Rory McIlroy Top 5 Finish

Rory McIlroy appears a sure-fire contender this week and is well worth a leg of a combination bet. The four-time major champion looks to be peaking for Valhalla and the rain-softened course sets up ideally for his game. McIlroy has found top gear after a recent session with legendary coach Butch Harmon and he landed victory in the pairs event alongside Shane Lowry at the Zurich Classic last month. He brought this form into last week’s tournament as he blew away the field to win for the fourth time at Quail Hollow. It would be a shock if he fails to challenge this weekend and a top-five finish appeals at 2.63.

Collin Morikawa Top 10 Finish

Collin Morikawa is a potential contender and the two-time major champion is worth adding to the bet with a top 10 finish at 3.50. Morikawa won the PGA Championship four years ago at Harding Park and was eighth at Kiawah Island in his title defence. The 27-year-old contended last month at the Masters, with his third-place finish providing a welcome boost. Morikawa followed this with ninth at the RBC Heritage and 16th last week at Quail Hollow. His Nicklaus form is also enticing with Morikawa winning at three of his courses including Muirfield Village in 2020. Worth considering in the outright market, Morikawa is backed for a top 10 in our combination bet.

Max Homa Top 20 Finish

Max Homa has also been well backed for victory and the popular American can continue his progression with a top 20 finish at 2.20. Homa initially struggled to get to grips with majors but has turned the corner since last summer. A top 10 at the Open was a breakthrough and he posted his best finish in the big four events with third at Augusta National last month. Homa comes in off eighth place last week at Quail Hollow and his record of victories on long, tough courses such as Riviera and Torrey Pines suggests Valhalla should be a good fit. Homa is worth backing for the top 20 to complete this appealing combination bet.

Scheffler and McIlroy will surely contend this weekend but Brooks Koepka is selected as an alternative as one of the market leaders at bigger odds. Koepka is the defending champion after his victory at Oak Hill and the five-time major champion is always a huge threat on the biggest stage.

Koepka has won three of the last six PGA Championships and thrives in the majors with his temperament ideally suited to the challenge. After a lacklustre showing at the Masters, Koepka berated his performance and his hard work has paid off. Back-to-back rounds of 66 secured a top 10 finish at LIV Adelaide and he brought that momentum to Singapore. Koepka shot 15-under-par for a two-shot win for his fourth LIV success. Everything points towards Koepka contending this week and he is a confident selection at 11/1.

Bryson DeChambeau is another LIV golfer who looks up to the challenge of taming Valhalla this week. DeChambeau contended for much of last month’s Masters and his tie for sixth was an encouraging performance. He was fourth at the 2020 PGA Championship at Harding Park and the former US Open champion managed the same result at Oak Hill 12 months ago.

DeChambeau has got his game back on track over the last year, after ditching his muscular physique in an attempt to outdrive the field. He still has plenty of power off the tee but the control has returned and he shot 58 last summer during his victory at LIV Greenbrier, one of two wins in quick succession. DeChambeau, who won at Muirfield Village – another Nicklaus course – back in 2018, has posted five top 10s already this year and it would be no surprise if he threatens victory at 22/1 each-way.

A rank outsider seems unlikely to win at Valhalla, but Sepp Straka could upset the odds at a generous price. Straka has elevated his game over the last year and several notable efforts in the majors suggest he can go close in Kentucky. The Austrian posted his first top 10 in a major at last year’s PGA Championship to finish seventh at Oak Hill. He went even better at the Open, with a tie for second at Hoylake.

Straka, who was rewarded with a place on Europe’s Ryder Cup team last year, has hit form in recent weeks and could be timing his run perfectly for Valhalla. He followed a top 20 at the Masters with fifth place at the RBC Heritage and he tied eighth last week at the Wells Fargo Championship. Straka, who has two victories on Nicklaus courses – including his maiden PGA Tour title at the Honda Classic – looks the pick of the juicier prices at 70/1 each-way.