US PGA Championship in-play tips: Viktor Hovland and Bryson Dechambeau to test Xander Schauffele
- Mike Grenham
- 18 May 2024
We are halfway through the US PGA Championship tournament in Kentucky with Xander Schauffele leading the way. Question is, who will challenge the American in the final two rounds of the event?
For those looking for a betting interest in a fascinating US PGA Championship, Planet Sport Bet are offering a free £5 bet for the final day to everyone who has a £20+ bet before the end of the third round, so let’s see if we can pick you a winner or at least a place return!
However, as we reach ‘moving day’, Scottie Scheffler’s remarkable round of 66, following a night in the cells, remains the big talking point.
The world number one is now a 16/5 shot to land his second major of the season but his iron mentality has never been more obvious, after the previous night’s arrest left him ‘shaking’.
Scheffler is three behind leader Schauffele and poses an ominous threat to all those at the head of the leaderboard. Many will back either or both market leaders at this point, confident that the winner will come from the pair, and while it’s a totally understandable strategy, we will look elsewhere.
Schauffele is a worthy favourite at 12/5 and followed up his superb opening round with an excellent 68 on day two but may struggle to hold off a chasing pack of the absolute highest quality. Scheffler will surely suffer some after-effects of Thursday night, won’t he?
My main pre-tournament fancy Collin Morikawa is thankfully bang in the mix at one back and I would not put anyone off him at 5/1 if you haven’t already backed him. While his scoring has been top quality this week, his approach play has not been at its imperious best so watch out the rest if he starts striking it in traditional fashion.
The two players that I will add to my portfolio are Viktor Hovland and Bryson Dechambeau. The former is on 8-under, four back, while BDC is a shot nearer.
Both are entirely capable of going low, on a course where that is evidently possible, and will not back off in the pressure cooker of a final day showdown, if they get close enough. At odds of 18/1 for Viktor and 9/1 for Bryson, they are well worth an each-way interest. I really like Morikawa’s chances so maybe save on him if you’re not already on.
