2026 PGA Championship pro picks to win, sleepers to watch

JJ Spaun can win.

Or Xander Schauffele. Or Bryson DeChambeau. Any of the players in this week’s PGA Championship not named Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy.

Or not.

Last year, the majors were Scheffler and McIlroy – and everyone else. These two have won their last five (and five of their last nine), and you’d be right to assume that it will be two of the world’s best players when they face off on the PGA field. But Scheffler and McIlroy didn’t win every major. After all, there might be Spaun, who won last year’s US Open.

Who’s at Aronimink Golf Club just outside of Philly? More help is below, where you’ll find a list of the top five players in odds under Scheffler and McIlroy, as well as win and layoff picks from our staff members.

2026 PGA Championship top five odds, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy out

– Cam Young, +1,200. With Young, you get this year’s winner of the Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship, as well as a third-time winner of the Masters. He also ranked second this year in strokes gained: total.

– Jon Rahm, +1,600. Rahm has not finished tied for eighth at LIV Golf this year, and has won twice.

– Xander Schauffele, +1,800. Schauffele finished third at the Players and tied for ninth at the Masters. He also won two of the last nine medals.

– Bryson DeChambeau, +2,000. DeChambeau has won twice on the LIV Golf circuit this year. He also won the 2020 and 2024 US Opens.

– Ludvig Aberg, +2,000. Aberg has finished in the top eight or better in five of his last six races. He is also ranked third this year on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: total.

What about those who sleep? Some thoughts on those players are listed at exactly 100-1

– Alex Fitzpatrick: Won the Zurich Classic with his brother, Matt. A week later, he tied for ninth in the Cadillac Championship. A week later, he finished fourth in the Truist Championship.

– Gary Woodland: Won this year’s Texas Children’s Houston Open. He is also a sensation, after revealing earlier this year that he is battling PTSD following a brain procedure.

– Thomas Detry: He is fourth this year on the LIV Golf list.

– Ben Griffin: Won three times last year. Two weeks ago, he finished third in the Cadillac Championship.

– Harris English: He has missed one cut in his 12 starts this year on the PGA Tour.

– Jason Day: Day has missed two cuts in 11 starts this year on the PGA Tour.

2026 PGA Championship pro picks to win, sleepers to watch

Josh Behow

To win: Cameron Young, +1,200. I can’t quite remember where I last thought the list of potential winners was so narrow, but that’s where I came up with the top three. The way Rory, Scottie and Cam Young are playing, I can’t bring myself to look down the list of possibilities. I’m going to pick Cam, his Sunday 74 at Truist was nothing short of amazing.

Choosing to sleep: Kristoffer Reitan, +8,000. Don’t overthink it – you just won on Sunday and it’s still a long game! All of these guys are great – but it’s hard not to like the one who was the best of the rest for 72 holes.

James Colgan

To win: Brooks Koepka, +4,000. A big tournament on a big, burly golf course in the Northeast? Yes, it sounds like the perfect setting for Koepka, whose game has shown some deceptive signs of life.

Choosing to sleep: Daniel Berger, +22,500. I probably wouldn’t pick him to win this golf tournament, but it wouldn’t shock me if he put on an incredibly competitive game in Philly.

Dylan Dethier

To win: Cameron Young, +1,200. By Cameron Young. It’s Cameron Young! The secret is out. Look, it’s been fun watching Young put his best stuff on display, from the Ryder Cup to the Players to the Masters to Miami over the past few weeks. But I feel the twinge of the band-I-like-just-went-platinum. I was listening to Young’s old stuff, just so you know. Still, if you gave me any old-school golf course in the Northeast right now, I’d give you Cameron Young as a contender. The fourth tie at Oakmont was a sign of things to come. That Ryder Cup statement was there. Here comes Cameron.

Choosing to sleep: Matt McCarty, +15,000. McCarty is playing really well. Don’t sleep on him! And let’s dig deeper into Ben Polland (+200,000), a talented club pro who could have a top 40 here if all goes well.

Jack Hirsh

To win: Cameron Young, +1,200. Cameron Young picked up his first PGA Tour win on the classic Donald Ross course, so I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the two hottest players gets another one at Aronimink. You can feel a very satisfying high in this heater.

Choosing to sleep: Jordan Spieth, +8,000. Let’s have some fun, shall we? Grand slam, here we come.

Jessica Marksbury

To win: Scottie Scheffler, +450. This is a pattern for me, it seems – picking the World No. 1 to win big. But I’m clearly in the minority in this Cameron Young-hyped group! Scheffler needs no introduction here, but I’ll put up a few credits anyway: He’s a defensive player, his worst finish of the year is a tie for 24th, and his last three finishes were championships (Masters, RBC Heritage, Cadillac Championship). Come on, that’ll start a fire! He wins this week.

Choosing to sleep: Mr Woo Lee, +6,000. Aronimink feels like a lesson where Min Woo can shine and play to his outside strengths. In addition, he has been trending upward recently, finishing tied for 18th at Cadillac and 14th at last week’s Truist.

Nick Piastowski

To win: Ludwig Aberg, +2,000. In his last six tournaments, Aberg has posted five top 10s, and he ranks third this year on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: total. He will win a few majors. This week, he wins for the first time.

Choosing to sleep: Gary Woodland, +10,000. This may be one of the better stories in golf – but Woodland has played solid golf again this year. He posted four top 25 scores, including the win.

Josh Schrock

To win: Cameron Young, +1,200. You can agree that Cam Young has been the second best golfer in the world since he switched golf balls and caddies almost a year ago. Hit the shots to win at TPC Sawgrass and just run atop the field at Doral. He was leading Sunday at the Masters and watched Rory zip by him. Just like when McIlroy blew the 2011 Masters and responded to win the next major, I think Cam’s time is coming for Aronimink.

Choosing to sleep: Rickie Fowler, +5,000: I’ll go back to a good sleeper with Fowler. He has been playing consistently good golf this season and has regained the feel of his putter. Received top 10 cards at RBC Heritage and Doral. You can easily see him competing in Philly with his metal game.

Josh Sens

Victory: Scottie Scheffler, +400. This is the Occam’s razor equivalent of a golf handicap. He is still the best player in the world. In his last five major tournaments, his worst finish is a tie for seventh. You are guaranteed to enter. You will probably win. He’s a favorite for a reason.

Choosing to sleep: Keegan Bradley, +9,000. His heart may have been broken since the Ryder Cup, but his game has been coming together well lately. And we know you enjoy the big stages.

Johnny Wunder

Victory: Jon Rahm, +1,600. He is still in my heart and mind the main contender to unseat Scottie. The trick is getting him to cook in the majors, often down to the putter. If his putting works well and he does it normally, he is a big threat. You will win big this year.

Choosing to sleep: Patrick Cantlay, +4,500. It’s a good ballpark for him, especially if the score is low, which I’ve heard they might try to encourage. Pat is still the silent killer he used to be. If he can get to the top of the board at the beginning of the week, my opinion is that he stays there until the end.

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