Truist Championship 2025 Tips: Xander Schauffele leads Jamie’s Each-Way Bets

The PGA Tour heads to the Philadelphia Cricket Club this week and the Wissahickon Course for the Truist Championship. With a whopping purse of $20,000,000 up for grabs, this has unsurprisingly helped attract a top-quality field. 700 FedEx Cup points are also on offer to the players heading into the event.

Our golf tipster doesn't get to enjoy a Bank Holiday Monday off, he's been sat at his keyboard preparing his in-depth preview for this event and has come up with four players to bet on each-way. You can read Jamie's thoughts along with his Truist Championship 2025 Betting Tips here on Betfred Insights...

It had been a high-quality but no doubt frustrating 2025 for world #1, Scottie Scheffler, as he finished inside the top 25 in his first eight starts this season, including five top 10s, but with a win alluding him. He finally put those frustrations to good use in last week's CJ CUP Byron Nelson, destroying the field by eight shots with an incredible -31 winning score to claim his first title of the year. 

Scheffler now heads to Quail Hollow next week for the PGA Championship all the more dangerous, though before we get to our second major of the year it's time for another double-header on the PGA Tour. The headliner of which is the newly-named Truist Championship at Philadelphia Cricket Club's Wissahickon course – the sixth Signature Event of the season. 

TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

This event started off life as the Wachovia Championship in 2003 and after 13 years as the Wells Fargo Championship, it has again changed name to the Truist Championship for this year. 

It usually takes place at Quail Hollow Club, though as that course is the stage of next week's PGA Championship, it makes a one-time stop at Philadelphia Cricket Club's Wissahickon Course this year. This also happened in 2017, when Eagle Point Golf Club stepped in to host and it was held at TPC Potomac in 2022 as Quail Hollow hosted the Presidents Cup.  

We have had several big names win this event, including Tiger Woods (2007) and Vijay Singh (2005). However, no player has displayed such an affinity for this event as Rory McIlroy. 

The Northern Irishman won his first ever PGA Tour title in this tournament in 2010, beating Phil Mickelson by four and then shot -21 in 2015 to claim a record-setting seven-shot victory. Further titles in 2021 and 2024 put him on four in total, two ahead of the only other multiple winner, Max Homa (2019, 2022). 

Last five winners: 

• 2024 – Winner: Rory McIlroy (-17) 

Runner-up: Xander Schauffele (-12) 

• 2023 – Winner: Wyndham Clark (-19) 

Runner-up: Xander Schauffele (-15) 

• 2022 – Winner: Max Homa (-8) 

Runners-up: Keegan Bradley, Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Young (-6) 

• 2021 – Winner: Rory McIlroy (-10) 

Runner-up: Abraham Ancer (-9) 

• 2019 – Winner: Max Homa (-15) 

Runner-up: Joel Dahmen (-12) 

Rory McIlroy's aforementioned win last year came in impressive fashion, as he overturned a one-shot 54-hole deficit over Xander Schauffele, beating the overnight leader by five strokes thanks to an excellent six-under 65 in round four. He returns to defend this week. 

THE COURSE 

Philadelphia native, A.W. Tillinghast designed Philadelphia Cricket Club's Wissahickon course in 1922; having called the golf club his home club for much of his lifetime and even had his ashes scattered in the nearby Wissahickon Creek. 

Keith Foster led a restoration of the course in 2013, with the aim of achieving a layout as close as possible to Tillinghast's original plan. They renovated all fairways, greens and bunkers; whilst also undertaking an extensive tree-removal program to open up the playing lines, making for a more strategically interesting and visually appealing challenge. 

The course plays as a par 70, measuring 7119yds and possesses 4x par 3s (122-240yds), 12x par 4s (365-517yds) and 2x par 5s (546-553yds). 

Philadelphia Cricket Club's Wissahickon course is a sparsely tree-lined, open and somewhat hilly venue, with subtle elevation changes throughout. The abundant, often high-lipped bunkers, of which there are 118 in total, frame the holes and Lorraine Run – a stream that feeds into the adjacent Wissahickon Creek – weaves its way through the property, coming into play on six holes. 

The fairways are reasonably wide, however, with several positioned at an angle to the fairway, and with those bunkers strategically placed and severely pinching many a landing area, they won't necessarily be easy to find. Three-inch fescue rough will pose an additional challenge; although, with the sloping fairways causing many an uneven lie, along with the frequent elevation changes, finding the short grass doesn't necessarily make for a simple approach. 

Wissahickon's speedy bentgrass greens are small-average in size and predominantly elevated, with bunkers often sitting well below the level of the green. These tough, undulating surfaces require a variety of approaches to access, with several open-fronted, encouraging play along the ground and others prompting players to approach in the air. Meanwhile, with some pin positions placed atop treacherous plateaus, precise iron play is much more important than simply finding greens. 

The routing has been altered for this event, with the usual 8th-18th holes playing as the tournament's 1st-11th. Holes 1-7 will then play as the tournament's 12-18, though the 7th – a 553yd par 5 home to Tillinghast's trademark Great Hazard, where a collection of bunkers splits the fairway – will play as hole #15 and they will instead finish at the difficult 517yd par 4 that is usually the course's 4th hole. 

This demanding but fair layout has a little bit of everything. From the two gettable risk/reward par 5s, to temptingly-short and monstrously-long par 3s and it also has a contrasting start and finish. Opening with two sub 375yd par 4s and then closing with the two longest such holes, with the 17th playing at 498yds and the 18th at 517yds.  

It's going to be a lot of fun watching this modern field tackle this Golden Age course this week. 

THE WEATHER 

Unfortunately, the forecast is predicting plenty of rain before and during this week's event, beginning on Monday/Tuesday and then returning over the first two rounds. Although it doesn't appear to be anything especially heavy at this stage, several days of rain will likely soften the course up. 

After a benign opening round in terms of wind, it is scheduled to be a feature over the following three rounds, with consistent wind speeds of 8-10mph and gusts that could reach highs of 25mph. 

KEY STATS 

• SG: Approach/ Proximity from 125-150yds & 200yds+ 

• SG: Off-the-Tee 

• SG: Putting (bentgrass) 

• Par 4 Scoring 

It's difficult to know exactly how these players will cope at Philadelphia Cricket Club, but with potentially receptive conditions on the way and the challenges of these greens, I'd favour those strongest iron players. The variety at the course means the field will need to excel from different approach ranges, with wedge play from 125-150yds and long irons from 200yds+ appearing equally important. 

Despite being generous, the fairways are smartly and strategically designed, meaning quality off-the-tee will likely also be a necessity, and anyone proven on bentgrass greens will also be of interest. 

Furthermore, with 12 par 4s at the Wissahickon course, those who score best on those holes will have the advantage. 

CORRELATING EVENTS 

A.W. Tillinghast's courses have continued to be in regular use, often in major championships and there have been several in the last decade or so that could give us some clues as to likely performers this week. 

Bethpage Black is one such course and is set to host the Ryder Cup later this year. It also hosted the 2019 PGA Championship, the 2016 and 2012 editions of The Barclays on the PGA Tour and going back a little further, the 2009 and 2002 renewals of the US Open. 

We can also look towards 2020 and 2006 host of the US Open, Winged Foot GC; 2016 and 2005 PGA Championship host, Baltusrol GC; and host of the 2018 Northern Trust, along with the 2014, 2010 and 2008 renewals of The Barclays, Ridgewood CC. 

In addition, Muirfield Village, host of the Memorial Tournament is another championship-level layout with generous fairways and small bentgrass greens, whilst I also felt last year's Canadian Open host Hamilton G&CC could be of help. It's a classic course that recently went through its own renovation to open up the venue and has similar-width fairways and bentgrass greens. 

THE FIELD 

After his demolition job in last week's CJ CUP Byron Nelson, world #1 Scottie Scheffler skips our third-last Signature Event of the season. Instead, defending champion and world #2, Rory McIlroy is the highest-ranking player in the field; joined by a further eight of the world's top 10 and there are 21 of the top 25 in total in this limited 72-man field. 

Rory is one of seven former winners in attendance, alongside Wyndham Clark (2023), Max Homa (2022, 2019), Jason Day (2018), Brian Harman (2017), Rickie Fowler (2012) and Lucas Glover (2011). 

Garrick Higgo gets a start in the field via the Aon Swing Top 5 following his win in the Corales Puntacana Championship three weeks ago, and the final spot of those standings was taken by Rasmus Hojgaard, who knocked twin brother, Nicolai down to 6th place in the process. 

