Best Bets to Win the 2020 PGA Championship

We probably should have known that Brooks Koepka would finally put it all together the week before a major. The two-time winner of both the US Open and the PGA Championship broke out of his slump with a T2 finish at the WGC Invitational in TPC Southwind last week. That has led to a resurgence in belief in Koepka, as he was 30-1 coming into last week’s event. He is now listed as the co-favorite per the golf betting odds along with world No. 1 Justin Thomas at this week’s PGA Championship in the Bay Area.

Event Details

Event: PGA Championship

Category: PGA Tour

Date: August 6-9, 2020

Location: TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California

Past Five Winners

2019: Brooks Koepka -8

2018: Brooks Koepka -16

2017: Justin Thomas -8

2016: Jimmy Walker -14

2015: Jason Day -20

The indomitable Koepka became the first golfer since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back PGA Championships last year. He achieved those victories in different ways, showcasing the talent that has made him one of the premier major players on the PGA Tour. In 2018, Koepka erased a two-stroke deficit on Sunday to win by two strokes at Bellerive. He was even more impressive last year though, taking a seven-stroke lead into the final round and putting it on cruise control from there.

The Course

There hasn’t been a PGA Tour event at TPC Harding Park since 2015, and this will be the first time the course has hosted a major. It has changed drastically since its overhaul two decades ago, but older golfers are somewhat experienced with it as this course hosted the 2005 WGC Championship, 2009 Presidents Cup, and 2015 WGC Match Play.

TPC Harding Park will measure 7,234 yards this week, but there are seven par-4’s that are at least 460 yards. This course is known for its curved, narrow fairways, so players will have some decisions to make when it comes to how much power to put behind the ball. Water isn’t much of an issue, but the formidable bunkers and cypress trees will be a challenge for players unfortunate enough to see shots end up there.

Weather can greatly affect how this course plays, and there is always the chance for dense fog and strong winds to wreak havoc on golfers’ preparations. That could be especially troublesome for golfers with early tee times.

Value Play to Win the Event: Xander Schauffele +1800

Schauffele might be primed to win his first major. He finished T2 at the 2018 British Open, T2 at last year’s Masters, and T3 at last year’s US Open. He has yet to finish in the top ten at the PGA Championship, but he has consistently improved over the last three tournaments. Schauffele is coming off a strong T6 performance at TPC Southwind, and he shot a 70 or better every day. He is used to California’s courses from growing up in San Diego, so that will serve him well at this event.

Top 10 Prop: Justin Thomas +120

If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Thomas was the same price to finish in the top ten last week, and he went on to win his second WGC Invitational in three years. He is now the top ranked golfer in the world thanks to his consistency this season, so it’s hard to find a better bet for a T10 finish. Thomas has 10 top ten finishes in 15 events this season.

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