2012 PGA Championship Vegas Odds, Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

2012 PGA Championship Vegas Betting Odds, Favorites, Sleepers and Dark Horses to Win the PGA Championship at at the Ocean Course of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort: This Thursday, the best golfers in the world will take aim at the 2012 PGA Championship. The final major of the year will take place at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island for the first time in tournament history, and the venue should certainly be a tough test for the entire field. The Ocean Course is notorious for having some of the windiest conditions in the world, and with the gusts and swirls changing from hole to hole, a round can unravel in a hurry. With the wind likely being the deciding factor, striking the ball low and hard and will be critical. It is going to take consistency off the tee and with the irons in order to win the 94th installment of the PGA Championship.

Last year, then-rookie Keegan Bradley survived a back-and-forth final round to capture the first major championship of his career. Bradley actually triple bogeyed on the back nine during the final round, but a late run of birdies allowed him to force a three-hole playoff with Jason Dufner. Bradley then took the first two holes and held on to secure the win.

The Favorites – 2012 PGA Championship Vegas Odds and Predictions

While his unimpressive weekend performances at the first three major tournaments have made headlines, Tiger Woods has actually been pretty strong in 2012. After all, he has won three tournaments, and he was in the mix at the U.S. Open and the British Open. In fact, he still finished third at the Open Championship despite a mediocre final round, and he has improved his position in each of the majors this year. No, Woods is nowhere near the golfer that used to obliterate the competition at every big event, but he is playing his best golf in years. With four PGA Championships titles and two second-place finishes in his career, there is no question he can make a serious statement in the final major of the year.

There is little doubt that the best golfer in the world without a major is currently Lee Westwood.  In fact, he is actually the No. 1 player in the world and has been for a while now. For whatever reason, a major continues to elude despite strong play on the big stages. In the 12 major tournaments he has been a part of since the 2009 season, Westwood has eight top-10 finishes. During the stretch, he has finished third on four separate occasions and has finished second twice. He has finished third and eighth in his last two tries at the PGA Championship, and he has already finished third at the Masters and 10th at the British Open in 2012. Yes, Westwood deserves some criticism for not hitting the big shots in crunch time, but he also deserves a lot of credit for being a factor for the win in almost every major. Phil Mickelson eventually broke through, and Westwood will do the same.

The Dark Horses – 2012 PGA Championship Vegas Odds and Predictions

As I mentioned in the introduction, it is going to take consistent ball striking to be in contention at this year’s PGA Championship, and Jason Dufner has been one of the steadiest players on tour in 2012, ranking second in ball striking, fifth in scoring average and sixth in greens hit in regulation. He already has two wins under his belt, he has missed just one cut in 17 starts, and he has made the cut at all three majors, finishing second at the U.S. Open. Dufner’s game is perfectly suited for the high winds at the Ocean Course, and after falling in a playoff in last year’s tournament, he could seal the deal this time around.

Rolling into the PGA Championship fresh off a last-hole collapse probably wasn’t the momentum Jim Furyk was looking for, but this isn’t his first rodeo. The veteran has been smooth and steady as usual, and he currently ranks third in driving accuracy and third in scoring average. Furyk has also been solid in the majors this year, finishing 11th in the Masters and fourth in the U.S. Open. He has the driving accuracy to handle the high winds at the Ocean Course, and he has the experience to shake off a few bad holes. Amid all the young guns that are trying to dominate the tour, Furyk could score ones for the veterans.

The Sleeper – 2012 PGA Championship Vegas Odds and Predictions

Although his stats don’t jump of the page and his career history in majors isn’t much to brag about, Graeme McDowell has been his best on the big stages in 2012. He kicked things off with a 12th-place finish in the Masters, and he has followed with a runner-up effort at the U.S. Open and a fifth-place finish in the Open Championship. It is no coincidence that he ranks fourth on the tour in driving accuracy and has been able to handle the tough courses that play host to the Grand Slam events. His accuracy will come in handy once again as he battles the treacherous winds at the Ocean Course. If you need a little more convincing, look back at the previews I did for the first three major tournaments of the year. You will notice that I listed Bubba Watson as a sleeper at the Masters and Ernie Els as my sleeper at the British Open. Yes, I’ll admit I whiffed on Matt Kuchar in the U.S. Open, but as Meat Loaf once sang, “Two out of three ain’t bad.” McDowell has shown he won’t crack on the big stages, and he has the confidence and the straight as an arrow drives to be the next upset winner at a major this year.

2012 PGA Championship Odds August 9-August 12, 2012 – PGA Tour
Odds to win the PGA Championship
501 Tiger Woods +815
502 Luke Donald +1215
503 Lee Westwood +1615
504 Rory McIlroy +1415
505 Phil Mickelson +2050
506 Adam Scott +2550
507 Dustin Johnson +2550
508 Jason Dufner +2550
509 Matt Kuchar +3250
510 Hunter Mahan +3250
511 Webb Simpson +3050
512 Justin Rose +3250
513 Graeme McDowell +3250
514 Bubba Watson +3550
515 Louis Oosthuizen +3550
516 Rickie Fowler +4050
517 Ernie Els +4050
518 Steve Stricker +2850
519 Padraig Harrington +4050
520 Zach Johnson +3550
521 Jason Day +4550
522 Charl Schwartzel +5050
523 Sergio Gracia +5050
524 Jim Furyk +4050
525 Martin Kaymer +5050
526 Keegan Bradley +3550
527 Nick Watney +6550
528 Nicolas Colsaerts +6550
529 Peter Hanson +7050
530 Ian Poulter +7050