LAS VEGAS -- With the Summer Olympics in August (and golf returning as a medal event for the first time since 1904), the PGA Championship was moved up to the last weekend in July to give us a condensed major schedule.
That's OK with yours truly, as we're coming off giving out the winners of the U.S. Open (Dustin Johnson at 12-1) and British Open (Henrik Stenson at 25-1) in our betting guides here at ESPN Chalk. Johnson was my top value bet at Oakmont while Stenson was my third choice at Royal Troon.
Now, this isn't normal, as I can't recall having back-to-back winners in my guide before. My goal in using around three players (sometimes four; often I've used only two) is to find players that are likely to outplay their odds and to hit enough winners to show an overall profit. I've done four golf betting guides for Chalk (and a total of 12 golfers), so the Johnson victory had us back to around even, but then the Stenson win has us playing with house money in the majors for about the next two years (though obviously we're hoping for a couple more winners along the way to stay well ahead).
The PGA Championship runs this Thursday through Sunday at Baltusrol in Springfield, New Jersey. Johnson is the 8-1 favorite at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, followed by Rory McIlroy and defending champion Jason Day at 9-1, Jordan Spieth at 12-1 and Stenson at 15-1. But while those are the favorites, don't forget that we've had first-time major winners in the three majors so far this year (but, no, I'm resisting Sergio Garcia -- who probably inherits the undesired title of "best to never win a major" -- at 25-1).
We're joined by my ESPN Chalk colleague Will Harris in looking for more live bets to add to your own handicapping (note: all listed odds are from the Westgate SuperBook as of Monday, July 24, but shop around for the best number):