The 2024 PGA Championship professional picks to win, sleepers to watch in Valhalla
Brooks Koepka earlier this month at the LIV Golf event in Singapore.
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The answer was somewhat vague and unequivocal. Maybe it was fear, though maybe it’s desire.
It was Brooks Koepka’s response to that giving him “that chance to win.”
We have often heard his thoughts on the matter, as he has set a standard to match his game to the size of the event. Five officers speak for themselves there. But his latest response came on Sunday, after his win at the LIV Golf event in Singapore, and it came as he defends his title this week at the PGA Championship at Valhalla, so there’s value here, especially if you’re looking for a pick. the winner – which we think you are if you came to this article – and you want to know about the player’s imagination.
To begin his answer, Koepka talked about the body. He said playing the instrument helps. He said he thinks he’s a good striker. There was a previous discussion about the mantra being a powerful modifier on a solid target, and the metal ability allows for this.
Koepka also said he’s about eight feet into the green. Testy putts.
He then concluded his answer by saying:
“But I think the biggest thing that sets me apart is my ability to close and go to places that I don’t think a lot of guys will go to.”
OK then.
With that, our staff members have each created both a winner pick and a sleeper pick to help you with your weekly picks, whether that’s for a low-level fantasy party at the office, or a (legal!) big-money bet with a sportsbook. It is an exciting endeavor for us. Use it as you wish.
Go to our review.
2024 PGA Championship professional picks to win, sleepers to watch
Ryan Barath
Victory: Brooks Koepka, +1,400. Brooks has become a PGA Championship pro, and his game seems to be coming into form after a recent win at LIV. The course will be long, the rough will be tough, and if he does the “Brooks thing” like he did last year at Oak Hill, it will give him four of his last seven PGAs, which is a pretty impressive feat.
Choosing to sleep: Jake Knapp, +15,000. Jake absolutely smashes the golf ball, and that will be a huge advantage in Valhalla. He had a great showing a few weeks ago at Byron Nelson, and he’s already won this year so I’m willing to bet he’ll have a chance to sleep in Louisville.
Adam Christensen
Victory: Xander Schauffele, +1,800. Xander feels like too good a player to end his career without a big win. He puts the ball very well and has just picked up pace, which will help in Valhalla. It will probably be Scottie, but if not, I like Xander’s chances.
Choosing to sleep: Sam Burns, +6,600. His early season form has disappeared over the past few events, but Burns has the type of game that could thrive at Valhalla. If he can be above average with his middle weights and wedges, he’ll be in trouble for the weekend.
James Colgan
To win: Scottie Scheffler +400. Has anyone proven that they can beat him? No? OK, I’m still going with Scottie.
Choosing to sleep: Jake Knapp +15,000: I feel like Knapp has some surprises in his game, and any of us who have been paying attention to the week-to-week progress of the PGA Tour know that he can score.
Dylan Dethier
To win: Xander Schauffele, +1,800. Schauffele at 18-1 is a big plus. At least, that’s what I tell myself as I pick him for 18 straight majors. But besides Scottie, nobody plays golf better than this guy. He will be there.
Choosing to sleep: Akshay Bhatia, +10,000. She has been beautiful and for one week she was remarkably beautiful. He also made it clear: He’s hunting the majors. I won’t be shocked if I see him mixed.
Emma Devine
To win: Brooks Koepka, +1,400. Yes, Brooks is still a young winner. Yes, historically Brooks held the PGA Championship. But the real reason Brooks took it home to Valhalla? He was a recent guest on “Scoop,” yes! ALSO, his wife, Jena, Sims showed up last year, making the two the only married couple on both tours. It’s hard to bet against the Scoop Effect on this one.
Choosing to sleep: Jason Day, +5,500. With a few top 10 finishes under his belt this year, I think it’s time for Day to lift that trophy, rocking those Malbon pants.
