PGA Championship tips: Joaquin Niemann and Brooks Koepka spearhead LIV challenge at Valhalla

Wells Fargo Championship key stats:

• When: May 16-19 2024
• Where: Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Kentucky 
• How long: 7,609 yards - par 71
• What to expect: Classic course, long off the tee to wide undulating fairways, partly tree-lines, seven water hazards
• Who won last year: Brooks Koepka (-9) 

Scottie Scheffler is back in action after the birth of his first child, and having won four of his last five tournaments (and runner-up in the other) the world number one has scared the bookmakers into installing him as the 9/2 favourite. 

Rory McIlroy’s last Major success came in this event at this same venue ten years ago, when he held off Phil Mickelson by one stroke.

Top Price On The Planet: Best odds for Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka, and 50% back if your bet leads after any round but then loses

McIlroy will tee off full of confidence after backing up his pairs success alongside Shane Lowry with an impressive victory in the Wells Fargo Championship last weekend. 

Can Rory break his ten-year Major hoodoo this week as an 8/1 shot? The grass surface on the Valhalla course has changed since he won here in 2014, but he plays zoysia well and hits the ball a long way off the tee, which should serve him well here.

Xander Schauffele was no match for McIlroy’s final-round heroics last weekend, and although the reigning Olympic champion is a more regular runner-up than winner these days, his game is clearly in good shape. 

Reigning (three-time) PGA champion Brooks Koepka looks a better option and is on offer at 18/1 with PlanetSportBet. 

A winner in Singapore on the LIV Tour last time out on zoysia two weeks ago, this course sets up well for this Major specialist, and Koepka does have a preference for bentgrass greens.

Top Price on the Planet : Brooks Kopeka was 12/1, now 18/1 with PlanetSportBet

Jon Rahm has been in decent form on the LIV circuit, despite the breakaway tour’s 54-hole set-up suiting the Spaniard less than his preferred four rounds. The 2023 master champion gets that here and his odds of 14/1 are as big as they have been for a long time. 

Ludvig Aberg hits the ball a long way off the tee and is looking to win his first Major this week after coming close at the first attempt as runner-up at Augusta. The young Swede pulled out of last week's tournament with a knee injury, which perhaps puts a question mark over his 14/1 odds here.

Bryson DeChambeau is a Major winner and after showing good form on the LIV Tour his odds of 22/1 are sure to attract each-way punters. 

The same could be said for Max Homa, who is in decent form despite sometimes being not aggressive enough. Max was third at the Masters and is a good putter, and 25/1 offers decent each-way value.

Justin Thomas has won this tournament twice (2017 and 2022), but has slipped down the pecking order these days and can be found at around 33/1 this week. JT has good course form here and this return to his birthplace should bring plenty of local support which may rekindle his game.

Last but not least, Joaquin Niemann always looked like adding to his two PGA successes before his defection to LIV, and he achieved his best Major performance so far at this year’s Masters, despite shooting a 78 in the second round.

The Chilean has been by far the best golfer on the LIV Tour so far in 2024, chalking up two tournament wins along with a further three top-eight finishes from just seven starts. 

Niemann likes to putt on bentgrass and drives the ball a long way, two prime requisites for Valhalla, so if he can hang around for the weekend, he could make his pre-tournament odds look huge by Sunday afternoon.

Suggested bet: Joaquin Niemann (28/1) each-way in the PGA Championship

READ MORE: Who will win the PGA Championship: Best bets and dark horses for Valhalla