Golf Betting Tips for the PGA Championship

The last Major of the year is at Baltusrol in New Jersey, and this Par 70, 7,428 yard track will set a stern test for our golf betting tips in the PGA Championship. For people of a certain age, the course will be remembered for Jack Nicklaus winning  the US Open in 1980, after he was playing some moderate golf for two years and not winning a major. Jack was back indeed, and we can learn some lessons from his win that are relevant today.

Basically, stay out of the tangly rough and hit the smaller than usual greens in regulation. Whilst length of the tee is an advantage, it’s really the driving accuracy that is the main requirement and players who are good with irons for their second shots will prosper. There are two Par 5s but there’s very little let up on the rest of the course, with a few brutally long Par 4s and the Par 3s needing pinpoint accuracy.

PGA Championship tips

Rory McIlroy 10/1 E/W Betfred (6 Places) The big three simply have not performed this year, at least in the majors, and I can't see Spieth turning around an errant long game now. Whilst it's hard to rule out Day, I can see Rory being the best of the bunch and expect him to go close this week. Whilst he placed in the Open, he was never in the heat of the battle and the last day surge while out of contention is becoming a regular and annoying habit for backers. But he likes this major and his long straight driving could come to the fore here. With the winning score likely to be single figures, his putting may not come under as much pressure as in a birdie fest. Let's hope he doesn't have too many of those three-foot putts missing this week. Branden Grace 55/1 Paddy Power (7 Places) Grace was fancied to do well in the Open but he never really got going at all and he was unlucky to get the worse of the draw with the weather. It seems an overreaction in the market to push him out to double the Open betting price and this classy player on price alone needs to be considered. Also he can be rather mercurial and he's had plenty of weeks where he's done nothing to bounce back with a high placing or better the next week. He's had a few near misses in majors stateside and apart from one bad drive at Chambers Bay would probably have been US Open Champion. If he can get off to a good start, maybe he can become the fourth first time winner of a major this year. Bubba Watson 40/1 Paddy Power (7 Places) Well Bubba performed exactly how I expected in the Open, he flattered to deceive and simply didn't have the chip and run shot that was required at Troon, and in the end it simply sunk him. But he doesn't require that shot here and I was actually quite impressed with his irons and also his putter. His Greens in Regulation stats are actually quite good (ranked 23rd) and it feels as if it's time that Bubba contends again. He's a nice price and if he believes in himself, he has every chance of been there come Sunday evening.