Three of the four major champions on the men’s side in 2022 were first-time winners. As for the women? Two of five.
That got us thinking, who is most likely to add a major championship to their resumes for the first time in 2023? Several writers on Golfweek‘s staff have made their picks, some surprising, some not so much.
Men’s 2023 major venues: Augusta National Golf Club (Masters), Oak Hill Country Club (PGA Championship), Los Angeles Country Club (U.S. Open) and Royal Liverpool (Open Championship).
Women’s 2023 major venues: The Club at Carlton Woods (Chevron Championship), Baltusrol (KPMG PGA Championship), Pebble Beach Golf Links (U.S. Women’s Open), Evian Resort Golf Club (Evian Championship) and Walton Heath Golf Club (AIG Women’s Open).
MORE: 2022 Golfweek Awards
Atthaya Thitikul
Not really going out on a limb here picking a player who reached No. 1 in the world her rookie year, but Atthaya Thitikul won both her LPGA titles in playoffs and has not only the game, but also the cool-headed demeanor needed to win majors.
In 2022, Thitikul’s worst finish in the five majors was a share of 24th at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles. She had three top-eight finishes, including a fourth at the KPMG Women’s PGA, a share of seventh at the AIG Women’s British Open and a T-8 at Evian.
Which major is she likely to win first? Probably the next one.
— Beth Ann Nichols
Will Zalatoris
Not sure this pick needs much explanation.
In 2022, Will Zalatoris tied for sixth at the Masters (a year after finishing runner-up to Hideki Matsuyama), lost to Justin Thomas in a playoff at the PGA Championship, missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would have sent the U.S. Open to a playoff and finished the major season with a top 30 at St. Andrews.
During the 2020-21 season, Zalatoris had three top 10s in five starts (he missed the cut at Torrey Pines and WD from St. George’s).
People have fallen in love with the “the floodgates will open now that he’s won” cliche, but Zalatoris’ win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship should propel him into next season.
His last start came at the BMW Championship, where he withdrew due to injury. The 26-year-old’s first start back is set to come in Hawaii at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
— Riley Hamel
Tony Finau
You heard it here first: the next first-time major winner in men’s golf will be Tony Finau.
Simply put, the long-hitter has figured out how to win. It took long enough, but ever since winning a FedEx Cup playoff event in 2021, Finau has been hoisting trophies with regularity and counts five PGA Tour titles to his credit — the same number as Rickie Fowler.
Finau has won three times since July: 3M Open, Rocket Mortgage Classic and Cadence Bank Houston Open. The difference is Finau has gone from a streaky mediocre putter – especially poor from short range – to an above-average putter and a guy who no longer has a hole in his game. In four of his first five years on Tour, Finau lost strokes on the greens, according to SGP.
But he’s been in the positive the last three years and in the positive in all five of the major statistical categories that make up Strokes Gained: Total. This explains why he’s been in contention in majors, recording 10 top-10 finishes in 21 starts in the majors. The tougher courses and setups separate the men from the boys and have proven to bring out the best in his game. He played alongside Tiger Woods in the final group at the 2019 Masters, finishing T-5, and witnessed up close what it takes to win a big one.
Now that he has become a better putter – small sample size, but he ranks second in SG: Putting through the fall portion of the 2022-23 schedule – Finau has the length, accuracy and touch around the green to win a major and his confidence that he can beat the best is sky high.
— Adam Schupak
Rose Zhang
College and amateur golf don’t have major championships, but Stanford’s star sophomore isn’t afraid of the moment and has the poise to shine brightest on the biggest stages. I’ll even call my shot: she’s doing it at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach, July 6-9. Here’s why.
Zhang won her first three collegiate starts last year and ended a phenomenal freshman campaign with her fourth win of the season at the national championship. The Irvine, California, native also earned four runner-up finishes, a T-4 and a T-10 thanks to an impressive 69.68 scoring average, which set a new single-season NCAA record. She won the 2022 ANNIKA Award as the player of the year in women’s college golf and also claimed the Mark H. McCormack medal as world’s best female amateur golfer for third consecutive year.
A two-time USGA champion at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur and 2021 U.S. Girls’ Junior – yeah, she won the Am before the Junior, wild – Zhang made the cut in all three of her major appearances last year and was the low amateur at the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield (T-28).
Stanford’s campus is less than 100 miles from Pebble Beach, so it’s basically a home game. All kidding aside, Zhang did in fact set a women’s course record at Pebble Beach back in September, a 9-under 63 that led her and Stanford to sweep individual and team titles at the 2022 Carmel Cup. She also won the Stanford Intercollegiate and Pac-12 Preview this fall.
Sure, it’s a long shot, but don’t be surprised to see her in contention next July.
— Adam Woodard
