US PGA Championship 2026 Betting Tips: Bryson to LIV it up at Aronimink?

Following on from Rory McIlroy’s breathtaking victory at the Masters around five weeks ago, we arrive at our second major of the year in Pennsylvania: the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.

It has a lot to live up to if aiming to top the drama we witnessed at Augusta, but boasting arguably the strongest field in the game, the race to claim the Wanamaker Trophy is set to be an exciting one.

Our golf tipster Jamie Worsley is back with five more each-way picks this week, so let's check out his US PGA Championship 2026 Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights...

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TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The PGA Championship began life as a match-play tournament in 1916. Excluding 1917, 1918 and 1943, it has been held every year since and switched to this more regular stroke-play format in 1958.

Walter Hagen dominated the early years of the championship, lifting the title in 1921 before reeling off four consecutive victories from 1924-27. His haul of five wins remains a joint-record, matched only by Jack Nicklaus, who triumphed in 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1980.

Tiger Woods has won it four times (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007), and there is a trio of three-time winners: Gene Sarazen (1922, 1923, 1933), Sam Snead (1942, 1949, 1951) and Brooks Koepka (2018, 2019, 2023).

Among the long list of two-time champions is Rory McIlroy, who set the tournament record winning margin with his eight-shot victory at Kiawah Island in 2012.

Last five winners:

• 2025 (Quail Hollow Club)

Winner: Scottie Scheffler (-11)

Runners-up: Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, Davis Riley (-6)

• 2024 (Valhalla Golf Club)

Winner: Xander Schauffele (-21)

Runner-up: Bryson DeChambeau (-20)

• 2023 (Oak Hill Country Club)

Winner: Brooks Koepka (-9)

Runners-up: Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland (-7)

• 2022 (Southern Hills Country Club)

Winner: Justin Thomas (-5, playoff)

Runner-up: Will Zalatoris (-5)

• 2021 (Kiawah Island)

Winner: Phil Mickelson (-6)

Runners-up: Brooks Koepka, Louis Oosthuizen (-4)

Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion after winning his first Wanamaker Trophy at Quail Hollow last year. Seizing control of the event in round three, the world No. 1 ran out a comfortable five-shot winner, delivering the third major title of his career before adding a fourth at Royal Portrush in The Open just a couple of months later.

THE COURSE

Aronimink Golf Club

• Original architect / Year opened: Donald Ross / 1928
• Latest renovation: Ron Prichard (2003) and Gil Hanse (2018) have each completed restoration projects after many of those original design elements were lost over the years
• Previous tournaments: PGA Championship (1962), Senior PGA Championship (2003), AT&T National – PGA Tour (2010, 2011), BMW Championship – PGA Tour (2018), KPMG Women's PGA Championship (2020)
• Par / Yardage: Par 70 / 7,394 yards
• Hole breakdown:
  • 4x par 3s (171-242 yards)
  • 12x par 4s (402-546 yards)
  • 2x par 5s (555-605 yards)
• Course style: Classic and open parkland built on hilly terrain. Abundant, striking bunkers frame holes, whilst elevation changes are frequent around this variety-packed layout
• Fairways:
  • Fairways are reasonably generous though feature some severe doglegs
  • The sloping ground creates many uneven lies
  • Strategically placed bunkers pinch the landing areas and thick fescue/poa annua rough lines the holes, meaning it is strongly protected off the tee
• Greens:
  • Huge (8,200 sq. ft.), elevated bentgrass greens
  • These fast, crowned surfaces are dramatically contoured internally
  • Possessing brutal pin positions, keeping the ball below the hole is an absolute must
  • With run-offs leading into punishing rough, tightly-mown chipping areas, and a plethora of bunkers in all shapes and sizes, getting it up and down is a difficult task
• Defences:
  • The smart positioning and sheer volume of bunkers (180 in total) is a primary defence of the course
  • Raised, undulating greens and their resistant perimeters are ferocious when it plays firm
  • Significant elevation changes make distance control tough, especially on approaches into the putting surfaces
  • Long par 3s
  • Whilst water is in play on just two holes, this is a demanding, all-round major test with trouble at every turn

Last seen in the men's game at the 2018 BMW Championship, the majestic Aronimink Golf Club makes its highly anticipated return to major championship duty this week.

Those restorations have resulted in a layout that is as faithful to Ross's original vision as any of the renowned architect's other courses. In typical fashion, it's loaded with different challenges from one hole to the next.

