Skip to main content

The first major of the 2020 PGA Tour season is finally here. The PGA Championship will kick off the major calendar on Thursday, Aug. 6, and there’s no shortage of fascinating storylines.

Has Brooks Koepka returned to his elite form? Can Tiger Woods contend in a major at 44 years old? Is Justin Thomas just too good to beat right now? We’ll get the answers to those questions and more this weekend at TPC Harding Park.

2020 PGA Championship odds

To no one’s surprise, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas opened as the co-favorites to win the 2020 PGA Championship. And why wouldn’t they? Koepka has won this tournament two straight years, and Thomas is the No. 1 ranked golfer in the world for a reason.

At +1000 odds, neither player offers tremendous value, but it would be shocking not to see both names in contention come Sunday.

Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, and Dustin Johnson slot in behind the co-favorites. All four players are priced under 20/1.

Tiger Woods is all the way up to 25/1 odds to win. The living legend won The Masters in 2019, but he’s only played in one tournament since February. Woods might be a tad rusty, but you won’t find better odds for the Hall of Famer the rest of the year.

Outright picks

Brooks Koepka: 10/1

He may have the lowest odds in the field, but how can you bet against Brooks? Koepka has won the last two PGA Championships, and he hasn’t finished outside of the top five in a major since 2018. The dude is automatic. He might not be worth the price, but you’ll be kicking yourself if you stay away and he completes the three-peat this weekend.

Xander Schauffele: 18/1

Xander Schauffele might be the most under-appreciated superstar on the PGA Tour today. He has four career victories, and he’s knocked on the door of multiple majors in the last few years. In his last six majors, Schauffele has three top-fives and five top-20s. He plays his best golf when the lights are the brightest, and TPC Harding Park could be the venue where he finally breaks through for his first major.

Daniel Berger: 40/1

Consistency, consistency, consistency. That’s been Daniel Berger all season long, and it should continue into the PGA Championship. Berger doesn’t have great recent success in majors, but he’s been arguably the best player on Tour all year. He has a win, a T3, and a T2 in his last four tournaments heading into TPC Harding Park, and his 40/1 price tag just doesn’t reflect how dominant he’s been in 2020.

Jason Day: 40/1

Jason Day‘s back issues have seriously affected his play in the last few years, but the Australian is back to his old self heading into the first major of the year. Day has finished T7, T4, and T6 in his last three tournaments. His short game has been a big reason for his recent success, as Day ranks second on Tour in strokes gained: around-the-green. Saving par from tough spots is essential in major championships, and Day’s chipping and putting should put him in contention come Sunday.

Longshots to target

Brendon Todd: 125/1

Wait, what? 125/1 for a player with two wins and eight top-25 finishes in this season alone? Brendon Todd has been exceptionally consistent this year, as he’s held four 54-hole leads already. Now, he hasn’t closed well recently and he doesn’t have a good track record in majors, but 125/1 is too good to pass up with how hot he’s been. Todd is +850 to finish top 10, +350 to finish top 20, and 80/1 to be the first round leader.

Erik Van Rooyen: 150/1

Look, 150/1 longshots rarely compete in majors. Erik Van Rooyen won’t win the PGA Championship (probably), but there’s just something about him and majors. In four career major appearances, the 30-year old has three top-20s and a T8 in last year’s PGA Championship. You can bet Van Rooyen at +550 to finish top 20. don’t be surprised to see him in the mix throughout the weekend.

Best bets for the 2020 PGA Championship

Brooks Koepka Top 5: +220, Koepka over Dechambeau: -120

Let’s keep this one simple. Koepka in his last nine majors: 2, T4, 1, T2, 1, T39, 1, 1, T6. For those keeping score at home, that’s four wins and seven top-fives in nine tries. DeChambeau over the same span: T35, CUT, CUT, T29, T25, T51, CUT, T38, CUT. Sure, he now hits it 400 yards and putts the lights out, but let’s see him do it in a major.

Xander Schauffele Top 10: +210

While most golfers struggle under the pressure of a major, Schauffele thrives in it. He somehow plays his best golf in the toughest conditions on the biggest stages, and he should put up a strong performance at TPC Harding Park. Don’t be surprised if Schauffele is holding the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday afternoon.

Daniel Berger Top 20: +170

As stated before, Daniel Berger might be the hottest golfer on earth not named Justin Thomas. In his last seven starts, Berger has finished T9, T5, T4, 1, T3, CUT, and T2. At almost 2/1 odds, Berger to make some noise and finish inside the top 20 presents great value.

All betting odds courtesy of Bovada as of 8/4. All stats courtesy of PGA Tour

Related

Has Any Golfer Ever Shot a 100 on the PGA Tour?

Best in Golf
Staff Writer

Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.