6 More Longshots Who Can Win a Major

Prior to last week’s PGA Championship, Aaron Rai was priced well into triple-digits in the outright market, but you can be excused if you never skimmed that far down the list.

After all, four of the five most recent majors were won by either Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy and only a pair of players in the past half-decade — Wyndham Clark at the 2023 U.S. Open and Phil Mickelson at the PGA two years earlier — had started in this range.

Recency bias is a massive influencer in golf betting, though, and Rai’s triumph will undoubtedly have more bettors attempting to find another longshot at the next few majors.

Here are six potential options, with their current U.S. Open odds, though this list isn’t specific to next month’s tournament, as each of whom owns some value in this range for upcoming majors.

6 More Longshots Who Can Win a Major

Cameron Smith (100/1)

After six straight major MCs, the 2021 Open Championship winner finally flashed signs of his former self. I spoke with the Aussie after his top-five finish at Aronimink and he told me this result was largely a byproduct of the recent work he’s been doing with new swing coach Claude Harmon.

Perhaps even more impressive is that it felt like a vintage Smith putting performance, all of which should have him excited for the summer. The only problem? As a previously known commodity, Smith’s price with assuredly drop into the double-digits at the next sign of form, which means you might need to jump on this one sooner rather than later.

Jacob Bridgeman (125/1)

It’s this simple, really: If you can win against an elite field at Riviera, you can win anyplace, anytime. Bridgeman’s hot start to this season included eight top-20s in his first eight starts, topped by that Genesis Invitational victory over a hard-charging McIlroy.

He’s cooled off since then, but if there’s reason for optimism, it comes on the greens, as the Clemson product might own the prettiest putting stroke on the PGA Tour right now.

Adam Scott (125/1)

I have consistently stated over the last five years that I’m both surprised and impressed at Scott’s willingness to grind, well into his 40s. Last year at Oakmont, on the eve of another major championship heartbreak, he told me that winning another major is the sole motivation for the hard work he continues to put into his game.

It’s tough to believe that the Golf Gods won’t reward him with one more victory and while it might not be a major, he’s certainly capable of getting it done.

Kurt Kitayama (125/1)

Believe it or not, I absolutely would’ve listed Kitayama here even before Sunday’s final-round 63, which wound up being the low score of the PGA Championship by two strokes.

He’s got some serious offensive firepower from tee to green and while the putter isn’t always effective, that low closing round is a perfect example of what he can do when it does decide to cooperate.

Alex Noren (150/1)

If you’d asked me for a Rai comp prior to last week, I think I would’ve gone with Noren, who’s older and spent more time in a tier amongst the world’s best, but also has the calloused hands to prove he doesn’t mind some lengthy range sessions if it means better results.

It’s still a bit surprising that a player who’s won a bevy of titles on the DP World Tour has yet to win in the U.S., but it shouldn’t come as a shock if he skips right past a PGA Tour victory and into a major championship winner’s circle.

Sungjae Im (150/1)

While Rai seems a bit like a modern-day Corey Pavin in that he squeezes every ounce out of his talent and could be called an overachiever, Im might be considered the opposite. He’s wildly gifted — both in ball-striking and short game — but that often hasn’t led to top results, especially recently.

It’s been five years since Sungjae’s last win, but this sort of price at a major championship might be too tempting to pass up.