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2026 PGA Championship Trading Team Preview

PGA Championship Preview

The PGA Championship returns in 2026 with fresh storylines, a fresh venue, and fresh Bovada golf odds. The Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania hosts this year’s Major from May 14 to May 17, and the odds are already active. With a wide-open field beneath Scottie Scheffler, the clear favorite, this is the kind of Major where a strong golfing acumen can find great value.

If you’re looking to make smart predictions on PGA Championship odds, we’ve got the facts and stats, along with tips and insider info from Bovada’s Trading Team.

LATEST ODDS

View the latest Golf odds at Bovada

The Course and Why It Matters

Aronimink Golf Club is a Par 70 course stretching 7,237 yards, designed by Donald Ross, the most influential course architect in the history of the sport.  Aronimink last hosted a PGA Tour event in 2018, when Keegan Bradley won the BMW Championship in a playoff. That week also produced fireworks, with Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods both opening with rounds of 62, while Tommy Fleetwood matched that number twice over the weekend.

Ross courses tend to reward elite approach play and accuracy with the iron, strong midrange putting, and smart course management over raw power. That creates a clear betting angle to search for: players with good iron play, players who previously had success at Aronimik, or players who have had success on Donald Ross-style courses. Pure power hitters that lack precision could struggle.

The Favorite

Scottie Scheffler arrives as the clear market leader, and it’s not hard to see why. One of the world’s top players is also the defending PGA Championship winner, having dominated Quail Hollow in 2025. He’s coming off a strong performance at Augusta National in early April, finishing second to Rory McIlroy for the green jacket.

His abilities fit Aronimink perfectly, he’s the best tee-to-green player in the world with elite control. So there’s no doubt he can win it all again. But there are other contenders on the board that have great value for bettors looking for sharp alternatives.

The Contenders: Where the Value Is

Rory McIlroy stands out immediately. Coming off his 2026 Masters win and his opening-round 62 at Aronimink in 2018, fit doesn’t even matter with McIlroy. He’s just one of the best playing today.

Tommy Fleetwood thrives in big events, proven by his back-to-back 62 in 2018. He also has a “links-style pedigree,” meaning he has enough control to work a Ross course in tough conditions.

Justin Rose won at Aronimink in 2010 and nearly did it again in 2018, losing in a playoff. He’s the ultimate “of course!” pick.

And as we said earlier, Keegan Bradley won the BMW Championship at Aronimink in 2018. He’s an elite iron player, which is crucial for surviving Ross courses. His odds are lottery-level, hovering at five digits.

Then there’s Jake Knapp, one of the more interesting market movers. He’s drawing notable betting attention despite relatively thin credentials. This likely comes from his valuable odds and clean ball-striking profile.

Bovada Trading Team Tips and Info

We spoke with Sean Trump, head golf odds compiler at Bovada, to break down the details of the biggest bets surrounding the event, and even got him to reluctantly make his pick.

Scheffler Leads the Market

The Trading Team put Scottie Scheffler exactly where you’d expect: Top of the PGA Championship odds.

“The world’s top player and defending champion has opened as the clear favorite,” Trump said. “He’s already got the most attention, attracting 17% of the overall action.”

Strong Support for Proven Contenders

Behind Scheffler, the market is clustering around solid players who are a good fit.

Rory McIlroy is “well fancied in the betting action,” according to Trump. While Tommy Fleetwood is another name drawing attention at longer odds.

“Both players share the course record at Aronimink, with Fleetwood doing it twice.”

The Surprise Market Mover

One of the more interesting betting trends so far is the action on Jake Knapp.

Knapp is “not far behind Scheffler, drawing 14% of the action,” according to Trump.

“This is unusual for a player with a thin resume,” he said. “But players who pass the ‘eye test’ can quickly become popular ‘insider’ bets when they have odds that climb above five digits.”

“He could hurt us if he pulls it off.”

The Oddsmaker’s Pick

We hassled Trump enough to give us his PGA pick, and he’s taking Justin Rose as the outright winner.

“[Rose] won there in 2010 and lost in a playoff in 2018,” Trump said, “Aronimink clearly suits his game.”

“Also, it’s about time he won another Major.”

Rose hasn’t won a Major since the 2013 U.S. Open. Trump explained that his underdog odds are currently at around +4000 but are subject to change.

Special Bets and Golf Props

The outright winner for golf bets is just the start. The PGA Championship odds at Bovada offer a range of ways to get involved. Instead of only backing a player to win, you can bet on Top 5, Top 10, or Top 20 finishes, giving you a payout even if your pick doesn’t take the title. You can also bet on which nationality takes the Championship, including a top US, European, or British player.

First-round leader bets target the lowest score after Round 1, while head-to-head and three-way matchups let you pick which player finishes higher than the others, without needing them to win the tournament.

These options give you multiple ways to approach the event, beyond just picking a single overall winner.

FAQ

When is the 2026 PGA Championship?

The 2026 PGA Championship takes place from May 14 to May 17. It is held annually in May as the second Major of the golf season.

How to watch the 2026 PGA Championship?

The tournament will be broadcast on ESPN and CBS.

Where is the PGA Championship?

The 2026 event is held at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, a classic Donald Ross-designed course.

Who won the PGA Championship 2025?

Scottie Scheffler won the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, securing victory by five strokes.

Is the PGA Championship a Major?

Yes, the PGA Championship is one of golf’s four Majors, alongside The Masters, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship.

What is the PGA Championship?

The PGA Championship is one of golf’s four Majors and has been played annually since 1916. Organized by the PGA of America, it usually features the strongest field in golf, including top PGA Tour players and leading international competitors. Winning this event carries long-term rewards, including lifetime entry into all four Majors.

Beyond prestige, it is also one of the most popular betting events on the calendar. With various odds and props and a range of courses, it offers consistent opportunities to find value. You can find details of upcoming events and Majors in our golf hub.

Last Year’s Leaderboard

The 2025 PGA Championship delivered a commanding performance by Scottie Scheffler, separating from the field over the weekend to win by five strokes at Quail Hollow.

Top 10 – 2025 PGA Championship

PosPlayerR1R2R3R4To ParFedEx Pts
1Scottie Scheffler-2-3-6E-11750
T2Harris English+1-1E-6-6391.67
T2Bryson DeChambeauE-3-2-1-60
T2Davis RileyE-3-4+1-6391.67
T5Taylor Pendrith-2-1+1-3-5275
T5Jhonattan Vegas-7-1+2+1-5275
T5J.T. Poston-3-1-3+2-5275
T8Joaquin Niemann+3-4E-3-40
T8Ben Griffin-1-2+1-2-4143.33
T8Denny McCarthy-1-3+1-1-4143.33
T8Ryan Gerard-5+1+1-1-4143.33
T8Joe Highsmith+2-4-2E-4143.33
T8Matt Fitzpatrick-3-3+1+1-4143.33
T8Keegan Bradley-3+1-3+1-4143.33
T8Jon Rahm-1-1-4+2-40
T8Si Woo Kim+1-7E+2-4143.33
Source: https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/2025/pga-championship/R2025033/past-results