PGA Championship 2015 Odds: Examining Betting Lines for Underrated Picks
The PGA Championship may be the last of this year's four major championships and the lowest-ranked in public perception, but this year's battle for the Wanamaker Trophy could turn out to be the most competitive tournament of the year.
Not only is Jordan Spieth honed and ready to make a run at his third major championship of the year, but also, Rory McIlroy is back after rupturing an ankle ligament earlier this summer, Dustin Johnson wants to make amends for his U.S. Open final-hole disaster and Bubba Watson is very close to top form.
The favorites are well-represented, but golf does not always play to form. Take last week, for example, as Irishman Shane Lowry crossed the Atlantic and outlasted the field in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. In a field that included Spieth, Watson, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler and Jason Day, Lowry's victory was a clear upset.
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It could happen again in the PGA Championship. Less than 24 hours before the start of the tournament, it seems unlikely that one of the big names won't come away with the championship, but here's a look at several underrated players who have a chance to win the year's final major.
| Player | Odds | Skinny |
| Robert Streb | +8,000 | "Unknown" having solid season |
| Shane Lowry | +5,000 | Coming off huge win at Bridgestone |
| Hideki Matsuyama | +4,000 | One of the best young golfers on the tour |
| Branden Grace | +7,500 | Powerful South African performed well in U.S. Open |
| Jim Furyk | +4,000 | Not getting the support he deserves. Is age a factor? |
| Brooks Koepka | +4,000 | 69.649 scoring average |
| Martin Kaymer | +4,000 | Won at Whistling Straits before; can he do it again? |
| Brandt Snedeker | +6,600 | 14th in FedEx Cup Points |
| Patrick Reed | +5,000 | Still looking for huge breakthrough |
| Matt Kuchar | +5,000 | Solid putting gives him a chance |
Robert Streb (+8,000)
Talk about underrated, Streb definitely fits the description. Streb is relatively unknown to casual golf fans, but he has accomplished quite a bit this year, as he ranks fifth in FedEx Cup points and is the 40th-ranked golfer in the world.
Streb has been very active on the PGA Tour this season, having played in 25 tournaments and making the cut in 20 of them. He has one victory and one second-place finish to his credit, and he has finished in the top 10 eight times. He has won more than $3.4 million this year, and that's pretty good for an "unknown."
"Robert Streb has 7 top-20s in his past 8 starts, including 3 top-5s. He was P2 at Greenbrier and T5 at Bridgestone. 5th in FedExCup.
— Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) August 10, 2015"
Streb plays a very sharp game and is known for his accuracy. He finds the green in regulation 70.06 percent of the time, and that ranks 11th on the tour. Streb has also been quite sharp at putting from 10 feet, having made 55.93 percent of his putts from that distance, ranking 15th among tour golfers.
Hideki Matsuyama (+4,000)
Matsuyama should not be an underrated golfer. The 23-year-old Japanese native has the kind of complete game that has allowed him to compete with the best golfers in the world and perform quite well.
While bettors are not supporting him, he has a chance to show off his ability at Whistling Straits. Matsuyama ranks 18th in FedEx Cup points and is 15th in the world rankings.
Matsuyama has made the cut in 18 of the 19 events he has entered this season, and while he has not won any tournaments, he has finished in the top 10 eight times.
"Hideki Matsuyama makes it look so easy... https://t.co/1Q6puQuQEG
— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) August 7, 2015"
Matsuyama ranks fourth in strokes gained tee to green (1.569) and is seventh in total driving. He has a chance to stand toe-to-toe with the best players in the game and find quite a bit of success during his four rounds at Whistling Straits.
Shane Lowry (+5,000)
We already mentioned Lowry's accomplishment in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and he has the kind of game that could cause problems for the rest of the field at Whistling Straits.
Lowry is the 19th-ranked golfer in the world, and he demonstrated his ability to play well in the clutch when he concluded his run at Bridgestone by knocking home a challenging birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win the tournament with a some legitimate flair.
"No @ShaneLowryGolf, it wasn't a dream... http://t.co/HlQTbLLpMu
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 10, 2015"
Lowry has good power, averaging 297.6 yards per drive, and that ranks 37th among tour golfers. He also picks up .779 strokes tee to green, and that ranks 27th. Lowry is also a threat because he knows how to scramble. When playing from the rough, Lowry ranks eighth among tour golfer when it comes to getting the ball close to the pin.
Branden Grace (+7,500)
The South African has played in just 11 tournaments on this side of the Atlantic this year and has made the cut in nine of them. Grace has finished in the top 10 in three of those tournaments.
His most impressive performance came in the U.S. Open when he finished tied for fourth at Chambers Bay with a three-under-par score of 277.
Grace has the kind of power off the tee to become a key factor at Whistling Straits. He averages 300.9 yards off the tee, and that ranks 23rd among tour golfers. He also does well on the green, picking up .406 strokes with his putter, and that ranks 26th.
Jim Furyk (+4,000)
Furyk may be the fourth-ranked golfer according to the world rankings, but he is not getting a lot of love from the bettors as he prepares to play at Whistling Straits. Still, he has a 69.993 scoring average this season and should not be ignored.
The 45-year-old Furyk may be considered too old to win this major championship, but he has made the cut in 13 of 15 tournaments entered this year, and he has won once and finished in the top 10 six times.
"Jim Furyk is officially making birdies from everywhere. #QuickHits http://t.co/WyECL0iBXe
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 7, 2015"
Furyk may not be a big hitter, as he averages just 280.9 yards (168th on the tour) off the tee, but he has the mature, well-developed game to pick up strokes on his way to the green. He gains an average of 1.599 strokes tee to green, and that ranks third on the tour.
Those who are looking for a betting edge would be wise to include Furyk in their thinking.
All odds courtesy of Odds Shark. Stats courtesy of PGATour.com.
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