The second major golfing event is happening this week from 18th-21st May. Yes, the 2023 PGA Championship takes place at the legendary Oak Hill Country Club, Rochester, New York. The first major of the year obviously being the Masters.
This Donald Ross-designed course is a favourite for many players. The course has undergone renovations since its last holding of a major in 2013. The holes are longer than they were in 2013 after the 2019-20 complete restoration making 250 yards longer than in 2013. Longer hitters have an advantage playing 7,349 yards as a par 70.
Justin Thomas won the title last year at Southern Hills, defeating Will Zalatoris after the spectacular collapse of Mito Pereira at the final hole.
Who are the players to watch at the 2023 PGA Championship?
This year’s event has attracted big names such as Rory Mcilroy, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Cantlay, and Xander Schauffele.
Jon Rahm (7/1)
Jon Rahm enters the tournament in red-hot form with four victories and finishing top-10 eight times this season. The world No.1 is a 7/1 co-favourite alongside Scottie Scheffler to emerge victorious, according to Caesars Sportsbook 2023 PGA Championship odds. Rory Mcilroy is at 11/1, Patrick Cantlay (18/1), Brooks Koepka (18/1), and Justin Thomas (20/1)
Xander Schauffele (22/1)
It seems inevitable that Schauffele will lift a major soon, and he has an excellent opportunity to do it this weekend. Playing at Oak Hill, which supports long strikes, puts him in a perfect position to win his maiden major. He is at No. 5 in strokes gained and 19th in putting approach. Xander Schauffele will be looking forward to winning the PGA title. He has participated in 152 events and made the cut 129 times.
Patrick Cantlay (18/1) might pull a surprise
If Cantlay maintains his current form, he is likely to be a serious competitor in the 2023 PGA Championship. He is the third-best driver and ranks third on the strokes gained over the last three months. He has recorded 3 top-15 finishes in various major championships.
Big Names Absent From The 2023 PGA Championship
Despite presenting a strong list, the 2023 PGA Championship would have been even better had the following elite players been available. Injuries have prevented some of them from participating, while others have had a poor run hence not qualifying.
Tiger Woods
The most famous name in golf will miss this year’s event after undergoing a subtalar fusion surgery in the ankle following April’s Masters. Woods pulled out before the final day of the tournament due to pain. He underwent a fusion surgery that eliminated all the pain but slightly hindered his foot movement.
Wood is a four-time PGA Championship winner lifting it in 1999, 2000, 2006, and 2007. We hope to see him back in action soon.
Sergio Garcia
This is the first time Sergio Garcia has not qualified for a major since the 1999 US Open. He has dropped from the world’s top 100 golfers after joining the LIV league. Sergio debuted at the 1999 Championship at 19 years old, where he took a shot from the root of a tree at Medinah, finishing with one stroke from Tiger Wood.
Daniel Berger
The former big name in the golfing world has also significantly dropped in the world’s ranking. He is missing a third major in a row and hasn’t appeared since June 2022. A back injury that he is currently suffering has made things worse for the four-time PGA Tour champion.
Berger recently admitted on the Golf Channel that he doesn’t know when he will make his next appearance. The former No.12 will not make it to PGA Championship for the first time since 2015.
Will Zalatoris
The American emerged number two at the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, losing in a Playoff. He is out injured for the rest season and underwent back surgery last month, meaning he will miss the three remaining majors.
2023 PGA Championship Odds
| Player | Odds |
| Jon Rahm | 7/1 |
| Scottie Scheffler | 7/1 |
| Rory McIlroy | 11/1 |
| Patrick Cantlay | 18/1 |
| Brooks Koepka | 18/1 |
| Justin Thomas | 20/1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 20/1 |
| Jason Day | 20/1 |
| Xander Schauffele | 22/1 |
| Collin Morikawa | 22/1 |
| Tony Finau | 25/1 |
| Cameron Young | 25/1 |
| Viktor Hovland | 28/1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 28/1 |
| Max Homa | 28/1 |
| Matthew Fitzpatrick | 30/1 |
| Cameron Smith | 30/1 |
| Sungjae Im | 35/1 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | 40/1 |
Men’s Golf Major Championship Past Winners
| YEAR | WINNER |
| 2022 | Justin Thomas |
| 2021 | Phil Mickelson |
| 2020 | Collin Morikawa |
| 2019 | Brooks Koepka |
| 2018 | Brooks Koepka |
| 2017 | Justin Thomas |
| 2016 | Jimmy Walker |
| 2015 | Jason Day |
Conclusion
The 2023 PGA Championship has a $15,000,000 purse. Let us wait and see if we will have a new face on the PGA Championship winners or if past champions will reclaim it.
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