2022 PGA Championship player-by-player guide: Breakdown and analysis of every golfer

Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 4th hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at Southern Hills Country Club.
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Steve Palmer

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Been handicapping golf since 2001 and to date have had only two losing years. One of the leading voices of golf betting in the UK. For Steve Palmer media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.
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It’s PGA Championship week as the 2nd golf major of the year gets underway on Thursday. To help you pick out your golfers, I’ve broken down every single player lining up at Southern Hills to provide you with a full player-by-player guide. Let’s dive in.

Don’t miss Diane Knox Balas’ best bets for who will win the PGA Championship

Abraham Ancer

Texas-born Mexican with solid US PGA form of 16-43-8. Has been poor, though, since back problems developed in the build-up to the Masters. Easy to ignore.

Adri Arnaus

Spanish slugger secured DP World Tour breakthrough in Catalunya Championship at start of this month. US PGA debut. Steep learning curve.

Alex Beach

One of 20 club professionals – the so-called Team of 20 – who qualify through the PGA Professional Championship. Fifth PGA for this left-hander – yet to make a cut.

Rich Beem

Veteran who commentates on Sky Sports. The 2002 US PGA champ. Missed cut by a shot in both the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills and the 2007 PGA there. Has made only five US PGA cuts since his victory.

Oliver Bekker

DP World Tour form-horse who remains a maiden. Lost a playoff to Arnaus for Catalunya title. The South African missed the cut in only previous Major (2017 US Open).

Daniel Berger

Cocky Floridian who has won four low-grade PGA Tour titles. Can boast four Major top-tens, but none in the US PGA. Consistent but short of top-class.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Accurate South African with sharp short-game. Three-time DP World Tour champ, but PGA Tour maiden. Yet to post a Major top-20 finish.

Brandon Bingaman

Club pro from Dallas. PGA debut. Can probably safely book in for some Saturday-night bingo.

Richard Bland

Veteran Englishman made long overdue Tour breakthrough last year. US PGA debut. Zero top-20s in Majors.

Michael Block

Club pro. Fourth PGA start. His head will probably be on the block on Friday night as the halfway axe is wielded.

Matt Borchert

Club pro who has never made the cut in a Major. Expect more hurt for Borchert.

Keegan Bradley

Glory came in the 2011 US PGA in his first Major start, then he finished third in his title defence. Majors have become more of a struggle since, but rock-solid 2022 form suggests the Wells Fargo runner-up can go well this time. Top-20 claims.

Ryan Brehm

Powerhouse from Michigan won his maiden PGA Tour title in Puerto Rico in March, but has been poor since. Major debut.

Dean Burmester

South African slugger blew a golden chance in the Steyn City Championship in March. Has never bettered 40th place in a Major.

Get Diane Knox Balas’ best 2022 PGA Championship prop bets

Sam Burns

Class act who has won three PGA Tour titles in just over a year. Missed some short putts in the Byron Nelson last week and fell one shot shy of the cut-line, but a first Major top-20 of his career could be coming this week. Lively runner.

Laurie Canter

DP World Tour maiden at the age of 32. A good enough driver to not disgrace himself on Stateside Major debut, but will probably still fall just outside the cut-line.

Patrick Cantlay

FedEx Cup champion and PGA Tour Player of the Year. A huge threat to all. Consistent US PGA record (33-27-3-43-23) and a first Major victory at the age of 30 would come as no surprise for a player without any statistical weakness. He won the Zurich Classic pairs event alongside Xander Schauffele last time out.

Alex Cejka

German veteran won the Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills a year ago. Aged 51, he may scrape through to the weekend at the same track this time.

Cameron Champ

Three-time PGA Tour champion with incredible length off the tee and the tools to destroy Southern Hills. Back to fitness after a wrist injury. Tenth at the Masters, where he was second for greens in regulation. An exciting outsider with a chance of making an impact.

Stewart Cink

Final-hole agony meant third place in the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills, but he became a Major champion in the Open eight years later. He tied 32nd in the 2007 PGA at Southern Hills. Ninth in the Wells Fargo last time out.

Tyler Collet

Club pro. Second PGA start. His backers will probably be flushing their betting slips down the toilet on Friday night.

Corey Conners

Consistent Canadian, who churns out greens in regulation, often suffering frustration on the dancefloors. The forecast for strong breezes will encourage the 2019 Texas Open champ that his ball-striking class will give him a crack at the Wanamaker Trophy.

