As the season rolls on, Thursday sees the second major of the campaign and the 105th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York.
After Jon Rahm claimed the Green Jacket at The Masters last month, the Spaniard is again another strong favourite to win his third major in eight starts.
With the East Course hosting its seventh major and fourth PGA Championship, the venue described by Golf Digest as the 22nd best course in America is poised to deliver another week of drama.
Who are we looking at to seal the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday?
Front-runners
Rahm will, obviously, be the backing of many punters this week, as will Scottie Scheffler, but how is the defending Justin Thomas shaping up?
T37 in the US Open and T53 at St. Andrews, JT missed the cut at Augusta National last time out and has just two top-ten finishes this year at the Hero Open and WM Phoenix.
The Kentuckian is not in the best of shape then, but as a two-time Wanamaker winner, Thomas knows hows to get the job done at around 25/1.
For Rory McIlroy, after seeing his major-less stretch extended now towards nine years, failing to even make the weekend at Augusta during his latest Grand Slam shot was a big blow.
But like Thomas, the Northern Irishman has won the tournament twice before in 2012 and 2014 – his last major victory.
Burning to prove a point, Mcillroy is still worth a look at 14/1 for 7 places with BetUK.
Brooks could be prominent
At one stage amongst the famed Georgia Pines last month, Brooks Koepka seemed to be cruising to a first Green Jacket and a fifth major.
However, after running out of gas in the face of the charging Rahm, the Floridian was forced to settle for T2 with an equally roused and fellow LIV Golfer, Phil Mickelson.
Though he remains absent from the PGA Tour, as a two-time winner of the tournament, Brooks Koepka will again compete in a major this season and could be a front-runner at a decent price.
Having suffered with a lack of four-round competition last time round, could a healthy Koepka this time have more fuel for a weekend tilt in New York?
After all, his 2018 and 2019 dominance proved his staying power in this very tournament – the latter of which also took place in The Empire State at Bethpage.
With a strong Masters showing in his back pocket, only a fool would not consider Koepka a contender at Oak Hill, at 20/1 for 8 places with William Hill.
Day’s week?
What of the chances of the season’s comeback king, Jason Day?
Having ended a five-year drought for a PGA Tour victory, the 35-year-old Australian claimed a second AT&T Byron Nelson this past weekend in Dallas.
Fifth in the FedEx Cup standings and with seven T10 finishes this term, Day is a man on form.
Having faded after a strong start at Augusta last month, the Queenslander’s only major to date was in this very tournament eight years back.
Winner over Jordan Spieth by three strokes at Whistling Straits back in 2015, Day ticks a lot of boxes this week at 28/1 for 8 places with Betfred.
Others to consider
Of the current winning form book – aside from Day – Matt Fitzpatrick could further drive another strong British challenge after winning his first PGA Tour title away from the major arena.
Taking the RBC Heritage in a playoff over Jordan Spieth, the Yorkshireman will hope for a better showing from The Masters, despite a decent T10 finish.
Fitzpatrick must get off to a better start in New York, but having been T5 at Southern Hills last season remains a 30/1 consideration for 8 places with BoyleSports.
Having won his first Tour title at the Wells Fargo meanwhile, Wyndham Clark shouldn’t be overlooked at around 66/1, nor should Tony Finau after notching a sixth win in the Mexico Open three weeks ago.
The big American is 20/1 with 888Sport.
Finally, for a big outsider but an equally capable performer as he showed in glimpses at the Players Championship, Denny McCarthy looks a massive price.
One of the finest putters on the Tour last season, McCarthy was ineligible for the Masters last time out and remains, statistically, the best scrambler around.
Oak Hill looks the perfect place for the Marylander to shine and with a T8 in his last appearance, McCarthy, at a hefty 150/1 for 8 places with William Hill, could return a nice profit with a good week.
