The PGA Championship betting odds, free bets, golf offers and expert tips for the second major of the year

THE bookies seem to have decided Rory McIlroy’s eight-year Major championship drought is set to continue – so this may be the time to back him for a rebound.

Picking a winner for the PGA Championship

At 12-1, McIlroy is a clear outsider among golf’s ‘Big Three’ for this week’s PGA Championship, with the last two Masters champions -Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler – 8-1 joint favourites on most lists.

That is understandable, given McIlroy’s miserable missed cut at Augusta, and another lack-lustre showing last time out at one of his favourite courses, Quail Hollow.

There is suddenly far less expectation on Rory’s shoulders, and he simply has too much class to dismiss his chances of finally capturing another Major.

OK, Augusta was a bitter disappointment. But that can easily be put down to the suffocating pressure of trying to complete the elusive Grand Slam.

McIlroy’s efforts in the Majors last year read 2-8-5-3. So at his current odds, he must be worth an each way bet at least.

The world No 3 has already won the PGA twice, and it has always seemed the Majors that suits his game best.

The courses are usually set up similar to those used for the tougher PGA Tour events. And it is worth remembering McIlroy has already clocked up 23 wins on the US circuit.

Throw in the fact that he was tied eighth when the PGA was last played here in 2013, and that 12-1 looks even more tempting.

Oak Hill has undergone a major revamp since that last PGA, and McIlroy will be more familiar with the new-look set-up than most.

He is a club member, as wife Erica is from the Rochester area, and he has played the course more than his rivals.

How much more do you need going for you Rory?

Back Rory McIlroy at 12/1 with bet365 here

Best betting offers for the PGA Championship

How to bet on the PGA Championship

Betting on golf is easier than you’d image and there are a host of interesting markets you can pick from.

Here are five easy steps for beginners.

1. Choose Your Favorite Sportsbook – there are plenty to choose from and most have their own app or mobile site.

2. Make a Deposit – each sportsbook will walk you through how to connect your bank account to their system including providing a list of all the safeguards they have set up to ensure the safety of your transactions.

3. Claim Your Bonuses – most sportsbooks offers bonuses to first time bettors in the form of free bets.

4. Place Your Bet – now it’s time to navigate through your sportsbook’s odds where they will offer a variety of options including outright winners, or top finishing positions, such as top 10 or 20, or even to make the cut. For the event this week each way odds are generally paid on the top eight players.

5. Collect Your Winnings – If you’re successful you will be able to withdraw your winnings once the bet is complete. Some bookmakers offer cashout options on certain bets as well, which is worth keeping an eye on.

Who is the favourite to win the PGA Championship?

As mentioned the top two in the OWGRs are at the top of all the odds lists. Rory McIlory is third ahead of Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay and Brooks Koepka.

Latest odds for the PGA Championship with bet365

• Jon Rahm 15/2
• Scottie Scheffler 15/2
• Rory McIlroy 12/1
• Xander Schauffele 16/1
• Brooks Koepka 18/1
• Tony Finau 22/1
• Dustin Johnson 25/1
• Justin Thomas 25/1

Where to find the best odds for The PGA Championship?

Lots of bookmakers have different options for betting on the PGA Championship, including competitive odds and different place markets.

We like the markets on bet365, including the price boosts on offer pre-tournament.

But it is worth shopping around to get the best value with each way odds and different places available throughout the market.

What does the winner of the PGA Championship get?

The winner of the second major of the season will earn a whopping $2.7m from the $15m purse.

Tips for betting on the PGA Championship

• Hot shots: Rory McIlroy, 12-1; Xander Schauffele, 20-1.
• Mid price: Tommy Fleetwoood, 55-1; Joaquin Niemann, 80-1.
• Long shots: Russell Henley, 125-1; Denny McCarthy, 200-1.

BET NOW WITH BET365

As this is the second Major of the year, the LIV rebels will be back to battle the reset again.

It will be fascinating to see whether they can repeat their sparkling performance at Augusta, where Brooks Kopeka and Phil Mickelson shared second place behind Rahm, with Patrick Reed just a shot further back.

There is a separate market to see who does best out of the 17 LIV players, headed by four time Major winner Koepka, ahead of Dustin Johnson, who has just won the latest rebel event in Tulsa.

But Joaquinn Nimeann could be the answer to that puzzle at tempting odds of 11-1. He also looked good at the Masters, where he finished in a share of 16th, and Oak Hill seems a much better fit for him.

The 24 year old Chilean – a former world No 1 amateur who wasted little time in clocking up two PGA Tour wins – is one of the biggest losses from the establishment ranks.

He was comfortably inside the world’s top 20 this time last year, and has still only slipped to 28th, because he banked so many points before switching to LIV. The 80-1 about him winning here is also a decent proposition.

Another 80-1 shot, Keegan Bradley, the 2011 PGA champion, also looks well suited to this test, and Russell Henley – fourth in the Masters – is worth a second look at 125-1.

For those who like even longer odds, Chris Kirk – fifth in this event last year – and the in-form Denny McCarthy are a pair of 200-1 outsiders capable of climbing onto the leaderboard. Mackenzie Hughes also looks over-priced at 400-1.

At the top of the market, Xander Schauffele, who has done everything but win this year, looks attractively priced at 20-1.

There are 12 Englishmen in  the field, and US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and  Tyrrell Hatton – third and fifth in his last two starts – will make it onto plenty of shortlists.

But I like the chances of Tommy Fleetwood, who seems to save his best stuff for the Majors. 

He has clocked up two runner-up spots and a pair of fourth place finishes, and was fifth in last year’s PGA. So an each way interest at 55-1 could prove pretty rewarding.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.