It’s been less than a month since Jordan Spieth won his third major championship at Royal Birkdale. That Open Championship win means that the young American has won three of golf’s four majors and he can complete the career grand slam at the tender age of 24 at this week’s US PGA Championship.
Spieth has the talent and mental fortitude to become the dominant golfer of his generation but he faces an almighty challenge to win at Quail Hollow. Several of the best players in the world have rediscovered their form over recent weeks and they are all desperate to put a positive spin on their year as the season begins to draw to a close. The US PGA doesn’t have quite the same kudos as the three majors before it but this year’s renewal is setting up to be a very special one indeed.
The Course – Quail Hollow
In recent years the US Open has travelled around America bringing major golf to new courses. The US PGA, however, has taken a different approach. The tournament is heading to Quail Hollow, a long time host on the PGA Tour that has become one of the players’ favourite stop offs of the year.
That’s not to say that those in the field won’t have to do their homework in the early part of the week. The original George Cobb design underwent huge renovations in 1997 and even more work has been put into the layout over the last year or so to get up to the standard required of a major championship.
Part of the work saw three new holes constructed including the mammoth opener which is a 524 yard par four. That was formed by merging the old first and second holes while holes four and five are also brand new. Quail Hollow now plays as a 7,600 yard par 71. If that’s not daunting enough, it contains one of the toughest stretches in all of golf, the closing three holes which are collectively known as the ‘Green Mile’.
Quail Hollow has long been a course at which the best drivers have a distinct advantage and it is a thought that will be even truer this year after the recent work. Those who consistently hit it far and accurately are the ones to follow when it comes to picking bets for this year’s US PGA Championship.
Who Will Win?
The US PGA Championship used to be branded as “glory’s last shot”. That slogan was thrown out a few years back but the premise remains. The final major championship of the season gives players the chance to turn a poor season into a memorable one. Of all those looking to turn their seasons around, none will be more keen for the coming week than Rory McIlroy.
Having recently got married, it’s clear that things are good in the world of the four time major champion but the positivity in his personal life has more than been outweighed by a very challenging year on the golf course. McIlroy had already dealt with long running injury problems and a lack of form which affected his wedge play and putting especially before making the huge decision to part company with long time caddie J P Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald was widely credited by McIlroy for helping turn around a shocking first round at the Open but the Northern Irishman felt it was for the best that both men stopped working together for the time being at least. Harry Diamond, best man at McIlroy’s wedding, was drafted onto the bag for the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and while Rory had a few issues with selecting the right club, he was very happy with a week that ended with his second top five finish in consecutive starts.
When McIlroy starts feeling good about his game the competition begun to worry and they’ll be extra worried about his chances at a golf course which he loves. Not only is he a two time winner of the US PGA Championship but McIlroy has twice won on the PGA Tour at Quail Hollow. Provided he can work out a plan for the new holes, McIlroy looks in a wonderful position to justify his favouritism and win his fifth major at 7/1 with BetVictor.
Betting Tip – Rory McIlroy at 7/1 with BetVictor
Outsiders, Each Way Tips & Other Bets
Like McIlroy, Rickie Fowler will be looking forward to his return to Quail Hollow. Fowler’s maiden PGA Tour title came at Quail Hollow and he’s become a much stronger player in the five years that have gone by. Fowler knows that he will be judged come the end of his career on the number of majors that he wins and that he needs to win one of golf’s biggest tournaments soon. He’ll surely challenge for that breakthrough this week so back Fowler each way at 20/1 with Ladbrokes.
Scott Hend left Akron on Sunday a very dejected man. The journeyman Australian got himself into contention in the penultimate round thanks to a wonderful display of driving but could only watch on in awe as playing partner, Hideki Matsuyama, shot 61 to secure the title. He may be in his 40s but Hend will learn from that experience and he’ll be desperate for another crack at a big title so back him each way this week at 300/1 with Coral.
Brandon Stone is one of a number of young South African players who have been tipped for big things in the years to come. The 24-year-old already has five professional wins to his name and he’ll be quietly confident of utilising his strength off the tee to have a good crack at the US PGA Championship. He’s not quite at the level required to make a breakthrough in a major but Stone can go well at a course that should suit him. So, back him to be the top South African at a best price of 16/1 with Betfair.