You've got to be strategic around here, though there are also holes that will tempt players to be aggressive. This is not just on show on the two par 5s, but several par 4s will urge this week's contenders to attack before penalizing the slightest of inaccuracies.

As is the case with any course that has wide fairways and large greens, rain can significantly decrease the difficulty of the challenge, which is what we saw when Keegan Bradley shot -20 to win (via a playoff) in 2018. Hopefully, the weather will allow this magnificent venue to be at its absolute best.

THE WEATHER

There is around 10mm of rain predicted to fall in the three days leading into the event, which while not especially heavy, will still likely leave us with a receptive course to begin.

Although there is a little light rain on Thursday, it is scheduled to be dry for the rest of the week. A stiff 12mph breeze (gusting at up to 23mph) should make a difference around this open layout and with 29mph gusts anticipated for Sunday's final round, a hopefully firmed-up course should then be at its toughest.

KEY STATS

SG: Approach / Greens-in-Regulation (GIR)

With large, soft greens to start the week, on which it is so important to keep the ball below the hole and avoid the ever-present dangers, strength with the irons looks vital.

Furthermore, it requires players to perform well throughout the distance ranges, with short-iron shots from 125-150 yards as frequent as those from 200 yards+.

SG: Off-the-Tee (SG: OTT) / Driving Distance

Quality off the tee is another key area into fairways that constantly ask different questions. There are plenty of places where almost every player will be forced to lay up, but equally, the longer hitters are given numerous risk/reward opportunities to take on the well-placed bunkers in order to set up a wedge/short iron into the green. That, along with the potentially soft conditions, leaves me favouring power over accuracy.

SG: Putting (bentgrass)

Par 4 Scoring

Being able to handle the contours of these quick, heavily undulating bentgrass greens is another major plus. In addition, accounting for two-thirds of the holes at the course, par 4 scoring is a stat of high importance for this event.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

2016/2025 U.S. Open (Oakmont Country Club)

There are a bunch of recent major venues that compare closely with Aronimink, but perhaps none more so than last year's U.S. Open host Oakmont – also based in Pennsylvania.

A par 70 of a similar length, this open, undulating course has frequent elevation changes, over 160 bunkers, thick rough, and large, sloping greens.

2014/2024 U.S. Open (Pinehurst No. 2)

Pinehurst No. 2 is a fellow Donald Ross classic that could be a useful guide this week. It has wide, sloping fairways, subtle elevation changes, and the fast, crowned green complexes – which showcase all of those typical Ross slopes and undulations – are guarded by strong bunkering.

2013/2023 PGA Championship (Oak Hill Country Club)

Another Ross venue to consider is Oak Hill Country Club. Although the fairways are narrower, this hilly par 70 was almost identical in length to Aronimink in 2023. Its bentgrass greens are small but display similar design features, whilst thick rough and bunkers form a primary defence.

2023 U.S. Open (L.A. Country Club)

I'm going to go a little left field now with 2023 U.S. Open host L.A. Country Club, which has also recently been restored by Gil Hanse. Whilst these two courses may appear different, the wide, sloping fairways, dramatic elevation changes, potent bunkering, and sizeable, elevated bentgrass putting surfaces means they have much in common.

2022 PGA Championship (Southern Hills Country Club)

Tree-lined yet spacious, with both uphill and downhill shots, bentgrass greens, and a tough test around the greens, 2022 PGA Championship host Southern Hills is worth a look.

The Masters (Augusta National)

The major theme continues with Augusta National. Again, we're talking about a severely sloping course with wide fairways, punishing bunkers, and large, well-contoured bentgrass greens.

Memorial Tournament (Muirfield Village)

I'll finish with Muirfield Village – a regular PGA Tour stop that provides a demanding, major-like test. Featuring moderate elevation changes, reasonably generous fairways and raised bentgrass putting surfaces, those with form at the Memorial Tournament should relish the challenge in Pennsylvania.

TOURNAMENT TRENDS

• Nine of the last 10 PGA Championship winners had previously recorded a top-20 in the event, and eight had a top-10
• High-class major form in general is a huge plus. Nine champions since 2016 had a prior top-10 and seven had finished inside the top two
• Eight of the previous 10 winners had a top-20 on their latest appearances; seven had a top-five in their last three
• Each of the last four champions have recorded a top-five finish on their most recent start
• All winners of the PGA Championship since 2016 have been multiple-time PGA Tour winners; nine had three or more victories

THE FIELD

Laying claim to be the best field in golf, 98 of the world's top 100 players will be in attendance at this week's PGA Championship. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler remains the No. 1-ranked player, with Rory McIlroy (No. 2), Cameron Young (No. 3), Matt Fitzpatrick (No. 4), and Collin Morikawa (No. 5) rounding out the top five.

