PGA Championship Betting Trends & Action Report

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

PGA Championship betting trends are heating up, with the second major of the year heading to the final round at Oak Hill. In the year's first major, Jon Rahm nabbed his first green jacket by winning the Masters in April.

Brooks Koepka took Moving Day to heart in the third round. As such, he's now the favorite in odds to win the PGA Championship.

The SuperBook's Neil Fitzroy and Casey Degnon provide insights on PGA Championship odds, betting trends and action. Check back for updates following each round.

PGA Championship Odds

Take Us to Your Leaders

Scottie Scheffler had a great first two days at the PGA Championship. He entered Thursday as the +800 co-favorite at The SuperBook, along with Jon Rahm. He remained the favorite after the first and second rounds, sitting at +140 Friday night.

But Scheffler bobbled to a 73 Saturday, while Koepka shot his second straight 66 to take the lead with a 6-under 204 total. The SuperBook responded by making Koepka the +120 chalk in its PGA Championship betting market.

That's a solid climb from his opening price and pre-Round 1 odds.

"Koepka opened 40/1 and closed 20/1 [pre-tourney]. There was plenty of support for him at 20/1," Fitzroy said. "Bettors have not been getting behind him during the in-progress wagering. He is a decent result for us, a small winner."

Meanwhile, Scheffler is four shots back at 208 and is the +900 fourth choice. Lodged between Koepka and Scheffler are Viktor Hovland at +300 and Corey Conners at +500.

Hovland and Conners are both at 205, one shot behind Koepka.

"Conners and Hovland are both good results for us," Fitzroy said. "Hovland opened 30/1 and closed 35/1. Conners opened 80/1 and closed 80/1."

Pre-tournament, Scheffler was definitely trendy in PGA Championship betting trends. He drew the most tickets at The SuperBook.

"Scheffler is a break-even result for us," Fitzroy said.

Bryson Back

Another surprise in this tournament thus far: Bryson DeChambeau. The LIV Tour player fired a first-round 66 to take the lead. DeChambeau followed with a second-round 71 and third-round 70, but he's certainly still in the mix, three shots back in fourth place at 207.

And he's a bit of trouble behind the counter.

"We're still rooting against Justin Rose and DeChambeau," Fitzroy said. "I’m not surprised DeChambeau is playing well. There have been signs of life lately with his game on the LIV Tour. He won the [2020] U.S. Open in New York at Winged Foot. Some think Oak Hill has some similarities to Winged Foot."

DeChambeau enters the final round as the +1200 fifth choice in The SuperBook's PGA Championship betting market. That's a huge climb from his longest odds, as Degnon noted prior to the second round.

"There are eight tickets on DeChambeau in Nevada, with a $25 sprinkle on him at 150/1 being the highest odds we took action on," Degnon said. "We do lose on him."

Meanwhile, Rose shot 1-under 69 Saturday for a 2-under 208 total, tied for fifth with Scheffler. Rose is the +2500 co-fifth choice with Rory McIlroy, who's at 1-under 209.

"McIlroy is an OK result for us, a small winner," Fitzroy said.

Rahm a Nonfactor

Rahm had a horrible first round, shooting 6-over 76 to put him in peril of missing the cut. He rebounded with a 2-under 68 in the second round for a 4-over 144 total – barely inside the 5-over cut line.

And he failed to make any headway in Saturday's third round, shooting 2-over 72. Rahm is tied for 42nd at 6-over 216, a complete nonfactor heading to Sunday.

Which is fine with Fitzroy.

"We need to avoid him winning," Fitzroy said, noting that pre-tourney, Rahm was No. 2 in ticket count and No. 1 in money in The SuperBook's PGA Championship betting trends. "Rahm is having a difficult tourney so far with the putter. It happens to the best of them."

Top of the Props

After Thursday's first round, Degnon said The SuperBook doesn't want to see the PGA Championship go to a playoff Sunday.

"We took a mid-four-figure bet on playoff Yes at +350," Degnon said. "There's nothing like a tight leaderboard coming down the stretch on a major Sunday, but we are hoping it gets decided by hole 18."

On Saturday night, Fitzroy reiterated that point.

"We need to avoid a playoff. That is the prop we are sweating the most," Fitzroy said.

Pre-Tournament Odds & Action

Master of his Domain

Rahm has already racked up four wins this year, including of course the Masters last month at Augusta. In his most recent outing, at the Mexican Open from April 27-30, Rahm finished second to Tony Finau.

Rahm has played in 12 events this year and has eight top-10 finishes among his 11 cuts made. That has Rahm figuring prominently in PGA Championship betting trends.

The SuperBook has Rahm and Scheffler as +800 co-favorites. Rory McIlroy is the +1400 third choice, which represents a shift from the opening odds of Dec. 19. At that time, McIlroy was installed as the +1000 chalk, with Rahm +1200 and Scheffler +1400.

"Rahm action has been steady. He’s a small loser for us," Fitzroy said. "He’s tied for second in ticket count. He’s also the top guy in money wagered."

Oak Hill could prove a suitable partner this week for Rahm.

"The course should fit his game well," Fitzroy said. "I’m hearing many of the holes favor a fade off the tee, and he likes to work it from left to right with his driver."

Great Scottie and More

Meanwhile, Scheffler has two wins this season, including at The Players Championship in February. He also won the 2022 Masters and tied for second in the 2022 U.S. Open.

With the exception of having two fewer wins, Scheffler is every bit as hot as Rahm. He's 13-for-13 in cuts made, with nine top-10 finishes. And he finished just outside the top 10 in three tournaments, tying for 11th twice and tying for 12th once.

"Scheffler is the ticket-count leader," Fitzroy said. "McIlroy is tied for second in ticket count and is second in money bet."

McIlroy hasn't won a major since 2014, when he claimed both the PGA Championship and the British Open. This season, he's got one win and one runner-up finish, but he missed the Masters cut.

Other notable action – or lack thereof – that Fitzroy noted:

"Jason Day is seeing no support at all. He's currently 30/1," Fitzroy said of the Australian who's fresh off winning last week's AT&T Byron Nelson, Day's first title in five years. "Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith seem to be the popular LIV choices. Currently, Koepka is 20/1 and Smith is 35/1."

Also worth noting: Defending champion Justin Thomas is third in money at The SuperBook. Thomas is the +2500 co-eighth choice, along with LIV golfer Dustin Johnson.

Flying Under the Radar

Anyone who got on Rickie Fowler early did themselves a favor. After a less-than-satisfying 2022 season, Fowler seems to be on the rebound this year. He's made 13 of 14 cuts and has four top-10 finishes, including one runner-up effort.

Still, it's been four years since his last victory. So back in December, The SuperBook opened Fowler a distant 150/1 in its PGA Championship odds market. He's since steadily climbed the ladder.

"Fowler might be under the radar at 60/1 or longer," Fitzroy said, while noting it might take some shopping to find 60/1 or longer. "His game has returned. We are currently at 50/1, and he’s a pick 'em or small favorite in tourney matchups vs. several golfers who are currently 40/1."

Fitzroy also pointed to Hideki Matsuyama, whose best effort this year is fifth in The Players Championship. Matsuyama has made 13 of 15 cuts, with two top-10 efforts among seven top-25 finishes overall.

"Matsuyama could be sneaky and under the radar as well," Fitzroy said. "Anything 60/1 or longer could be worth a look. He’s the biggest enigma on tour and tough to figure out. He also plays well on difficult golf courses and PGA Championship set-ups."

Matsuyama currently sits right at +6000 in The SuperBook's PGA Championship odds market. 

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson