That’s according to updated PGA Championship odds posted by the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. McIlroy has won the final leg of the grand slam twice before — in ‘12 at Kiawah Island (South Carolina) and in ‘14 at Valhalla (Louisville, Ky.). He also has two previous Wells Fargo Championship victories at Quail Hollow, including setting the tournament record after winning by seven strokes (-21) in ‘15.
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There’s no American course at which the 28-year-old Northern Ireland native has felt more at home on the PGA Tour, and there’s a feeling that McIlroy will regain his major mojo — despite a rough season overall — and build off finishing fourth at the British Open last month.
Jordan Spieth, fresh off winning the British Open and trying to become the youngest man (24) to complete a career grand slam, settles for a close second on the odds leaderboard. Here’s breaking down the chances of McIlroy, Spieth and six other strong contenders in the action from Aug. 10-13.
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PGA Championship odds: The 2017 favorites
Rory McIlroy 7-1
McIlroy has great experience at Quail Hollow, and when he hasn’t won, he’s been consistently strong. With Harry Diamond now carrying his clubs, there’s bound to be a spark in his hard-hitting, long-driving game, the reason he’s been so successful in Charlotte in the past. With a fast and furious first round, he is the only contender who can run away with the tournament this week.
Jordan Spieth 8-1
Although Spieth dubbed McIlroy as the golfer to beat this week, that discounts the massive momentum he has in chasing his special place in history with legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen. The world’s best player won’t have a letdown.
Dustin Johnson 12-1
Johnson is No. 1 in the official world golf rankings, and one shouldn’t sleep on him to get real hot in a hurry to live up to that, findiing his ‘16 U.S. Open-winning form. The South Carolina native and Coastal Carolina alum is overdue for a big win, given how he played all of last year and this one.
Hideki Matsuyama 12-1
Matsuayama’s striking strength should serve him well in the tournament. He played well at the Wells Fargo last year, finding some of that putting stroke that sometimes lets him down. He’s the most likely of the non-major winners to break through here.
Rickie Fowler 15-1
Fowler has some of the McIlroy resume at work for him as another past Quail Hollow winner and recent British Open surger. He finished even par at Royal Birkdale, good for 22nd place, and last week had a very solid ninth-place finish (-6) at the WGC-Bridgestone. Fowler has been let down by the mental aspects in past majors, but his physical skills tailored to the course can make him forget all about that.
Jon Rahm 20-1
Rahm has the goods, at 22, to at some point challenge Spieth as the game’s unquestioned young stud. He’s proved the major spotlight isn’t too big for him. The first thing he’ll need to prove at Quail Hollow, however, is keeping his cool better in the Carolina heat.
Jason Day 25-1
Day won the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits (Sheboygan, Wisc.) in ‘15, and finished second to Jimmie Walker at Baltusrol (Springfield Township, N.J.) last year. The Aussie can make plenty of noise looking for a second title, as he had some good days at Quail Hollow before. Consider him a “boom or bust” pick.
Brooks Koepka 25-1
There’s no question that Koepka has the power game to compete here after blazing to victory at the U.S. Open at Erin Hills (Wisc.) in June, needing to do so to outplay Matsuyama and Brian Harman by four shots (-16). He’s the guy other than McIlroy most capable of roaring to a (new) record tournament.
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