The tournament that boasts the biggest golf course is here, but that doesn’t mean much all of them player has a chance to win the Wanamaker Trophy come Sunday night in Pennsylvania.
Technically, yeseveryone has a chance to win the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club this week. But the real us says some guys down in the 200,000-to-1 range might not be a strong bet (respectfully).
Since the active-but-bland Here is the PGA Championship field The article is not so exciting, we create some very independent categories of the competitors that they cover in the PGA this week. As for the guys who were removed from this list? If someone wins we will take our medicine and never write this kind of thing again.
Go to tiers…
One of these guys is going to win, right?
Scottie Scheffler
Rory McIlroy
It can be a two-horse race. Scheffler and McIlroy have combined to win four of the last five majors. McIlroy won the Masters last month. Scheffler is defending his title at the PGA Championship. Scheffler has finished as the runner-up in each of the last three events, a streak that began at the Masters. Rory, with that weight lifted off his shoulders, is busy with the mortgage, as he now collects blue jackets like elementary school students collect tabs. Don’t overthink it – one of these guys will probably win.
But what about this guy?
Cameron Young
Okay, so it is possible a three horse race. Look for this spring: Juniors tied for third at the Arnie event, won the Players, tied for third at the Masters, tied for 25th at the RBC Heritage and won the Cadillac Championship. On Sunday he shot a 74 – his worst round of the season – and tied for 10th at the Truist Championship. We’re going to call Sunday an outlier and expect Cam to step in this week.
But what if the ‘Big 4’?
Matthew Fitzpatrick
Back in 2015 and 2016-ish, there was a lively debate (especially in the golf media) trying to determine whether the top class of the PGA Tour was the “Big 3” or the “Big 4” like Jordan Spieth and Jason Day and Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson and so on. Not quite, but while Rory and Scottie are in their own category, Fitzpatrick (and Young) has moved up to the next rung of the ladder. Fitzpatrick is tied for 52nd at Truist, but before that he won three of his last four. One major title to his name seems like a very small number right now.
2 LIV players you should not forget
Bryson DeChambeau
Jon Rahm
Boy, after last week, these guys should be I am happy so that it doesn’t have to be the center of attention. Both are also very good golfers.
2 former LIV players you should not forget
Brooks Koepka
Patrick Reed
Koepka has won the tournament three times, while Reed has five top 20s at the PGAs. We like Brooks’ idea better than Patrick’s, but maybe that’s how PREed likes it.
The young man we are waiting for
Ludwig Aberg
He won last year’s Genesis and hasn’t had a win since, though he’s clocked these last six starts: T8, T4, T21, T5, T5, T3. He seems destined to pile up the wins. But how long should we wait?
A handful of really good golfers can win
Xander Schauffele
Tommy Fleetwood
Collin Morikawa
Justin Thomas
JJ Spaun
You won’t be shocked if one of these guys wins the big prize on Sunday. Four of them – sorry, Tommy! — of course you have big titles, even though the one who isn’t might be the guy you trust the most right now.
8 PGA Championship headlines you need to know about
By:
James Colgan
Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth
Welcome to his latest Grand Slam attempt. He’s been good but not great this season – one miss but zero top 10s – although few things excite the golf world as much as Spieth competing at the weekend.
Some guys who are in good form should not be forgotten
Patrick Cantlay
Adam Scott
Gary Woodland
Woodland won in March and have been strong since; Scott hasn’t missed a game all season and has tallied seven top 25 points; and Cantlay has finished in the top 12 in each of the last four categories.
Some guys in good shape should not be forgotten
Corey Conners
Thomas Detry
Sahith Theegala
Justin Rose
Viktor Hovland
Hideki Matsuyama
Joaquin Niemann
Ben Griffin
Russell Henley
Alex Smalley
There are too many words to go into, but take our word for it.
The exciting European Ryder Cuppers
Tyrrell Hatton
Robert MacIntyre
Shane Lowry
Only one of them has won a major (Lowry) but the other guys bring exciting energy (fire?) to big weeks. They are good golfers.
Did they catch the hitter at the right time?
Christopher Reitan
Rickie Fowler
Nicolai Hojgaard
Alex Fitzpatrick
Who are these? Why are your players finishing in the top four of the Truist Championship on Sunday. Alex Fitzpatrick has another shot to prove this run isn’t a fluke (he’s been convincing so far), and Fowler, who should get more credit for this crazy longevity, is running out of time to snag that elusive title.
Some great champions we haven’t mentioned yet
Keegan Bradley
Wyndham Clark
Jason Day
Brian Harman
Is it possible?
The players were in good form but now they are struggling with injuries
Jake Knapp
What’s good? Five top-10 finishes in nine starts this season, and he is third in Strokes Gained: Putting. The bad? He has been out of action for almost a month due to a thumb injury. You will be making a last minute decision this week at the source.
Some guys with figures we love
Si Woo Kim (5th SG: Tee to Green)
Mr Woo Lee (13th SG: Tee to Green)
Chris Gotterup (16th SG: Tee to Green)
Kurt Kitayama (16th SG: Tee to Green, 6th SG: Approach)
Austin Smotherman (11th SG: Approach)
Sepp Straka (13th SG: Approach)
Jacob Bridgeman (1st SG: Placing)
Akshay Bhatia (5th SG: Placement)
Sam Burns (10th SG: Placement)
Gotterup won two of his three starts earlier this year and has recorded one top 10 since, though he has eight top 25s. His driver has been a weapon all year and he was great with his irons and putter last weekend. A good sign heading into a big week.
Long shots
Sahith Theegala (+17500)
Max Homa (+20000)
Keith Mitchell (+22500)
Haotong Li (+30000)
Because these bets get better when they hit.
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