Rory McIlroy signs autographs after practice Tuesday at Valhalla Golf Club. (Getty)
Rory McIlroy is on top of the golf world, and he has the respect from oddsmakers to prove it.
McIlory, who turned in a dominant performance en route to winning the British Open last month — and winning his dad a boatload of money in the process — has been installed as the clear favorite at the PGA Championship, which begins Thursday at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.
Here’s what you need to know about the favorites, longshots and everything in between:
1. Rory McIlroy Is a 9/2 Favorite to Win the Tournament
McIlroy chats with Pablo Larrazabal during a practice round Tuesday. (Getty)
The oddsmakers at Bovada have McIlroy as a 9/2 favorite to win, with Adam Scott a distant second at 11/1 and Justin Rose and the resurgent Sergio Garcia each at 16/1.
Despite having withdrawn from last week’s Bridgestone Invitational after injuring his surgically repaired back, Tiger Woods — on whom people are nearly always willing to bet — is tied for 10th on Bovada’s lists of favorites, with odds of 33/1.
Via Bovada, here’s a rundown of the favorites:
Rory McIlroy: 9/2
Adam Scott: 11/1
Justin Rose: 16/1
Sergio Garcia: 16/1
Phil Mickelson: 20/1
Rickie Fowler: 20/1
Henrik Stenson: 25/1
Keegan Bradley: 28/1
Matt Kuchar: 28/1
Bubba Watson: 33/1
Jim Furyk: 33/1
Tiger Woods: 33/1
2. McIlroy Is Even Money to Finish in the Top 5
McIlroy, Larrazabal and their caddies at practice on Tuesday. (Getty)
McIlroy, who had only one top 5 finish all year until winning the British, is even money to finish in the top 5 at Valhalla.
Bovada gives 15 other players odds of 15/1 or better at cracking the top 5.
A look at the contenders:
Rory McIlroy: 1/1
Adam Scott: 11/4
Sergio Garcia: 3/1
Justin Rose: 7/2
Rickie Fowler: 4/1
Phil Mickelson: 9/2
Henrik Stenson: 5/1
Bubba Watson: 11/2
Keegan Bradley: 11/2
Matt Kuchar: 11/2
Jim Furyk: 6/1
Tiger Woods: 6/1
Charl Schwartzel: 7/1
Jordan Spieth:7/1
Martin Kaymar: 7/1
Graeme McDowell: 8/1
3. Defending Champion Jason Dufner Is a 66/1 Longshot
(Getty)
Jason Dufner is the tournament’s defending champion, but you wouldn’t know that from the odds. Dufner is a 66/1 longshot, putting him behind 21 other players.
Here’s a rundown of some other notable longshots via Bovada:
Lee Westwood: 66/1
Angel Cabrera: 80/1
Ernie Els: 150/1
Stewart Cink: 200/1
K.J. Choi: 200/1
Padraig Harrington: 250/1
Rory Sabbatini: 250/1
Davis Love III: 300/1
Vijah Sing: 300/1
4. Rickie Fowler Is Favored to Be the Top American
(Getty)
Paddy Power is offering odds on the top players from various countries, and Rickie Fowler — who tied with Sergio Garcia for second place at the British — narrowly edges Keegan Bradley for the distinction of being the favorite among Americans.
Here’s a rundown of the favorites:
Rickie Fowler: 10/1
Keegan Bradley: 11/1
Matt Kuchar: 12/1
Phil Mickelson: 12/1
Bubba Watson: 14/1
Jim Furyk: 14/1
Tiger Woods: 16/1
Jordan Spieth: 16/1
Ryan Moore: 22/1
Jimmy Walker: 22/1
Brandt Snedekar: 22/1
Zach Johnson: 25/1
Jason Dufner: 28/1
Patrick Reed: 28/1
5. McIlroy As the Top Irishman Is as Safe a Bet as You’ll Find
Irish fans cheer McIlory during the British Open. (Getty)
In addition to being the outright favorite to win the tournament, McIlroy is favored at Paddy Power to win three geographic sub-groups: to be the top player from Ireland (he’s from Northern Ireland, but listed with the Irish), the top player from Ireland and the United Kingdom, and the top player from Europe.
Of all the players favored to win a geographic sub-group, McIlory — with odds of 2/7 — is the heaviest favorite to be the top Irishman.
At 4/5, Adam Scott is also better than even money to be the top Australian.
Here’s a look at the top 5 from each non-American geographic sub-group:
IRELAND
Rory McIlroy: 2/7
Graeme McDowell: 4/1
Shane Lowery: 12/1
Padraig Harrington: 20/1
Darren Clarke: 28/1
IRELAND & THE UK
Rory McIlroy: even
Justin Rose: 4/1
Graeme McDowell: 10/1
Lee Westwood: 12/1
Luke Donald: 18/1
ENGLAND
Justin Rose: 11/10
Lee Westwood: 9/2
Luke Donald: 6/1
Ian Poulter: 8/1
Paul Casey: 9/1
EUROPE
Rory McIlroy: 2/1
Sergio Garcia: 13/2
Justin Rose: 13/2
Henrik Stenson: 10/1
Graeme McDowell: 14/1
AUSTRALIA
Adam Scott: 4/5
Marc Leishman: 9/2
Jason Day: 5/1
Geoff Ogilvy: 10/1
John Senden: 12/1
