Live on Sky Sports 1: Thu: 18:00 Angus Loughran previews this week’s USPGA Championship tournament.
Tiger Woods is now a top price of just 4/1 to win a 15th Major in the USPGA Championship after his runaway win in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone last weekend. He was a much better bet there than he is this week but a small saver to cover all other wagers is well advised, as the world number one is clearly the man to beat.
The PGA Championship has often produced shock winners, none more so than Shaun Micheel who was a 300/1 chance when producing the shot of the decade at the last to win here at Oak Hill in 2003.
Indeed, outsiders often do well in the year’s last Major and I like the chances of Gary Woodland who sneaked into the field with victory in the Reno Tahoe Open. He represents decent value at a big price of 200/1 with bet365 especially as they, like many bookies this week, are ¼ odds for the first six places.
A Japanese players has never won a Major but Hideki Matsuama has the potential to be their first; the young 21-year-old looks a class act and at 110/1 is certainly underrated by the bookmakers.
Henrik Stenson is in the form of his life and a victory for the Swede is certainly overdue. He has played really well in the Majors this year, finished fifth in the Players Championship and was runner-up again on Sunday behind Woods at Firestone.
Stenson’s form has been reflected in a market move that has seen his price come in to 28/1, but the better bet regarding the Swede is the 4/1 to be the top European with Ladbrokes, who offer ¼ odds for the first four on this market and it looks unlikely that more than four Europeans will finish above him at Oak Hill this week.
Hills report a £30k wager at 9/2 on Tiger Woods and Open champion Phil Mickelson has been popular at 16/1 while Aussie Adam Scott – winner of The Masters – has also attracted cash at 20/1. Elsewhere, US Open hero Justin Rose can be backed at 33/1, the same price as defending champion Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood.
It promises to be a great finale to a wonderful season of golf Majors then and in a wide open renewal, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, South African Tim Clark and rising young star Jordan Speith are others to consider. Most punters however, will be looking around to see where Tiger Woods is on the board as he starts as hot favourite and is clearly the man to beat.
Good luck
Angus Loughran
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