Christmas has come early for golf bettors as TPC Harding Park plays host to the PGA Championship on Friday.
Back to back defending champ Brooks Koepka has opened as the co-favourite alongside last week’s WGC St Jude Invitational winner, Justin Thomas.
There is also good money on offer for four-time winner Tiger Woods, while Australian Jason Day looks a live chance with three Top 10 finishes to his name.
Big names usually win these major tournaments, but with plenty of players to choose from, we’ve done the hard work for you in our 2020 PGA Championship Preview below.
PGA Championship Best Bet
Gary Woodland at $46.00
Woodland is my pick to win this weekend based on two reasons. First, he ranks 12th on Tour in shots gained: approach the green, and second, he finished runner-up on this course back in 2015. His accuracy off the tee is a minor concern, but that didn’t stop him navigating a similar West Coast course (Pebble Beach) at last year’s US Open.
PGA Championship Best Value
Xander Schauffele at $16.00
Three rounds under 70 highlighted Schauffele’s weekend at TPC Southwind where he finished T6 at the St Jude Invitational. He’s making real headway towards another win, especially when you consider he’s finished Top 20 in four of his last five appearances. He’s a great all-rounder on the stat sheet and a real live chance to win his first major.
PGA Championship Top 10 Finish
Rory McIlroy at $2.38
The Irishman follows a similar path to Rahm after a lacklustre T47 last week at the St Jude Invitational. Aside from a T11 at the Travelers three weeks ago, Rory has hardly been his usual self since the restart. Still, he ranks fifth on Tour in shots gained: tee-to-green and has won on this course previously at the 2015 WGC Cadillac Match Play.
Tyrell Hatton at $5.00
Hatton is the absolute epitome of consistency. He’s finished inside the top six on four occasions this year and ranks Top 25 on Tour in strokes gained: tee-to-green and bogey avoidance. Over the last four years Hatton has also finished Top 10 in four major tournaments, so maybe this is the weekend he makes a name for himself.
PGA Championship Best Roughie
Cameron Champ at $151.00
Champ has been a mixed bag since golf returned, but he does own three Top 25 finishes to his name, one of which came last week at the St Jude Invitational. Stats wise, the 25-year-old ranks second in strokes gained: off-the-tee, while the California native should also be fairly familiar with this course.
PGA Championship Best of the Rest
Justin Thomas at $11.00
Accuracy off the tee is vital at TPC Harding Park and, therefore, it is no surprise to find last week’s St Jude Invitational winner as the co-favourite. Thomas ranks first on Tour in shots gained: tee-to-green, while he’s also got a very impressive short game to match. After reclaiming the No. 1 spot in the world rankings from Jon Rahm, he’s impossible to argue against.
Brooks Koepka at $11.00
The back-to-back champ is back in more ways than one. After a very sluggish start post-restart, Koepka fired home late to finish T2 last week at TPC Southwind. Other areas of his game still need work, but Koepka does rank 19th in shots gained: off-the-tee. They say big name players show up for big name events, so sleep on this guy at your own risk.
Jon Rahm at $13.00
Just how motivated will the Spaniard be? Three ordinary rounds last week at TPC Southwind saw Rahm limp to a T52 finish. In the process, he lost his No. 1 spot in the world rankings to eventual winner Justin Thomas, so I fully expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder this week. Like others, he’s got plenty of accuracy off the tee to suit, although this is his first look at TPC Harding Park.
Bryson DeChambeau at $17.00
I simply cannot wait to watch DeChambeau go at it this week. His long-bomb style could lead to some epic moments or turn into a complete train wreck on the narrow fairways TPC Harding Park has to offer. There’s no room for error with the rough a little thicker than normal, and considering this is his first look at the course, I’m happy to leave him out of my betting.
Dustin Johnson at $17.00
DJ sighted back issues for his withdrawal at the 3M Open a fortnight ago, but he showed no real sign of discomfort last week at TPC Southwind where he finished T12. The American finished runner-up at this event last year behind Koepka, so he shouldn’t be short on motivation. Johnson has been money off the tee all year, but he will need to clean up his play around the green if he stands any chance.
Webb Simpson at $23.00
Simpson isn’t the most accurate guy off the tee, but that didn’t stop him finishing T12 last week at TPC Southwind. What he lacks in accuracy with the driver he makes up for on the green, while he also finished 17th on this course back in 2015.
Patrick Cantlay at $26.00
I tipped Cantlay to win last week at the St Jude Invitational, and although he let us down, he did show some real promise carding two final rounds under 70. The 28-year-old hasn’t missed the cut at all this year, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him bounce-back into the Top 10. Cantlay ranks seven in shots gained: tee-to-green and has to be respected in the market.
Tiger Woods at $31.00
The GOAT is well-rested following his T40 at the Memorial, but it’s still difficult to know what to expect from him on this course. Tiger simply hasn’t played enough golf this year to get a real gauge on where he’s at off-the-tee, but his putting three weeks ago suggested that he’s far from where he was last year at Augusta.
Jason Day at $34.00
It is incredible to find Day at these odds following three consecutive finishes inside the Top 10. Given, it’s always difficult to know when his back issues might flare up again, but if there’s ever been a guy that deserves to win another major, it’s him. The 2015 PGA Championship winner is the complete package in terms of stats, while it’s comforting to know he’s played on this course before back in 2015.
Matthew Fitzpatrick at $41.00
Quite easily one of the biggest sleepers going around. Fitzpatrick has finished top six in his last two appearances at the Memorial and the St Jude Invitational, while he also ranks second in strokes gained: putting.
