World No. 1 and 2 Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are the favorites to win the 2024 PGA … [+]
It’s PGA Championship week as one of the strongest fields in golf prepare to tee off at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. As you watch and wager on the second major championship of the year, fans and bettors can target some of the top golfers from The Masters who are now chasing green jacket winner Scottie Scheffler as the clear favorite to win the 106th PGA Championship.
Fans can listen to the leading golfers during their early week press interviews, and golf transcripts are posted on ASAP Sports.
Television broadcast coverage of the 2024 PGA Championship is Thursday and Friday on ESPN (1-7 p.m. ET), and Saturday and Sunday on ESPN (10-1) and CBS (1-7 p.m.). Fans can also stream online and watch PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ (subscription).
Leading favorites and contenders golf odds from FanDuel Sportsbook refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. All players press conferences on Tuesday, May 14 unless noted. All times Eastern.
Note that in the past week, Koepka and Schauffele’s odds to win the 2024 PGA Championship have both dropped from +2100 to +1600 (16/1). World No. 4 Schauffele is currently leading the Wells Fargo Championship by 1-shot over Rory McIlroy through Saturday’s third round, and Xander is attempting to go wire-to-wire to capture the $3.6 million top prize.
Tiger Woods returns to competitive play, and he won the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Other leading win contenders 2024 PGA Championship golf odds:
Xander Schauffele: Since the beginning of the 2023 PGA Tour season, Schauffele ranks No. 2 in Strokes Gained: Total on courses over 7,400 yards and No. 5 in SG: Tee-to-Green. He’s No. 2 in Par 4 Efficiency this season, including fourth on holes ranging between 450 and 500 yards, and No. 4 in Par 5 Efficiency.
Wyndham Clark: Since the beginning of 2023, Clark is No. 3 in SG: Total under “difficult” scoring conditions. Last year’s U.S. Open champion is also No. 5 in SG: Total and No. 6 in SG: Tee-to-Green on difficult courses over 7,400 yards. Clark is No. 4 in Par 4 Efficiency this year and No. 6 in Par Efficiency from 450-500 yards.
Strokes Gained leaders over their last 24 rounds back to March and the Arnold Palmer Invitational:
Hovland, Matsuyama, McIlroy and Scheffler top the Tour in Par 4 scoring from 450-500 yards over their last 24 rounds.
Brooks Koepka celebrates with the Wanamaker trophy after winning the PGA Championship golf … [+]
DeChambeau (318 yards), Niemann (317) and Rahm (313) are leading LIV Golf in driving distance. Dustin Johnson won the LIV Golf Las Vegas event Super Bowl week by 1-stroke over Talor Gooch, who was added to the 2024 PGA Championship field. Three-time PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka won the recent LIV Golf Singapore event by 2-shots over Cam Smith ahead of the PGA Championship.
Niemann, Koepka, Rahm, Johnson and DeChambeau are all top-10 in Greens-in-Regulation this season on the LIV Golf Tour.
Last year’s top-10 finishes in the 2023 PGA Championship:
Hole-By-Hole Valhalla Golf Club
Three Par 5’s at Valhalla play between 570 and 600 yards. Seven of the Par 4’s play between 460 and 508 yards on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course.
I spoke directly with Kerry Haigh today, and he’s Chief Championships Officer of the PGA of America. Mr. Haigh is responsible for the overall operation, administration and golf course setup for the PGA Championship.
“The back nine is incredible,” Haigh said noting the natural hillsides and amphitherters on most holes creating spectacular viewing and settings for fans and spectators.
The long Par 4’s at holes No. 12 and 16 will play among the toughest scoring holes, along with the long Par 4’s on the front at No. 2, 6 and 1 with the opening hole adding a new tee box and creating a longer second shot into the green. Hole No. 7 called “Genuine Risk” is a definite risk/reward approach.
The Par 5 is a unique hole with a split fairway. “The landing area to the left is among the narrowist on the course (26 yards), and players will have to carry more than 210 yards over water on their approach shot to the green,” Haigh said before adding that the golfers in the 2014 championship were nearly split on which way and direction to play the hole. Playing to the right adds 40-50 yards to the hole and is a safer route, but players still have to avoid the water hazard skirting the front and the entire left edge of the green.
The wind was blowing more than projected today as Mr. Haigh was out on the golf course. If that’s the case during championship play, then a winning score or most top players scores will most likely come in less than -16 under par which Rory McIlroy shot in winning the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla. Firmer and faster conditions on newer zoysiagrass fairways, along with 151 yards added length to 7,609 yards and 3 inch Kentucky bluegrass and fescue step-cut rough will add to some of the challenges. Haigh determines the setup and variety of hole locations around the pure bentgrass greens and chipping areas around the greens.
Hole No. 2 plays as a Par 4 in the championship, but is a Par 5 for members. Of which Haigh added that the Valhalla Golf Club membership elected to shut down play on the golf course since Nov., 2023. Improvments and small projects to enhance the appearance across the entire course, renovated clubhouse and new entrance and rail fencing to create a special ambiance and Kentucky feel will be a victory for Valhalla as a special showcase for the city of Louisville.
Sportshandle also analyzed all of the past winners of the PGA Championship with more than 100 years of data. Here is some of the data and interesting tid bits.
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