Could these golfers return to form in 2026?

2025 has been such an electric year of golf. Rory McIlroy completed his long-awaited career Grand Slam, Scottie Scheffler took one step closer to his own career slam and of course there was the Ryder Cup - which won’t be forgotten by Europeans any time soon! 

Unfortunately, there is always two sides of the story, and golf is no different. As players rise up the world rankings, others must sink down. But who could be looking to change their fortunes next season, and find themselves surging back towards the top spot? 

Wyndham Clark 

It’s been a tough year for the American, beginning the season inside the top 10 of the world rankings, to where he now sits at a lacklustre 41st. Considering it was a Ryder Cup season, I think we all expected more from Clark in 2025. With his best finish of the year being a T5 at the Texas Children's Houston Open, Clark missed out on a place in the US Ryder Cup team. Can 2026 be the season where the former world number three climbs back up the leaderboard? 

Billy Horschel  

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Early into the 2024 season, Billy Horschel was in a torrid run of form, slumping all the way down to 91st in the world rankings. He grafted and clawed his way up the rankings throughout 2024, even picking up a pair of wins on his journey. As the 2024 season came to a close, Horschel sat 16th in the world rankings. Unfortunately, the momentum gained through 2024 didn’t transfer into the 2025 season, however, as injury took him out of the game for months. Horschel has slumped down to 48th in the rankings. Will 2026 be another year of disappointment for the American? Or will he flip the switch and climb the ladder once more? 

Min Woo Lee 

Min Woo Lee is certainly an interesting player, and an even more interesting character on the course. Still young in his career on the PGA Tour, Lee has often flirted with the mid 20s in the world rankings, before dropping back down again. We have all seen moments of brilliance from the young man on the course, but they certainly come and go in sporadic spells. Will 2026 be the year Lee finds some consistent form and gets himself within the top 20? 

Thomas Detry 

Just weeks into the 2025 season, Detry propelled himself from 58th to 22nd in the world rankings following his impressive victory at the WM Phoenix Open. I remember very well questioning whether he would put on a worthy push for a place in the Ryder Cup team after this victory. However, this place in the rankings didn't last very long at all. A steady decline through the season found Detry right back where he started. Could Detry be a player we see climb the leaderboards in 2026? 

Tony Finau 

A few years ago, you would have laughed at the idea of Tony Finau having to re-find form, but it is unfortunately true. Injuries have certainly played their part in this slump, with the American having undergone knee surgery in October 2024, cutting what was an impressive season short. Starting the 2025 season at 26th in the world rankings, Finau now sits in 91st position. Will Finau finally put his injury woes behind him and find the form we all know him for in 2026? 

Jordan Spieth 

The only player on this list who once sat in the prestigious throne of world number one, now rests deep in the pits of the rankings at 75th. Though flirting with the top 50 at times of the 2025 season, it has been a while since we have seen the true form of Jordan Spieth. I’d be a liar if I told you that I don’t root for Spieth on the first day of the PGA Championship every year. Rory took the scenic route completing his career slam, so there is always hope that Spieth can complete his, but will it be in 2026? Or is there more waiting to be done?

Who do you think could return to form in 2026? Will we see Spieth complete the long-awaited Grand Slam of majors, or will Min Woo Lee force himself into the winner's circle next season?