10 Picks to Win The PGA Championship

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER will start the PGA Championship as favourite after winning The Masters in April, his fourth victory of the year.

Here we pick out 10 golfers to keep an eye on at Southern Hills. Five of them will figure on most lists ahead of the year’s second men's major, but the other five may come as a surprise to you.

Scottie Scheffler

Scheffler has swept all before him this season, winning four times, including his maiden major victory at The Masters. He thrives on difficult golf courses and says that Southern Hills is his favourite layout. It took him a while to make the breakthrough but he now looks unstoppable.

Rory McIlroy

It is eight years since the Northern Irishman won the most recent of his four majors - and that is unacceptable for a golfer blessed with his gifts. He doesn’t need anybody to tell him that he simply must eliminate the bad round that seems to crop up every time he plays in a major. The good news is that his putting has improved out of sight.

Max Homa

Ask any pundit to name the golfer with the sweetest swing on the PGA Tour and most will tell you that it is Homa. He has been a very good player for a long time but has now moved up a gear, winning twice this season. Crucially, he finds a lot of fairways, and that is going to be a must at Southern Hills.

Jordan Spieth

Much is made of Rory McIlroy’s quest for the career Grand Slam and it is easy to forget that Spieth only needs the PGA Championship to complete the full set of majors. Just 18 months ago it would have been unthinkable as his game fell off a cliff. But he is now almost back to his very best. His driving is still a weakness although he makes up for that with a magical putting stroke.

Jon Rahm

The US Open champion started the year in sensational form as he finished runner-up to Cameron Smith at the Tournament of Champions but struggled before he won in Mexico. His long game remains as good as ever but the ability to hole crucial putts had deserted him recently. However, if he can rediscover his best form on the greens he will be very difficult to beat.

Garrick Higgo

The South African had a sensational 2021, winning on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour. But the young left-hander has had something of a wake-up call this season, slipping to 100th in the world rankings. He hits the ball vast distances and, crucially, possesses a magical short game. Higgo has struggled to keep the ball in the fairway this year but if he can put that right this week he has the game to win.

Brian Harman

Harman is another left-hander. He is one of the shorter hitters on the PGA Tour but he possesses a happy knack of being able to score well when not at his best. He produced some sparkling play at the Wells Fargo and, like so many left-handers, is a wonderful putter. Southern Hills should be made for him.

Keegan Bradley

His only major success came at the PGA Championship. He struggled on the greens when anchored putting was banned but has worked tirelessly and has found a way to remain competitive. A hugely frustrating golfer to watch on account of the time it takes him to hit the ball, but he is a terrific ball striker and has shown some signs of form recently.

Adri Arnaus

The Spaniard is enjoying the best season of his life on the DP World Tour and finally won his maiden tournament, coming out on top in front of his home fans at the Catalunya Championship, a victory that proved he can produce his best under the most severe pressure. He has a game that should be made for American conditions.

Justin Harding

The South African is a hugely underrated golfer. He is one of the most consistent performers on the DP World Tour and is a wonderful ball striker. Because he uses a long putter it is easy to regard his putting as a weakness. It is anything but. He is at his best one lightning-fast surfaces - and they don’t come much quicker than Southern Hills.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)