PGA Championship 2023: Updated Predictions for Top Prize Money for Day 3
With two rounds down in the 2023 PGA Championship, it's a tight race for the Wanamaker Trophy and the winner's share of the $15 million prize pool.
Jon Rahm, who claimed victory at The Masters last month and came in as one of the betting favorites, is not among the leaders entering Day 3. Rahm struggled on Thursday, and even with a two-under round on Friday, he remains at +4. The world's top-ranked golfer will have to play perfectly to finish in the big money on Sunday.
Scottie Scheffler, who entered the weekend No. 2 in the rankings, will have a much easier time. He's tied for the lead at -5 with Corey Conners and Viktor Hovland. Rory McIlroy has rebounded a bit after missing the cut at both the Players Championship and The Masters.
While McIlroy is still quite a bit off the lead, he's at even par after shooting -1 on Friday.
How will the top golfers fare the rest of the way? who do we see taking home the second major of the 2023 season? Let's make a few predictions.
2023 PGA Championship
1 of 4
Scheduling Information for Days 3 and 4
When: Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21
Where: Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York
TV: CBS
Live Stream: ESPN+, Paramount+
Prize Payout
1st Place: $2.7 million
2nd Place: $1.62 million
3rd Place: $1.02 million
4th Place: $720,000
5th Place: $600,000
Favorites Entering Saturday
Scottie Scheffler 14-10
Viktor Hovland 4-1
Corey Conners 13-2
Brooks Koepka 10-1
Bryson DeChambeau 14-1
Rory McIlroy 20-1
Patrick Cantlay 35-1
Justin Rose 35-1
Justin Suh 35-1
*Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Brooks Koepka Makes It Interesting on Sunday
2 of 4
Arguably the top LIV golfer competing this weekend, Brooks Koepka was also one of the hottest players on Friday. After shooting +2 on Thursday, Koepka surged in Round 2, finishing -4 and only three strokes off the leaders.
Koepka will be trying to avoid a late collapse like the one he suffered at Augusta last month, when he watched a two-stroke lead turn into a second-place finish by the end of the fourth round.
"If you have a lead and cough it up, that's choking," Koepka said, per John Wawrow of the Associated Press. "... I'm not perfect. As long as I can learn from it, I'll be better off from it."
It's been a case of so far, so good for Koepka, who play a nearly flawless round on Friday and appears poised to close on the clubhouse leaders on Saturday.
Expect Koepka to be at or near the top of the leaderboard entering Round 4 and to finish with a top-10 payout.
Viktor Hovland Secures a Top-Five Finish
3 of 4
Like Koepka, Hovland shot an incredible round on Friday (-3) which earned him a share of the lead going into Day 3. Hovland's second day followed a strong -2 opening round that got the 25-year-old comfortable with the course.
"I certainly feel like this course fits me well," Hovland said, per Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post. "I haven’t played very much golf in the Northeast. I love this type of golf. It reminds me a little bit of Winged Foot or that type of golf course."
The course at Oak Hill has certainly seemed to suit Hovland, who has exhibited exceptional ball striking and some accurate putting through the first two rounds.
Hovland is seeking his first win of the 2023 season and hasn't played particularly well since tying for seventh at The Masters. He finished tied for 59th at the RBC Heritage and tied for 43rd at the Wells Fargo Championship.
However, the prediction here is that Hovland's efficient play continues throughout the weekend, and he finishes with a top-five finish.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Scottie Scheffler Holds on to Win It
4 of 4
Picking one of the leaders at the halfway point to win it all isn't going to raise many eyebrows. However, this prediction has to do with a lot more than the current score.
Simply put, Scheffler has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour this season, and while holding a lead for two more days will be difficult, Scheffler has the steady hand to do it.
Scheffler won the Players Championship and the Phoenix Open and hasn't finished outside of the top 12 (or tied) since last October. According to Justin Ray of PGATour.com, Scheffler leads the Tour in both gained from the tee and greens in regulation. He also ranks second behind Rahm in bogeys per round (3.03) in majors since 2020.
Like Hovland, Scheffler believes that this is a tournament that favors his skill set.
"I feel like my game is better suited for this kind of test," Scheffler said, per Amy Rogers of PGAChampionship.com. "I don't know if the results will say that, but I feel like I get more excited for a tournament like this versus a birdie fest,"
Scheffler is seeking his second major win since the 2022 Masters, and the prediction here is that he finds it this weekend.
Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
