Picks & Best Bets for the PGA Championship

Welcome to the second men’s major championship of the year, folks.

This PGA Championship has the makings of a classic. The storylines are infinite. Rory McIlroy fresh off his Masters win returning to a golf course where he’s won four times. Bryson DeChambeau coming off a win on LIV and playing a track tailor-made for his game. A red-hot Justin Thomas back at the site of his first major win.

Oh, and a guy named Scottie Scheffler will be here, too.

Man, I can’t wait for Thursday morning.

Anyway, it’s time to make some picks. We were oh-so-close at the Truist Championship, but Shane Lowry couldn’t get it done down the stretch. Disappointing stuff. But it’s a new week. Let’s cash a ticket.

Related: Ranking the Field | Biggest Storylines

Golf Course & Course History

Quail Hollow Club | Par 71 | 7,626 yards

Betting Odds for the PGA Championship

Scottie Scheffler (+400)

Rory McIlroy (+450)

Bryson DeChambeau (+700)

Jon Rahm (+1800)

Justin Thomas (+2000)

Xander Schauffele (+2200)

Collin Morikawa (+2200)

Ludvig Aberg (+2500)

Joaquin Niemann (+3300)

Patrick Cantlay (+4000)

Tyrrell Hatton (+4500)

Tommy Fleetwood (+4500)

Hideki Matsuyama (+4500)

Brooks Koepka (+4500)

Viktor Hovland (+5000)

Shane Lowry (+5500)

Jordan Spieth (+6000)

Corey Conners (+7000)

Sepp Straka (+7000)

Russell Henley (+7500)

Just Some Thoughts Before Diving In

Quail Hollow is soaked. It POURED on Monday, and that will absolutely impact the tournament. If carry distance wasn’t on your radar before, it should be now. This week’s winner will more than likely be a bomber.

If you’ve read my stuff before, you know I’m not the biggest Bryson DeChambeau fan in the world. But over the last 24 hours, the LIV star has become the talk of the town. His game couldn’t fit this place better. It would shock me if he doesn’t contend.

Since I turned 18, I bet Rory to win every major he played in. That trend changed at the Masters last month. I had to switch something up and it worked. So, guess what. I’m running that same play once again. The Northern Irishman isn’t going on the card—please, let this work.

Picks to Win the PGA Championship

Bryson DeChambeau (7/1)

Photo: Getty Images

This is what I call an “emotional hedge.” Do I want Bryson to win? Absolutely not. But if he does, I win some money. Folks, that’s what they call a win-win.

Here’s a little reasoning for you. His last five major finishes: T-6, 2nd, 1st, MC, T-5. Pretty good. In his two LIV starts since the Masters, Bryson’s tied for second and won in Korea. And I said it a moment ago, but this golf course couldn’t fit this man’s game better. All the stars seem to be aligning for him. Now he’s just gotta do it.

Justin Thomas (20/1)

Photo: Getty Images

Vegas is telling us this tournament is a three-man race. Scottie, Rory, and Bryson. So, let’s take advantage of that and take JT at 20/1. Over his last four starts, he has finished second to Viktor Hovland at the Valspar, tied for 36th at the Masters, won the RBC Heritage, and tied for second at the Truist. The man’s on a heater and we’re along for the ride.

It’s no secret he won the PGA the last time it was at Quail, so that was taken into account. But he’s just so in control of his game at the moment and his putter has finally woken up. Plus, this guy loves the PGA. He’ll be vibing.

Tommy Fleetwood (45/1)

Photo: Getty Images

I feel like I’m chasing my tail with Tommy. I just keep betting on him and he can’t get one over the finish line. But here I am, going right back to him. Here’s why:

He’s coming off two great starts, a solo-seventh performance at the RBC Heritage and a tie for fourth in Philly last week. In nine starts this season, he has just one finish worse than T-22. In his last three trips to Quail, he’s finished T-13 (2024), T-5 (2023), and T-14 (2021).

The length of this place concerns me a little, but I’m gonna ride with the Englishman.

Patrick Reed (80/1)

Photo: Getty Images

Before you say, “Yuck,” let me explain.

In his last three appearances at the Truist Championship before going to LIV Golf, Reed finished T-6 (2021), T-28 (2019), and eighth (2018). At the ‘17 PGA, he tied for second. Last month in Augusta, Reed finished solo third, two shots out of the playoff. In his latest LIV start, he tied for fourth in Korea.

Does the pick make more sense now? Yeah, it might be ugly, and it doesn’t make you feel good on the inside, but hitting an 80/1 ticket would be pretty fun. But, if this is easier to swallow, he’s +200 for a top-20 finish. Add it to the card.