PGA Championship Betting Preview

The PGA Championship this week is being played in May for the first time since the 1940s, as it takes its new place in the golf schedule as the second major of the season.

The PGA has moved to May after previously being played as the final major of the season for decades. The venue for this year’s PGA will be Bethpage Black. It will be hosting the PGA for the first time, but it should be familiar to bettors and many golfers on the tour as a two-time host of both the U.S. Open and The Barclays.

The favorite at Bovada Sportsbook in this year’s PGA is No. 1-ranked Dustin Johnson at +1000. Johnson is still looking to add a second major title to his resume alongside his 2016 U.S. Open title. Johnson’s best career finish in the PGA came in 2010 when he tied for fifth.

After Johnson there are a trio of golfers listed at +1100, including Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.

Koepka +1100 to defend PGA Championship title

Koepka won last year’s PGA at Bellerive. He just missed winning back-to-back majors earlier this season when he tied for second in the Masters. Koepka looks like someone bettors should take a chance on in every major as he’s won or finished second in three of his last four.

McIlroy has won the PGA twice, in 2012 and 2014. His win in 2014 was his last major victory. He has put together a great year so far with one win and seven top-10 finishes, but he stumbled to tie for 21st at the Masters and his recent majors results have been a mixed bag.

Woods reasserted himself as a contender again after winning his 15th career major title at the Masters. He has won the PGA four times with the last in 2007. He also finished second in last year’s PGA. Woods’ history at Bethpage Black also makes him a worthwhile pick this weekend. He won the U.S. Open held on the Black course in 2002.

Other former PGA winners in this week’s field include Jason Day (+2200), Phil Mickelson (+6600), Jimmy Walker (+25000), Padraig Harrington (+40000), Y.E. Yang (+50000) and Keegan Bradley (+75000).

Along with Woods, there are two other golfers who have previously conquered Bethpage Black in this week’s field: 2009 U.S. Open winner Lucas Glover (+12500) and 2016 Barclays winner Patrick Reed (+6600).