US PGA Championship Tips
Previews and pre-event analysis from Golf Betting System's PGA Tour and European Tour coverage
Betting Preview - 2014 US PGA Championship
To read Steve Bamford's US PGA Championship Tips for 2014 click here. Follow Steve on twitter: @bamfordgolf
The PGA Championship is the final Major of every golfing season and boy does it throw up some drama. Once the preserve of the Americans and the odd southern hemisphere player; the PGA Championship in recent times has seen plenty of international winners. Padraig Harrington broke the mould in 2008 and has since been followed by Yang, Kaymer, and naturally Rory McIlroy who has recently captured the Wannamaker Trophy twice. Those recent winners highlights the nature of the US PGA Championship, where big hitters tend to dominate on a menu of long golf courses. Read Steve Bamford's PGA Championship tips for 2014 click here
Tournament Facts & Scheduling
The PGA Championship always follows the week after the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational played in Ohio. Golf's final Major is organised by the PGA of America who part host the Ryder Cup in-tandem with the PGA European Tour. Based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and presided over by President Ted Bishop; the PGA of America traditionally sends it's championship to golf courses located in the eastern states of the United States. Courses in recent times tend to be power tracks where the longest hitting ball-strikers can thrive. 2015 see's the tournament return to the Pete Dye inspired Whistling Straits; a course where Martin Kaymer won his first Major in 2010.
PGA Championship Course Details
Valhalla Golf Club; Louisville, Kentucky. Designer: Jack Nicklaus 1984/85, with Nicklaus renovation 2011; Course Type: Technical; Par: 71; Length: 7,458 yards; Bunkers: 65; Fairways: Bentgrass; Rough: Kentucky Bluegrass with Zoysiagrass; Greens: 7,260 sq.ft average featuring T1 Bentgrass; Stimpmeter: 10.5ft PGA Championship Scoring Avg 2012: 74.56 Ranked 2 of 49 courses for difficulty on the 2012 PGA Tour 2013: 72.00 Ranked 3 of 43 courses in 2013 for difficulty.
Previous Champions: 2014: Rory McIlroy; 2013: Jason Dufner; 2012: Rory McIlroy; 2011: Keegan Bradley; 2010: Martin Kaymer; 2009: Y.E. Yang; 2008: Padraig Harrington.
2014: -16/268; 2013: -10/270; 2012: -13/273; 2011: -8/272; 2010: -11/277; 2009: -8/270; 2008: -3/277
Winners Prices: 2014: McIlroy - 5/1 2013: Dufner - 40/1 2012: McIlroy - 20/1 2011: Bradley - 175/1 2010: Kaymer - 50/1 2009: Yang- 150/1
Pre-Tournament Key Summary
The PGA Championship has a defined set of trends which seem to be water-tight when it comes to finding a winner and likely challengers. Apart from Oak Hill in 2013, the tournament visits a rota of long, wide courses which favour the power hitters. Indeed since Vijay Singh's win in 2004, every winner of the PGA Championship has had a season long driving distance of over 290 yards in the season they captured the Wannamaker Trophy. The only exception being Jason Dufner, who won on the claustrophic Par 70 at Oak Hill.
On top of this the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone South is also a cast-iron form guide to the winner of season's final Major the week later. Quite simply, the PGA Champion will come from the Top 22 at Firestone. Fact! In simple terminology, the PGA Championship winner tends to be playing excellent golf right now.
Below we track the results of Golf Betting System PGA Tour tipster Steve Bamford who has been producing weekly tips since 2009. You can also follow him on Twitter @Bamfordgolf
2014
- Rickie Fowler 1.5pts EW 25/1 RESULT: T3
- Charl Schwartzel 1.25pt EW 35/1 RESULT: T15
- Hideki Matsuyama 0.75pt EW 55/1 RESULT: T36
- Patrick Reed 0.5pt EW 80/1 RESULT: T59
2013
- Phil Mickelson 2pts EW 16/1 RESULT: T72
- Zach Johnson 1pt EW 50/1 RESULT: T8
- Ian Poulter 1pt EW 60/1 RESULT: T61
- Webb Simpson 1pt EW 66/1 RESULT: T25
- Harris English 0.75pt EW 125/1 RESULT: T61
2012
- Rory McIlroy 2pts EW 20/1 RESULT: 1st
- Dustin Johnson 2pts EW 25/1 RESULT: T48
- Louis Oosthuizen 1.5pt EW 35/1 RESULT: T21
- Bill Haas 1pt EW 80/1 RESULT: T32
