2023 PGA Championship odds, picks and predictions on who will win year's second major

muscatinejournal.com

17 May 2023

2023 PGA Championship odds, picks and predictions on who will win year's second major

With 99 out of the top-100 golfers in the world set to tee it up at Oak Hill Country Club, this year’s PGA Championship is ripe with storylines.

From the real possibility of a LIV golfer winning the Wanamaker Trophy to a new champion being crowned, the second major of the year promises to entertain.

And it’s not just the field the eventual winner will have to best, it’s the par-70, 7,394-yard East Course that has hosted the PGA Championship three previous times and is just one of five courses that has been the site of a PGA Championship, a U.S. Open and a Ryder Cup.

But since undergoing a massive restoration a few years ago, the famous track will play and feel a lot different, making it truly anyone’s tournament.

That includes Justin Thomas who hasn’t won since last year’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills. Thomas could be just the fourth back-to-back winner of the major if he finds a way to come out on top. Currently, he sits a +2900 (29-1) odds to win, according to FanDuel.

So as the PGA Championship get set to tee off Thursday morning from Rochester, N.Y., FrontPageBets takes a look at golfers to watch in the season’s second major.

Pick to win: Xander Schauffele (+1700)

It’s only a matter of time before Xander Schauffele breaks through and wins a major, right?

The 29-year-old is currently No. 5 in the Official World Golf Rankings with seven career wins and eight top-10s just this season. In 13 events this year, Schauffele has made every cut, with his worst finish being a T39 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in early March.

Schauffele has performed well in majors over his eight-year pro career, with his best finish a tie for second at the 2019 Masters. He also has a T3 at the 2019 U.S. Open and a T2 at the 2018 British Open.

His best finish at a PGA Championship is a tie for 13th in last year’s event at Southern Hills. Schauffele has missed the cut twice at the PGA Championship.

This week could be the week to break through for the former San Diego State golfer. He’s first on the PGA Tour in cuts made with 24 straight, while fourth in total strokes gained (2.065) and fifth in strokes gained on approach to the green (0.961); and he's one of the top-20 putters on Tour.

Top-5 pick: Jon Rahm (+170)

There is no one on the planet playing better golf than Jon Rahm. Period.

The No. 1 golfer in the world, who also leads the FedEx Cup point standings, has won four times this season, including the Masters in April. Not only that, he’s got eight top-10s and nine top-25s.

Rahm leads the PGA Tour in total strokes gained (2.625), birdie average (5.22), scoring average (68.629) and is seventh in putting (0.743).

Now a two-time major champion, Rahm is looking to add the Wanamaker Trophy to his green jacket and U.S. Open resume.

His best finish at a PGA Championship is a T4 in 2018. He’s missed one cut in six starts to go with three top-15 finishes.

If he doesn’t win this week at Oak Hill, Rahm will definitely be high on the leaderboard.

Top-10 pick: Sungjae Im (+290)

Ranked 18th in the world, Sungjae Im is currently 21st in FedEx points.

The 25-year-old South Korean has played in 17 events so far this season and has made 16 cuts to go along with 12 top-25 and seven top-10 finishes.

Im is third on the Tour in par-5 scoring average (4.40) and 10th in total strokes gained (1.551); and is one of the best iron players in the game.

His best finish in a major is a tie for second in the 2021 Masters. This will be his fifth PGA Championship start; he’s missed the cut twice and has a best finish of T17 in 2021.