Rory McIlroy is all the rage for the US PGA Championship after winning the Wells Fargo Championship last time out – the Northern Irishman is clear favourite for the Kiawah Island shootout.
McIlroy, US PGA champion in 2012 and 2014, can be backed at 10/1 to win the tournament for a third time on Sunday.
The four-time Major victor admitted he was surprised to win the Wells Fargo so soon after starting his relationship with new coach, Pete Cowen, who he recruited in the build-up to the Masters.
A superb putting performance was the foundation of McIlroy’s Quail Hollow success, so perhaps tackling a course as difficult as Kiawah Island while going through swing changes will prove too much this week.
Nine years ago, McIlroy turned the US PGA at Kiawah Island into a procession – the event was essentially over early allowing television viewers to switch over to the London Olympics opening ceremony. The conditions were softer in 2012, though, and this week’s firmer, faster set-up is less suitable.
Spieth Seeking Final Leg of Career Grand Slam
McIlroy has been hogging most of the attention this week, meaning Jordan Spieth has sneaked in slightly under the radar for his Grand Slam attempt.
The Texan has already got the Masters, US Open and Open titles under his belt, so will be joining the most illustrious club in golf if he can get his hands on the Wanamaker Trophy.
Spieth is available at 14/1, which will appeal to punters who have watched him burst back into form over the last few months.
Jaunty Jordan has posted five top-four finishes in his last nine events, including victory in the Texas Open and third spot in the Masters at Augusta.
The 27-year-old went down with Covid after the Masters and was forced to take a month off, but he returned in fine fettle in the AT&T Byron Nelson last week and finished ninth at TPC Craig Ranch.
Perhaps that spell away from competition freshened him up nicely for the rest of Majors season and the short-game wizard will appeal to many this week.
Hovland Could Be Ready For Maiden Major Title
If there is to be a first-time Major winner this week, Viktor Hovland seems a prime candidate, and the 16/1 about the Norwegian youngster will do for many.
The 23-year-old has quickly settled in Major arenas, with form figures of 32-12-33-13-21 from his five appearances, and the tee-to-green difficulty of Kiawah Island plays into his hands.
Hovland is one of the best ball-strikers in the sport – he typically flushes it – and he has shown himself to be extremely comfortable on the grass type at Kiawah Island.
Paspalum grass, which is sticky and stops balls quickly, is what the fairways and greens are made of at Kiawah. Both of Hovland’s PGA Tour victories have come on paspalum – in the Puerto Rico Open and the Mayakoba Classic – so he will be confident of performing well in the US PGA.
*All odds correct at time of writing