Scheffler (2025), McIlroy (2014, 2012) and Morikawa (2020) are of course all past winners of this event. They are joined by 11 further former champions: Xander Schauffele (2024), Brooks Koepka (2023, 2019, 2018), Justin Thomas (2022, 2017), Jimmy Walker (2016), Jason Day (2015), Jason Dufner (2013), Keegan Bradley (2011), Martin Kaymer (2010) Y.E. Yang (2009), Padraig Harrington (2008), and Shaun Micheel (2003).

One of the stories of the 2023 edition at Oak Hill, Michael Block, is back as one of the 20 PGA Professionals. Meanwhile, among the 31 PGA Championship debutants are last week's fantastic Truist Championship winner Kristoffer Reitan; talented young South Africans, Casey Jarvis and Jayden Schaper, who are rewarded for their impressive DPWT form; and Alex Fitzpatrick, who reaps the benefits of recent successes to make just his second major appearance.

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders: Scottie Scheffler 5/1, Rory McIlroy 17/2, Cameron Young 11/1, Jon Rahm 14/1, Bryson DeChambeau 18/1, Matt Fitzpatrick 18/1, Xander Schauffele 18/1

2.5 pts Bryson DeChambeau each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 18/1

I'm pretty clear about the type of player I want on side this week and few fit the bill as perfectly as Bryson DeChambeau. I expect his power to be a serious asset and, having made an encouraging return to action at LIV Virginia last week, he can make up for his Masters missed cut at Aronimink.

Although Bryson arrived at Augusta off the back of wins in Singapore and South Africa, a three-week absence left him lacking in sharpness and ultimately resulted in him missing the cut by two. That was then followed by a worrying withdrawal in Mexico the following week, citing a wrist injury.

He made his comeback in Virginia, where he opened with solid rounds of 69 and 70 to sit 7^th at the halfway point, though was still 12 shots behind runaway leader Lucas Herbert. However, following with rounds of 64 and 66, he played the second-best golf of anyone over the weekend to finish 3^rd.

His immense length is one of the biggest weapons in golf, and by almost all metrics, he ranks as the best driver in this field in recent years. He'll be able to take it over the penal bunkers on several holes and entering this week after a season's best approach display, the long game looks in great shape.

DeChambeau played Aronimink back in 2018 at the BMW Championship, ranking as the fourth-best driver on his way to finishing 19^th. He memorably won at fellow Ross classic Pinehurst at the 2024 U.S. Open and has numerous victories at venues that have been restored by Gil Hanse, including the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

A win at Muirfield Village at the 2018 Memorial Tournament is another plus and, having finished 2^nd at each of the last two PGA Championships, he can shut out the noise regarding LIV's future and finally get his hands on the Wanamaker Trophy in Pennsylvania.

2.5 pts Ludvig Aberg each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 20/1

In pure strokes-gained terms, Ludvig Aberg’s level of play is only second to Cameron Young across the last two months. He’s recorded five top-10s in his last six appearances and with his iron play currently matching his excellence off the tee, he has the firepower to make a major breakthrough at Aronimink.

Aberg hasn’t finished outside the top 25 since he was 20^th at the Genesis Invitational seven starts ago. His standout result of the season was a 3^rd at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, whilst he also produced top-five finishes at THE PLAYERS Championship, Texas Open, and RBC Heritage.

The Swede delivered a field-leading tee-to-green display at Quail Hollow to finish 8^th last week – an area in which he sits 2^nd over the previous two months. He’s also 2^nd in SG: Approach over that time and has been particularly strong with his long irons this season, ranking 1^st from 200 yards+.

That will come in handy around here, and as a top-25 driver who blends power (ranking 17^th in driving distance) with accuracy (ranking 42^nd), his ball-striking prowess is tailor-made for this layout.

Two missed cuts at the PGA Championship don’t fit the trends but, as a player who has finished 2^nd, 7^th and 21^st at Augusta, 5^th at Muirfield Village, and was 12^th at the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, Aberg is well placed to buck the trend on this favourable setup.

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1.5 pts Brooks Koepka each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 35/1

Brooks Koepka continues to show promise since returning to the PGA Tour and, taking into account his comments during the Myrtle Beach Classic, he is feeling as positive about the game as he has in quite some time. He’s of course a three-time winner of this event and, as a long hitter who is thriving in approach, he can move alongside Tiger Woods on four victories.

