Preview
Starts: 16th May 2024
Course: Valhalla GC, KY
Par: 71
Length: 7,609 yards
2023 Champion: Brooks Koepka
2024 PGA Championship Tips
You can sign up for all our PGA Championship picks and PGA Tour tips for 2024 by clicking the button below.
The Basics
Valhalla was used for the 2014 PGA Championship but there have been significant course changes since that event with the course being lengthened and new features introduced. The course has changed it's fairway surface from Bentgrass to Zoysiagrass. The course remains fairly generous off the tee with wide fairways, soft conditions this week should make them easier to hit. Distance off the tee should be a major advantage as a result.
Course Info
Course Designer: Jack Nicklaus
US PGA last played here: 2014
Type of Course: Classical
Greens: Bentgrass
Fairways: Wide, Zoysiagrass
Holes with water in play: 7
2014 Recap
Rory McIlroy won his 4th and most recent major, pipping Phil Mickelson by one shot. Other notable finishes were Rickie Fowler in 3rd, Adam Scott, Brooks Koepka and Jason Day in 15th.
Significant Info
The US PGA was previously the final Major of the year but since 2019 it has occupied a May slot in the calendar..
Weather
Thursday: Partly Sunny. Wind 8mph.
Friday: Sunny. Wind 9mph.
Saturday: Rain showers possible. Wind 10mph.
Sunday: Partly Sunny. Wind 9mph.
2024 PGA Championship Trends
Winning Score
Since 2012, winning scores at the PGA Championship have ranged from -5 to -20. When the PGA Championship was last played at Valhalla (2014), Rory McIlroy won with a score of -16.
Recent Form
Hot form coming in usually counts for a lot at the US PGA Championship. 13 of the past 15 champions had recorded a top 20 finish in at least one of their last two events prior to winning.
Nationality
The last eight winners have been from the USA but prior to that we have seen a mix of nationalities win.
Age
10 of the last 15 winners were in their 20s. Four of the other winners were in their 30s and Phil Mickelson was approaching 50 when he triumphed in 2021!
Major Virgins
8 of the past 15 winners were claiming their first Major. However, it's not an event to record your first ever win in America - only one winner from the past 15 did not have a previous PGA Tour/Major win.
US PGA Exposure
11 of the past 15 US PGA champions had recorded a top 8 finish in the event prior to winning. 12 of the past 14 had recorded a top 20 finish.
Debutants
Two of the past 15 US PGA champions were playing in the tournament for the first time.
2024 PGA Championship Stats Analysis
Previous US PGA Championships tells us we are looking for a player strong off the tee and on approach. Power is favoured over accuracy off the tee.
Driving Distance
Power players are favoured. Rankings in last six years (most recent first) have been 4-26-21-53-11-2-1.
Driving Accuracy
Little emphasis on Driving Accuracy. Rankings have been 6-45-101-5-62-26-113.
SG: Off The Tee
Rankings have been 7-16-29-6-3-3-32. Preferable to be a strong driver.
SG: Approach
Approach play needs to be in decent order. Rankings in last six years have been 7-38-5-22-1-11-23.
SG: Around The Green
Kopeka was 4th last year. Justin Thomas was 13th for SG: Around The Green in 2022 and Phil Mickelson was 18th in 2021. However, no winner in the four years prior to Mickelson had ranked inside the top 30.
SG: Putting
Rankings the past six years have been 13-2-37-1-59-23-4. Morikawa and Thomas putted beautifully for their wins in 2020 and 2022 but on the whole it's not the be all and end all.
2024 PGA Championship In Play Advice
Fast or Slow Start
McIlroy was inside the top 5 after round one last year and led from halfway onwards. All of the top six in 2014 broke 70 in the opening round to sit T20 or better.
2024 PGA Championship Tips
You can sign up for all our PGA Championship picks and PGA Tour tips for 2024 by clicking the button below.
In-play
2024 PGA Championship In-Play Blog
19th May 2024, 11.55am (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Schauffele |
-15 |
| Morikawa |
-15 |
| Theegala |
-14 |
| Three players tied |
-13 |
2024 PGA Championship Round 3 Conditions
Scoreable conditions once again, with players able to fire at flags on soft greens.
2024 PGA Championship Round 4 Weather Bias?
Sunny all day with light winds of 5mph. No bias today.
Round 4 Outright Market Summary
We look set for a fascinating final round, with eight players within three shots of the lead. Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka have fallen away, leaving Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele at the top of the market at 5/2. Schauffele's troubles getting over the line are well documented and the double bogey on 15 yesterday was maybe just another sign he may struggle. Morikawa would be preferred of the two, having won the Zozo Championship last October in convincing fashion.
