OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 13: Sam Burns of the United States reacts after making par on the ninth green during the second round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 13, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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The field is set before the second major of the golf season begins at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania. It’s a new venue for everyone, so there are opportunities for some players to surprise and make history. As mentioned previously, Aronimink is a big hitter’s golf course with tricky, dangerous greens. The right combination of power and touch is the formula this week.
The PGA Championship can produce some unlikely major winners (Bob Tway, Wayne Grady, Shaun Micheel) as well as add to the trophy room of the greatest ever. Here are five players who can defy the odds and become immortal this week.
Odds courtesy of Caesar’s Sportsbook. Dark horses with odds of +5000 or greater.
Burns had a great Masters and is looking to build his major championship resume. His game is solid…The question is how he will handle the pressure if he’s in position again.
Being in the arena often enough will make him formidable. It’s time for a breakthrough from the LSU alum (just like me, and this guy). A top 10 finish (+420) is a step in the right direction.
ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 01: Viktor Hovland of Team Europe celebrates winning the hole on the fourth green during the Sunday singles matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on October 01, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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It’s time for Hovland to win the big one. A slew of top 10 finishes in majors is encouraging and frustrating. This man has the game to beat anyone in the world. It’s a numbers game for Hovland—the more he’s contending the better.
There seems to be one shot per round that stalls his momentum. Hopefully, Hovland solves that riddle and makes his presence felt this weekend. He hasn’t been terribly on form lately, but he’s world class. I expect a big week from him. A top 10 (+1000) finish is a great value bet.
OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 15: J. J. Spaun of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning during the final round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 15, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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The U.S. Open champion plays a tough course well. There’s no bigger pressure point than the final round of the Open, and he came through brilliantly at Oakmont, a brutal test last year.
Aronimink won’t offer the same test, but it will ask questions and punish mistakes. Spaun is built for it. Like Hovland, he hasn’t been on form lately, but he’s a big game player and I like him as a dark horse.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 11: Shane Lowry of Ireland plays his shot from the fourth tee during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
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Lowry is just plain fun to watch. He hits it all over the place, provides hilarious commentary and recovers like a champ. A mix between Arnold and Seve. I’d like to see him locked in for 72 holes and be his usual entertaining self.
He’s a bettor’s nightmare, honestly, but he has the chops to win this tournament. I’m all over a top 10 (+575) finish for him.
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 02: Jason Day of Australia plays a shot from a bunker on the second hole during the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2025 at Pebble Beach Golf Links on February 02, 2025 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Day has had a bit of a resurgence and is always a good look. He’s too good to have only one major to his credit (a testament to how hard winning these things actually is). He battled injuries for years but is healthy and has his game in great shape.
His PGA title in 2015 over Jordan Spieth by three shots was some of the best golf I’ve ever seen. Spieth was almost unbeatable during that time and Day handled him and the field with what looked like relative ease. Since then, his body won’t let him do what he does. Maybe this week. He’s one of the good guys on tour and what a story and payday if he pulls it off.
Prediction: JJ Spaun records a top five finish and threatens the lead at times this week.
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