2022 PGA Championship odds, field notes, best bets, and PGA Tour picks

It’s time for the men’s second major of the year.

This year’s PGA Championship will be played at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and judging by what we’ve been hearing early in the week, the players have quickly fallen in love with the Perry Maxwell original.

Despite many of the game’s young, rising, and established stars all playing great golf entering the week, it’s a pair of middle-aged legends grabbing all the headlines.

Tiger Woods returns to the scene of his 2007 PGA Championship win and admits he’s “feeling a lot stronger” compared to his physical limits at the Masters just over a month ago.

And, of course, the biggest storyline line both missing and very much present this week: Phil Mickelson. Last year’s PGA champ decided to stay at home as his self-imposed sabbatical continues.

Jordan Spieth is in search of the career grand slam and enters in incredible form. In his last two starts, he has a win and a runner-up. Not bad.

Golf course

Southern Hills | Par 70 | 7,556 yards

Southern Hills was recently renovated by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner in 2018 with the goal of reinstituting many of the features Maxwell carved into the Earth back when it originally opened in the late 1930s. In 2007, many of the bunkers had become smooth, circular, and had lost all the character Maxwell gave them. Now, the charm has returned.

More on Southern Hills: Gil Hanse breaks down the restoration process

Key statistics

Hanse has opened up many of the driving lanes around this track, making driving accuracy a little easier to come by. Obviously, when a par 70 course measures longer than 7,500 yards, having a little more power doesn’t hurt. But, judging by what the field has said early in the week, two key stats stand out among the rest.

Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes Gained: Around the Green

These greens are tricky to hit, especially when you consider the players will have long irons in their hands more often than not, so finding them in regulation is going to be a huge advantage (duh). However, the rough around Southern Hills isn’t long Bermuda anymore. It’s mown-down and run-off areas, which only means one thing: Tight lies. Have to target guys with polished short games (looking at you, Cam Smith).

Data Golf Information

Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. TPC Scottsdale, 2. Memorial Park Golf Course, 3. Annadale GC

Trending: 1. Scottie Scheffler (last three starts: 1, T-15, T-18), 2. Shane Lowry (T-3, T-3, T-13), 3. Rory McIlroy (MC, 2, 5)

Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Jon Rahm (6.3 percent), 2. Scottie Scheffler (5.6 percent), 3. Rory McIlroy (5 percent)

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Betting odds

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list.

Betting card for the 2022 PGA Championship

Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith walks on the 17th hole during the third round of The Masters golf tournament. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

Hinted at this pick earlier, but when so much stress is going to be put on the short game, might as well back a guy with one of the best on Tour.

Smith’s last start came at the Zurich and he hasn’t played his own ball for 72 holes since missing the cut at the RBC Heritage (we’ll give him a pass for that, though. Imagine contending at the Masters and teeing it up four days later. We’d be in rough shape, too).

Key stats rankings this season

• SG: Approach: 7th

• SG: ATG: 40th

Other stats to consider: 4th in SG: Putting and 8th in greens in regulation.

Bets to consider: Outright (+2000), Top 10 (+270)

Shane Lowry

Shane Lowry of Ireland plays his shot from the 18th tee during the third round of the RBC Heritage at Harbor Town Golf Links on April 16, 2022 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Lowry is lurking.

In his last five stroke-play event starts, he’s finished 2, T-13, T-12, T-3 (Masters), and T-3. Lowry finished T-4 at last year’s PGA and T-8 in 2019.

Key stats rankings this season

• SG: Approach: 4th

• SG: ATG: 143rd

Other stats to consider: Don’t freak out about that Around the Green ranking. Lowry is 2nd in scrambling percentage and sand save percentage.

Bets to consider: Outright (+3000), Top 20 (+140)

Rory McIlroy

Rory Mcllroy plays his shot from the seventh tee during the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

Since missing the Valero Texas Open cut, McIlroy has finished 2nd at the Masters and 5th at the Wells Fargo.

The two-time Wanamaker winner is still searching for his first major championship since 2014.

Key stats rankings this season

• SG: Approach: 66th

• SG: ATG: 14th

Other stats to consider: 3rd in SG: Off the Tee.

Bets to consider: Outright (+1300), Top 10 (+210)

Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa celebrates after holing out from a bunker on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2022 Masters Tournament. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

Not sure another superstar is flying more under the radar this week than Collin Morikawa. The 2020 PGA Championship winner finished solo fifth at the Masters and grabbed a top 30 in his last start (RBC Heritage).

He hasn’t finished outside the top 20 in a major since the November Masters. If the wind picks up, which it’s projected to, it’s hard to forget what happened to him at the Players a few months back. But, it’s always nice to back one of the best iron players in the world.

Key stats rankings this season

• SG: Approach: 8th

• SG: ATG: 192nd

Other stats to consider: 5th in greens in regulation.

Bets to consider: Top 10 (+220)

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