PGA Championship 2011: Tournament Betting Odds and Predictions

The last golf major championship is upon us.

The 93rd edition of the PGA Championship begins this Thursday at the Highlands Course of the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia.

The odds for this tournament are enticing, as there are 12 players currently at less than 30-1 to win the tournament. No matter who your pick is, you will be rewarded.

US Open champion Rory McIlroy is the favorite at 10/1. Rory made some headlines last Wednesday when he said that he is “leaning toward” taking his PGA Tour card again in 2012. He prefers the weather on this side of the pond and a good showing or win here would only solidify his intentions.

He running somewhat below the radar with the Woods vs. Williams feud flying around. He has finished third the past two years in this tournament and I wouldn’t be surprised that the third time’s a charm for him here.

The top two ranked players in the world—Luke Donald and Lee Westwood—are both at 14/1. Those are some nice odds for two players that once again seem primed to grab their first major win.

Donald missed the cut at the Open and was T45 after being T4 at the Masters. He comes off a strong T2 finish at the WGC and before that he was coming around at the Canadian Open.

Like Donald, Westwood missed the cut at the Open. His prep tournament was the WGC and he finished T9. He finished there with a 65 final round and has the style of play to do great at this tournament.

I keep thinking that either Donald or Westwood winning their first Major this year. The PGA looks like the perfect setting for them to do it. They carry some momentum into it and once again, no one is ranked higher than them. You have got to like their payoff dividends.

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott follow at 20/1. While at least at the beginning of the tournament, there will be a lot of focus on Woods and Williams. Phil Mickelson is another player flying under the radar here.

Mickelson was the heavy favorite at the Greenbrier Classic coming off his remarkable finish at the Open. He missed the cut and finished T48 at the WGC. This is exactly the kind of setting that Mickelson thrives on. When you least expect it he comes out swinging. At 20/1, I'd put my money on him.

Woods is coming off his T37 finish after his four practice rounds in the WGC. He should do better now with those rounds under his belt. He seems to have some of his swagger back and you can never count him out here.

Scott has all the pressure in the world now. He has the focus of the media through his caddie Stevie Williams and his feud with Tiger. Add to that the fact that he is coming off his biggest win so far. It will be interesting to see how he fairs with the spotlight on. Tough task ahead for him.

Steve Stricker, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler are at 25/1. Stricker has continued his solid play through the last 10 tournaments. Two wins, a top five and no worse than a 19th place finish. He will need that as the last two tries at this tournament he finished T55 and missed the cut.

Day had been great at the Masters and US Open earlier and didn’t do that bad at the Open. Of the top 10 players he is the one that has lost the least amount of points this year. He played solid at the WGC—finishing T4— and should have another solid finish here.

Will Dustin Johnson finally break through?

After the Open he stayed in Europe and finished T6 at the Scandinavian Masters. At the WGC he finished T48. Last year this was his tournament to lose. If he can erase that, this course suits him perfectly and could win.

Fowler has been knocking at the door lately and could get an answer this weekend. He played championship golf at the WGC and finished T2. His T5 finished at the Open seems to have given him the mental edge he needs to win a major. Sunday could be an orange day.

Defending champ Martin Kaymer and Nick Watney stand at 28/1. Kaymer has not been playing well lately. Other than his match play, the Alston Open is his only highlight. He will need to revert to the form he showed here last year to be a true contender.

Watney has not done a good job at the majors this year. T46 at the Masters and missed the cut at The US and British Opens. The good news for Watney is that this is a course that he could thrive on and surely will.

The other two major winners this year, Masters champ Charl Schwartzel and British Open winner Darren Clarke are at 40/1 and 125/1, respectively. While Schartwzel has been solid and it shows in the odds, there is still no trust in Clarke.

After missing the cut at the Open and Canadian Open, Matt Kuchar finished T19 at the WGC. His 33/1 odds may be a reflection of his earlier results in the year. After an earlier stretch like this he bounces with a T6 at the Byron Nelson and T2 at the Memorial. Watch out here.

I said on the Open that the odds on Graeme McDowell were too good for his recent play. He missed the cut. He is at 80/1 here and they are still too good for him. He needs to find a rhythm and this is not the place for it.

Sergio Garcia's best major finishes are at this tournament. He has been in the top 10 at the last two majors and seems to have returned to form finally. That new grip of his seems to be paying off and so would his 40/1 odds. He has a great chance at winning his first major this week.

Zach Johnson can’t seem to be able to have two top 10 performances in a row. He just finished T6 at the WGC and before that T16 at the Open and T3 at the John Deere. If he can break that streak, his 40/1 odds look great.

Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan are at 50/1. Bubba—who lost in a playoff last year—has not been good at the majors this year and his finishes are up and down. He better use that in his game this week if he is to contend again.

Mahan has yet to live to his potential. In his last six tournaments he has missed the cut twice and finished no better than 30th. These odds are way gracious on him.

Anthony Kim was T14 at the Greenbrier. He is looking forward to improve from his last major here and is at 66/1. Lucas Glover after his good showing at the Open has not been a factor in the Canadian Open and the WGC, but stands a respectable 80/1.

Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa odds are lower after his recent WGC performance—80-1. Ryo had his best finish outside of Japan this past weekend and is looking to build on it. Maybe this could be his breakthrough tournament.

David Toms—the last man to win the PGA at this course in 2001—is at 50/1. He carries some momentum here with is T9 finish at the WGC. He is ranked 19 in the world and certainly knows how to play here.

The odds for the recent tournament winners Sean O’Hair (Canadian Open) and Scott Stallings (Greenbrier Classic) are 100/1 and 200/1.

The odds for the players that were contenders at those two tournaments, Bill Haas, Andres Romero and Webb Simpson are at 80/1. Brendon De Jonge is at 100/1 and Cameron Tringale is at 200/1.

- Carlos Torres