The virtual PGA: The nine favorites

Brooks Koepka, 2018, 2019, (2013-2019), -1.27

Jim Barnes, 1916, 1919 (1916-1925), -1.25

Gary Player, 1962, 1972 (1962-1971), -1.24

Lee Trevino, 1974, 1984 (1978-1987), -1.22

This virtually interchangeable group of favorites literally includes both the first and the most recent tournament champions.

Koepka played in his first PGA Championship in 2013 but began to pick up his game two seasons later. He tied for fifth in 2015, for fourth in 2016, and for 13th in 2017 before winning by two strokes in 2018 and in 2019.

Barnes, a native Englishman who came to the United States to play professionally, won the first two PGAs in 1916 and 1919. He made a run at two more titles, losing to Walter Hagen in 1921 and again in 1924.

Player’s 1962 victory made him the first foreign-born champion since Jim Ferrier in 1947 and only the fifth in history. He held a four-stroke lead through three rounds in 1962 and held on to beat Bob Goalby by one. Player’s 1972 victory at Oakland Hills by two strokes over Tommy Aaron and Jim Jameson came thanks to a third-round 67.

Although Trevino was already a champion, having won in 1974, he really hit his stride later in that decade. Between 1978 and 1987 his seven appearances included four top 10s. He held off Lanny Wadkins and Gary Player to win by four at Shoal Creek in 1984, and one year later at Cherry Hills, he lost a 36-hole lead and came home second behind Hubert Green.

Make sure to check back in later today to see the other players in the virtual PGA Championship that, although they aren’t favorites, are still ones to watch out for as contenders.