RORY MCILROY won the USPGA Championship, at Kiawah Island in 2012 and Valhalla in 2014, and Padraig Harrington won for Ireland when the multi-million dollar event was staged at Oakland Hills in 2008 but they remain the only two players from the British Isles to have been successful in the year’s final Major since it became a stroke play tournament in 1958.
McIlroy is well to the fore in the outright betting for this year’s competition – for which Coral are offering each-way betting down the 10th place – and favourite in the Top GB and Ireland lists at 11/4 with Betfred.
As well as his record in the USPGA Championship, the Northern Irishman has had six top-eight finishes in his last 12 events worldwide and there is a good chance he’ll be able to fully unload those big drives in St Louis without worrying too much about where they end up.
JUSTIN ROSE was third behind McIlroy in 2012 and fourth in 2015. But he’s also missed the cut on six occasions in the USPGA, including last year, and the Englishman, who tied for second in The Open in July, is a best 9/2 with Boylesports to be the Top GB and Ireland player this week at Bellerive.
Fellow Englishman TOMMY FLEETWOOD (a general 5/1) is on the lookout for new set of clubs after Nike ceased manufacturing golf equipment at the end of last year. PAUL CASEY (11/1 with Boylesports) reportedly has a set of Fleetwood’s favourite clubs sat at home in his garage but the reigning Race To Dubai champion will have to face the fact that he’s going to have to switch his preference sooner rather than later. Fleetwood has only competed in the USPGA on three occasions and only made the cut once. Casey has managed one top 10 finish in the event, in 2016, but otherwise his overall record is poor. RUSSELL KNOX (a general 25/1) has only made the cut once in four attempts and SHANE LOWRY (also a best 25/1) has fared little better in six previous appearances.
TYRELL HATTON might be the value in this particular market at a general 18/1. The 26-year-old from Buckinghamshire tied for 10th place at Baltusrol in 2016 having secured a top 25 finish in his debut in the USPGA at Whistling Straits 12 months earlier. He’s played pretty well in the three Majors this year so far, tying for sixth in the US Open, and most odds are offering place betting down to fourth place in this market.
USPGA Top GB and Ireland Player Best Odds
Rory McIlroy 11/4
Justin Rose 9/2
Tommy Fleetwood 5/1
Paul Casey 11/1
Ian Poulter 16/1
Tyrrell Hatton 18/1
Russell Knox 25/1
Matthew Fitzpatrick 25/1
Shane Lowry 25/1
Danny Willett 33/1
Chris Wood 33/1
Andy Sullivan 33/1
Eddie Pepperell 33/1
Paul Dunne 40/1
Ross Fisher 40/1
Jordan Smith 50/1
Matt Wallace 50/1
Padraig Harrington 80/1
Paul Broadhurst 150/1
(Odds correct at 12.15pm August 8)
