DeChambeau popular early PGA Championship pick

Bryson DeChambeau has been a popular pick with the public to claim his first PGA Championship this week.

The LIV Golf star, who finished second to Xander Schauffele last year, opened Monday at +1200 at DraftKings. However, those odds had already shortened to +950 by midday with the public backing him with 27 per cent of the money wagered on the winner at Quail Hollow this week.

DeChambeau has the third-shortest odds in the field, behind favourites Scottie Scheffler (+400) and Rory McIlroy (+450). Scheffler is second with 23 per cent of the money backing to win and leads the field with 22 per cent of the total bets, ahead of both DeChambeau and McIlroy at 14 per cent.

The trio is well in front of the pack. The next shortest odds belong to Jon Rahm at +1600, but he's not among the top 10 most popular picks in either market. The fourth-most money at 7 per cent is currently backing Justin Thomas, who has drawn 6 per cent of the total bets along with Jordan Spieth at +5000.

DeChambeau has enjoyed consistent success in majors since joining LIV. In addition to winning last year's US Open, he tied for fifth at last month's Masters. His prodigious length off the tee is expected to be a significant weapon, with Quail Hollow likely to be softened by heavy rains forecast early in the week.

Scheffler won his most recent start, posting his first victory of 2025 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson two weeks ago. He also is seeking his first PGA Championship, having come close with a T2 in 2023.

McIlroy has a pair of PGA Championships on his resume, along with a boatload of previous success at Quail Hollow. It was the site of his first career PGA Tour victory in 2010, and McIlroy shot a course-record 61 en route to winning the Wells Fargo Championship at the course in 2015.

He won the Wells Fargo again in 2021 and shot a final-round 65 to shoot past Schauffele by five shots for his fourth event win last year, and McIlroy enters this week as the only three-time winner on tour in 2025.

"I just went on a run that, for whatever reason, I'm able to go on at this golf course," McIlroy said after his 2024 victory. "Quail Hollow (and) Charlotte in general have been really good to me."

McIlroy's margin of victory in 2015 was seven shots.

"I feel like these people have kind of watched me grow up (from) winning here as a 20-year-old," he said last year. "They've kind of seen my progression through the years. The support I get here is absolutely amazing."