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PGA Championship: Expert Picks

Give me the strongest drivers at Bellerive.

PGA: PGA Championship - Practice Round John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Tournament Information

PGA Championship

Date: August 9th – 12th

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.

PGA: PGA Championship - Practice Round Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Starting 4

Patrick Cantlay (4th 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, 45th at US Open and 12th at the Open Championship. He has top 15 finishes in four of his last five tournaments, he’s 11th in strokes gained off the tee and 8th in strokes gained tee to green.

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

Tony Finau (4th 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. 10th at Masters, 5th at US Open, 9th at Open Championship. He has top 25 finishes in four of his last five tournaments and most importantly he’s 3rdin driving distance/ 28th in strokes gained off the tee, he will need that attribute here.

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

Bench 2

Jon Rahm (4th start this year). 4th 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 17th place. He’s 2nd in strokes gained off the tee and 11th in strokes gained tee to green with the 15th longest drive on the tour.

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

Poll

Which Golfer not mentioned will do the best?

This poll is closed

  • 12%
    Jordan Spieth
    (12 votes)
  • 30%
    Jason Day
    (30 votes)
  • 7%
    Tiger Woods
    (7 votes)
  • 34%
    Justin Thomas
    (34 votes)
  • 13%
    Rickie Fowler
    (13 votes)
  • 3%
    Justin Rose
    (3 votes)
99 votes total Vote Now

2018 Results

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

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

Avg total field: 135 golfers.