With all the young, impressive talent on the PGA TOUR nowadays, it seems like every week there's a player who stands out and gets a "He'll be winning majors in no time" reaction.
The problem is that winning one of those four tournaments every year is a lot easier said than done.
Just look at 2021. Just two of the four players who won a major did so for the first time, with Phil Mickelson and Collin Morikawa notching their sixth and second career wins, respectively. Hideki Matsuyama and Jon Rahm were able to break through and get their first major wins.
So who presents the best value to become a major champion in 2022? Our team of GolfBet analysts have scoured the odds board at multiple books and found the players they think will get the job done at the right price.
Patrick Cantlay (+550, Caesars)
Jason Sobel: What I saw from Patrick Cantlay, who won the FedEx Cup and played like a world-beater at the Ryder Cup this past year, was less a different player than in the past and more a different person.
As I’ve written previously, the introverted Cantlay just seemed more comfortable in his own skin, both on and off the golf course, than he ever had before – and it should come as no surprise that success followed. Don’t underestimate how important that comfort level is for a player who owns all the tools and might’ve figured out the biggest intangible.
As for those tools, I’ve long believed that what separates the game’s best players from the next tier is that the best can win anyplace, anytime. Cantlay is certainly in that uppermost echelon and what it means is that he should have four excellent chances to win his first major, as opposed to just two or three, like some other players. I don’t think there’s a venue of the four that doesn’t suit his game. Just as Jon Rahm was ready to claim one last year, this year it’s Cantlay’s time.
Tony Finau (+800, DraftKings)
Chris Murphy: The monkey is finally off of Tony Fianu’s back as he broke through for his second career win at the Northern Trust last year in the FedExCup Playoffs. I believe we see a different Finau this season without that Puerto Rico curse lingering over him, and he could be in position to capitalize on a major win.
Finau has been close at a number of big events over the years, and he certainly has the ability to find that breakthrough victory. His game has shown to be a great fit at Augusta, where he has three top-10 finishes in five trips. He also recorded a second straight top-10 at the PGA Championship, and he also has two more top-10s in his last four U.S. Opens and another couple more in his last three appearances at The Open.
Finau has a game that can travel to any tournament setting, against any of the top players in the world, and now he has some added belief that he can get it done.
Viktor Hovland (+550, Caesars)
Matt Vincenzi: At 24 years old, Viktor Hovland is ready to take a giant leap forward in his PGA TOUR career starting in the 2022 season.
It’s unlikely that anyone would disagree that Hovland is one of the most talented golfers on the planet, but it’s also undeniable that he lacks a signature win on TOUR thus far. Hovland’s three wins to this point have all come in relatively weak fields in tournaments that lack real significance.
In addition to the lack of a signature win, the Norwegian also has a spotty track record in major championships in his first few years on TOUR. He’s still yet to crack the top 10 in any major, with his best performance coming at the 2021 Open Championship with a tie for 12th.
To this point in his career, Hovland’s lack of strong major finishes have been excusable. Collin Morikawa, who Hovland will always be connected to for better or worse because of how strongly they both started on TOUR, has already won two major championships. Morikawa’s early success is more the exception than the rule, but it’s time for Hovland to take the next step in his career and win a major in 2022.
The 2022 major championship venues should be in Hovland’s favor. His skill set is perfect for Augusta National and after two cracks at it (32nd and 21st), he should know the lay of the land a bit better next season. The PGA Championship will be held at Southern Hills Club in Tulsa, so Hovland should have some familiarity with the area having played in college at Oklahoma State. The Open Championship at St. Andrews is also a pretty good fit for him, as well, having shown he enjoys playing in Europe and the course has often favored birdie makers (when conditions allow).
In 2022, there are no more free passes for Hovland. It’s time to perform when it matters most.
Max Homa (+3000, PointsBet)
Justin Bailey: I was looking at Will Zalatoris +1000 and Sam Burns +1200, but I decided to go a little further down the board to Max Homa.
Homa hasn’t played well in his limited appearances in majors, but he does have three wins over the last four years, including at a stacked Genesis Invitational in 2021.
Additionally, Homa can gain strokes in all facets when his game is clicking. Over the last 12 months, he’s 39th in Total Strokes Gained, including 29th in Strokes Gained: Approach, per Data Golf.
Despite the solid metrics, Homa is priced as the No. 45 golfer to win a major in 2022 at PointsBet.
