The season's final major is here, with 156 players set to take on Bellerive Country Club for the PGA Championship. The event - once deemed "Glory's Last Shot" - will be the fourth major for the last time this week, as it's moving to May in 2019.
Bellerive is a 7,316-yard par-70 track in St. Louis, Mo., that puts a premium on distance and accuracy off the tee. The course will also play super soft, with dry conditions throughout the summer leading to overwatering. These conditions play into the bomber's hands even more, as they'll be able to hold the ball on the greens from anywhere, even the thick rough.
Here, we rank the top 10 in the field (betting odds in brackets):
10. Justin Rose (22-1)
Rose's withdrawal from the WGC-Bridgestone with a back injury is a bit concerning, but he also had back problems when he was a runner-up at the 2017 Masters. Whenever he's in action, Rose will be a top-10 player in the field - especially in majors, where he's turned in three straight top-12 results this season.
9. Tony Finau (40-1)
Finau finished inside the top 10 at each major this year. The Ryder Cup hopeful ranks third in driving distance this season and will have no issue with the long par 4s at Bellerive. Of the four majors, this PGA Championship seems like the best fit for Finau, so perhaps a breakthrough win is in the cards.
8. Jordan Spieth (22-1)
Regardless of his form, Spieth continues to show up for majors. If he can adjust to the slow Bellerive greens, the three-time major winner could sneak into the hunt Sunday and pick up the career grand slam.
7. Jason Day (18-1)
Day loves the PGA Championship. He's finished inside the top 15 in his last five showings, picking up a win in 2015 and a runner-up in 2016. The 30-year-old tied for 10th last week at Firestone, hitting the ball brilliantly with his irons. A peaking Day could easily claim his second PGA Championship title this week.
6. Tommy Fleetwood (28-1)
Fleetwood let his first PGA Tour win slip away last week by shooting 74 in Round 3. However, he also shot 63, displaying his incredible talent once again. If he can put four strong rounds together and his approach game is on, the Wanamaker Trophy is his.
5. Jon Rahm (28-1)
Of all the majors Rahm's been a part of in his short career, this week at Bellerive presents the best chance for him to claim his first title. He played great at Firestone last week, gaining the second-most strokes tee to green in the field, and his bomb-and-gouge approach will work well in wet conditions.
4. Brooks Koepka (20-1)
Koepka led the field in strokes gained: tee to green at WGC-Bridgestone and always shows up for majors. He's finished inside the top 15 at the PGA Championship in four straight years, with two of those being top-five results. Brooks can and will bomb it all over the property and take advantage of the soft Bellerive better than anyone.
3. Rory McIlroy (12-1)
McIlroy is licking his chops at the news that Bellerive is soaking wet. The last time the PGA Championship was played in similar conditions, in 2012, he won by eight shots. After his runner-up finish at The Open and tied-for-sixth finish last week, all signs are pointing toward McIlroy claiming his third PGA Championship.
2. Justin Thomas (12-1)
Thomas picked up a huge win at last week's WGC-Bridgestone, setting the table for his PGA Championship title defense. JT has a history of destroying long par-70 courses and enters in elite form, especially with his irons. There's a strong possibility he'll hoist the Wanamaker Trophy for the second straight year.
1. Dustin Johnson (8-1)
It's time for DJ to pick up his second career major. After his win at the Canadian Open two weeks ago, Johnson got out of the gates a little slow at Firestone. However, his 64 on Sunday en route to a tied-for-third finish suggests he's ready to rock at Bellerive.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
(Odds courtesy: Bodog)
