PGA Championship 2026: Picks and Leans For Aronimink This Week

By Thomas Leary

May 13th, 2026 12:39 PM EDT

Can DeChambeau capture his first PGA this week? (USATODAY)

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The second major of the year is here, with Scottie Scheffler defending his PGA title at Aronimink Golf Club just outside Philadelphia. Scheffler enters the week as the heavy favorite, though Masters champ Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick are also getting plenty of respect.

This golf betting season, Bookies.com continues to provide analysis from a variety of experts across the space, including leans on first round leaders, longshots, top 20s, matchups and much more.

Check out insight from a variety of sources below before you head to your favorite U.S. sports betting app.

Now let's pick 'em!

PGA Championship Picks: Outrights

Len Hochberg, RotoWire - Bryson DeChambeau +1950

You can't do much better at the PGA than what DeChambeau's done the past three years: T4-2-T2. He's coming off a missed cut at the Masters and it's also fair to wonder how he and the other LIV golfers will respond to the reported demise of their league. But overall, DeChambeau's been the most successful LIV golfer in majors. If you are in an OAD pool, this is a good week to go with a LIV golfer, since there are only four tournaments to use them.

Josh Carpenter, Sports Business Journal - Rory McIlroy +910

This week just feels like a Rory week. His play off the tee (No. 1 on the PGA Tour) should put him in position to attack a short golf course with short irons and wedges. I also like the headspace McIlroy is in; this year much more quiet than last leading up to this event. He's mentioned he's been up to Aronimink already ahead of tournament week. And I wouldn't read too much into his middle-of-the-pack finish last week at Quail Hollow; I'd actually prefer him not win the week before a major.

Thomas Leary, Bookies - Tyrrell Hatton +6200

A little down the board here, as I think Aronimink's importance on short irons will lead to a slightly more wide open major weekend. Hatton like DeChambeau is in the middle of the LIV Golf demise, though he's also a DPWT member in decent enough standing. Whatever that effect has on him, he has started to figure out major contention. T3 at last month's Masters, T4 at the U.S. Open at Oakmont last summer. It's been a steady rise for him in the majors, and I think he joins the club this week.

Jared Kimble, Bookies - Cam Young +1500

Has been arguably the hottest player in golf for three months running, with two wins (The Players, Cadillac Championship) and seven straight top-25 finishes including a Sunday lead at the Masters. Ranks 10th in driving accuracy and 25th in SG: Approach, the exact precision profile Aronimink rewards on 32-yard fairways. His first PGA Tour victory came at Sedgefield, another Donald Ross design, which gives him course-style equity at a meaningful premium over the +1500 price.

David Rumsey, FOS - Cam Young +1500

Rory McIlroy’s sudden toe injury and Scottie Scheffler’s inability to escape 2nd in recent weeks might just be enough for Cam Young to win his first major championship. Adding the Wanamaker Trophy would be a nice complement to Young’s Players Championship win in March. Young will have plenty of length for Aronimink and should have plenty of chances on the greens. If he can turn in a good putting week, he’ll be hard to beat.

Bill Speros, Bookies - Scotte Scheffler +385

We don’t think Scotte Scheffler will be arrested before this year’s PGA Championship. As long as he stays out of handcuffs, his game is solid and his competitive spirit is unmatched in the post-Tiger era. Scheffler rolls into Aronimink Golf Club riding three straight 2nd-place finishes.

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PGA Championship Top 20 Picks

Len Hochberg, RotoWire - Akshay Bhatia +260

Bhatia took his career to a new level by winning the signature event at Bay Hill in March. The next step would be to contend in majors, which so far has not happened. He's made only 5 of 10 cuts, missing last month at the Masters and both times he's played in the PGA. It's hard to see that trend continuing for much longer. Bhatia is ranked 15th on Tour in SG: Approach, third in SG: Putting and, importantly this week, second in sand saves.

Josh Carpenter, Sports Business Journal - Tyrrell Hatton +180

The Englishman hasn't won yet on LIV this year but has had solid-to-good results (four top 10s this year overall). And he's also turned into a sneaky good major player, posting top 16 finishes in four of his last five.

Thomas Leary, Bookies - Patrick Cantlay +148

Patty Ice may not have truly contended in some time (last win in 2022). But he's coming to Philly with tremendous form. T7, T12, T8 and T10 in his last four starts.

Jared Kimble, Bookies - J.J. Spaun +215

The 2025 US Open winner ranks 9th on tour in SG: Approach (0.697) and 14th in proximity from 100-125 yards, which is directly relevant to Aronimink's wedge-heavy approach demands. His ball-striking has been consistent all season, and a placement market like Top 20 lets that profile pay off without needing the four-day variance to cooperate the way an outright would.

David Rumsey, FOS - Collin Morikawa +138

The injury risk with Morikawa is still real, but if he’s able to tee it up smoothly all four rounds, the plus money here is great value, considering how well he was playing through April. The 2020 PGA Champion should be able to find plenty of fairways at Aronimink, even if he’s well back of the big bombers.

Bill Speros, Bookies - Justin Rose +185

This a solid price for Justin Rose, who has the tools to win this thing if he can withstand the weekend. Temperatures are expected to be the mid-80s on Saturday and Sunday. Rose may well ride a solid start to a top-20 finish. In the three PGA Tour events at Aronimink Golf Club since 2010, Rose has won once and finished runner-up in another.

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First Round Leader Picks

Len Hochberg, RotoWire - Ludvig Aberg +2700

Aberg has opened in the 60s in five of his past six starts, including a 63 at Harbour Town and a 66 at Bay Hill. He shot 69 last week at Quail Hollow. He's also had top-5 results overall in four of those six starts, so he's been trending in the very right direction for more than two months.

Josh Carpenter, Sports Business Journal - Scottie Scheffler +1500

I couldn't not have Scottie somewhere on my card. So why not here? He leads the PGA Tour in birdie average (5.03 per round) as he looks to defend his PGA title.

Thomas Leary, Bookies - Viktor Hovland +5500

Hovland was T2 at the 2023 PGA and 3rd in 2024. Those finishes were marked by fast starts with rounds of 68 each time. The driver is an issue these days, but that won't factor into this week much at all. with course setup.

Jared Kimble, Bookies - Alex Noren +9800

Thursday 8:02 AM tee time puts him on the early-morning wave just after Wednesday rain clears, which historically softens scoring conditions before the wind picks up. Ranks 15th in distance from edge of fairway and 16th in SG: Putting on bentgrass — the precise toolkit for an opening round on 32-yard fairways and Donald Ross turtleback greens. Coming off a solid Truist where he finished inside the top 20.

David Rumsey, FOS - Chris Gotterup +5400

It’s just the second PGA Championship appearance for New Jersey’s finest. The course should set up well for Gotterup to bomb it off the tee most holes, and if he gets hot with the putter then an opening round in the mid 60s should be well within reach.

Bill Speros, Bookies - Cam Young +2700

Cam Young fits this course perfectly. He finished T10 at Quail Hollow last week, after winning at Doral the week previous. His putting matches his long game. And his dad was a PGA Professional. A strong start on Thursday in the cards here.

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PGA Longshot Picks

Len Hochberg, RotoWire - J.J. Spaun +7400

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have won four of the past five majors. Only 2025 U.S. Open winner Spaun stands in their way of a clean sweep. After a terrible start to the season, Spaun won the Valero and, in his past two starts, tied for 14th at the Cadillac and for fifth at the Truist. His ball-striking has been as elite as his putting has been bad, but Spaun ranked 21st in SG: Putting last week at Quail Hollow.

Josh Carpenter, Sports Business Journal - Alex Fitzpatrick +9000

Let's keep it rolling, because why not? His ball-striking has been well above average over the last couple months, and he's shown the ability to contend at varying types of golf courses (DLF, Quail Hollow, Doral).

Thomas Leary, Bookies - Thomas Detry +8200

Would this be a stunner? Of course. But most sportsbooks have Detry at shorter odds than the likes of Jacob Bridgeman, Shane Lowry, Alex Fitzpatrick, Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala. Coming of finishes of T3, T5, T6 on LIV.

Jared Kimble, Bookies - Patrick Reed +8000

Has a top-20 at Aronimink already on his ledger from the 2018 BMW Championship, and his major championship floor at the PGA is strong — five straight made cuts including a T18 at Oak Hill in 2023, the closest current-rotation analog to this course. T2 back at the 2017 PGA.

David Rumsey, FOS - Jordan Spieth +6300

This is just dreaming, really, but I think most golf fans would be happy to see Spieth complete the career grand slam. Why not put it all together this week in Philly?

Bill Speros, Bookies - Patrick Reed +8000

Patrick Reed finished T12 in the Masters. He’s been playing on the DP World Tour doing his post LIV penance and has notched a pair of wins – at the Qatar Masters and Dubai Desert Classic. His game is solid. His stamina in the heat this weekend is a question.

Recent PGA Championship History

Who's Who In Bookies Golf Roundtable

Len Hochberg has covered golf for RotoWire since 2013. A veteran sports journalist, he was an editor and reporter at The Washington Post for nine years. Len is a three-time winner of the FSWA DFS Writer of the Year Award (2020, '22 and '23) and a five-time nominee (2019-23). He is also a writer and editor for MLB Advanced Media.

Josh Carpenter covers golf and sports media for Sports Business Journal, having been with the publication since 2012. Away from the office, Josh loves playing golf and spending time with his wife Amy and son, Walt. He is an avid supporter of the Carolina Hurricanes and Tennessee Volunteers.

Thomas Leary is a senior editor with Gambling.com Group who works across a variety of the company's portfolios, including Bookies.com. Previously, Thomas spent over six years at Sports Business Journal where he helped launch the digital newsletter division. He is a Charlotte, NC native and long-suffering Hornets fan.

Jared Kimble is a media manager with Gambling.com Group who oversees the group's North American digital PR efforts. Jared previously worked for the Orlando Magic. A Pennsylvania native, he is an Elon University graduate and currently resides in Charlotte, NC.

David Rumsey is a reporter at Front Office Sports, focusing on golf, college football, and the NFL. He has a B.A. in Communication Studies from Southern Adventist University in Chattanooga, Tenn. David is based in Charleston, S.C.

Bill Speros is an award-winning journalist and editor whose career includes stops at USA Today Sports Network / Golfweek, Cox Media, ESPN, Orlando Sentinel and Denver Post.

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