By Eric Cohen
It’s the second major of 2021 and damn am I excited!?
Kiawah Island is going to play nearly 7,900 yards and there’s wind
to deal with! Normally PGA Championships are scorefests but I
just can’t see that being the case this weekend.
In 2012, when Rory McIlroy wired the field by 8 shots, the rest of
the leaderboard was filled with middling hitters – not the bombers
off the tee. So here’s my key to success this week – approach. I’ll
go out on a limb and say that while driving and putting are
important, those players who can fire darts with the long irons will
be most successful.
Like I mentioned the other week, in stacked fields, usually a top-
20 betting choice wins it all. This time, my two top plays are
amongst the top-10 betting favorites.
Here is a quick thought on each of them:
1. Rory McIlroy – worthy favorite after his win at Wells
Fargo…but I’ll side against the repeat.
2. Bryson DeChambeau – doesn’t seem to be in the best of
form right now. Way too inconsistent to win a major.
3. Jon Rahm – my early pick instead at Torrey Pines next
month.
4. Jordan Spieth – I didn’t pick him here but wouldn’t mind
having a few bucks on him. So consistent since the Phoenix
Open in February.
5. Justin Thomas – the one guy who could wire the field if he
plays his game…I’ll side against it.
6. Dustin Johnson – is he truly healthy after withdrawing from
the Byron Nelson last week? I have my doubts.
7. Xander Schauffele – He’s due…if he can finish. My top
choice.
8. Viktor Hovland – can he finally break through as Morikawa
did last year?
9. Collin Morikawa – a big tournament hunter…great value at
his odds.
10. Daniel Berger – My second choice. So consistent and
knows how to finish these days.
As you’ll see below, our experts are going in quite a few different
directions with their picks!
Once again the rules: each picker will get a simulated $200 to bet;
$100 of which will be on win bets and another $100 on top-5, top-
10, and top-20 bets only. The kicker this time is that the money
can only be spent on a maximum of three golfers in each
category. Picking winners has never been so difficult.
Here are this week’s plays for the PGA Championship:
(Odds courtesy of Draft Kings Sportsbook)
The Parlay Kid
Last Week’s Results: -$200
Total ROI: +$4610
Winners Picked in 2021: 5 (Reed, Berger, Morikawa, Thomas,
McIlroy)
$40 to WIN: Xander Schauffele (+1700)
$40 to WIN: Viktor Hovland (+2000)
$20 to WIN: Will Zalatoris (+5500)
$100 on Top-10: Abraham Ancer (+450)
Eric:
Last Week’s Results: -$200
Total ROI: +$607.50
Winners Picked in 2021:3 (Berger, Thomas, McIlroy)
$40 to WIN: Xander Schauffele (+1700)
$30 to WIN: Daniel Berger (+3000)
$30 to WIN: Patrick Reed (+3500)
$60 on Top-10: Tyrrell Hatton (+450)
$40 on Top-10: Marc Leishman (+550)
Harry
Last Week’s Results: -$87.50
Total ROI: +$311.25
Winners Picked in 2021: 2 (Spieth, McIlroy)
$50 to WIN: Jon Rahm (+1450)
$25 to WIN: Webb Simpson (+4500)
$25 to WIN: Harris English (+9000)
$100 on Top-20: Kevin Kisner (+700)
Producer Michael
Last Week’s Results: -$200
Total ROI: -$81.25
Winners Picked in 2021: 2 (DeChambeau, Spieth)
$50 to WIN: Jordan Spieth (+1500)
$25 to WIN: Justin Thomas (+1450)
$25 to WIN: Daniel Berger (+3000)
$40 on Top-5: Justin Thomas (+300)
$40 on Top-5: Jordan Spieth (+300)
$20 on Top-5: Daniel Berger (+500)
Brother Bri
Last Week’s Results: -$200
Total ROI: -$405
Winners Picked in 2021: 0
$35 to WIN: Collin Morikawa (+3000)
$35 to WIN: Will Zalatoris (+5500)
$30 to WIN: Cameron Smith (+4650)
$100 on Top-10: Keegan Bradley (+500)
Find more of Eric’s sports opinions and predictions on Twitter at
@CohensCornerAZ.