PGA Championship Picks: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and More

Scottie Scheffler will be looking to repeat as the PGA Championship winner when the event is held this week at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., located about 20 miles west of Philadelphia. Scheffler is due for a victory as he last won in January when he prevailed in The American Express at La Quinta.

Rory McIlory won the first major of the year when he repeated as Masters champion but it remains to be seen if a toe blister will impact his game. McIlroy has two PGA Championship wins (2012, 2014) and will be on the hunt for his seventh career major victory.

You never know who might emerge out of nowhere at a major. Jimmy Walker won this event in 2016 at lower Baltusrol in Springfield, N.J. for his lone major victory and he last made the cut at a major in 2021. Walker, 47, tees off at 1:05 p.m. ET but should once again be done after 36 holes.

Winning time returns for Scottie

Scheffler may have gone eight straight events without a victory but he’s finished second in each of the past three, including the Masters. It’s just a matter of time before he puts together four straight strong rounds and lifts another trophy.

During those last three events, Scheffler had nine rounds in the 60s, another good sign that his form is back. It’s definitely an improvement from March when he had just one round in the 60s in back-to-back events at Bay Hill and The Players.

Scheffler was a runaway winner (by five strokes) last year at Quail Hollow in North Carolina when his card included a third-round 65. The best golfer in the world looks ready to take this tournament again.

Scottie Scheffler to win the tournament, +385 (DraftKings)

Expect Rory McIlory to be a prime top-five candidate

McIlory figures to be hungry but he surely isn’t going to be stopping at any of those unlimited free-food locations on the course. His appetite lies in adding another major title and moving into a tie for seventh all-time with these legends: Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer.

McIlory struggled last year at Quail Hollow by tying for 47th, marking the fourth time in the past eight PGAs that he has finished outside the top 30. The key element this time is seeing how the first round goes as walking 18 holes may inflame the blister on his right pinky toe.

Otherwise, McIlroy should be fresh as he has played just once since winning at Augusta and that was last week when he tied for 19th at the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow. The early rounds will be the key for this week in terms of whether or not he can keep up with Scheffler.

Rory McIlroy to finish in the top five, +190 (DraftKings)

Matt Fitzpatrick may be the hottest golfer on tour

Jon Rahm (+1400 to win, +135 top 10) is being discussed as a contender but there’s something about that tie for 38th at the Masters that zaps the confidence. Another LIV mainstay, Bryson DeChambeau (+2160, +200), missed the cut at the Masters, after putting together top-10 finishes in six of the previous seven majors.

Cameron Young (+1475. +144) is a hot golfer with two wins in his past five events but this is how his last three PGA Championship tourneys have gone: missed cut in 2023, tied for 63rd the following year and tied for 47th last season. Tommy Fleetwood (+2800, +215) has five top-10 finishes in the past nine events but he has been a non-factor at the past eight majors.

Matt Fitzpatrick (+2300 to win) has three first-place finishes and one second in his last six events – a Scheffler-type roll. He was off his game by tying for 52nd last week at Quail Hollow but everything about his recent performances point to him being a contender this week.

Matt Fitzpatrick to finish in the top 10, +182 (DraftKings)