Do European Players Stand a Chance at the USPGA Championship?

With the Ryder Cup edging ever closer, there is greater focus now on whether players are from Europe or the United States of America and following hot on the heels of the Open Championship at Carnoustie, the centenary USPGA Championship takes place from Thursday 9^th August, through to Sunday 12^th August at Bellerive Country Club in Missouri.

Like most of the golfing majors, you can be sure bookies will be doing their best to get a bet out of punters on the event and if you are looking for a nice selection of markets, check out the high quality of golf betting available at bet365 Sport.

This week’s field will consist of the world’s top golfers, each striving to claim the fourth and final Major of the season, as well as giving themselves a timely boost ahead of the end of season playoffs and of course, potentially playing themselves into Ryder Cup contention (if the player is from Europe or North America).

This year’s USPGA is also a special one as it marks the 100^th year of the tournament, so let’s preview the tournament, the course and then bring you our tips on the top European stars we think will take the challenge to players from North America and the rest of the world in Missouri this week.

2018 PGA Championship – History

This week’s tournament will be the 100^th time that the USPGA Championship has been contested. The first tournament was contested in 1916 and the winner, Jim Barnes won a top prize of $500 plus a diamond-studded gold medal.

Over the years the date of the USPGA Championship has moved around in the calendar somewhat. The first tournament was held originally in October, and then in subsequent years, it was played at various dates in the calendar at any time from May through to December.

After World War II, the tournament was scheduled for either late May or June most years but in the 1960s, it was scheduled the week after the Open Championship, which meant many players felt the demands of playing two majors in two weeks was to tough. By 1965 it had moved to later in August and it has remained there or thereabouts since (bar the 1971 tournament which was held in Florida in February).

However, from 2019, the USPGA Championship will move in the golfing schedule once again as it will move to May (taking place at the time the Players Championship is usually held, with the Players Championship now being played in March).

The prize money for the event is $10,500,000 and the winning player will pocket $1,890,000.

The Course

Bellerive will host the first USPGA Championship event since Nick Price of Zimbabwe won the tournament back in 1992.  It has also hosted the US Open once, in 1965, when Gary Player of South Africa won the tournament.

The course is a long one at over 7,500 yards in length and there are two holes that measure over 600 yards in length (The 8^th (613 yards) and 17^th (603 yards). Another tricky hole is the 10^th, a 519 yard par four.

Par on the course is 71 as despite its length, there are just three par-5 holes on the course.

USPGA Champions Since 2000

• 2000 – Tiger Woods (-18) – Valhalla
• 2001 – David Toms (-15) – Atlanta Athletic Club
• 2002 – Rich Beem (-10) – Haseltine
• 2003 – Shaun Micheel (-4) – Oak Hill Country Club
• 2004 – Vijay Singh (-8) – Whistling Straits
• 2005 – Phil Mickelson (-4) – Baltusrol
• 2006 – Tiger Woods (-18) – Medinha Country Club
• 2007 – Tiger Woods (-8) – Southern Hills Country Club
• 2008 – Padraig Harrington (-3) – Oakland Hills
• 2009 – Yang Yong-eun (-8) – Hazeltine
• 2010 – Martin Kaymer (-11) – Whistling Straits
• 2011 – Keegan Bradley (-8) – Atlanta Athletic Club
• 2012 – Rory McIlroy (-13) – Kiawah Island
• 2013 – Jason Dufner (-10) – Oak Hill Country Club
• 2014 – Rory McIlroy (-16) – Valhalla
• 2015 – Jason Day (-20) – Whistling Straits
• 2016 – Jimmy Walker (-14) – Baltusrol
• 2017 – Justin Thomas (-8) – Quail Hollow Golf Club

Since 2000, there have been just seven non-North American winners of the event (Singh in 2004, Harrington in 2008, Yong-eun in 2009, Kaymer in 2010, Day in 2015 and McIlroy in 2012 and 2014). Of those wins, just four were from players based in Europe.

Which European Players can contest at Bellerive?

Rory McIlroy (N.Ire) 14/1

A former two-time winner of this event, Rory McIlroy tends to start every Major as European golf’s shortest odds competitor. The Irishman has won in America already this year, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational back in March and he then continued his run of top ten finishes at The Masters earning a tied-fifth spot.  The USPGA though has been feast or famine for him as although he has two wins and two third place finishes, he has also missed the cut (in 2016) and finished 22^nd last year. McIlroy is due another Major sooner rather than later and if he hasn’t won at the British Open a couple of weeks prior, he could be a real contender here.

Jon Rahm (Spa) 22/1

The talented Spaniard has rocketed up the rankings in recent times and his fourth place finish at this year’s Masters was an indication of his talent. He’s only played one USPGA before, finishing 58^th last year but he has the game, if he plays well, to contend with any of the top American players, although his lack of big tournament experience may be a hindrance.

Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 25/1

After finishing 4^th and then 2^nd at the previous two US Open’s England’s Tommy Fleetwood has certainly announced himself on the World Stage and in America in particular. However his USPGA form isn’t as strong, he missed the cut twice in 2014 and 2015 and then didn’t play in 2016 before finishing tied 61^st last year. He’ll need a big improvement to challenge here, but I think he has the game to do it and he would be my outside pick here.

Henrik Stenson (Swe) 28/1

If you like a golfer with good recent form in an event, then Henrik Stenson is your man. The Swede, an Open Champion in 2016, has finished third or tied third in the 2013 and 2014 USPGA Championships and was 7^th in 2016 and 13^th last year. His accuracy and length with his 3-wood make him a threat on these longer courses and if he can get his putter going, then Stenson does stand a chance.

Sergio Garcia (Spa) 40/1

Twice a runner up in this event in 1999 and 2008, Garcia’s record in this tournament since is shocking, missing the cut five times and his best finish is a tie for 12^th place in 2011. The Masters win may have finally saw him claim a Major title, but in truth, it would take a massive change of fortune in this event for the Spaniard to claim a second Major title here.