Joel Dahmen

Last man into the field – a Sunday-night invite arriving for the alternate after the Byron Nelson was won by somebody who had already qualified. US PGA form of 71-10-55, but length of Southern Hills may mean a weekend off this time.

John Daly

Wild Thing tied for 32nd place in the 2007 US PGA at Southern Hills. Aged 56, the 1991 champion is just making up the numbers and entertaining his army of fans.

Cam Davis

Australian youngster with a classic swing and plenty of potential. Made PGA Tour breakthrough in last year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic. Has made the cut in all three previous Majors.

Jason Day

Injury-plagued Australian led the Wells Fargo Championship at the halfway stage the week before last, but dropped to 15th place. A former world number one and US PGA champion who it is difficult to trust these days.

Bryson DeChambeau

Wear and tear is probably the main reason why the long-drive lover has been suffering injury problems. Lack of fitness and form makes the so-called Hulk easy to pass over.

Paul Dickinson

Club pro making US PGA debut. Seems unlikely to rise to the occasion.

Jason Dufner

A 45-year-old in decline. The 2013 champion is outside the world’s top 500. He missed cut in the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills.

Tim Feenstra

Club-pro qualifier. PGA debut. From Fall City Washington. His outright backers this week are from Fool City.

Tony Finau

Majors seem to bring out the best in the Utah man, who can boast ten top-tens in 23 starts. Fourth and eighth in the last two PGAs. He has been hinting at rediscovering his A-game and is one for the Southern Hills shortlist.

Matt Fitzpatrick

PGA Tour maiden. Finds fairways and putts well, but lack of punch off the tee is a handicap, especially at big Major venues like this one. Has missed three cuts in six PGA starts.

Rickie Fowler

Former golden boy of Stateside golf languishing outside the world’s top 100. Three-time Major runner-up. Signs of life in the Wells Fargo last time out. Eighth in last year’s US PGA.

Ryan Fox

Kiwi powerhouse has been playing well on the DP World Tour, finishing second in the Soudal Open on Sunday. He has never bettered 16th place in a Major. Long-game ability countered by lack of Stateside experience.

Tommy Fleetwood

Like his compatriot Fitzpatrick, a PGA Tour victory has proved elusive, but recent form has been encouraging. Three missed cuts in seven US PGA starts, with a best finish of 29th. Twice a top-four finisher in the US Open.

Sergio Garcia

Controversial comments regarding the Saudi-backed breakaway tour have put the Spaniard under a cloud. He tied 12th in the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills, then he was tailed off in the 2007 PGA there, before being disqualified for signing for an incorrect score.

Lucas Glover

A share of 50th in the 2007 US PGA at Southern Hills came 22 months before he became a Major champion in the US Open. Five of his last seven US PGA starts have resulted in a missed cut. Outside the world’s top 100.

Talor Gooch

Accurate Oklahoman looking forward to teeing up in home state after making PGA Tour breakthrough in November. Has since cemented place in the world’s top 50, but is short of Major experience.

Branden Grace

Two-time PGA Tour champion with two top-fours in the US PGA. Dismal 2022 campaign, though, has seen the South African slip outside the world’s top 100.

Lanto Griffin

Eight previous Majors have yielded a PB of 19th spot in the 2019 US PGA. The 2019 Houston Open champion has shown some bright May form to hint something similar may be possible this week.

Justin Harding

A regular DP World Tour contender, but lacking Stateside experience and has missed the cut in five of his nine Major appearances.

Adam Hadwin

Canadian with a poor Majors record – seven missed cuts in 18 starts and never better than 24th place. Missed the cut by a long way in Texas last week.

Brian Harman

Aside from a share of second in the 2017 US Open, the diminutive left-hander has made little impact in 23 Major starts.

Padraig Harrington

Aged 50 and after a missed cut at the Masters, the Irishman knows weekend employment is far from certain, and Southern Hills form of 30-42 is humdrum. He tied fourth in last year’s US PGA, though, to show there is still some life in the old dog yet.

Tyrrell Hatton

This year has not gone to plan for the moody Englishman, who seems even more exasperated than usual. He is yet to seriously challenge for a Major title and it seems extremely unlikely in his current form.

Russell Henley

Accurate plodder who is winless since the 2017 Houston Open, having blown several chances. Zero top-tens in Majors (29 starts).

