Spieth, Sungjae Im among longshot picks to win the PGA Championship

Get the latest from Jon McCarthy straight to your inbox

Published May 17, 2023 • 3 minute read

Rickie Fowler looks on before hitting his shot from the third tee during the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship. Getty Images

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Who doesn’t love longshots and dark horses?

The PGA Championship at Oak Hill is set to start on Thursday and I’m sure you already know your pick to win between big guns like Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and the suddenly strong and silent Rory McIlroy.

So, we’re not here to talk about those guys. We are here for players with odds longer than 35/1 (or +3500).

If one of these legends win and you have a bet on them, it’s a story you will never tire of telling. Like that time I had Ernie Els at 40/1 to win the 2012 Open Championship based on a tip from his longtime caddie Ricci Roberts as the taps ran dry one long night at the 19th hole at Wentworth. See, I’m still telling it today!

Enough small talk, here are my longshot picks for the 105th PGA Championship:

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Sungjae Im 36/1 (+3600)

These first couple guys aren’t quite longshots, but they fit the bill thanks to some friendly odds. Im is a ball-striking machine and, before his first PGA Tour win, I was betting him every week until he broke through. That’s probably worth doing at majors now. All he has done recently is top-ten finishes in his past two PGA Tour stops (both elevated events) and win last week at home in Korea. There aren’t many players in the field familiar with Oak Hill, but Im simplifies courses nicely by going fairway, green, fairway, green, fairway, green, ’til it’s time for lunch.

Jordan Spieth 36/1 (+3600)

I know what you’re thinking. Yes, he has a wrist injury, and no, we don’t exactly know if he’ll make it through the week, but that’s why we are getting these odds. He needs the PGA Championship to complete the career grand slam and perhaps nothing gets your mind away from pressure like pain, so let’s ride the pain train. Smallish greens requiring short game magic are on the menu this week so buckle up and enjoy the chaos of betting on golf’s golden boy.

Rickie Fowler 55/1 (+5500)

Last week we got the feel-good comeback story from Jason Day, so wouldn’t it be something to go back-to-back with the warm and fuzzies. For the record that’s an awful reason to bet on someone, but there is a case to be made for Fowler. He has finished inside the top-17 in four consecutive starts beginning at the Players Championship two months ago. Fowler is seventh in strokes-gained-approach this season, 16th in SG: tee-to-green, and top-40 in putting. I was there at TPC Sawgrass in 2015 watching him go six-under in his final six holes and then birdie the island green twice more in the playoff to win, so there is magic in the nastio moustachio. A late-career major is not out of the realm of possibilities.

THREE MORE TO ROLL THE DICE:

Talor Gooch: 80/1 (+8000) — All he does is shoots 62s these days

Patrick Reed: 90/1 (+9000) — Golf’s villain isn’t finished

Si Woo Kim: 120/1 (+12000) — Happy learned how to putt. Uh, oh

THE CANADIAN PICK

Mackenzie Hughes 550/1 (+55000) — New-found length, great short game, gritty as duck

Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Care for a wager? Head to our sports betting section for news and odds.

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Join the Conversation

May 17, 2023