The next big stop on the Majors this year brings US PGA Championship Golf Betting odds into focus this week.
The event is being hosted on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina.
A limited number of spectators will be allowed into the course on each of the days.
In our PGA Championship golf betting odds preview, we look at some of the history of the tournament and look at some of the key players in this year’s edition.
Table of Contents
PGA Championship Golf Betting Odds
Rory McIlroy 11/1
Jon Rahm 14/1
Jordan Spieth 16/1
Bryson Dechambeau 16/1
Justin Thomas 16/1
Dustin Johnson 18/1
Xander Schauffele 22/1
Viktor Hovland 22/1
Collin Morikawa 30/1
Daniel Berger 30/1
Patrick Reed 35/1
Hideki Matsuyama 40/1
Tony Finau 40/1
Cameron Smith 40/1
Patrick Cantlay 45/1
Brooks Koepka 45/1
Webb Simpson 45/1
Scottie Scheffler 45/1
55/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021)
When and Where is the 2021 US PGA Championship held?
It is off to South Carolina for the US PGA Championship golf betting this week. The last time that the venue hosted the event was in 2012.
It was Rory McIlroy who won the tournament on that occasion, the only time that the US PGA had been hosted at the Ocean Course.
The tournament starts on May 20th and concludes on the 23rd of the month. There is a par 72 in play and the length of the course is at 7,876 yards with scoring opportunities on four par-five holes.
US PGA Championship Golf Betting Favourite
Rory McIlroy is the favourite in US PGA Championship golf betting odds at a quote of 11/1* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021).
He arrives in form after claiming the title at the Wells Fargo Championship on his last appearance earlier this month.
That Quail Hollow performance, combined with him winning the PGA Championship nine years ago here at Kiawah Islands puts him at the head of the golf betting market.
That was some response from McIlroy at the Wells Fargo as he had missed the cut in both THE PLAYERS and The Masters in his two tournaments before that.
US PGA Championship history
The US PGA Championship used to be the fourth and final golf major of a calendar year.
August was its usual month, but in 2019 it was moved to the weekend before Memorial Day in the US. That made it the second of the four Majors in a year.
The PGA Championship was held for the first time in 1916 and the winner collected $500. Just for reference, 100 years on, the 2016 winner who was Jimmy Walker, pocketed a whopping $1.8 million.
The PGA Championship started out as a match play tournament but was moved to the stroke play format in 1958 on a four-day format. That format remains in place today.
Defending champions US PGA Champions Golf betting
Collin Morikawa was the winner of last year’s PGA Championship. He was the ninth debutant to score the win.
He just got everything together on the weekend, helped out by the track behind a being a ball-striker’s heaven.
But he brought a big putting game to the table as well. The track at Kiawah Island should suit his game as well this year as he seeks a title defence.
Morikawa is bringing some strong trends to the table, as he is going strong this season in Tee-to-Green and Approach The Green stats.
There is a quote of 11/4 on Collin Morikawa to defend his crown* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021).
PGA Championship Betting Odds – Top 10 Finish
Rory McIlroy 5/4
Justin Thomas 6/4
Jon Rahm 6/4
Jordan Spieth 13/8
Bryson DeChambeau 13/8
Xander Schaeuffele 2/1
Dustin Johnson 15/8
Viktor Hovland 2/1
Collin Morikawa 11/4
Patrick Reed 10/3
Daniel Berger 3/1
Hideki Matsuyama 10/3
Tony Finau 7/2
Cameron Smith 7/2
Webb Simpson 7/2
4/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021)
Dustin Johnson
There have been some uncharacteristic struggles for the world number one Dustin Johnson.
Usually so reliable and dominant, he’s not at the races at the moment. There hasn’t been a top ten finish for Johnson in any of his last six tournaments.
He’s more than capable of putting something together, but he is down at 15/8 in PGA Championship golf betting* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021).
Kiawah Island isn’t necessarily a course for the big hitters either.
Jordan Spieth
Speith may not be far away at the business end of the tournament.
The American is a quote of 16/1 pre-tournament to win outright* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021). He has had a burst of form.
In his last nine tournaments Spieth has banked a top ten finish in all but two of them.
There was a tournament win in his home state of Texas during that run. It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see him in the spotlight over the weekend.