Lucas Herbert

Australian youngster who is a winner on both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. Eight Major starts, four missed cuts, PB of 31st place. Still learning at the highest level.

Kramer Hickok

Harris English’s ongoing injury woes meant a withdrawal – resulting in a Major debut for the short-hitting and badly out of form Hickok.

Garrick Higgo

South African left-hander who has badly lost his form this year, dropping outside the world’s top 100. Major form of 64-MC-MC-MC.

Harry Higgs

Texas-based 30-year-old PGA Tour maiden who finished fourth on his Major debut in last year’s US PGA. Tied 14th in his second Major – the Masters in April – but has been struggling to make cuts in regulation events either side of Augusta.

Tom Hoge

Precision approach-play, the Carolinian’s strength, helped him land a maiden PGA Tour title at Pebble Beach in February. Never better than 39th in his seven previous Majors.

Nicolai Hojgaard

Danish dude with two DP World Tour titles, aged 21. He missed the cut in only previous Major, though, and often goes from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Max Homa

Four-time PGA Tour champion, most recently last time out in the Wells Fargo Championship. Terrible Majors record – seven missed cuts from nine starts with a best finish of 40th – but playing with more confidence than ever.

Billy Horschel

Aside from fourth place in the 2013 US Open, the Floridian has a poor Majors record, but he is a former FedEx Cup champion who won a WGC last year. Can be fancied to make the cut without contending.

Sam Horsfield

Soudal Open champion on Sunday, winning with his girlfriend acting as caddie, securing third DP World Tour title aged 25. An enormous upgrade this week should derail the swashbuckling Englishman. Has never bettered 49th place in a Major.

Rikuya Hoshino

Five wins on the Japan Tour show the 26-year-old is no mug, but Major results of MC-MC-26-MC underline what a giant leap it is from his home circuit to the top level.

Beau Hossler

Big Beau has been banging at the PGA Tour winner’s enclosure, but is yet to find a way through. Has made the cut in four of his six Major starts, and can edge to the weekend again.

Viktor Hovland

Oklahoma is the adopted home state of the Norwegian youngster – he starred at Oklahoma State University and still lives close to campus. Tulsa is an hour east and he knows the course better than most of this field. A great opportunity for a maiden Major title, although chipping weakness could be exposed given windy forecast. Lots of scrambling seems inevitable.

Mackenzie Hughes

Canadian plodder with strong short-game. Last year was by far his best in Majors, with 15th place in the US Open followed by sixth in the Open, but the long, open Southern Hills does not seem a good fit.

Austin Hurt

Club pro playing in first PGA Championship. Expect pain and suffering for Hurt backers on Friday night.

Yuki Inamori

Three-time Japan Tour winner at the age of 27 – the latest coming at the start of this month. Stateside Major debut.

Colin Inglis

Club pro making PGA Championship debut. William Inglis & Son Ltd auction thoroughbreds. Colin is not a thoroughbred.

Nic Ishee

Another humble club professional seeing US PGA action for the first time. Ishee going to make the cut? Probably not.

Dustin Johnson

Two-time Major champion and former world number one, trying to get back to his best. Finding a driver he likes has become a long and serious problem. Southern Hills sets up nicely for the recently-married Carolinian, but a lack of Big Dog belief may cost him. A closing 73 meant a tie for 59th in the Byron Nelson on Sunday.

Zach Johnson

Two-time Major champion who is a fading force at the age of 46. He missed the cut by five shots in the 2007 PGA at Southern Hills. Another weekend off expected this time.

Jared Jones

Club pro making PGA debut. Indiana Jones used to dazzle by getting out of difficult situations. Jared finding a way past the Southern Hills halfway axe would be equally impressive.

Matt Jones

Two-time PGA Tour champion with zero top-20s from 20 Major starts. Tied second in the Texas Open last month.

Sadom Kaewkanjana

Thai terror on the brink of the world’s top 100 at the age of 23. Two-time Asian Tour champion making Major debut this week.

Takumi Kanaya

Rising star from Japan – a three-time champion in his homeland aged 23 – but he has missed the cut in his last five Majors and has arrived in poor form.

Martin Kaymer

Former world number one and two-time Major champion whose career has hit the slides. The new Saudi-backed tour has turned his eye, as he has failed to bank a decent cheque for the best part of a year.

Bio Kim

Seoul man, 31, who won on the Asian Tour earlier this month. Bursting with form in low grades, but a US PGA debut should bring him crashing back down to earth.