It's far from a two horse race though, with Sahith Theegala, Bryson DeChambeau and our 40/1 pre-event pick Viktor Hovland tucked in behind the leaders. Although a winner last year, Theegala has passed up quite a few chances and this is a different level for him. Hovland hasn't been in contention all year and that could go against him, meaning we marginally prefer DeChambeau at 7/1 out of this group.
The trio of Shane Lowry, Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre all performed admirably yesterday and Rose and MacIntyre will reunite after their Ryder Cup pairing last year. It's always tough to back up a low round but that just may spur them on.
PGA Championship In-Play Picks - Round 4 Bets
Want to know which PGA Championship golf tips we have advised to subscribers? You can sign up for all our PGA Tour tips for 2024 by clicking the button below.
18th May 2024, 09.35am (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Schauffele |
-12 |
| Morikawa |
-11 |
| Theegala |
-10 |
| Four players tied |
-9 |
2024 PGA Championship Round 2 Conditions
Intermittet rain and not much breeze made for scoreable conditions once again, with five players shooting rounds of 65.
2024 PGA Championship Round 3 Weather Bias?
Cloudy with minmal breeze all day, scoring should be good for all round three starters.
Round 3 Outright Market Summary
The gap at the top has been narrowed to one shot but Xander Schauffele still edges favouritism at the front of the betting. Schauffele is a best price 3/1 to win from here but that makes even less appeal than yesterday given the chasing packing have closed the gap and the quality of chasers within three shots has improved.
Scottie Scheffler shot one of the most impressive rounds of the day given he was arrested earlier that morning for a traffic violation on the way to the course and spent almost an hour in a jail cell before he was released. Scheffler had less than an hour to prepare for his second round in what was one of the most bizarre incidents to happen in golf in our lifetime. His round of 65 leaves him only three shots off the lead and it would be no surprise to see him go on to win from here.
Scheffler and Schauffele lead the field in SG: Tee to Green and deserve their position in the betting. We voiced concerns over Schauffele's ability to close the tournament out and that doubt remains. Scheffler would be preferred out of the two.
Eye Catching Niche Market Prices - PGA Championship
Max Homa to beat Cameron Smith (Round 3 mythical two ball) 19/20 @ Livescorebet
Homa edges Smith so far in SG: Tee to Green and is expected to get the better of Smith in this mythical match up. Homa has put in some strong performances of late, backing up a third place finish at the Masters with an eight place result at the Wells Fargo last week. Smith was been solid himself recently but Homa's superiority off the tee should see him edge this one in round three. Homa is as short as 5/6 with bet365 to win this same match up and the 19/20 with Livescorebet looks a shade of value if you have access.
PGA Championship In-Play Picks - Round 3 Bets
Want to know which PGA Championship golf tips we have advised to subscribers? You can sign up for all our PGA Tour tips for 2024 by clicking the button below.
17th May 2024, 09.45am (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Schauffele |
-9 |
| Finau |
-6 |
| Theegala |
-6 |
| Hubbard |
-6 |
| Seven players tied |
-5 |
2024 PGA Championship Round 1 Conditions
Sunny with almost no breeze made for very scoreable conditions and Xander Schauffele was able to take full advantage, shooting a nine under par round of 62 to lead by three strokes.
2024 PGA Championship Round 2 Weather Bias?
Rain showers are forecast for most of the day on Thursday with the wind not forecast to blow stronger than 8mph. There doesn't appear to be a significant weather bias in round two.
Round 2 Outright Market Summary
For the second time in two weeks, Xander Schauffele leads by three strokes after the opening round. Schauffele was a general 2/1 to win when in this position last week at the Wells Fargo Championship but is currently available at 11/4 to go on and win the PGA Championship.
There is no doubt that Schauffele is playing some of the best golf of his career at present and results have been extremely consistent. However, question marks remain over his ability to close out tournaments and we're certainly not looking to back Schauffele at the current prices. It shouldn't be forgotten that Rory McIlroy ultimately beat Schauffele by five strokes last week at Quail Hollow and a three stroke lead on Thursday can quickly disappear.
Eye Catching Niche Market Prices - PGA Championship
Ben Polland to beat Zac Blair and Ryan Van Velzen (Round 2 Three ball) 11/2 @ Bet365
We advised Polland to win this three ball to subscribers yesterday as a lean at odds of 4/1 and we were surprised to see him priced up at 11/2 for round two after he tied Blair to win this three ball in round one. Polland is a PGA professional but he won the PGA National Championship and is highly regarded amongst his peers as one of the better club professionals playing this week. Blair and Van Velzen are two players worth taking on and the 11/2 is worth a small bet if you can get it.
PGA Championship In-Play Picks - Round 2 Bets
Want to know which PGA Championship golf tips we have advised to subscribers? You can sign up for all our PGA Tour tips for 2024 by clicking the button below.
