PGA Championship 2014: Latest Odds and Betting Tips for Golf's Top Contenders

The 2014 PGA Championship begins Thursday at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, and golf fans are looking for the latest odds and betting tips for top contenders at the final major of the season.

For those making wagers on the tournament, the key will be finding a favorite with the best chance to win and a sleeper worthy of a hefty wager. Placing the right bet on the PGA Championship can pay off huge.

Here are the latest odds and betting tips for the year's final major.

Player	Odds
Rory McIlroy	9-2
Adam Scott	11-1
Justin Rose	16-1
Sergio Garcia	16-1
Phil Mickelson	20-1
Rickie Fowler	20-1
Henrik Stenson	25-1
Keegan Bradley	28-1
Matt Kuchar	28-1
Bubba Watson	33-1
Jim Furyk	33-1
Tiger Woods	33-1
Charl Schwartzel	35-1
Graeme McDowell	35-1
Jordan Spieth	35-1
Marc Leishman	40-1
Martin Kaymer	40-1
Hideki Matsuyama	50-1
Jason Day	50-1
Jimmy Walker	50-1
Patrick Reed	50-1
Brandt Snedeker	55-1
Hunter Mahan	66-1
Jason Dufner	66-1
Lee Westwood	66-1
Ryan Moore	66-1
Zach Johnson	66-1
Angel Cabrera	80-1
Luke Donald	80-1
Steve Stricker	80-1
Victor Dubuisson	80-1
Webb Simpson	80-1
Bill Haas	100-1
Brendon Todd	100-1
Gary Woodland	100-1
Graham Delaet	100-1
Harris English	100-1
Ian Poulter	100-1
J.B. Holmes	100-1
Louis Oosthuizen	100-1
Nick Watney	100-1
Paul Casey	100-1
Robert Karlsson	100-1

Odds via Oddschecker.

Betting Tips for 2014 PGA Championship

When you place a wager on golf, it is important that you don't put all of your eggs in one basket. Instead of letting it all ride on a safe bet such as Rory McIlroy or Adam Scott, bettors should diversify their wagers and give themselves the best chance to make money.

The PGA Championship is notorious for giving underdogs the chance to shine, so gamblers will be looking to cash in on a player’s unexpected success.

The easiest way to ensure success is to place two wagers, one on a favorite you feel confident in and another on a player with long-shot odds and momentum coming into the event. The two players golf fans should be targeting are McIlroy at 9-2 odds and Graeme McDowell at 35-1 odds.

McIlroy is the safest pick. While a wager on the Irish star may not pay off the way many are looking for in a wager, he is coming into this tournament as the hottest player on the PGA Tour. Not only did he win at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last week, but he also won the British Open earlier in July.

After his win at the Bridgestone Invitational, McIlroy took to Twitter to comment on his success, and ESPN Stats & Info shared his new world ranking:

While McIlroy is the favorite due to his recent success and his previous dominant victory at the PGA Championship in 2012, gamblers should also be placing wagers on McDowell.

This bet is a long shot, but it will pay off big if the veteran steals the show.

McDowell started building momentum with his 28th-place finish at the U.S. Open in June and hasn’t looked back. He went on to finish ninth at the British Open, ninth at the RBC Canadian Open and eighth at the Bridgestone Invitational.

The key for McDowell at Valhalla will be accuracy with his irons and his ability to convert putts. McDowell is not the longest or most accurate driver, but the course the tour visits this week awards players for patience and smart plays.

The Jack Nicklaus-designed course was built to challenge players by forcing them to use irons, wedges and the putter more than anything else. If there was ever a place McDowell could thrive without depending on his biggest clubs, it would be Valhalla.

With both McIlroy and McDowell possessing the ability and the momentum to win at the 2014 PGA Championship, those looking to place wagers should make two smart investments and be patient as they reap the reward.

Stats via PGATour.com.