Chan Kim

Experienced 32-year-old globetrotter playing in his tenth Major. The often underrated American finished 23rd in last year’s US PGA.

Joohyung Kim

Korean prodigy who has won twice on the Asian Tour and twice on the Korean Tour as a teenager. Full of form and confidence. Missed the cut in only previous Major (2020 PGA).

Si Woo Kim

Injury-plagued Korean with volatile temperament. Three-time PGA Tour champion, but 20 Majors are yet to yield a top-ten finish. Can make the cut without contending.

Ryosuke Kinoshita

Dual Japan Tour champion aged 30 – both wins coming last year. Stateside Major debut.

Chris Kirk

Four-time PGA Tour champion, but winless since 2015. Zero top-tens in 19 previous Majors. Lacks driving distance.

Kevin Kisner

Short but straight Carolinian who has won four PGA Tour titles. US PGA form of MC-18-7-12-MC-19-MC shows he can be a factor in this Major on the right course, but Southern Hills seems far from ideal for him.

Patton Kizzire

Two-time PGA Tour champion with a dismal Majors record – seven missed cuts from ten starts. Playing well enough to tee up Saturday this time.

Russell Knox

Accurate Scot accessed the field when Paul Casey decided on Sunday that his injuries would rule him out of another Major. Knox has made only seven cuts in 17 previous Majors, with zero top-tens.

Brooks Koepka

Four-time Major champion seeking to complete US PGA hat-trick. No reason was given for his pre-tournament withdrawal from the Byron Nelson last week, but the Floridian has been largely healthy this year, so it may have been purely tactical. He has not competed since missing the cut in the Masters.

Jason Kokrak

Three-time PGA Tour champion with zero top-tens from 19 previous Majors. Tie for 14th in the Masters in April was his Majors PB. He was among the birdies in Texas last week and is a big-hitter who could be effective at Southern Hills.

Jinichiro Kozuma

Dual Japan Tour champion aged 27. Major debut. Appears a lamb to slaughter.

Matt Kuchar

Veteran plodder still seeking Major breakthrough. Nine-time PGA Tour champion. Has missed the cut in his last seven Majors and winless on PGA Tour since January, 2019.

Anirban Lahiri

Pride of India threatened to win the Players Championship at Sawgrass in March, eventually finishing runner-up. Two-time European Tour champ seeking Stateside breakthrough. US PGA form of MC-5-MC-75-MC.

Pablo Larrazabal

Mercurial Spaniard has won twice on the DP World Tour this year – and seven times in his career – but Majors typically find him out. He has missed 11 cuts in 15 Majors (seven from eight Stateside).

Kyoung-Hoon Lee

Successfully defended his AT&T Byron Nelson title last week – the 30-year-old Korean bouncing back to top form after a quiet spell. Recently became a father. Yet to make a cut in five Major starts.

Min Woo Lee

Sweet-swinging Australian has won twice on the DP World Tour and is bursting with potential aged 23. He tied 14th on his Masters debut in April and the forecast for wind at Southern Hills will have this Perth lad licking his lips.

Marc Leishman

Amiable Australian with five PGA Tour titles to his name. He has contended in the Masters and the Open, but his form in the other two Majors is poor and he has missed the cut in the US PGA the last three years.

Luke List

Powerhouse made his PGA Tour breakthrough in the Farmers Insurance Open in January. He has not recorded a top-30 finish since. Sixth spot in the 2019 US PGA is by far his best Major performance. He has missed nine cuts in 13 Majors.

Shane Lowry

US PGA form of 12-8-66-4 from the last four editions will greatly encourage the Irishman’s fans. The 2019 Open champion was US Open runner-up in 2016. And he showed when winning the 2015 WGC-Bridgestone at Firestone that he could triumph at a long, tree-lined Stateside venue. His 2022 campaign has been rock-solid and this popular character should be one of Europe’s leading lights this week.

Robert MacIntyre

Scotland’s great hope dropped five shots in two holes during round three of the British Masters last time out, destroying his Belfry hopes, but generally over the last three months he has been getting his act together. The left-hander has made the cut in all eight previous Majors.

Hideki Matsuyama

A year parading the Green Jacket came to an end in April, but the Japanese star could be proud of 14th place at Augusta given how much injury ruined his Masters preparation. He seemed fit in Texas last week and tied for third place, and his US PGA record is solid (19-35-37-4-5-35-16-22-23), so much respect is due.