Nick Dimengo
To win: Scottie Scheffler, +400. I can’t believe I’m actually doing this, but, regardless, no one has been better than Scottie this year. Even though he’s about to become a new father, which means little sleep and no sleep and plenty of distractions, the world’s No. 1 player may run on adrenaline and fumes and still shoot slower than anyone else on the court. He’s that cute, and I think we’re about to see 2024 history from him!
Choosing to sleep: Cameron Young, +4,000. I’m still convinced that the 27-year-old Young is the best young golfer in the game, and his past finishes in the majors give me hope that he’ll find his own soon. With a T9 at the Masters, Young now has top-10 finishes in five career majors, along with two T3 finishes. Now it’s time to finish the job.
Connor Federico
Victory: Rory McIlroy, +1,200. Ten years ago, Rory won his fourth major title with victory at Valhalla, beating the likes of Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler. But since then he has gone from big to small. Can he recapture that magic of the last decade? I like his chances of repeating history.
Choosing to sleep: Justin Thomas, +4,000. You’re welcome to disagree that these 40-1 odds make Thomas a long-term pick, but he deserves a mention. Thomas missed last year’s playoffs and hasn’t won an event since the 2022 PGA Championship, but what better place to get his career back on track than in his hometown of Louisville? Justin just received his hometown hero award this week, so hopefully he can turn that into a positive boost on the golf course.
How often favorites win tournaments (and when to bet)
Nick Piastowski
Jack Hirsh
To win: Rory McIlroy, +1,200: The heart wants what the heart wants. He was really marked last year when Brooks got his fifth major title to go before him. We can honestly say that McIlroy finally found his form in 2024 and his team won in Zurich. What a way to end his major title drought than with a win at Valhalla – where he won 10 years ago.
Choosing to sleep: Sahith Theegala, +5,500. Theegala is the highest ranked player in the FedEx Cup this season without a win. He already proved he can win on Tour with his win in Napa last fall. He would love to see Team Theegala take on Louisville as the 26-year-old takes his next step toward his first major title.
Jessica Marksbury
Victory: Brooks Koepka, +1,400. Koepka has proven to be the king of the PGA over the last decade, with top-15 finishes since 2015 – not to mention three wins and one runner-up in the last six years. Valhalla looks like a course that will play to his strengths, so there’s no way I’m underestimating him now.
Choosing to sleep: Sahith Theegala, +5,500. This sounds like a very good price for Sahith! He has had five top-10s in 12 events this year, including two runner-up finishes. And as our betting expert Brady Kannon noted last week, from Wells Fargo, Theegala is coming up big in all the important categories, including SG: Off the Tee, Greens in Regulation Gained and Scrambling. He seems to deserve a big one, and this could be a week.
Zephyr Melton
To win: Scottie Scheffler, +400. It’s hard to pick anyone but Scottie at this point. Until someone shows that they can dethrone him since he is playing so well, I have to continue to nominate him.
Choosing to sleep: Dean Burmester, +10,000. Burmester is having a deceptively good season this year on the LIV circuit with three top 10s, including a win in Miami, as he sits third in the season standings. It remains to be seen whether his game will hold up under a lot of pressure, but there’s no arguing with his form.
Nick Piastowski
To win: Brooks Koepka, +1,400. He went crazy after completing his Masters. That’s all I need to hear.
Choosing to sleep: Nicolai Hojgaard, +12,500. I love these mistakes. You will argue.
Josh Sens
To win: Bryson DeChambeau, +2,500. Bryson may be in witness protection these days for everything we see of him. But our glimpse of him at Augusta was a good reminder of just how much of a game he has hidden. And Valhalla should be the perfect course for him to blast and punch his way through.
Choosing to sleep: Sahith Theegala. +5,500. I’d be surprised if Scheffler’s new kid doesn’t get at least a T25, but since I don’t see those flaws on the board, I’ll go with another youngster with natural talent who has acquitted himself well in a few majors already. Theegala is an excellent host. It’s only a matter of time before he wins the biggie. She is a tempting play in this number.
