PGA Championship predictions: McIlroy primed for Valhalla repeat
- This is the 106th edition of the PGA Championship
- Valhalla last hosted the Major in 2014
- Recommended bets:
- Back Rory McIlroy to win
- Back Viktor Hovland to win and each-way
- Back Taylor Pendrith to win and each-way
Major honours are up for grabs at Valhalla Golf Club this week with a stellar field vying for the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.
This will be the fourth time Valhalla has hosted this tournament – last staging in 2014 when Rory McIlroy claimed the spoils – and world number one Scottie Scheffler is the 4/1 favourite with LiveScore Bet.
McIlroy comes next in the betting at 15/2 as he aims to end his decade-long wait for a fifth Major, while Brooks Koepka is 13/1 to become just the fourth player to hoist this trophy four times.
Stars aligning for McIlroy
World number two McIlroy could hardly be in better form heading into this event, having won the Zurich Classic alongside Shane Lowry before landing a record-extending fourth Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday.
The Northern Irishman is brimming with confidence and all facets of his game are in peak condition right now, especially the driver which has him first in total driving and fourth in strokes gained: off-the-tee on the PGA Tour this season.
With the 35-year-old showing stellar approach play and putting over his last two outings, there does not appear to be any chink in his armour and a second Valhalla success could be coming his way.
Hovland on the up
Viktor Hovland has failed to fire this year after deciding to tweak with the swing that helped him to FedEx Cup success last season, but there were positive signs in North Carolina at last week's Wells Fargo.
The Norwegian, making his first appearance since his Masters cut, finished in a share of 24th place and it was pleasing to see the driver going well, a club that is a big weapon in his arsenal.
He also ranked 11th in strokes gained: approach, demonstrating a big improvement in that department, and Hovland is more than capable of landing his first Major in an event he was tied-second in last year – his best result in the 'big four' tournaments.
Pendrith a lively contender
Mike Weir's 2003 Masters triumph remains the only time a Canadian player has won a Major but that could change this week with Taylor Pendrith ready to deliver for the Great White North.
The 32-year-old broke his PGA Tour duck at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson two starts ago before following up with a T10 finish at the Wells Fargo Championship, those results lifting him to a career-high world ranking of 54th.
Pendrith, who was tied-29th on his PGA Championship debut last year, is one of the biggest drivers on tour, but he is also one of the best on the greens and ranks sixth in strokes gained: putting.
