PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
The second major of the year sees major golf return to New York for the first time since the 2020 US Open. The Oak Hill Country Club is set to host its fourth PGA Championship and its seventh major championship, with Masters champion Jon Rahm is set to start favourite from Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, who are sitting well atop the market. Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith head the LIV contingent, while defending champion Justin Thomas is well in the market as he chases down his third PGA Championship.
OAK HILL EAST – COURSE OVERVIEW
Oak Hill is a course well known to followers of major golf with it set to become just the second course to host four PGA Championships and is one of just three courses to host at least three PGA Championships and three US Opens. This century the course has hosted the 2003 PGA Championship won by Shaun Micheel and the 2013 PGA Championship claimed by Jason Dufner.
Designed by Donald Ross in 1925, Andrew Green undertook major renovations in 2020 to get the course in order for this event. It is a classic parkland course that is revered as one of America’s finest. It measures 7400 yards – a monster in true PGA Championship style for a Par 70.
The renovations have certainly brought power back into play here with added length and the removal of 500 trees. Situated in northern New York that has been covered in snow as recently as six weeks back, there will be little run either.
Small, bentgrass greens will be hard to find, so those who scramble well and can putt with creativity will be favoured.
Key Donald Ross designs that correlate are
- Aronimink
- Pinehurst No.2
- Sedgefield
- East Lake
- Detroit Golf Club
The most important statistics to follow on the course are
- Driving Distance
- Strokes Gained: Tee To Green
- Scrambling
- Proximity
- Strokes Gained: Around The Green
- Bogey Avoidance
- Sand Saves
- Par 4 Scoring
PLAYER-COURSE FITS
Jon Rahm: Ticks every box, ranking 10th in Driving Distance and 29th in Scrambling. Lost a playoff at East Lake in 2021, so has a liking for Ross courses. Long courses that prize an ability to hit long irons in and avoid big scores suits Rahm down to the ground.
Dustin Johnson: Johnson has shown little form since moving to LIV but he is going to thrive returning to the Northeast. In the last seven Northeast majors, Johnson has finished Top 8 in five of them, including a T-8 here a decade ago. Six of his 25 wins have come in the Northeast. Still a monster off the tee.
Xander Schauffele: In the four majors held in the Northeast since 2018, Schauffele has finished Top 6 in two, finishing 5th in the 2020 US Open and T-6 in the 2018 US Open. He ranks third in strokes gained per round on Donald Ross courses. Ranks Top 30 in Scrambling.
Tom Kim: Kim has played just eight rounds on Donald Ross courses, but his 3.3 shots gained per round on Ross courses is exceptional and well clear of second-placed Tiger Woods on 1.9. He won the Wyndham last year and finished 7th in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, while his Top 25 in the US Open last year stamps his Northeast credentials.
Best Bets
BEST BET
Jon Rahm at $10.00+
Among the three favourites, Rahm is the clear standout and it is surprising there isn’t a notable gap between him and Scheffler/McIlroy. Rahm ranks 2nd in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green, 2nd in Bogey Avoidance, 1st in Birdie or Better and is Top 10 in the key putting metrics. His form though stands above all: this calendar year he has played in 10 events, winning four with a further three Top 7 results. Playing too well to ignore.
NEXT BEST
Dustin Johnson at $21.00+
Johnson’s form this season is hardly compelling reading. In five LIV events he has three Top 15s but only a best of 7th in Orlando. At the Masters he made the cut, but went 78 and 75 on the weekend. His form in the Northeast though is irresistible and he does rank Top 5 on the LIV Tour in Driving Distance.
BEST VALUE
Rickie Fowler at $51.00+
Rickie Fowler is having a season of rejuvenation, returning to the Top 50 and and seeing major action. While he has not won this season, in 13 starts he has nine Top 20 finishes, including in each of his last 14 starts. Ranks 16th in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green and is Top 40 in total Driving and Scrambling, so he has the game to contend.
BEST LAY
Jordan Spieth at < $41.00
It is stunning how short Jordan Spieth consistently shows up in majors. He is typically a huge lay, but particularly so with the injury that forced him out of the AT&T Byron Nelson. Does not rank in the Top 60 for Driving Distance while his Total Driving is an awful 121st. Also ranks outside Top 50 in Scrambling. Hard to see him featuring.
BEST IN-PLAY TRADING OPPORTUNITY
** BACK-TO-LAY **
Xander Schauffele at $21.00+
Xander Schauffele is a player who profiles very nicely on the course and among the field he is one of just three players to average a gain over two shots on the field in the opening rounds of tournaments. It has been a long time since he won though, so I’m happy to back him to shorten and then lay off.
BEST PROP – FIRST ROUND LEADER
Viktor Hovland at $41.00+
The Norwegian ranks 6th in the field in opening round scoring. He was tied for the lead at the Masters and then followed that up with an opening round 64 at the RBC Heritage. He is a fast starter who is well suited here.
2023 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP TIPS
The PGA Championship is one of the four major golf tournaments played each year, along with the Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship. It was first played in 1916 and has since become one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. As the tournament approaches, golf enthusiasts and sports bettors alike are searching for PGA Championship tips, betting tips, and predictions.
In 2023, the PGA Championship will be played at the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. The course has hosted the tournament four times in the past, with the most recent being in 2013, however this will be a very different course this time around, with a complete redesign being completed by consequential golf course architect, Alex Green. Players will need as much experience as they can gather in the day’s leading up to the first round to succeed at Oak Hill.
The last five PGA Championship winners have been Justin Thomas in 2022, Phil Mickelson in 2021, Collin Morikawa in 2020, Brooks Koepka in 2019 and 2018. All of these players are considered some of the best in the world and have a strong track record in major tournaments. Their previous wins may provide valuable insights for those seeking expert tips and predictions for the 2023 PGA Championship.
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When it comes to betting on golf, it is important to consider a player’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as their track record in major tournaments. The PGA Championship is known for being a tough test of golf, with difficult courses and strong fields. This makes it all the more important to consider expert picks and predictions when placing bets.
Whether you are a seasoned sports bettor or a casual golf fan, the PGA Championship offers plenty of opportunities for excitement and entertainment. With the tournament taking place at Oak Hill Country Club in 2023, there is sure to be plenty of drama and excitement as players compete for one of golf’s most coveted prizes.
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