There are plenty of choices, given the variety of players who have looked strong since golf came back from the coronavirus-forced shutdown. So our experts had a lot of options.
It’s been an odd year — for golf, for everybody. Before the coronavirus shut down sports and forced golf into a three-month break, Rory McIlroy was on fire. He hasn’t been himself since the restart. Brooks Koepka, who comes in having won back-to-back PGA Championships, looked hurt and a bit lost — until he found his game a week ago. Justin Thomas is coming off a win and a return to the No.1 ranking in the world, a spot he took from Jon Rahm, who has also played well. Click here to find out all the ways to watch and stream the PGA Championship on ESPN & ESPN+ And Tiger Woods? Well, this will be only the second time he’s seen in an event in five months. So who’ll win golf’s first major championship of the year? We asked our experts. Matt Barrie, ESPN Winner: Justin Thomas Why he’ll win: I wanted to pick JT before his win in Memphis, and I feel just as good about it today. He’s been the No.1 player in the world over the past year, despite what the actual rankings said. Going into a major, you want confidence. He has it. You want major championship experience. He has it, winning the PGA in 2017. We’re witnessing a « Koepka-esque » run right now out of Thomas. He’ll win his second career major at Harding Park. David Bearman, ESPN Betting Winner: Brooks Koepka Why he’ll win: A week ago, I was very concerned about Koepka’s knee and recent results. He put that to rest with the 62 on Thursday and his late run on Sunday. If not for a bad drive on the 72nd hole, he very well could’ve won in Memphis. If he’s healthy, there’s no reason to pick against the two-time defending champion and a guy who has four wins, two runner-ups, a T4 and a T6 in his past 10 majors. Michael Collins, ESPN.com Winner: Brooks Koepka Why he’ll win: Last week we witnessed Brooks doing what he always seems to do around majors — ramping up. Also note, the only water that’s in play at TPC Harding Park is in coolers on tee boxes. Koepka wants the three-peat, and what Brooks wants… Michael Eaves, ESPN Winner: Webb Simpson Why he’ll win: Not only has he been one of the most consistent players this season with two wins and six top-10s in his 10 PGA Tour starts but he’s also produced impressive showings in major championships held in Northern California, including a T16 at last year’s U.
