The PGA Championship is Here! Favorites, Best Bets, and More

PHOTO: PGA Championship

Happy PGA Championship week! As Jason Day takes home the Byron Nelson, his first win of the year after several top 10 finishes, our focus now shifts to Oak Hill Country Club for the second major of 2023. With a field consisting of both PGA Tour and LIV players (the PGA Championship is a separate organization than the tour), let's take a look at the current betting favorites via MGM Sportsbook:

• Scottie Scheffler: +750

• Jon Rahm: +800

• Rory MclIroy: +1400

• Xander Schauffele +1600

• Patrick Cantley: +1800

• Brooks Koepka: +2000

• Phil Mickelson: +15000

Odds as of May 17th, 10 AM

If you ask me, Vegas is underselling Mickelson here. I'm not sure why Phil, the most recent winner of the PGA, is listed at +15000 to repeat. He tied for 2nd in the Masters, so I'd imagine he would be a smart bet. Combine his recent results with his ability to stay healthy, and I'd easily take him in a T10 finish bet at +1000.

Brooks Koepka (+2000 Outright Winner) is another great pick. The 4-time Major Champ has been playing some unbelievable golf as of late, and two of the biggest wins in his career have been in New York (2018 US Open at Shinnecock, and 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black). He's won the PGA twice, so he's an easy pick for outright winner.

PHOTO: CBS Sports

Scottie Scheffler at +750 for the outright winner is a crazy good bet. Scottie has certainly regressed over his past few tournaments, yet he is still one of the best players in the world.

Finally, Jon Rahm will always be within the top ten so maybe sprinkle some cash on him for a Top 10 finish (-135), along with a unit or two for the Outright Win (+800).

This tournament will be played at the beautiful Oak Hill in upstate New York, and knowing how the weather has been within the Tri State area for the past few weeks, this should be a beautiful weekend for some high level golf! Maybe it's the warm weather lifting everyone's spirits, but it looks like it will be a kinder weekend of golf as well, as Rory McIlroy seems to have squashed his beef with the LIV Tour.