Sean McCarty

Club pro making second US PGA start. Carded a 69 in round two to finish just three shots shy of the 2018 cut-line, but he will expect to be shorn from the Southern Hills field on Friday.

Rory McIlroy

A final-round 64 thrilled the Northern Irishman and his supporters at Augusta last month, but the runner-up effort highlighted a trend of slow starts and fast finishes. The last of two US PGA titles came in 2014 – his last Major victory – and getting early birdies on the board may be the key to threatening a hat-trick this week. A dangerman if coming away well.

Maverick McNealy

Putting wizard who has developed more long-game consistency and should become a PGA Tour champion eventually. Has not missed a cut since October last year, but his previous four Majors all resulted in a weekend off.

Kyle Mendoza

Club pro teeing up in first US PGA. It would be unwise to pile on Kyle.

Troy Merritt

Two-time PGA Tour champion who appears to have squeezed the maximum from his talent. Never better than 42nd place in ten previous Majors.

Shaun Micheel

Old stager treading the boards again aged 53. US PGA champion in 2003. Last made the cut in 2011.

Keith Mitchell

Big-hitting 30-year-old underachiever with one PGA Tour title to his name. Four missed cuts in six Majors starts, with a best finish of 43rd place.

Francesco Molinari

Former Open champion whose career has stalled badly since he found water at Augusta’s 12th hole when battling with Tiger Woods on Masters Sunday, 2019. Form and fitness has disappeared and he is outside the world’s top 200.

Collin Morikawa

Success has come so quickly for the Californian 25-year-old, who won the US PGA on debut in 2020, then the Open on debut last year. He was eighth on his PGA title defence and fifth in the Masters in April. His approach-play accuracy counts for plenty at Southern Hills and it is difficult to see him finishing out of the frame.

Jesse Mueller

Club pro won the PGA Professional Championship. It is not worth risking the price of a Muller Rice that he wins the PGA Championship.

Sebastian Munoz

Early pacesetter in the AT&T Byron Nelson last week, carding a Thursday 60, but the 2019 Sanderson Farms remains his only PGA Tour title. Six missed cuts in nine Majors, with a best finish of 19th.

Kevin Na

Slow-coach grinder has won five low-grade PGA Tour titles. Has missed his last three USPGA cuts and his last three US Opens.

Dylan Newman

Club pro making US PGA debut. The answer is blowin’ in the wind. The answer is not Dylan Newman.

Joaquin Niemann

Chilean star won the Genesis Invitational in fine style in February. That performance may mean he is ready to improve on a poor Majors record at the age of 23. Five missed cuts from 12 Majors, with a best finish of 23rd, but is well suited to the Southern Hills assignment. A Sunday 74 when contending in the Byron Nelson was an untimely dent to confidence.

Alex Noren

Turns 40 in July, probably as a PGA Tour maiden. Ten-time European Tour champion. Zero top-tens in Stateside Majors.

Shaun Norris

South African plodder won the Steyn City Championship in March – a DP World Tour breakthrough. Six-time Japan Tour winner. Five missed cuts in seven Major starts, with a best finish of 61st. Turned 40 last Saturday.

Zac Oakley

PGA debut for club pro from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Highly unlikely to become King of Southern Hills on Sunday.

Louis Oosthuizen

Undercooked South African withdrew after round one of the Masters with a back injury and has not competed since. He has finished US PGA runner-up in two of the last four editions, but is difficult to fancy this time.

Carlos Ortiz

Swashbuckling Mexican has missed five cuts in seven Major starts, never bettering 52nd place. Unattractive option.

Ryan Palmer

Texan slugger was among the birdies in his home state last week, but he has not won an individual title on the PGA Tour since 2010 and has missed the cut in his last four Majors.

Mito Pereira

Strong ball-striker seeking PGA Tour breakthrough. The 27-year-old Chilean has won three times on the Korn Ferry Tour. Missed cut in only previous Major.

Thomas Pieters

Six-time DP World Tour champion, most recently in Abu Dhabi in January. Tied sixth in the 2018 US PGA, but that is his last Major top-20. Capable but inconsistent.

Ian Poulter

Old Ryder Cup warhorse. Tied for 23rd place in the 2007 US PGA at Southern Hills. Last Major top-ten came in the 2015 Masters. Difficult to see that drought ending on Sunday.

