Blake Davis
In the last three majors of the year, there are always 156 players to discover and 156 players to solve. Not all of them have a chance of winning, of course, and it’s usually easy to spot the suitors early on. What’s not always so easy is figuring out who to root for and why to root for them.
There are some serious historical implications presented by the 2024 PGA Championship – some you may have considered, but others may have fallen by the wayside. Whether you’re waiting for history to be made or want to see your favorite golfer simply claim his second title of the year, having a deep-rooted interest beyond the odds board is an excellent way to enhance your viewing experience.
Let’s take a look at what’s at stake this week and why root for some of this year’s best players as Valhalla hosts the PGA Championship for the first time in a decade.
1.Scottie Scheffler: The world’s No. 1 player arrives as a new father, having won two consecutive tournaments and four of his last five matches. In the last 40 years, only Tiger Woods (2002) and Jordan Spieth (2015) have taken the Grand Slam to a third major. Woods had his chances literally destroyed by insane conditions during the 2002 Open at Muirfield, while Spieth narrowly missed a playoff during the 2015 Open at St. Scheffler has a real chance of taking this year’s slam to Pinehurst, which would be a incredible result that would captivate the golf world at a time when it needs a feel-good story like this. He comes in with a similar number to Tiger. Odds: 4-1
2. Brooks Koepka: If you like history, there are three excellent, realistic options this week (and one even better but perhaps unrealistic option): Scheffler’s slam (see above), Rory McIlroy’s return (see below), and France’s sixth major championship. Koepka (see record book). Brooks may not be the easiest character in the world to root for, but if greatness is his thing – and it is everyone’s thing to some extent – then look no further than the defending champion. He has a chance to join Phil Mickelson, Nick Faldo and Lee Trevino on six major championships – all by age 34. A win here would put him within one of… Arnold Palmer. Odds: 14-1
3. Rory McIlroy: A storied career is still on track, but a major championship would propel him into the “totally made up but still absurdly impressive” 40 PGA Tour/six major championship clubs. A win here would also mean that, for the second year in a row, the PGA Championship would be the fifth Big win for someone. Odds: 7-1
4. Viktor Hovland: Last year’s tough runner-up (along with Scheffler) to Koepka doesn’t have as much confidence in his game these days, but he’s perhaps the easiest athlete to root for in all of sports. Smiling in victory, smiling in defeat, smiling if he finishes T37, Hovland seems to love the game and the competition. Among those who have yet to win a major championship, the only golfer who rivals his jovial nature may be Tony Finau. If Hovland can somehow get himself into contention again this year, he will have a lot of support. Odds: 40-1
5. Max Homa: I said during the Masters that he’s the best stock in golf right now, and I still believe that. That event at Augusta National was his first true contest in a major, but he was fully committed to dominating it. While the PGA isn’t quite on the level of the Masters in terms of how much it means, I imagine Homa will deliver the goods from an odds perspective if he finds himself back in the mix. Most golfers (heck, most athletes) don’t give much, especially when things are going well. Homa gives you his whole heart almost every time. It’s worth rooting for a scenario where he does that this week. Odds: 25-1
6. Bryson DeChambeau: There are several reasons to support players. While perhaps goodwill and enthusiasm aren’t the two that come to mind with DeChambeau, I can promise that the quotes and content would be extraordinary. He tried to win the Masters (and almost did) using a set of 3D printed golf clubs. Bryson is nothing more than a purveyor of drama and theater. Considering how tepid golf has seemed at times in recent months, it’s worth rooting for him for that alone. Odds: 22-1
7. Rickie Fowler: Is there anyone in golf who has achieved so much and been so beloved without a big win? If last year’s U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club was any indication, it would be incredibly popular and entertaining if Fowler was not only in contention but ended up getting his first major win. Add in the fact that he almost won here in 2014 when McIlroy took the title, and it’s hard to imagine a more fairytale result than that. Odds: 200-1
8. Jordan Spieth: Incredibly, Spieth could be responsible for the most historic victory of all this week if he achieves what he believes would be a miraculous victory in Valhalla. If he wins on Sunday, he will join Tiger, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen and Gary Player as the only golfers to win all four major championships. However you feel about Spieth — and a lot of people have a lot of thoughts and feelings about him — this is an outcome worth rooting for. Odds: 70-1
9. Ludvig Aberg: The 24-year-old attacked Scheffler during the Masters but ended up losing in his first major appearance. He’s as likable as a player can be. Åberg has a perfect golf swing and is young enough that it would be easy to project a major and meaningful career if he finished T2-1 in his first two starts. Odds: 18-1
Who will win the 2024 PGA Championship and what odds will surprise the golf world? Visit SportsLine to see the projected PGA Championship leaderboard, all from the model that won 11 golf championshipsincluding the last three master’s degrees.
