I'm sorry, Rory McIlroy, there's no chance you're winning a major in 2025

Did you predict Rory McIlroy would end his major championship drought in 2024?

I certainly did and, after what transpired at the U.S. Open, learned my lesson once and for all.

As a self-confessed McIlroy fan, I cannot, and will not put myself through that rigmarole again.

Until I see it, I will not believe it.

Does Rory possess the ability to claim one of the U.S. Open, Open, Masters and PGA Championship this year?

Of course he does.

The trouble is, he’s got Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm and even Brooks Koepka to think about.

To name a few.

But I just can’t see it.

I can’t see anything other than the gap widening between Scheffler and the rest of the talent pool, which is bad news for McIlroy.

So that’s my big prediction for 2025 out of the way: McIlroy’s wait for a major title will rumble on.

I also had some other thoughts that I had about what I think will transpire over the next few months.

Please feel free to roast me, accordingly.

Predictions for 2025…

Jon Rahm wins another major. Rahm had an interesting 2024, to say the least. I do think that, particularly in the first part of the year, he didn’t perform to his capabilities because he wasn’t dealing with the fallout from his departure to LIV well. I think his feelings were hurt and I feel this was evident with his comments and his subdued news conference before The Masters. He was also forced to sit out the U.S. Open with a foot infection. As the year wore on, we got to see the Rahm of old. Say whatever you want about LIV. No, really, say whatever you want. That’s a joke, but Rahm did post ten top-five performances on the breakaway tour, as well as being crowned their individual champion. He also should have won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. I think 2025 promises to be a stellar year for Rahmbo, given the Ryder Cup is also on the horizon.

A PGA Tour-PIF deal will be agreed. The golf wars have been thoroughly exhausting, haven’t they? I’m over it. I think everyone is. A deal will be announced before March but we won’t expect any meaningful changes over the next 12 months, though…

Justin Thomas will have a big year. JT told reporters before the season-opener in Hawaii that he was going to play ‘p—ed off golf’ for 2025 after being omitted from the Presidents Cup team and going winless again.

Jordan Spieth will not. Wrist injuries are notoriously difficult to navigate. I’m a Spieth fan but I don’t think it will be a happy year for his followers.

Collin Morikawa will establish himself properly as one of the top three players in the world. You could argue that for 2024, the top three players in the world were Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy with a small gap between the Northern Irishman and Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg and Bryson DeChambeau. I think Morikawa racks up multiple Tour wins in 2025 and contends in every major.

Brooks Koepka will be left off the U.S. Ryder Cup team. It really does feel like this is all down to how Koepka will play in the majors, doesn’t it? If he wins one, then he’s in, of course. But if he fails to turn up will his performances on LIV alone be enough to convince Bradley to pick him? I’m not so sure.

Keegan Bradley will qualify automatically for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. The U.S. captain for the 2025 matches ended his season with a win at the BMW Championship and I think he’ll sustain his form over the next few months. I’ll admit this is pretty crazy, though…

But he won’t pick himself. Yeah, who wants to be that guy? The job is too big.

Bryson DeChambeau’s year will be completely different. I think everyone’s favourite YouTuber will perform okay, particularly in his defence at the U.S. Open, but I don’t believe he’ll relish the challenge at Royal Portrush. He’s never really cracked Augusta National either. He might lick his chops at the prospect of playing the US PGA at Quail Hollow, mind, given it is the type of course that attracts powerful drivers of the golf ball. That being said, how many bombers are out there these days?

Rasmus Hojgaard will win a PGA Tour event. The twin brother of Nicolai earned his first card on the North American circuit as one of the 10 graduates from the DP World Tour. He can really play, and I think he will also earn a spot on the European Ryder Cup team.

Aaron Rai will also make his Ryder Cup debut for Team Europe. His career is trending nicely and he works ridiculously hard off the course.

Charley Hull will win a major. She’s just too good not to finally get over the line.

Nelly Korda will continue her dominance. I’ll go out on a limb here and say that she’ll win two majors and qualify for the LPGA’s hall of fame.

Joaquin Niemann will be the standout LIV golfer at the majors. Outside of LIV‘s events, the Chilean played in three majors and five DP World Tour events. His performances across the board were decent. He’ll contend in at least one major.

Cameron Young will finally break through on the PGA Tour. Cameron has finished runner-up no more than on seven occasions. This ends in 2025.

Tommy Fleetwood won’t. Nothing would please me more in seeing the Englishman win a PGA Tour event or a major, but his final round performances are either never there or are just too late.

Shane Lowry lifts the Claret Jug for a second time. Lowry flourished playing in front of a home crowd in 2019 whereas the occasion was just too much for Rory McIlroy. I think history repeats itself.

Xander Schauffele will be crowned Masters champion. X-Man has a stunning record at Augusta National and now he knows how to get over the line. His confidence will be sky-high. Get that green jacket ready…

Scottie Scheffler will win the player of the year title again. Scheffler will reign supreme again in the signature events and will defend his title at The Players, Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial. He’ll also win the Tour Championship again.

Tiger Woods will make his 25th consecutive cut at The Masters. We last saw Tiger at the PNC Championship with his teenage son Charlie. Tiger had back surgery last September and was able to walk the course in Florida with relative ease. I know it was only 36 holes on a flat course, but still… the man wasn’t in a golf cart. I think he’s a lock to play well enough to make it to the weekend at Augusta if he plays. Elsewhere? More missed cuts, I’m afraid.