Seamus Power

Accurate Irishman enjoying the best period of his career. Tied for 27th on his Major debut at Augusta in April. Making the cut on PGA debut would be an achievement.

Casey Pyne

Club pro teeing up in first US PGA. Punters who fail to back the mustachioed Connecticut man are unlikely to be left pining on Sunday.

Jon Rahm

World number one status has been lost to Scottie Scheffler, but victory in the Mexico Open last time out restored some of the Spaniard’s self-belief. US PGA results of 58-4-MC-13-8 are decent. Last year’s US Open is lone Major victory. He must be respected, but the Mexico success was in an extremely weak field and others are preferred at the prices.

Chad Ramey

Mississippi man enjoyed PGA Tour breakthrough at the age of 29 in the Corales Puntacana Championship in March. Major debut this week.

Patrick Reed

Masters glory arrived in 2018 eight months after he finished second in the 2017 US PGA. A lacklustre 2022 campaign suggests the Texan will struggle to make an impact this time.

Davis Riley

Rising star of the PGA Tour, who was beaten in a playoff for the Valspar Championship in March. This sweet-swinging powerhouse seems almost certain to shed his maiden tag soon enough. A dangerous outsider.

Justin Rose

Englishman tied for 12th in the 2007 US PGA at Southern Hills. Aged 41, he is winless since January, 2019. Five US PGA top-tens, including the last two years, but he has slipped outside the world’s top 50 and is becoming difficult to trust.

Xander Schauffele

A fantastic late-Friday charge meant the Californian made the cut in the Byron Nelson last week, and he dazzled over the weekend with a 65 and a 61 for a share of fifth. Victory came alongside Patrick Cantlay in the Zurich Classic pairs events last month, but Schauffele is winless on his own on the PGA Tour since January, 2019. Nine Major top-tens, but yet to win one.

Scottie Scheffler

The world number one has triumphed in four of his last seven starts as an individual, including picking up a first Major at Augusta last month. Long before donning a Green Jacket, the Texas-based superstar described Southern Hills as his favourite course on the planet, and he carded a 64 there in practice recently. Forecast breeze only aids cause. A top-20 finisher in his last seven Majors. The most likely winner is on offer at surprisingly generous odds.

Adam Schenk

Davis Love decided at the weekend that going to post aged 58 was not worth it, so alternate Schenk, a maiden from Indiana, sneaked into the field. Major debut aged 30.

Charl Schwartzel

Masters champion in 2011, but 15 US PGA starts have yielded zero top-tens. Was handed a place in this field after Phil Mickelson withdrew. Lively in Texas last week, employing an Adam Scott-like long putter.

Adam Scott

Aussie tied for 12th in the 2007 US PGA at Southern Hills. Consistent Major performer who won the 2013 Masters. Six top-tens in the US PGA, but winless since February, 2020, and others much preferred.

Webb Simpson

Injury has blighted the 2022 campaign of a player plummeting down the world rankings. Zero top-tens in 11 US PGA starts – a trend which seems set to continue.

Cameron Smith

Sawgrass glory in March was followed by a bold bid for the Green Jacket last month. The Australian finished third at Augusta, then missed the cut in the Heritage before 21st spot alongside Marc Leishman in the Zurich Classic. Yet to crack the top 20 in six previous US PGA starts. Scrambling ability will serve him well at Southern Hills, and forecast breeze will further encourage.

JJ Spaun

Cuddly Californian shed his maiden tag by winning the Texas Open last month. Has made the cut in both previous US PGA starts and can complete the hat-trick this week.

Jordan Spieth

Texan is full of long-game belief as he bids to complete a career Grand Slam of Majors. The three-time Major champ believes Southern Hills is a great fit for him. Putting form returned for the first three days of the Byron Nelson last week, but he suffered on the greens in round four and finished second. This fierce competitor seems likely to be in the mix throughout, but is he putting well enough to hold it together on the dancefloors under the ultimate golfing pressure on Sunday?

Scott Stallings

Sungjae Im was a surprise withdrawal on Sunday, meaning alternate Stallings accessed the field. Seven missed cuts in ten previous Majors, with zero top-20s.

Brendan Steele

Three-time PGA Tour champion who turns 40 next April. Dire Majors record, including ten missed cuts in 21 starts.

Henrik Stenson

Europe’s new Ryder Cup captain has lost his form as a player, dropping outside the world’s top 200. He missed the cut by four shots in the 2007 PGA at Southern Hills.

