PGA Championship: Quail Hollow Club

Ever since the LIV and PGA split the magnitude of golf majors feels tenfold of what it once was, and they have consistently delivered. The PGA Championship heads to familiar territory this week, taking place at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Opened in 1961, Quail has been an annual stop for the PGA Tour, hosting the Wells Fargo Championship since 2003. This will be the second PGA Championship held here, with Justin Thomas taking home the Wanamaker Trophy in 2017.

The par-71 layout stretches over 7,600 yards, making it the second-longest track on tour this season. Each year, we have seen that play into the hands of those who are best off the tee, which is probably why we have seen Rory McIlroy win at this course on four occasions. Precision and distance off the tee will go a long way, given the narrow fairways surrounded by thick rough, and unavoidable bunkers. With this being such a beast of a course, long-iron play will be a major factor here as well.  On average, 42% of players approach shots will come from 150-200 yards, and 22% of approach shots will be from 200-250 yards. These figures are both FAR higher than the tour average. These greens have historically played as some of the toughest on tour too, ranking as the 6th hardest course to gain strokes putting, so pristine and consistentputting play is yet another key component to contention.

More often than not, the cream rises to the top at the Majors, so let’s look into a couple within the upper echelon of the oddsboard.

Bryson DeChambeau +950 (DK)

When the Masters concluded, I grabbed a DeChambeau 17/1 ticket for the PGA Championship. That number made no sense for a guy at the peak of his powers, especially for this course setup. His 1.97 strokes gained OTT is the best on LIV, with the next closest being Daniel Puig (1.10). Rory McIlroy leads the PGA with 1.01 SG OTT, for reference. He is currently playing some of the best golf on the planet, especially when it comes to Major Championships on setups designed by the PGA of America and USGA—like the one we’ll see this week at Quail Hollow. In the past five years, he’s averaged 2.54 strokes gained per round in PGA Championships and U.S. Opens, the highest mark of anyone in the field.

• ‘25 Masters: T5
• ‘24 US Open: Won
• ‘24 PGA Championship: 2nd
• ‘24 Masters: T6

His last three LIV events:

• Korea: Won
• Mexico City: T2
• Miami: 5th

The form, the fit, and the chutzpah this guy has are all setting up for another Major win this season, and this feels like it’s the one.

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Joaquin Niemann 33/1 (FD)

Following his third win at LIV Mexico City this year, and fifth overall (tied for most on LIV), I added Niemann at 40/1 (DK) to the portfolio. The 26-year-old Chilean is a certified bomber, ranking third in driving distance, and fifth is SG OTT on LIV. He is as good as it gets with his long irons too, ranking 1st in the field in proximity from 175-200 yards out over his last 36 rounds. Although he has yet to truly contend at a Major in his early career, the talent, and ability to close a tournament are there, making this 33/1 pretty valuable in my eyes. If he can get hot with the flatstick, he should be in contention come Sunday.

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