Major week! Only means it is time to find some props! I will do my best to find the most obscure bets for this week rather than do the same old, boring top tens and first-round leaders. So let’s get into it!
2023 PGA Championship Props and Best Bets
Rory McIlroy 1st Round Top 20 +170
The first round has been the X-factor for Rory in his major tenure. So if he can get off to a solid start, expect him to stay in contention throughout the week. Rory McIlroy checks every single box for me this week and is quietly becoming my favorite play on the board so we will buy this first-round top 20 at a great price.
Patrick Cantlay -110 vs. Brooks Koepka
Purely a “fade the public” and a stance against LIV play here. Koepka showed his big game prowess at Augusta National a few weeks back and has looked solid on the LIV circuit since, but Oak Hill will pose a more difficult test. On the other hand, Koepka is one of the best “PGA Championship” golfers of our generation and is catching plenty of steam.
I would not be shocked if Koepka fizzles out quickly and misses this cut, but we will play it safer and take the matchup against one of the most complete golfers in this field, Patrick Cantlay.
Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy Top 10 Parlay +400
Make no mistake, Jon Rahm is in the middle of a very special season of golf. He rates out as well as anyone in this field and may start this season two for two in majors. Rahm is in the top percentile of total driving, has long iron play, is exquisite around the green, and is a great bent grass putter. I already showed my love for Rory McIlroy above and can surely see these two dueling it out down the stretch come Sunday afternoon.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout Top South African +160
There are four South Africans in this PGA Championship field, and only one of them is a PGA Tour member, and that is Christiaan Bezuidenhout. This alone makes me like this play, but two of the RSA golfers in this field do not really pose a threat. Thirston Lawrence and Ockie Strydom taste success here and there on the DP World Tour, but these Oak Hill conditions will be a few steps above what they are used to.
Dean Burmester is the final South African player here, and I can see him keeping this close as he is an excellent driver of the golf ball but has left for LIV following the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He has been alright on LIV, but there is a clear step up in course difficulty on the PGA Tour. Finally, give me the accurate, elite scrambler and solid putter Christiaan Bezuidenhout at plus odds to be the low South African at the 2023 PGA Championship.
Will There Be A Playoff: Yes +400
Difficult conditions and a low winning score provide a lot less volatility in the leaderboard. However, this will provide a very jam-packed event down the stretch, and at 4/1, why not take a chance? Look for there to be a playoff at the 2023 PGA Championship.