Sepp Straka

Austria’s finest made his PGA Tour breakthrough in the Honda Classic in February and has played some decent golf since. He has made the cut in all three previous Majors.

Kevin Streelman

Two-time PGA Tour champion, but winless since 2014. Eighth place in last year’s PGA was his Major PB, but he should be outgunned at Southern Hills by longer drivers.

Hudson Swafford

Three-time PGA Tour champion who has made only one cut in seven Majors, finishing 30th in the Masters in April.

Justin Thomas

Winless for 15 months, so often his incredible approach-play wasted by poor putting. The laserlike irons count for plenty at Southern Hills, where the targets are tiny on approach, but the 2017 US PGA champion has become a regular disappointment in Majors since his Quail Hollow success.

Cameron Tringale

Smiley Californian who is yet to win on the PGA Tour. Thirteen previous Majors have yielded six missed cuts and zero top-20s.

Erik van Rooyen

Genial 32-year-old South African who has won one title on each of the main tours. Eighth place in the 2019 US PGA is his best Major effort by far. Has missed the cut in the last four Majors.

Daniel van Tonder

South African with ugly swing won the Kenya Savannah Classic last year. Has made the cut in both previous Majors (44-40). Hat-trick seems unlikely.

Harold Varner

Popular Ohio man won the Saudi International with a massive putt in February, then celebrated wildly. Yet to win on the PGA Tour. Zero top-20s in nine previous Majors.

Jhonattan Vegas

Texas-based Venezuelan has missed eight cuts in 14 previous Majors, never posting a top-20 finish. Respectable recent form hints he might scrape through this time.

Ryan Vermeer

Club professional playing in his fifth US PGA. Has made the cut once (2018) and finished second from last. Go nowhere near Vermeer.

Shawn Warren

Club pro, playing in third PGA, seeking to make cut for first time.

Bubba Watson

Dual Masters champion who typically struggles in Majors away from Augusta, but he lost a playoff for the 2010 US PGA. The left-hander missed the cut by 13 shots in the 2007 PGA at Southern Hills. Last PGA top-20 came in 2006.

Lee Westwood

Experienced Englishman turns 50 next April. He missed the cut in the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills, then tied 32nd in the 2007 PGA there. Slid outside the world’s top 50 in March and may struggle to get back inside. Seems set to retire without a Major title.

Bernd Wiesberger

Austrian giant scored no points on his Ryder Cup debut last September, is winless since, and may be past his peak at the age of 36. Zero top-tens in 28 Majors.

Aaron Wise

PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2018, but has got stuck on one victory, with putting problems holding him back. He has made the cut in his last five Majors, finishing 17th in last year’s US PGA. Sixth last time out in the Mexico Open. May be worth chancing in the top-20 market.

Matthew Wolff

Wildly inconsistent, often going from the sublime to the ridiculous, which is due largely to technical imperfections in his unusual swing. He tied fourth in his only previous US PGA, though, and was runner-up in the 2020 US Open. Not worth the gamble.

Gary Woodland

US Open success in 2019 has not proved a springboard to great things. Winless since and squandered a golden opportunity at Bay Hill in March. Five missed cuts and nothing better than 38th place in nine Majors since his US Open triumph.

Tiger Woods

The greatest of all time battled manfully to 47th place in the Masters, despite clearly still being severely handicapped by his leg injuries. Southern Hills should provide an even greater challenge and a weekend off seems likely. He tied 12th in the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills, then won the 2007 US PGA there, but the 46-year-old Tiger is a shadow of his former self.

Wyatt Worthington II

Second US PGA start for the 35-year-old Ohio man (missed cut, 2016).

Y.E Yang

Veteran Korean, who won the PGA in 2009. He missed the cut by five shots in the 2007 PGA at Southern Hills. Aged 50 with little to offer these days.

Cameron Young

Rising star of the PGA Tour, who tied second in the Genesis Invitational in February, then third in the Heritage and tied second in the Wells Fargo. Yet to make a cut in three Major starts, but has never been more confident and seems the pick of the outsiders.

Will Zalatoris

A slow start under windy skies cost him in the Byron Nelson last week – he went on to miss the cut by a shot – but the Californian has been generally excellent this year and should take a shine to Southern Hills. Tied eighth in only previous US PGA. Definite runner.

New to golf betting? Read our handy golf betting guide ahead of the 2022 PGA Championship

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