PGA Championship 2016: Field Odds, Favorites and Tournament Preview
The inclusion of golf in the 2016 Olympics has resulted in a peculiar twist to this year's schedule.
Instead of being played in August, as it is in most years, the PGA Championship will start Thursday and come to its conclusion Sunday (unless weather impacts the tournament).
It's interesting to note the sport's Big Three have been shut out at this year's majors. Top-rated Jason Day is the defending champion, and he has had a solid year as the No. 1 golfer in the world. But he struggled at the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.
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Jordan Spieth has struggled since his collapse on the back nine of the final round at the Masters, while Rory McIlroy has not been able to play consistently at any of the majors.
While some golf observers may want to use the "due" theory and suggest one or two of those stars will play in top form at the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, it is difficult to overlook Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson.
| Rory McIlroy | 8-1 |
| Jason Day | 8-1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 9-1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 9-1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 16-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 20-1 |
| Justin Rose | 25-1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 25-1 |
| Adam Scott | 25-1 |
| Bubba Watson | 28-1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 33-1 |
| Branden Grace | 40-1 |
| Brooks Koepka | 40-1 |
| Patrick Reed | 40-1 |
Those two won the U.S. Open and British Open, respectively, and both appear to be at the top of their games. Johnson overcame the demanding conditions at Oakmont, a tremendously competitive field, his own personal demons and a brutal one-stroke penalty to win his first major tournament. Johnson has finished in the top 10 in each of the past three majors.
Stenson was sensational at Royal Troon, emerging with the championship by getting the best of Phil Mickelson, who was at the top of his game. Stenson fired a remarkable, record-tying 63 in the final round to earn the title.
It's no surprise that the Big Three, along with Johnson and Stenson, are the favorites to win the PGA Championship, according to Odds Shark.
McIlroy and Day are both 8-1 co-favorites to win, while Spieth and Johnson are right behind at 9-1. On the other hand, Stenson appears to be a strong play at 16-1, considering how sharp he was at the British Open.
However, it would not be a surprise to see the winner of the tournament emerge from a spot further down the ladder. For example, Adam Scott appears to be a strong contender even though he's entering the tournament with 25-1 odds.
Scott ranks third in FedEx Cup points, is No. 8 in the Official World Golf Ranking and has won more than $5 million this season.
Bubba Watson is coming into the PGA Championship with 28-1 odds. That's shocking, considering he's the sixth-ranked golfer in the world and has sensational power off the tee. Watson is averaging 308.6 yards per drive, according to the PGA Tour's official website.
Masters champion Danny Willett put on a tremendous show in the final round at Augusta in April to come away with the green jacket. However, he's not getting much respect from the golfing public, entering the tournament with 50-1 odds.
Willett is the ninth-ranked golfer in the world and has finished in the top 10 in three PGA Tour events this season.
Willett has company at 50-1 in South African star Louis Oosthuizen, who regularly plays himself into contention in the biggest events.
Oosthuizen is a remarkable ball-striker who excels at repeating his rhythmic and balanced swing time after time. Oosthuizen is the 15th-ranked golfer in the world, and he should be motivated after failing to make the cut at the British Open.
Baltusrol is a long and demanding course, and it would not be a surprise if one of the Big Three puts it all together and comes away with the title. However, it would not be shocking to see a lower-ranked player keep the ball in the fairway and get hot with the putter to steal the tournament from Day, Spieth, McIlroy, Stenson and Johnson.
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