The Ocean Course at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina plays host to the second Major of the year, The PGA Championship. We take a look at the event and select 4 players to take on the field and the bookmakers.
The Ocean Course will be the longest in Major Championship history and while the long hitters will no doubt be favoured there is also the liklihood of wind coming off the ocean which could play havoc with the scores and negate the advantage of the long hitters.
Looking at recent PGA Championships, length has been a key factor though and even if the wind blows I expect one of the longer hitters to prevail and can’t argue with the betting which sees Rory Mcilroy, who has won back here in 2012, at 11/1 with Jon Rahm 14/1, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are 16/1 and Bryson Dechambeau and Dustin Johnson 18/1 and you can get 22/1 and better the balance.
PAST WINNERS (at different courses)
2020 – Collin Morikawa -13
2019 – Brooks Koepka -8
2018 – Brooks Koepka -16
2017 – Justin Thomas -8
2016 – Jimmy Walker -14
BETTING – Click here to bet
Rory Mcilroy 11/1
Jon Rahm 14/1
Justin Thomas 16/1
Jordan Spieth 16/1
Bryson Dechambeau 18/1
Dustin Johnson 18/1
22/1 and better the balance, prices correct at the time of posting but are subject to change
SUGGESTED BETS:
Dustin Johnson each way at 18/1 (paying 8 places)
Dustin Johnson had a disappointing missed cut at the Masters, but prior to that his Major finishes read, 1, 6, 2. His recent form hasn’t been great with a Top 15 and a Top 50 since he played the Masters and he has an excellent record in PGA Championships with back-to-back runner-up finishes. Johnson is long and his fairly generous price is explained by the fact that he is not in the best of form but I am more than happy to have him on side and in my staking plan this week.
Viktor Hovland each way at 22/1
Hovland is one of the form players on Tour with back-to-back Top 3 finishes. He made his PGA Tour debut last year finishing in the Top 35 and in 5 Major Championships starts has yet to finish outside the Top 35. Hovland is knocking hard on the door and he has the game to handle this course even if the wind blows and I will be disappointed if he isn’t right in the thick of things come the back 9 on Sunday.
Bryson Dechambeau each way at 18/1
After much thought I am going to give Bryson a go. He disappointed in the Masters where he finished just inside the Top 50, but there is no doubt that his distance should give him every chance on this course. I probably prefer if the weather is good for Bryson, but getting a decent price on him mainly due to his current form, which isn’t quite what it was, although he did have a 9th place finish just 2 starts back. Last year he finished 4th, a big improvement on his previous PGA Champs finishes.
Brooks Koepka each way at 50/1
It wasn’t long ago that Brooks Koepka was destroying all before him in the Majors and he has proven that he can overpower a golf course. His recent form has been poor with a missed cut in the Masters and a missed cut last week, but you cannot ignore a man who won back-to-back PGA Championships in 2018 and 2019. I am expecting Brooks to come back to his best sometime soon and at 50/1 just have to have him in my 4 ball this week.
I am going to throw one other bet in and that is Garrick Higgo, the in form young South African at 9/2 in the Top South African Market. Louis Oosthuizen tops the board here at 3/1 with Charles Schwartzel, who played last week, also at 9/2 and you can get 15/1 and better the balance.
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