2023 PGA Championship Favorites: A Big Three at Oak Hill?
Looking ahead to the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club; who will win the second major of the year?
The 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill is a mere ten days away now and with just one event on the schedule left to be played before the second major of the year gets underway, let’s take an early look at some of the main contenders for this year’s Wanamaker Trophy.
Six weeks after Jon Rahm put on the Green Jacket at Augusta National, the second men’s major of 2023 is about to take place at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.
Oak Hill’s East Course is no stranger to hosting golf’s biggest events having previously been the site of three U.S. Opens, a Ryder Cup, two U.S. Amateurs, a U.S. Senior Open, two Senior PGA Championships, and what will soon be its fourth PGA Championship.
The original Donald Ross design has undergone several renovations over the years and it is sure to provide a stern test to the best players in the world in a little under two weeks’ time.
2023 PGA Championship: A Big Three?
As was the case prior to the Masters, golf’s ‘big three’ have continued to separate themselves from the rest of the chasing pack. The last two victors at Augusta National, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm, remain the most likely favorites to win the year’s second major according to the Oddsmakers.
Rory McIlroy completes the trio at the top of the board and there is no place for the defending PGA Champion, Justin Thomas, amongst the group.
Jon Rahm
The world number one has been sensational this year and his presence at the top of the board needs little explanation.
Not including his unfortunate withdrawal from the Players Championship in March, the Spaniard has finished outside of the top 20 on a leaderboard on just two occasions dating back to last July’s 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews.
Rahm will head into this year’s PGA Championship with two starts under his belt, a 15th at the RBC Heritage and a runner-up finish at the Mexico Open at Vidanta, since his triumphant win at the Masters last month.
Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler’s name amongst this group also requires little explanation. The 2021 Masters winner heads into the 2023 PGA Championship having won twice already this year.
One of those victories came in spectacular fashion at the Players Championship in March where the Texan posted four rounds under 70 on his way to a five-shot victory.
Scottie’s other win came at the elevated WM Phoenix Open in February and he hasn’t finished worse than 12th in any start since the CJ Cup in South Carolina last October.
Rory McIlroy
Rory completes the trio of favorites at the top and of the group you could certainly poke the most holes in the Northern Irishman’s resume.
McIlroy hasn’t been bad by any stretch but at the same time, he isn’t quite on the same level as Rahm and Scheffler when it comes to form heading into the PGA Championship.
The four-time major winner won at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January on the DP World Tour but since then his best finishes include a runner-up at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a 3rd at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in March.
He will head into the second major of the year following a disappointing missed cut at the Masters and a T47th finish at the Wells Fargo Championship in his last two starts.
2023 PGA Championship Odds
Both Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth complete the group under 20/1 heading to Oak Hill, here is a look at the rest of the current top favorites for this year’s PGA Championship over on DraftKings.
Note: Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. For more sports and betting insight be sure to check out Betsided.
- Jon Rahm (+750)
- Scottie Scheffler (+900)
- Rory McIlroy (+1000)
- Justin Thomas (+1400)
- Jordan Spieth (+1600)
- Xander Schauffele (+2000)
- Collin Morikawa (+2000)
- Brooks Koepka (+2000)
- Patrick Cantlay (+2200)
- Cameron Smith (+2200)
- Max Homa (+2500)
- Dustin Johnson (+2500)
- Viktor Hovland (+2800)
- Tony Finau (+2800)
- Cameron Young (+2800)
- Sungjae Im (+3500)
- Shane Lowry (+3500)
- Matt Fitzpatrick (+3500)
- Hideki Matsuyama (+3500)
- Sam Burns (+4000)
- Jason Day (+4000)
- Tom Kim (+4000)
- Tyrrell Hatton (+5000)
- Joaquin Niemann (+5000)
Next. 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson Rundown. dark
Brooks Koepka headlines the list of LIV Tour favorites following his impressive showing at Augusta last month. Two of the last three PGA Champions can be found at +1600 (Justin Thomas) and +2000 (Collin Morikawa).
Matt Fitzpatrick (+3500, RBC Heritage) and Tony Finau (+2800, Mexico Open) fresh off recent wins on the PGA Tour are also listed amongst the top favorites to win the PGA Championship.
The 105th PGA Championship begins Thursday, May 18th.