Golf’s second major championship of the year begins Thursday as the 108th PGA Championship gets underway at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia.
Will defending champion Scottie Scheffler successfully defend his title? Can Rory McIlroy capture his second straight major championship to start 2026? Or might an unexpected contender emerge from the 156 golfers competing? Golf analysts are offering their tournament predictions and preferred betting options for who will take home the Wanamaker Trophy.
108TH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Where: Philadelphia, May 14-17
Venue: Aronimink Golf Club (Par 70, 7,394 Yards)
Prize Money: To be announced ($19M in 2025; Winner received $3.42 million)
Title Holder: Scottie Scheffler
FedEx Cup Leader: Cameron Young
VIEWING OPTIONS
Television: Thursday: Noon-7 p.m. ET (ESPN), 7-8 p.m. (ESPN2); Friday: Noon-8 p.m. (ESPN); Saturday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (ESPN), 1-7 p.m. (CBS)
Online (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Social Media: @PGAChampionship
BETTING RECOMMENDATIONS
Ludvig Aberg to Beat Xander Schauffele (+100 at DraftKings): The Swedish golfer continues to demonstrate exceptional skill despite difficulty completing four strong rounds consistently. Aberg has secured five top-5 placements in his last six tournaments at premier events, with only a T21 at the Masters breaking that streak. Meanwhile, Schauffele, who already owns a PGA title, struggled last week with a T60 finish after failing to shoot under 72 in his final three rounds.
Scottie Scheffler Top 5 Finish (-110 at BetMGM): The current champion has attracted significant betting interest for good reason. Beyond defending his title, Scheffler brings momentum from three straight second-place finishes and won the AmEx in February during a run of three consecutive top-4 results.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju Top Canadian (+280 at DraftKings): The 24-year-old earned his tournament spot with a strong T19 showing at last week’s Truist Championship. This continues an impressive climb for the self-taught golfer whose family relocated to Canada from India when he was four years old. Yellamaraju has made 10 straight cuts and achieved a T5 at The Players. He faces tough competition from veterans Corey Conners (+205), Nick Taylor (+220), and PGA Tour winner Taylor Pendrith (+300).
TOP WAGERING CHOICES
Scheffler (+385 at DraftKings) captured his first victory this season and has posted three consecutive runner-up finishes, including at the Masters. He represents BetMGM’s second-largest liability, drawing 13.7% of total bets and 23.2% of money wagered.
McIlroy (+900) has claimed two PGA Championships and recorded 11 top-25 finishes in 17 career appearances. He’s attracted 5.8% of total bets, ranking third.
Jon Rahm (+1400) placed T8 last year, with his previous best showing a T4 at Bellerive in 2018.
Cameron Young (+1475) has won twice this year and was competitive last week before a final-round 74. Still pursuing his first major victory, Young’s odds have improved from +1650 at DraftKings on Tuesday. He ranks second behind Scheffler at BetMGM with 9.6% of bets and 9.8% of money.
Bryson DeChambeau (+1900) has finished second in each of the last two years and recently placed third at LIV Golf Virginia.
Matt Fitzpatrick (+2300) has already won three times this season. His best previous PGA Championship result was T5 in 2022 across 10 appearances.
Tommy Fleetwood (+2800) recorded two course-record 62s at Aronimink in 2018 and comes off a T5 at the Truist Championship.
Jordan Spieth (+6600) represents BetMGM’s biggest liability as he attempts his 10th try at completing the career Grand Slam. “Scottie Scheffer and the in-form Cameron Young are great results for customers in the outright market for the PGA Championship,” BetMGM senior trader Matt Wall said. “However, the biggest liability currently is Jordan Spieth as BetMGM customers dream of the former world No. 1 finally completing the career grand slam.”
TOURNAMENT FACTS
Originally created by Donald Ross in 1926, Aronimink hosts the PGA Championship for just the second time since Gary Player’s 1962 victory. Keegan Bradley captured the 2018 BMW Championship at Aronimink, defeating Justin Rose in a playoff. The course has been extended 114 yards since that event.
The 156-golfer field will be reduced to the top 70 and ties following the second round.
Scheffler aims to become the first repeat PGA Championship winner since Brooks Koepka in 2019, while McIlroy could become the first golfer since Spieth in 2015 to win the year’s opening two majors.
Spieth enters his 10th attempt at achieving the career Grand Slam.
Jake Knapp withdrew Monday with a thumb injury and was replaced by Tom Hoge.
No international golfer has won the PGA Championship since Jason Day in 2015, marking the longest such drought at any major. This year’s field represents 26 different countries.
Adam Scott will make his 99th straight major championship appearance. Only Jack Nicklaus has achieved more than 100 consecutive major starts.
