PGA Championship 2026 Betting Preview: Winner Odds, Predictions, & Best Bets

Scottie Scheffler (+500)

After entering last year’s PGA Championship as a +450 favorite, Scheffler is once again atop the betting board. The 29-year-old Texas native has held the world No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) since May 22, 2023, and is on track to surpass two years and more than 150 consecutive weeks at No. 1.

Scottie Scheffler continues to dominate betting boards every time he tees it up. If he’s in the field, you can count on him having the shortest odds, and Aronimink Golf Club is no exception. He’s coming off a heartbreaking finish at the Masters, where he fell just one stroke short of forcing a playoff with McIlroy, and that near miss followed narrow defeats at both the RBC Heritage and the Cadillac Championship.

It's unfair the things Scottie Scheffler can do on the golf course. #PGAChamp | #TopShotTuesday pic.twitter.com/VEPIyZXzTz

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) April 14, 2026

The question now is how Scheffler responds to this run of close calls. Given his remarkable consistency, it’s hard to see him doing anything other than putting himself right back in contention.

Aronimink should reward his precision and patience, making another serious run at the title feel less like a bold prediction and more like the logical next chapter in his current form.

Recent Form

Heading into the PGA Championship, Scheffler has frustratingly finished as the runner-up in three consecutive events. The stretch began with McIlroy narrowly edging him out at the Masters, and Scheffler chose not to take the following week off. Instead, he teed it up at the RBC Heritage, where he lost a thrilling playoff to Fitzpatrick.

His strong form continued two weeks ago at the Cadillac Championship in Miami, where he again settled for second after shooting 13-under. That performance marked the third straight start in which he has finished 10-under par or better. For the defending champion, it’s clear he has rediscovered his game after a brief, sloppy stretch by his lofty standards.

Although Scheffler hasn’t lifted a trophy recently, he did win The American Express on January 25 and has recorded top-5 finishes in six of nine events this season. Overall, his form is excellent, and he appears well-positioned to contend again on Sunday.

• • Best PGA Championship Result: 1st (2025)

Scottie Scheffler 2026 Stats

Scheffler’s consistency has paid off and is evident in his elite metrics. He has been a fantastic all‑around golfer, which is reflected in his position at the top of the SG: Total rankings. Additionally, Scheffler ranks inside the top five in four key categories, including Strokes Gained: Tee‑to‑Green.

He’s been excellent off the tee with his driver, combining distance with exceptional accuracy. That skill set is crucial at Aronimink Golf Club, and Scheffler should be well‑prepared to take advantage of scoring opportunities on the more forgiving holes.

This performance aligns with what he has shown over the last two years, so there are no real surprises, as he remains in his typical world‑class form.

If there is any area for incremental improvement, it’s his approach play. Scheffler currently sits 40th in SG: Approach‑the‑Green and has occasionally needed to scramble to save par. Still, this is only a minor blemish on an otherwise outstanding season for Scheffler.

Rory McIlroy (+800)

In front of a hostile crowd at Augusta National, McIlroy left the American fans going home disappointed after winning back-to-back green jackets at the Masters. How McIlroy can follow up in his next major at the PGA Championship is the next assignment.

It took McIlroy 11 years to end his major championship drought last year. With that giant relief off his back, he can play loose again in the biggest tournaments of the year.

Rory McIlroy goes BACK-TO-BACK at The Masters 🏆⛳️

Joins Tiger, Nicklaus, Faldo… and now the all-time debates get real. pic.twitter.com/cqEZyYfS1D

— The Sports Geek (@TheSports_Geek) April 12, 2026

This season has mostly been positive for McIlroy, but he isn’t coming off his best work in the Truist Championship. Having said that, McIlroy will be among the most popular 2026 PGA Championship betting picks.

Recent Form

McIlroy has experienced extreme highs and lows this season. In only his last five tournaments, the 37-year-old has been all over the map. As a result of a back injury, McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March. It was a tough exit for McIlroy as he was playing solidly before his back flared up.

He came back for THE PLAYERS Championship but couldn’t find his stroke with a miserable T46 performance at TPC Sawgrass. That didn’t stop McIlroy from finding his game against the perfect moment at Augusta National. He held on to edge out Scheffler by a stroke for back-to-back green jackets.

In his latest effort, McIlroy wasn’t at his best this past weekend. He finished T19 with a mediocre 5-under par. He was never in the mix and couldn’t kick into gear in the fourth round. What McIlroy are we going to see in Pennsylvania?

He was seen limping in the final round at the Truist Championship, which is concerning. McIlroy had some time to overcome the back spasms in time for the Masters, but there is little turnaround before the PGA Championship. It’s something to keep in mind before locking in your PGA Championship picks.

• • Best PGA Championship Result: 1st (2012, 2014)

Rory McIlroy 2026 Stats

It’s been a stellar season for McIlroy from a statistical standpoint. He leads the PGA Tour in two of the most important metrics for winning golf tournaments: SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Off-the-Tee. Overall, he ranks fourth in SG: Total in 2026.

While McIlroy has been outstanding at getting to the green with his powerful driver, he’s slipping back into the familiar issues that have kept him from being a consistent champion. He ranks 105th in SG: Putting, which is worse than the PGA Tour average this season.

Although he appeared to solve his putting problems last year, he’s once again struggling to finish on the green. Even so, his ability to reach greens quickly is still producing solid results. When McIlroy’s putter heats up, he’s extremely difficult for opponents to match, but the inconsistency makes it hard to predict when he’ll be rolling it well.

Cameron Young (+1200)

Amid a breakout 2026 campaign, the 28-year-old American enters the PGA Championship as one of the leading contenders. Long regarded as one of the most confident players on the PGA Tour, he now has a chance to validate that reputation at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA.

Though Young has firmly established himself as a serious threat, he is still chasing his first major championship. His resume already features several impressive victories and a handful of close calls on golf’s biggest stages, but that elusive major title remains just out of reach.

Absolutely dialed!

Cameron Young is making it look easy @Cadillac_Champ as he moves to 8-under par.

📺 PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/RVY8KF1cyj

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 30, 2026

With plenty of momentum behind him heading into the week, the question is how much of that form will carry over, and whether this is the moment he finally breaks through.

Recent Form

Young is in one of the hottest stretches of his career. Over his last five tournaments, he’s been on a roll on the PGA Tour. After winning THE PLAYERS Championship, Young stayed locked in and nearly captured the Masters.

He ultimately finished T3, just two shots behind McIlroy. Proving that his run was no fluke, Young returned two tournaments later and won the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral at 19-under par.

In his most recent start, Young played well again, finishing T10. A stronger final round might have put him in contention for an even better result. Since finishing T7 at the Genesis Invitational, Young has recorded six top-10 finishes in his last seven tournaments.

• • Best PGA Championship Result: T3 (2023)

Cameron Young 2026 Stats

Young has surged near the top of several key metrics this season, and it’s showing up both on the leaderboard and in the stats. He ranks second in SG: Total behind only Scheffler, highlighting how complete his game has been.

He’s also sixth in both SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Off-the-Tee, two of the most important traits for success at Aronimink. On the greens, Young’s putter has been sharper than McIlroy’s this year, and that could ultimately be the difference in the PGA Championship.

His putting can be streaky, and he’s coming off a rough week with the flat stick at the Truist Championship, but I expect a rebound. Given the overall strength of his profile, Young’s +1200 odds to win the 2026 PGA Championship are very appealing.