After a slow start to the campaign, Koepka has now hit the top 20 in five of his last six solo outings. He was 9^th at the Cognizant Classic, 13^th at THE PLAYERS Championship, and, following a promising 12^th at Augusta, he hopped over to the opposite-field event at Myrtle Beach last week, finishing 11^th.

His third-round 64 there was the lowest round of his season, and he commented afterwards that it was the most excited he’s been playing golf in a long time. Ranking 1^st in SG: Ball Striking, 1^st in SG: T2G, 1^st in GIR, 2^nd in SG: OTT, and 5^th in SG: Approach for the week, there’s little wonder why he enjoyed it so much.

He’s excelled with his irons season-long – sitting 1^st in SG: Approach and 2^nd in GIR – and what has been most noticeable is that he’s been superb through the set, ranking 5^th from 200 yards+, 13^th from 150-175, and 22^nd from 75-100. Meanwhile, I was also pleased to see him find some accuracy to complement his power in South Carolina, where he was 13^th in driving accuracy.

Koepka finished 19^th at Aronimink back in 2018 thanks to a top-five ball-striking performance. His last PGA Championship win Oak Hill in 2023 is a standout piece of comp form, and as a two-time runner-up at Augusta who has a 4^th-place finish at Pinehurst, there’s little doubt this is a challenge at which he can shine.

1 pt Chris Gotterup each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 55/1

I put Chris Gotterup up at the Truist Championship, where he produced some strong golf over the weekend to finish 14^th. That should’ve sharpened him up for our second major of the year and, possessing both the explosive power and delicate touch required to tame Aronimink, he’s worth sticking with.

Gotterup began the season by winning the third and fourth PGA Tour titles of his career at the Sony and Phoenix Opens. With five top-25s in his last seven starts – which includes a 6^th-place finish at the Houston Open and a 24^th on his Masters debut – he’s continued to play well since.

His iron play improved considerably in the second half of the event at Quail Hollow, helping him to rounds of 65 and 69. This is the area in which he’s seen the biggest upgrade in 2026, rising to 54^th in SG: Approach compared to 105^th in 2025 and 163^rd in 2024.

Sitting 23^rd with approaches from 150-175 yards and 29^th from 125-150, he’s been particularly good with his short-to-mid irons. When we combine this with his rankings of 5^th in driving distance and 14^th in SG: OTT, the long game looks ideally suited to this test.

Gotterup did miss the cut on his one and only PGA Championship appearance in 2024, but he’s a much different prospect now. Finishing 3^rd at The Open (2025), 23^rd at the U.S. Open (2025) and 24^th at The Masters (2026) on his last three major starts, he’s increasing in confidence in these biggest events, and he can again impress on a setup that plays to his strengths.

1 pt Gary Woodland each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 80/1

Hitting the ball beautifully at present, I’m also giving Gary Woodland another go in Pennsylvania. It’s already been an emotional year after his comeback victory at the Houston Open and he has very little to lose, which could make this former U.S. Open champion a dangerman on a suitable layout.

Woodland was still struggling to find form at the beginning of the season following the well-documented after-effects of his brain surgery back in 2023. He lifted a weight off his shoulders by speaking openly about how much he was suffering mentally following that, and this candidness seemed to pay dividends, as he showed signs of life to finish 14^th at the Valspar six starts ago.

His resilience was so impressive as he followed that with an emotional win at the Houston Open and he’s continued to play soundly since. He was 33^rd at The Masters and has two top-20s in his last three, finishing 8^th at the RBC Heritage and 17^th at the Truist Championship.

The American’s long game was superb last week, ranking 2^nd in SG: Ball Striking. This was just a continuation of recent displays, as he sits 11^th in SG: Approach and 22^nd in SG: OTT during the last seven weeks. He’s also the second-longest driver on tour, and as a top-50 putter who ranks 11^th in par-4 scoring, he has the skillset required to contend.

Woodland has played here twice before, finishing 47^th at the AT&T National in 2011 before firing rounds of 66-66-66-67 to finish 11^th at the 2018 BMW Championship. He’s had two PGA Championship top-10s – 6^th at Bellerive in 2018 and 8^th at Bethpage Black in 2019 – and, having picked up three top-six finishes at Muirfield Village, this proven major champion could provide us with one of the more popular winners in recent memory.