PGA Championship 2015 Odds: Vegas Projections for Top Picks in This Year's Field
The fourth major championship of the season usually ranks well behind the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open in terms of anticipation, drama and overall status. But the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, should not be looked at as the least important of this year's majors.
There's plenty of built-in drama as the best golfers in the world prepare to compete for the Wanamaker Trophy.
Can Jordan Spieth get back on track after finishing just off the pace (tied for fourth) in the British Open? How will Rory McIlroy perform on an ankle that was injured in a casual soccer game earlier this summer? Will Zach Johnson make it two majors in a row after winning the British Open? Can Tiger Woods become a factor after a slight uptick in his performance?
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Fans who watch the PGA Championship either live or on television should see some of the best golf of the season, and while it seems like Spieth, McIlroy, Dustin Johnson or Jason Day is likely to come away with the championship, golf is not always predictable, and this could be the tournament where a less highly rated professional rises to the occasion.
In this piece, we'll examine the odds for the PGA Championship and examine Vegas projections from Odds Shark.
| Player | Odds | Skinny |
| Jordan Spieth | 11/2 | Will be hard to stop as he pursues third major title |
| Rory McIlroy | 9/1 | Can he overcome ruptured ankle ligament? |
| Dustin Johnson | 12/1 | What will he do down the stretch of the final round? |
| Jason Day | 14/1 | Would not be a surprise to see him win title |
| Adam Scott | 22/1 | Has the swing and distance to win here |
| Justin Rose | 18/1 | Consistency has been his hallmark this season |
| Bubba Watson | 14/1 | Big hitter may thrive at Whistling Straits |
| Henrik Stenson | 25/1 | Has not been as dialed-in as he was in 2013 |
| Rickie Fowler | 20/1 | Sharp and a major threat |
| Phil Mickelson | 40/1 | Rarely strings four rounds together anymore |
| Sergio Garcia | 40/1 | Often struggles in final round |
| Tiger Woods | 40/1 | Still can't take him seriously |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 33/1 | Has the complete game to beat the field |
Featured Players
Jordan Spieth (11/2): Spieth has been playing sensational golf this season and made a great run at the British Open before a final fade kept him from making one final push for the Claret Jug.
Since failing to make the cut at the Players Championship in May, Spieth has won two tournaments and has a second-place finish, a third-place finish and a fourth-place finish in the seven tournaments that have followed. That's overwhelming consistency, which is why Spieth ranks as the favorite in the tournament.
Rory McIlroy (9/1): McIlroy remains the No. 1-ranked player in the world, but Spieth is clearly hot on his heels. McIlroy is going to try to compete despite rupturing an ankle ligament earlier in the summer, which kept him from defending his title in the British Open.
McIlroy was having a fine year with two victories and six top-10 finishes and more than $4.1 million in earnings this season before the injury. Still, it seems that betting on McIlroy could be quite risky as a result of his health problems.
Dustin Johnson (12/1): Johnson has much to prove as he returns to Whistling Straits, which was the site of his PGA heartbreak in 2010. Johnson appeared to be on his way to joining Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson in a playoff in that tournament but took a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a bunker on the 72nd and final hole.
Johnson suffered another major nightmare in this year's U.S. Open when he three-putted on the final hole, which kept him winning the tournament or earning a spot in a playoff. Nevertheless, Johnson is the longest hitter on the tour (319.0 yards per tour) and has an excellent all-around game, so he can never be counted out.
Jason Day (14/1): Day has proven to be one of the game's most consistent players, as he ranks fourth in the FedEx Cup standings and fourth in the World Rankings. He may be the best player in the world who does not have a major to his credit and would love to change that at Whistling Straits.
Day is having an excellent season with two victories and seven top-10 finishes. He has made the cut in 13 of 15 events and has earned more than $4.2 million this season. Day can string birdies together and put distance between himself and the rest of the field: He averages 4.56 birdies per 18 holes, second on the tour.
Adam Scott (22/1)—While Scott is generally recognized as having one of the best swings in the game, he is not having his best season on the tour. He finished tied for fourth in the WGC-Cadillac Championship and the U.S. Open, his best showings this season. He would love to turn it around at Whistling Straits.
Scott should not be overlooked, because he averages 312.2 yards off the tee (fourth on the tour) and hits 70.80 percent of his greens in regulation (eighth on the tour).
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