2025 PGA Championship odds: Betting favorites, value picks and long shots
After an eight-year hiatus, major championship golf returns to Charlotte this week.
As it did in 2017, Quail Hollow Golf Club will play host to the PGA Championship — a tournament ripe with storylines after a month of golf that’s produced immense drama and champion A-lister after champion A-lister.
It began in April, when Rory McIlroy captured the career grand slam, winning the Masters after one of the most chaotic, turbulent, emotional Sunday rounds in recent memory.
That was followed up a week later, when Justin Thomas — the 2017 PGA Championship winner at Quail Hollow — won the RBC Heritage in a playoff. Not long after, Scottie Scheffler cruised to a dominant Byron Nelson victory, tied the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record with an absurd winning score of 31-under.
And, as a refresher if yours wasn’t one of the 48,000 TVs tuned into the final round of LIV Golf South Korea, but Bryson DeChambeau — who won the last major played in North Carolina — took home the trophy.
The best players in the world are at their best heading to Charlotte. So let’s take a look at what the oddmakers think about the 2025 PGA Championship
Note: All betting odds current as of May 11 via Draft Kings:
Favorites
As has become almost a prerequisite for any golf tournament played, the early favorite is Scheffler. Despite his only major victories coming at Augusta National (2022 and 2024 Masters), Scheffler is a 4-to-1 favorite heading to Charlotte.
And, well, the storyline around Scheffler early this week might be centered less around golf and more around the anniversary of his arrest before his Friday round at last year’s PGA Championship.
Of course, that will likely fade once the actual tournament gets rolling. And while Scheffler hasn’t been at his 2024 form — a year when he won seven times, not including gold at the Paris Olympics — his 31-under at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson proves his game is as sharp as ever.
Behind Scheffler in the odds are: McIlroy (4.5-1), DeChambeau (14-1), Jon Rahm (16-1), reigning PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele (18-1) then Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, who both have 20-to-1 odds.
Good value picks
Rory McIlroy (4.5-1): The fact that McIlroy is not the favorite automatically makes him an incredible value pick. It’s not just the fact that he’s coming off the Masters victory but, well, McIlroy should always be favored at Quail Hollow.
He has 10 Top-10 finishes at the Wells Fargo Championship — the annual PGA stop at Quail Hollow — and a tournament-record four victories. This is a course that McIlroy dominates and it seems foolish to think that would change this week.
Justin Thomas (22-1): Of course Thomas will be a popular pick considering his 2017 PGA win at Quail Hollow, but the 32-year old is playing really good golf. He won at Harbor Town and was in the mix at Truist Championship this week. Would not be surprising to see Thomas claim his third PGA Championship.
Sungjae Im (80-1): If your looking for guys who have historically played well in Charlotte, Im is a solid candidate. After finishing T-8 at the 2023 Wells Fargo, he placed T-4 last year. And though he is still without a major title, he’s been in the mix — most recently finishing T-5 at this year’s Masters.
Long shots
Maverick McNealy (110-1) : Though he has no wins this year, the 29-year old McNealy has five Top-10s this year. He’s playing really good golf, but has yet to prove himself on the big stages — making just three cuts in nine career major appearances.
Taylor Pendrith (140-1): With Quail Hollow playing at 7,626 yards this week, it’s natural to think a great driver will win the tournament. Which leads us to Pendrith, who is fifth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained off the tee this year. If his putting improves, he’ll have a chance.
Andrew Novak (180-1): The Raleigh native and Wofford grad has been on a hot streak the past month. After losing in a playoff to Thomas at the RBC Heritage, he earned his first PGA win the next week in New Orleans. He can compete against the best players at the top golf courses.
PGA Championship TV schedule
- Thursday: Round one, 12-7 p.m., ESPN
- Friday: Round two, 12-7 p.m., ESPN
- Saturday: Round three, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., ESPN; 1-7 p.m., CBS
- Sunday: Round four, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., ESPN; 1-7 p.m., CBS
This story was originally published May 12, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
