2021 PGA Championship 3rd Round Odds, Picks & Preview
- Phil Mickelson and Louis Oosthuizen lead the 103rd PGA Championship by one shot after 2nd round play
- Two-time PGA champion Brooks Koepka is now the +430 favorite entering the weekend
- See the updated odds at Kiawah Island, SC below for Saturday’s third round within the story below
The leaderboard through 36 holes of the 103rd PGA Championship is absolutely stacked, with the top four players all major winners. Phil Mickelson shot a brilliant 3-under, 69 to tie for the lead and is attempting to become, at age 50, the oldest major winner ever. He’s joined by 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen entering the weekend.
Some of the bigger names will not be around for the weekend, with Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele packing their bags early. Brooks Koepka, who entered the week with +4500 odds to win his third PGA in four years, now sits as the betting favorite to win outright. This year’s Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama is two behind in his bid to secure the first two majors of 2021.
The cut came at five-over-par, which is a full ten strokes back of the leading duo. History is not on the side of those well back, as 33 straight major winners have been within six shots through 36 holes. Read on to see the updated PGA Championship odds and the best bets heading into Saturday’s third round.
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Updated 2021 PGA Championship Odds
| Golfer | Position | Score | Odds at FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks Koepka | 3rd | -4 | +430 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | T-1st | -5 | +500 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | T-4th | -3 | +750 |
| Phil Mickelson | T-1st | -5 | +1200 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | T-12th | -1 | +1200 |
| Corey Conners | T-7th | -2 | +1800 |
| Branden Grace | T-4th | -3 | +2000 |
| Christiaan Bezuidenhout | T-4th | -3 | +2000 |
| Paul Casey | T-7th | -2 | +2000 |
| Gary Woodland | T-7th | -2 | +2200 |
| Sungjae Im | T-7th | -2 | +2200 |
| Viktor Hovland | T-19th | Even | +2700 |
| Joaquin Niemann | T-12th | -1 | +2900 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | T-19th | Even | +3700 |
| Kevin Streelman | T-7th | -2 | +4100 |
Odds as of May 21st at 8:30pm EST
Koepka Contending at Another Major
With apologies to 36 hole co-leaders Phil Mickelson and Louis Oosthuizen, Brooks Koepka has to be considered the favorite entering the weekend. Oddsmakers agree with that sentiment, installing him at +430 to win his third PGA Championship in four years. Lefty would be an incredible story as the oldest major winner, but he’s still a +1200 longer shot and Oosthuizen has come agonizingly close in all the majors since winning the 2010 Open, without winning.
Despite Koepka coming in off two missed cuts following knee surgery, we were still bullish about his chances to capture his third Wanamaker Trophy because he saves his best for the grandest tournaments.
Brooks Koepka’s Best PGA Championship Finishes
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2019 | WIN |
| 2018 | WIN |
| 2016 | T-4th |
| 2015 | T-5th |
| 2017 | T-13th |
| 2014 | T-15th |
Beginning Saturday just a shot behind, Koepka has shown he can withstand the pain in his knee, ranking first in strokes gained tee-to-green and second approaching the green. He has an opportunity to join some elite company come Sunday evening.
Brooks Koepka is looking for his 5th major championship title. He's 31 years old.
Men to win 5th major at age 31 or younger in modern era (since 1st Masters held in 1934)
Tiger Woods
Seve Ballesteros
Tom Watson
Jack Nicklaus— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 21, 2021
It’s very difficult to think an aging Mickelson can keep up with the young guns for 36 more holes, and Oosthuizen just has had too many close calls without victories to fully trust him entering Saturday. Despite Koepka’s odds not being overly enticing at +430, he’s worth the wager.
2021 PGA Championship Best Live Value Picks
- Branden Grace (+2000): This year’s Puerto Rico Open champion Branden Grace has rediscovered his game, and starts moving day just two back. He would’ve held the lead if not for a double bogey-bogey finish. Ranks second in SG: around the green, 16th tee-to-green and 20th in putting through two days. Has had brushes with emerging victorious at the PGA in the past, placing third and T-4th in 2015 and 2016.
- Gary Woodland (+2200): We were big on Woodland’s chances after round one, and he didn’t disappoint, sitting just three back. The 2019 US Open winner ranks seventh tee-to-green and eight in greens in regulation through 36 holes. Was sixth in his last start at the challenging Wells Fargo Championship. He also loves the PGA, having posted back-to-back top-10’s in 2018 and 2019.
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Michael "Hound Dog" Harrison is well known in the sports industry as the resident statistician for the SC with Jay Onrait Show. He has worked at TSN for over 16 years, where he's been featured on Sportscentre, That's Hockey, That's Hockey 2Nite, The Masters preview shows, and several more.
