Golf fans are witnessing one of the most competitive years in the sport. Barely five months into the season and already the World No. 1 spot has changed hands three times, with Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm all taking turns at the top. Heading into the second Major of the year, the US PGA Championship sees the PGA and LIV Golf circuits combine again for what is an incredibly deep field of golfers vying for the title.
Jon Rahm in particular will be looking to become the first European to hold the US Open, the Masters and the US PGA Championship. Win here in New York and Rahm will be halfway to the calendar slam of Majors. But he’ll have tough competition, with Scottie Scheffler setting the pace at the moment on the PGA Tour and plenty of other in-form players heading to Oak Hill Country Club with ambitions.
We break down all the best bets to make this week ahead of the first tee at the US PGA Championship on Thursday.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 17th, 10:00 P.M. (GMT)
Looking at the outright winner odds from bookmaker bet365, this one’s a dead heat between the World No. 1 and No. 2 players, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm. With both paying 8.50, Rory McIlroy is the next best favourite but well behind on 13.00. From here, odds steadily increase with Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay and Brooks Koepka on 17.00-21.00.
Top finish odds are as expected, with decent value on some of the fringe favourites such as Finau, Koepka and Cantlay.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 17th, 10:00 P.M. (GMT)
It’s hard to argue against a bet on Jon Rahm here. The Spaniard has won four of the 11 events he’s contested this season and is the Tour leader in this regard by a significant margin. He’s also had three top five finishes and two other top 10 finishes—basically, he’s playing great golf. The World No. 2 also has shown he has what it takes to win on the biggest stage, claiming the Masters and US Open recently.
In saying this, it’s rare that a golfer wins two Majors in a row. Dustin Johnson from LIV Golf could be an outside chance here besides the obvious bet of Scottie Scheffler. Johnson is paying a healthy 26.00 to win or 6.50 to finish in the top five. The American is second in the LIV Golf earnings this season, having just won his first event in Tulsa. On two separate occasions he’s finished runner-up at the US PGA Championship, and 2023 could well be the year that he carries the LIV Golf banner and goes one step further to win the tournament.