SELECTIONS  

Market leaders (1/4 5 places): Rory McIlroy 4/1, Collin Morikawa 14/1, Xander Schauffele 16/1, Ludvig Aberg 16/1, Justin Thomas 18/1, Patrick Cantlay 22/1 

The strength of these limited Signature Event fields usually results in a high-class winner, and I see no reason why that won't again be the case this week, despite the unfamiliar course. 

Rory McIlroy is an understandably firm favourite, but one that I'm happy to swerve, away from his favoured Quail Hollow. He beat Xander Schauffele into 2nd place there last year and with the world #3 continuing to show positive signs, it's he who goes in as this week's headline pick. 

Xander Schauffele 

Xander took a couple of events to get going after returning from an eight-week absence due to a rib injury, finishing 40th in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 72nd in THE PLAYERS Championship back in March. However, he's been much improved across his last three starts, recording consecutive finishes of 12th in the Valspar Championship, 8th in The Masters and 18th in the RBC Heritage prior to this week. 

He's looked excellent in approach; indeed he recorded his best ever performance in this area at the Valspar Championship. He ranks 5th for the season overall and a strong 39th from 200yds+; combined with more positive displays on the greens in his last two starts and his usual strength off-the-tee, he should appreciate this test. 

Schauffele has only finished outside the top 25 once in eight starts at Muirfield Village and having twice performed well in majors at Tillinghast originals, finishing 5th at Winged Foot in the 2020 US Open and 16th in the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, he ticks plenty of boxes in Philadelphia. 

Viktor Hovland 

Viktor Hovland is another player who found form in the Valspar and maintaining that in his following two starts, he makes for an interesting contender at the Wissahickon course. 

Hovland missed four of his first six cuts this season and recorded one solitary top 25 at Pebble Beach. He responded well from a terrible opening-round 80 in THE PLAYERS to shoot 68 in round two and has looked a different player since, winning the Valspar Championship the next week and has backed that up with finishes of 21st in The Masters and 13th in the RBC Heritage. 

His iron play has been as good as ever in 2025, ranking 9th and also ranking inside the top 35 both from 125-150yds and 200yds+, the approach challenge here should suit. Although not driving at his brilliant best, he still has the club under enough control and with the putter now singing, gaining strokes in his last three starts on the greens, his game looks in a good place to contend again. 

Hovland has a win and a 3rd-place finish at Muirfield Village and finishing 13th in the 2020 US Open at Winged Foot in his first major start as a pro, he has some encouraging Tillinghast form to boot.  

Harris English 

Harris English should appreciate this week's US Open-style challenge. He's already shown winning form this year and having again looked good at The Masters two starts ago, he made plenty of appeal at the price. 

English was in good form at the end of 2024, and it didn't take him long to transfer that to 2025, as he won the Farmers Insurance Open on his third start of the year. He's been lively enough since, recording three top 25s in his last seven starts. That includes a 12th-place finish at The Masters two starts ago, where he was the 10th-best player in approach. 

Although ranking down in 129th for the season with his irons, that number is largely due to an inauspicious start to the year with the clubs. He's been far better over his last six starts and ranking 29th on the greens, as well as playing some solid golf off-the-tee, his all-round game looks sharp. 

English also went well in that 2020 US Open at Winged Foot, finishing 4th and I'm hoping that experience will serve him well at Philadelphia Cricket Club. 

Lucas Glover 

Lucas Glover has major-winning Tillinghast form and with his typically strong ball striking complemented by some improved putting in 2025, he can make some noise at the top of the leaderboard this week. 

Glover hasn't been at his most consistent this year, but the positives have been striking, recording 3rd-place finishes at Pebble Beach in another Signature Event and in THE PLAYERS Championship. He was 8th in the Valspar three starts ago but will have to respond from a couple of sub-par efforts at Augusta and in the RBC Heritage. 

The long game has been key, ranking 26th in approach and 50th off-the-tee. Meanwhile, with rankings of 9th in approaches from 200yds+ and 11th from 125-150yds, he's as well-equipped as anyone in the field to tame this course with quality iron play.  

Glover won the 2009 US Open at Bethpage Black and has continued to perform well on A.W. Tillinghast's courses in majors since, finishing 16th in the 2019 PGA Championship back at Bethpage in 2019 and he was 17th in that 2020 US Open at Winged Foot. 

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