The 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills is just a few days from getting underway.
Some of the game’s biggest names, including Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, and Jon Rahm, have added wins to their resumes over the last few months and are ready for battle.
Defending champion Phil Mickelson isn’t playing this week. No, he’s not hurt. No, he’s not sick. He’s just, well, not there. His whole situation does beg the question: Will we ever see Lefty on the PGA Tour again?
Tiger Woods is making his second-straight major start after his triumphant return last month at Augusta National. He won the 2007 PGA at Southern Hills.
Among all the betting favorites, there are several names further down the odds list you should keep an eye on this week in Oklahoma.
PGA: Thursday tee times | Best bets | ESPN+ streaming
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Max Homa (+6000)
Max Homa celebrates with his caddie Joe Greiner after winning the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in Potomac, Maryland. (Photo: Nick Wass/Associated Press)
Homa’s form entering the week speaks for itself: He won the last time he teed it up.
His victory at the Wells Fargo was his second of the season, as he took home the hardware at the season opener, the Fortinet Championship.
The four-time Tour winner’s history at major championships is worrisome, with his best finish coming at the 2021 Open (T-40). However, his game fits Southern Hills and he seems to be enjoying the course.
Jason Day (+7000)
Jason Day waits to putt on the 18th green during the first round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
Day has flashed signs of his younger self throughout this season. A T-3 at the Farmers, leading the Wells Fargo after 36 holes, and two solid opening rounds last week before a Saturday 73 plummeted him down the leaderboard.
His solid short game will help around Southern Hills, and if the flat stick gets hot he can keep up with anyone.
Day’s lone major came at the 2015 PGA Championship.
Tommy Fleetwood (+8000)
Tommy Fleetwood plays from the 13th tee during the first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf tournament. (Photo: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports)
Fleetwood has quietly put together a nice 2022. After missing the weekend at the Honda, he went on a run of five straight T-22 or better finishes in stroke-play events (including at T-14 at Augusta).
He’s played well in majors before with a runner-up at the 2019 Open, runner-up at the 2018 U.S. Open, and fourth place at the 2017 U.S. Open.
If he keeps the ball in play off the tee, the Englishman could make a run come Sunday.
Cameron Young (+8000)
Cameron Young plays his shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the RBC Heritage at Harbor Town Golf Links on April 14, 2022, in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Young is knocking on the door.
He went T-2 at the Wells Fargo and T-3 at the RBC Heritage in his last two starts. He’s finished runner-up two other times this season as well (Sanderson Farms, Genesis).
Not much else to this pick, sometimes you just have to take the hot hand (he’s also extremely talented in every facet of the game, so that helps).
