Live on SS1: Thu 19.00: Angus Loughran previews this week’s US PGA Championship and highlights his bets: Selections:
The balance of power of golf has never been against USA as strongly as this week when for the first time in an American Major the top 4 in the betting are all international players.
US Open Champion Rory McLlroy leads the way at the USPGA at 12/1 with Stan James and will have plenty of supporters after playing some solid golf last week while English duo Luke Donald and Lee Westwood are both available at 15/1 with Paddy Power and are both seeking their first Major title.
A win for Westwood (15/1, Paddy Power) would complete a Chubby Slam for his agent and boss of ISM Andrew Chandler and would be richly deserved for the Worksop Golfer who is very popular with the public; a good week with the putter is all that is missing from his game at present and on a course where driving accuracy is so vital there are many signs in his favour. Darren Clarke’s win at Sandwich could also have a positive effect as he is such a good mate and Westwood knows there would be no better time than now to deliver a maiden Major title.
There has been no more consistent player in World Golf this year than Luke Donald and once again at 15/1 (Paddy Power) he will be popular with the punters and he is another to whom a Major title would be richly deserved but I prefer Westwood’s chances this week.
Adam Scott could easily have won The Masters and was a decisve winner last week and at 25/1 with Ladbrokes looks overpriced to win his first Major. If he triumphs on Sunday he will be the first player with a long putter to win a Major. Scott has employed Steve Williams as his new caddie and it was shown to full effect at Firestone last week.
While Williams’ previous employer Tiger Woods may have produced 3 birdies in his final 4 holes last week, he was really struggling off the tee. I am one of Tiger’s biggest fans and would love him to bounce back but with Betfred quoting 25/1 (and no rush at the counter) it looks like it will not be in Atlanta this week.
I like the chances of Dustin Johnson at 28/1 (bet365); he should have won the PGA last year and blew a great chance in the Open Championship at Sandwich last month while Matt Kuchar is a solid each way bet at 45/1 (Boylesports), with most bookies offering 1/4 six places.
Of the outsiders, David Toms, a previous PGA Champion, looks great value at 66/1 (Paddy Power) while Simon Dyson, winner of the Irish Open a fortnight ago, looks a very generous price at 125/1 with .
Good luck
Angus Loughran
Compare all US PGA Championship odds and also keep up to date with our golf scores service.
