendar year?
Let’s take a look at the three remaining Major Championships to see how Rahm might fare.
And don't forget North Carolina sports betting promos that could give you that boost in betting on Rahm in any future tournaments.
Most Recent Multiple Major Winners In Calendar Year
The PGA Championship: May 18 - 21
This year’s PGA Championship returns to Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY a decade after Jason Dufner won the 2013 PGA at this same location. That said, it’s worth noting the course has undergone a lot of changes since then, including the removal of over a hundred trees lining the fairway, and a lengthening of the overall course by an estimated 200-300 yards.
Both these changes should play to Rahm’s strength off the tee — and the odds reflect this. After winning The Masters, Rahm is the favorite to win the PGA at +750 over at DraftKings Sportsbook. Expect a DraftKings promo code North Carolina bettors can use if the state approve mobile apps before next year's majors.
Of the three remaining Majors, his odds are the shortest here. There could be some recency bias at play, with savvy bettors banking on his recent form, but Oak Hill does look like a good track for Rahm.
The next highest on the betting board is last year’s green jacket recipient and current Players champion Scottie Scheffler (+900). Four time Major champion Rory McIlroy (+1000) is close behind.
Although McIlroy missed the cut at The Masters in disappointing fashion two weeks ago, don’t count him out. He happens to be a member at Oak Hill and his wife, Erica Stoll, is from Rochester, NY.
Last year’s winner, Justin Thomas, currently sits at +1400 to win the PGA Championship for a third time. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth at +1600 could complete the career grand slam with a win at Oak Hill.
And, of course, the aforementioned Koepka (+2000), who is teeing it up in Australia this weekend on the LIV Tour, will be licking his chops to get back in Major competition come May 18.
U.S. Open: June 15 - 18
This year’s U.S. Open will be hosted at the North Course of the Los Angeles Country Club. Because LACC is one of the most exclusive golf courses in the world, and because the last time the course hosted a professional event Charlie Chaplin was still making Hollywood pictures, we have little information about the course and how it will play.
What we do know is that the USGA will set up a long, difficult track, as they always do. This should strengthen the advantage Rahm has over his competition — much like it did in 2021 when he won his first Major Championship at another West Coast U.S. Open venue, Torrey Pines.
While Rahm (+800) is currently favored to win here as well, the gap between him, Scottie (+900) and Rory (+900) is not quite as pronounced. Justin Thomas (+1200) comes in third, followed by a threesome of California natives vying for their first Major Championship.
Xander Schauffele, Max Homa and Patrick Cantlay (all of whom are +1800) are all from California, and would love to land their first Major victory on home turf. Collin Morikawa (+2000) also hails from the Golden State, but he already has two Majors on his resume.
The Open: July 20 - 23
The Open Championship is the only Major in which Jon Rahm is not the betting favorite — and for good reason. The last time The Open was contested at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, back in 2014, McIlroy won by two strokes over Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia.
Nevertheless, golf’s current “big three” of Rory (+800), Rahm (+900), and Scottie (+1000) still dominate the top of the board. Next up is last year’s Open winner, Cameron Smith (+1600), who left for the LIV Tour shortly after securing the Claret Jug. Another notable name is Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick (+2000), whose betting odds have shrunk in the days following his win at the RBC Heritage last Sunday.
But how will Rahm perform across the pond?
On the one hand, there is a bearish case against Rahm at Royal Liverpool that doesn’t exist at the other two remaining Major venues — namely, the shorter track doesn’t exaggerate his strengths in the same way Oak Hill or LACC might, and the variability of a coastal golf course might frustrate a golfer known to be hot headed at times.
But with that said, Rahm’s creativity as a golfer is underrated, and his so-called “fiery Spanish passion” is overrated — at least to the extent it effects his golf game. If he does happen to struggle at the PGA and U.S. Open, Rahm-backers might even luck out and catch a bigger number by July. But don’t bet on it.
Stay close to BetCarolina as the golf season progresses, and for updates on the road to North Carolina sports betting apps.
