The PGA Championship is being played at the tough Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Ocean Course this week. Rory McIlroy (+1100) prevailed here nearly a decade ago and the betting favorite as he leads a loaded field.
- Date: May 20-23
- Venue: Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, SC, USA
- Watch on: ESPN, ESPN+, CBS
Outside of McIlroy, the talented field includes world No. 1 Dustin Johnson (+1800), the charismatic Jordan Spieth (+1400), and last year’s winner, Collin Morikawa (+3000).
Let’s size up some of the more notable golfers per the PGA Championship 2021 betting lines.
Favorites to Longshots
Will McIlroy Make Magic at Kiawah Again?
To Win: +1100
Top 5: +250
Top 10: +125
Top 20: -175
It’s been a trying year for the Northern Irishman as he’s played behind most of his peers. He had a deflating performance at the Masters where he failed to make the cut. Overall, he has five Top 10 finishes and has made 12 cuts, modest by his standards.
But momentum is on his side following his clutch victory at the Wells Fargo Championship. He’s one of a few favorites who have had a romantic history with the Ocean Course, where he won by eight strokes in 2012. McIlroy could finally pay dividends to his diehards.
Bryson DeChambeau
To Win: +1400
Top 5: +300
Top 10: +160
Top 20: -125
He’s quickly risen as one of golf’s most polarizing players lately. DeChambeau won the 2020 US Open and is nicknamed “The Scientist” for a good reason. He’s played efficiently throughout the tour and leads the PGA in Driving Distance, SG: Tee-to-Green, and SG: Total.
Was that sound a gun or just DeChambeau teeing off? @ForePlayPod pic.twitter.com/SRHdlHz1jd
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 15, 2021
DeChambeau has little to no experience at Kiawah and he claims it will be a “diabolical test”. But if there is a player who can navigate the treacherous turns of the Ocean Course, it’s DeChambeau and it starts with his smooth and powerful driver.
Will Zalatoris
To Win: +5000
Top 5: +900
Top 10: +450
Top 20: +160
Even before Will Zalatoris broke through the mainstream consciousness thanks in part to his second-place finish at the Masters and the “Happy Gilmore” memes, he’s been a steady contender. Zalatoris is tied for fourth with six Top 10 finishes.
Zalatoris is third in SG: Approach the Green and seventh in SG: Tee-To-Green. Most notably, he’s come through in big moments with a Top 10 finish in both the US Open and Masters. As far as outside contenders go, Zalatoris is on the short list.
Corey Conners
To Win: +6000
Top 5: +1200
Top 10: +500
Top 20: +240
“Quiet” is subjective here as Corey Conners is already becoming a star in Canada. He’s steadily picked up steam on his way to seven Top 10 finishes (13 Top 25). He stumbled during the Wells Fargo Championship, but had strong showings in his four tournaments before that.
Conners is one of a few golfers who rank in the top-15 in four of the six major strokes gained stats: Off-The-Tee (12th), Approach The Green (6th), Tee-To-Green (9th), and Total (14th). Canadians shouldn’t be the only ones noticing Conners.
Matt Wallace
To Win: +9000
Top 5: +1600
Top 10: +800
Top 20: +400
The Englishman could be McIlroy’s English counterpart in this tournament. Although he’s only made a pair of Top 10 finishes, he was hot behind McIlroy at the Wells Fargo where he finished tied for sixth. Prior to that, he tied for 18th at the RBC Heritage and finished third at the Valero Texas Open.
Thomas’s tee-to-green is among the best (8th overall) despite being average with his driving stats. But as a player with a penchant for getting his ball to the green (4th in SG: Approach The Green), he is a long shot worth giving a second look.