Jon Rahm
John Rahm is still looking for that Major breakthrough. Will it happen in South Carolina this week?
His form is right up there from his recent tournament efforts. In his last four events Rahm has claimed two top-five finishes and a top ten.
Rahm was fifth at the Masters and looks a strong pick for a top ten finish from 6/4 in PGA Championship golf betting odds* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021).
Brooks Koepka
The American’s name has to crop up whenever there is a Major tournament in play. He has won four of eight Major starts.
It’s phenomenal stuff from him at the top level of the game. But Koepka is still working his way back from injury.
He failed to make the weekend at the Byron Nelson last week.
Unless he pulls one of the phenomenal performances out of his, Koepka doesn’t immediately appear to be on the radar.
There is a quote of 4/1 on Koepka making the top ten* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021).
He is the only one of the last 10 winners to have managed to defend the US PGA title. That’s no mean feat.
PGA Championship Betting Odds – Each Way options
World number eight Patrick Reed is at 35/1 to win outright* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021).
In each of his last five appearances in majors, he has made the top fifteen. There has been a lack of consistency, but he’s more than capable of getting himself in the mix.
Tyrell Hatton is a quote of 50/1 for the win* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021). He is a current top ten player in the world and he returns after a top-twenty at the Masters.
British players thrived here in 2012. Hatton looks an ideal fit for the course on the coast and piques some interest in golf betting.
Last 10 winners (age and world ranking at the time)
- 2020 – Collin Morikawa, 24, 12th
- 2019 – Brooks Koepka, 29, 3rd
- 2018 – Brooks Koepka, 28, 4th
- 2017 – Justin Thomas, 24, 14th
- 2016 – Jimmy Walker, 37, 48th
- 2015 – Jason Day, 27, 5th
- 2014 – Rory McIlroy, 25, 1st
- 2013 – Jason Dufner, 36, 21st
- 2012 – Rory McIlroy, 23, 3rd
- 2011 – Keegan Bradley, 25, 108th
Viktor Hovland is a shorter option at 22/1 to win outright* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021). His status continues to rise and his current form is not to be messed with.
He arrives at the PGA Championship, having taken a third-place finish at both the Valspar and Wells Fargo in his last two events.
Tommy Fleetwood has to be worth considering as a long shot as well. His best performances in the Majors during his career have both come in links tournaments.
He’s a great player in the wind as well, which is likely to come into play.
Fleetwood hasn’t been in the greatest of form.
But this is his kind of track and from 55/1 is worth each-way considerations in PGA Championship golf betting odds* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021).
Top Englishman – US PGA Championship Golf betting odds
Tyrrell Hatton 9/2
Paul Casey 6/1
Tommy Fleetwood 11/1
Matthew Fitzpatrick 11/2
Justin Rose 13/2
Matt Wallace 8/1
Lee Westwood 9/1
14/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021)
British Players to dominate?
At the 2012 edition of the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, there was a total of five British players in the top seven.
Stretching that out to Europeans Carl Pettersson and Peter Hanson was finishing in the top ten as well.
The US PGA has generally been one of the four majors in golf where younger players power their way to the title. It’s also a good tournament for Major breakthroughs.
It is a notoriously difficult tournament to defend, primarily because of its nomadic nature, moving from course to course.
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2021 US PGA Championship Golf Betting predictions.
Rory McIlroy has to have renewed confidence after that win at Quail Hollow recently. His game needed that and it came after nothing more than an average first round.
He will have fond memories of his 2012 win here and he should be on the radar at 11/1 pre-tournament* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021).
While his putting still needs a little more work, Viktor Hovland piques some interest. His form has been fantastic recently and definitely gets on to our shortlist.
This will be his second crack at the US PGA Championship having carded a T33 on his one previous effort. Hovland is a strong 22/1 pick* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021).
Another with the red-hot form at the moment is Jon Rahm. He is missing a win this season, however, which is a big trend for digging out US PGA Championship winners.
As for a big each shot, we like the look of Tommy Fleetwood at 55/1* (odds recorded at 20:54 GMT on May 17th 2021). The Englishman is a fine player on the links.
If the wind is gusty around he is likely to come into his own. It’s no fluke that his two best efforts in the Majors have happened at links courses.
