PGA Championship: Expert Picks

Tournament Information

PGA Championship

Date: August 9th – 12^th

Course: Bellerive Country Club

Purse: $10.5MM ($1.9MM to winner)

FedEx points: 600 to the winner

2017 Winner: Justin Thomas (-8)

Course

Bellerive Country Club. Having hosted the 1965 US Open and 1992 PGA Championship, this “big four” St. Louis course hosts the PGA Championship this year. Established in 1897 (but built in 1960 on it’s current format by Robert Trent Jones) this 7,547 (that’s right) par 71! Course boasts a 76.3 course rating with a 141 slope rating. It utilizes Bentgrass for the greens and Zoysia grass for the fairways. There isn’t much of a big secret to this course, it’s ridiculously long, if you can hit the ball a mile, I want to buy all shares. There are water hazards on 11 holes and its greens are rather large. Signature hole is 8 which has a double dogleg and will require some tactful shots.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Starting 4

Patrick Cantlay (4^th start this year). As I said in my bold predictions earlier this year, I’m all aboard the Cantlay train and I think this just might be his break through moment. He’s getting better with each Major – Missed Cut at Masters, 45^th at US Open and 12^th at the Open Championship. He has top 15 finishes in four of his last five tournaments, he’s 11^th in strokes gained off the tee and 8^th in strokes gained tee to green.

Brooks Koepka (3^rd start this year). Winner at US Open and 39^th at The Open Championship, Brooks finished 13^th last year at the PGA Championship. He has top 20 finishes in three of his last five tournaments, he’s 14^th in strokes gained tee to green.

Tony Finau (4^th start this year). He is one of the few golfers (namely 0 see below) to land in the top 10 at each major this year. 10^th at Masters, 5^th at US Open, 9^th at Open Championship. He has top 25 finishes in four of his last five tournaments and most importantly he’s 3^rdin driving distance/ 28^th in strokes gained off the tee, he will need that attribute here.

Dustin Johnson (4^th start this year). Top 10 finishes in two out of the three majors this year, 13^th at the PGA Championship last year. Top three finishes in four out of five tournaments. 1^st in strokes gained off the tee and strokes gained tee to green.

Bench 2

Jon Rahm (4^th start this year). 4^th at Masters was later mired by missed cuts at the US Open and Open Championship. He rebounded nicely at the WGC Bridgestone last week with a 17^th place. He’s 2^nd in strokes gained off the tee and 11^th in strokes gained tee to green with the 15^th longest drive on the tour.

Luke List (2^nd start this year). He missed the cut at US Open and finished 39^th at the Open Championship. It’s far from a flashy pick in comparison with the others but he has the 4^thlongest drive on the tour and he’s 3^rd in strokes gained off the tee as well as 5^th in strokes gained tee to green.

2018 Results

Starting four: 44^th avg finish (32^nd percentile)

Bench two: 52^nd avg finish (38^th percentile)

Avg total field: 135 golfers.