Skip to content

Top 10: Why each favorite will or won't win the PGA Championship

Action Images / Paul Childs

The 99th PGA Championship will begin Thursday at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., where one of the strongest fields in golf will vie for the Wanamaker Trophy and Jordan Spieth will seek to complete his career grand slam.

Here's a breakdown of the 10 favorites heading into the tournament:

Sergio Garcia

Odds: 25-1

Best result: Runner-up in 1999 & 2008

Why he'll win: The Spaniard has a pretty good track record at this course (which hosts the Wells Fargo Championship), missing just one cut and posting a T-2 result in 2005.

Why he won't win: He's recorded just one top-10 result worldwide since his win at Augusta - a runner-up finish at the BMW International Open.

Justin Rose

Odds: 25-1

Best result: T-3 in 2014

Why he'll win: The Englishman posted a 70 scoring average across his last three trips to the Wells Fargo Championship, which included third- and fifth-place finishes.

Why he won't win: Rose - like Garcia - has just one top-10 finish worldwide since the Masters.

Brooks Koepka

Odds: 25-1

Best result: T-4 in 2015

Why he'll win: The U.S. Open champ has the length for the 7,600-yard layout, and has posted four straight top-15 results at the majors.

Why he won't win: The 27-year-old has never played a competitive round at Quail Hollow Club.

Jason Day

Odds: 20-1

Best result: Won in 2015

Why he'll win: The Aussie has played decently in two trips to the Wells Fargo, finishing T-22 and T-9.

Why he won't win: It's been a tumultuous season for Day, and droughts rarely end at majors.

Jon Rahm

Odds: 20-1

Best result: Never played

Why he'll win: The young Spanish sensation has already grabbed two big victories this year - at Torrey Pines and the Irish Open.

Why he won't win: The 2016 U.S. Open was his best result in a major, where he tied for 23rd as an amateur.

Hideki Matsuyama

Odds: 20-1

Best result: T-4 in 2016

Why he'll win: The world No. 3 player has missed just one cut this season, and placed T-4, T-11, T-2, and T-14 in the last four majors.

Why he won't win: He's ranked 180th in putting strokes gained and 178th in total putting on Tour.

Rickie Fowler

Odds: 15-1

Best result: T-3 in 2014

Why he'll win: Fowler has three top-10 finishes at the Wells Fargo, including a win in 2012.

Why he won't win: The 28-year-old has already had two chances to win his first major this year, but fired a final-round 76 at Augusta and a final-round 72 at Erin Hills.

Dustin Johnson

Odds: 9-1

Best result: T-5 in 2010

Why he'll win: The world No. 1 certainly has the distance for Quail Hollow, and leads the tour in total strokes gained.

Why he won't win: Johnson said at last week's Canadian Open that his back was still causing him trouble from the freak incident at the Masters.

Rory McIlroy

Odds: 7-1

Best result: Won in 2012 & 2014

Why he'll win: The Northern Irishman holds the course record (61), and has two victories at the Wells Fargo.

Why he won't win: McIlory's wedge game has been awful, and he continues to make big changes prior to majors.

Jordan Spieth

Odds: 7-1

Best result: Runner-up in 2015

Why he'll win: He's playing the best golf in the world right now, and has a chance to complete the career grand slam.

Why he won't win: If you didn't notice last month at Birkdale, he can get a little wild off the tee.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox