PGA Championship Predictions and Best Bets

PGA Championship Betting Preview

PGA Championship picks from WagerTalk golf handicapper Andy Lang are available before golfers tee off from Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA! Andy discusses his predictions, picks, who can trip you up, the course and more surrounding the PGA Championship starting May 14!

Stay on top of the latest Golf updates direct from Las Vegas!

WagerTalk also offers Free Picks all year long!

PGA Championship	PGA Championship Betting Notes
When:	May 14-17
Where:	Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA
Defending Champ:	Scottie Scheffler
Current Favorite:	Scottie Scheffler (+385 at DraftKings)
TV:	CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, Paramount+

PGA Championship Course: Aronimink Golf Club

The 2026 PGA Championship heads to historic Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, a classic Donald Ross design that combines traditional architecture with modern championship difficulty.

The course stretches to nearly 7,400 yards as a par 70, demanding elite ball-striking and patience from start to finish.

Aronimink features tree-lined fairways, thick rough, and fast Bentgrass greens that place a premium on precision rather than pure power.

While the fairways are relatively generous in spots, positioning off the tee is critical to create the correct angles into the greens.

Ross designed the course with subtle movement and strategic bunkering, meaning approach shots from the wrong side of the fairway can quickly become defensive.

The greens are large but filled with slopes and tiers, making distance control and putting touch essential throughout the week.

Aronimink has the feel of a classic major championship venue. Long par-4s, demanding approach shots, and penal rough will force players to stay disciplined and avoid mistakes.

Expect the course to reward complete golfers — players who can drive it accurately, control long irons, and scramble efficiently when greens are missed.

If conditions firm up, Aronimink could become one of the tougher PGA Championship tests in recent memory.

PGA Championship: Players That Can Trip You Up

Rory McIlroy is always going to attract money at a major, but this course doesn’t feel like a natural fit for him.

It rewards accuracy and positioning far more than raw power, and driving accuracy has never been his biggest strength.

His putting has also been shaky this season, which is a concern on a setup where missed opportunities add up quickly.

You’d expect a focused effort after last week’s disappointing finish, but that alone doesn’t erase the course-fit concerns. He could contend on talent alone, but at this number, I’m out.

Bryson DeChambeau is another bomber I don’t trust this week. At majors, he tends to get overly aggressive trying to overpower courses, and on this layout, that strategy brings more downside than upside with all the bunkers and trouble spots.

Precision matters far more than distance here. Add in all the LIV Golf rumors—whether it’s returning to the PGA Tour or shifting toward YouTube/content full time—and it just doesn’t feel like someone fully locked in mentally for a Top 10 push at a major. Too many distractions, not enough fit.

Jon Rahm still posts strong finishes on LIV Golf, but his game hasn’t looked nearly as dominant since making the move.

He finished 38th at the Masters and has just one finish better than 48th in his last four PGA Championships.

The stats look fine on paper, but it’s hard to trust numbers built on easier LIV setups compared to major championship conditions.

When majors get difficult and demand elite precision for four straight days, Rahm just hasn’t looked like the same player. He’s a fade for me this week.

PGA Championship: DraftKings Darlings

Matt McCarty ($5,700) is one of the best pure value plays on the board right now. He’s coming off back-to-back finishes of 9th and 10th and has now made five straight cuts with all Top 40 results.

The underlying stats are excellent too—accurate off the tee over the last 30 days while gaining +0.51 putting and +0.68 on approach. At this salary, you’re getting recent form and elite value.

Alex Fitzpatrick ($5,900) feels criminally underpriced based on current form. He’s arguably one of the hottest golfers in the world right now, striping fairways and attacking greens consistently.

Statistically, he ranks 6th in driving accuracy and 3rd in strokes gained approach in 2026. His recent finishes of 4th, 9th, win, and 6th don’t even include the Zurich victory with his brother. At under $6K, this is one of the strongest DFS values you’ll find all season.

Alex Smalley ($6,100) continues to quietly produce every week. He’s finished 17th and 7th the last two weeks and has only one missed cut all season.

Over the last three months, he’s gained strokes in every major category, showing one of the most balanced profiles in the field. With current form and consistency at this price, Smalley is another elite value target for DFS builds.

Rest of Lineup: Sam Burns $8,100, Cameron Young $10,200, Scottie Scheffler $13,900

**************************************************

Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?

Latest Betting Odds and Public Action: Vegas lines updated in real time, including who the public is betting on.
Last Minute Handicapping Advice: Check out our extensive library of handicapping tips and advice from professional Vegas handicappers (we also recommend taking the time to look over our sports betting tips video library)
Want an expert opinion? Check out the latest Free Sports Picks and Best Bets from our team of expert sports handicappers.