The 2nd major of the year is upon us! The best of the best in the golfing world will be heading to the world famous Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville, Kentucky for the 2024 PGA Championship. Check out our full preview and betting tips for the major championship below.
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2024 PGA Championship Betting Tips
Thursday 16th - Sunday 19th May - Valhalla Golf Course, Kentucky
Rory McIlroy continued his impressive run at the Wells Fargo on the weekend, shooting a fourth round 65 to become the first person not named Scottie Scheffler to win an elevated event since all the way back in February.
The FIeld
Scheffler, the No.1 player in the world, will be back in action this week after the birth of his first child, topping the betting markets in an absolutely stacked field for the second major of the year. Scheffler has won four of the last five tournaments he has started and will start as an almost unbackable favourite to win again in Valhalla just a month after claiming his 2nd green jacket.
Other top names in the field include the likes of McIlroy, Xander Scauffele, Ludvig Aberg, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay and Viktor Hovland. Eligible LIV contracted players will also boost the field with extra talent, including Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Tyrrell Hatton.
Past winners of the Wanamaker Trophy who will be looking to add another to the case include McIlroy, Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Jason Day. After all that, the headline is still, of course, Tiger Woods. Woods will start the tournament looking for a fifth PGA Championship.
The Course
Valhalla Golf Course
Par: 71, 7,609 yards
Design: Jack Nicklaus (1986)
Course Record: Jose Maria Olazabal (63; 2000 PGA Championship)
Valhalla, a creation by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, has hosted this event in 1996, 2000, and 2014. It also played host to the 2008 Ryder Cup, a year that witnessed a dominant performance by the USA.
While Valhalla doesn’t fully cater to the “bomb and gouge” style seen at some modern PGA venues, it remains a formidable course. Long hitters, adept at navigating the rough and executing precise second shots, will maintain an advantage. However, even shorter hitters can thrive by consistently finding the fairway pockets on the longer holes and displaying skill with their longer irons.
The course configuration adheres to the traditional Par 71, boasting three par 5s and four par 3s. As with many Jack Nicklaus designs, Valhalla combines challenging par 4s with signature holes. Notably, the 13th hole features an island green, while the finishing hole offers a risk-reward opportunity with its expansive three-tier green. Players facing longer dog-leg par 4s must decide whether to play conservatively for fairway position or take bold shortcuts with their drivers.
Betting Tips
Xander Schauffele ($15/Top 20 $1.80)
Looks to be value across the board for Schauffele as potentially the top dog outside of Rory and Scheffler at the moment. Has been great this year without breaking through for that win, making 12/12 cuts and playing inside the top 25 in his last eight straight tournaments. Also top 20 in his last eight straight majors.
Joaquin Niemann ($31/Top 30 $1.86)
The Chilean has been arguably the most in-form golfer at LIV this season, already picking up two tournament wins as well as a handful of top finishes. Was impressive at the Masters, finishing T22 and hits the ball long and straight, which is what is required at Valhalla.
