2023 PGA Championship Power Rankings

0
Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka 2023 PGA Championship
Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka walk up the 13th fairway during the weather-delayed third round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National GC on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, GA. (Photo by Andrew Redington via Getty Images)

The second major golf championship of the 2023 season gets underway this week in upstate New York, as the world’s very best meet up at historical Oak Hill Country Club for the 105th edition of the PGA Championship.

A year ago, Justin Thomas pulled off a comeback for the ages to claim his second career Wanamaker Trophy, while the year prior, Phil Mickelson turned back the clock to capture his sixth major, becoming the oldest major champion in history.

Thomas and Mickelson are among a string of Hall-of-Fame types who’ve won the PGA Championship since the turn of the century, joining the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka, among others.

Oak Hill, though, has hosted two PGA Championships this century and produced a pair of winners who’ll require a ticket to gain access to the Hall: Shaun Micheel (2003) and Jason Dufner (2013).

Thus, will this week’s champion be one who’s historic, or a one-time supernova who’s part of history?

Our top 20 is below:

20. Patrick Reed

Patrick Reed
Patrick Reed of 4 Aces GC and caddie Kessler Karain on the 9th tee during day 2 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National GC on July 30, 2022 in Bedminster, NJ. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The 2018 Masters champion enters in sneaky-good form, having posted six consecutive top-20 finishes, highlighted by a T4 at Augusta National… Reed sits inside the top 10 on the LIV Golf circuit’s season-long points standings… The Texan owns four top-20 finishes in his seven most recent PGA Championship starts, including a T2 at the 2017 edition.

Odds: 100-1
Book Rank: T30
PGW Rank: 25th
Last 6: 12, 14, 3, 4, 4, 18
Last 6 Majors: 4, 47, 49, 34, 35, MC
Best at PGA: T2 (2017)


19. Sam Burns

Sam Burns Wins 2023 WGC Dell Match Play
Sam Burns with caddie Travis Perkins on the 13th hole tee during the final day of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin CC on Mar 26, 2023 in Austin, TX. (Photo by Keyur Khamar for the PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

The LSU product is enjoying another superb season with a win and three additional top-10s. Yet, despite five victories in less than three seasons, the world No.14 has struggled badly on the major stage. During this span, Burns has entered eight majors and owns just a single top-25 result. He’s too good to continue with these major duds.

Odds: 50-1
Book Rank: T20
PGW Rank: 18th
Last 6: MC, 15, 29, 1, 6, 35
Last 6 Majors: 29, 42, 27, 20, MC, 76
Best at PGA: T20 (2022)


18. Max Homa

Max Homa Wins 2023 Farmers Insurance Open
Max Homa reacts after a putt on the 5th green during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open on the South Course of Torrey Pines on Jan 28, 2023 in La Jolla, Calif. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez via Getty Images)

The 32-year-old L.A. native, and world No.6, is enjoying another dream season with two more victories (Silverado, Torrey Pines) and five top-10 finishes. Yet, as phenomenal as Homa’s been over the past few years, he’s been a complete no-show in the majors, with just a single finish better than T40 in 14 career major starts.

Odds: 35-1
Book Rank: T15
PGW Rank: 14th
Last 6: 8, MC, 43, 9, 6, 14
Last 6 Majors: 43, MC, 47, 13, 48, 40
Best at PGA: T13 (2022)


17. Cameron Young

Cameron Young
Cameron Young catches his golf ball from caddie on the 1st green during the final round of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills CC on May 22, 2022 in Tulsa, OK. (Photo by Sam Greenwood via Getty Images)

The 26-year-old bomber from New York enters off a pair of terrible finishes (T59, T51) but before that reeled off three top-10s in a four-start span… Young finished with a pair of top-3 finishes at the majors in his rookie season of 2022, including a solo second at St Andrews and a T3 at the PGA. He followed it up with a T7 at this year’s Masters… The 2022 Rookie-of-the-Year seems due for his first tour win.

Odds: 25-1
Book Rank: T7
PGW Rank: 20th
Last 6: 59, 51, 7, 2, 51, 10
Last 6 Majors: 7, 2, MC, 3, MC, MC
Best at PGA: T3 (2022)


16. Joaquin Niemann

Joaquin Niemann 2022 LIV Golf Boston
Team Captain Joaquin Niemann of Torque GC lines up a putt on the 12th green during Day 2 of the LIV Golf Invitational Boston at The Oaks course at The International on Sept 03, 2022 in Bolton, Mass. (Photo by Charles Laberge for LIV Golf via Getty Images )

The 24-year-old Chilean opened the 2023 season with a pair of top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour. He chased a T16 at the Masters with two consecutive top-10 finishes on the LIV Golf circuit. Currently ranked No.28 in the world, Niemann finished T23 at last year’s PGA Championship.

Odds: 70-1
Book Rank: T23
PGW Rank: 24th
Last 6: 9, 10, 30, 15, 33, 37
Last 6 Majors: 16, 53, 47, 23, 35, 59
Best at PGA: T23 (2022)


15. Viktor Hovland

Viktor Hovland Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Power Rankings
Viktor Hovland on the 3rd tee during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on Mar 6, 2021 in Orlando, Fla. (Photo by Sam Greenwood via Getty Images)

One of the youngest stars in the field, the 25-year-old Norwegian currently ranks 11th in the OWGR and enters off two poor finishes (T43, T59). Before that, though, he’d reeled off three straight top-10 finishes in three big-time events: T7 Masters, T3 Players, T10 Arnold Palmer… Finished T7 at this year’s Masters.

Odds: 30-1
Book Rank: T12
PGW Rank: 12th
Last 6: 43, 59, 7, 31, 3, 10
Last 6 Majors: 7, 4, MC, 41, 27, 12
Best at PGA: T30 (2021)


14. Talor Gooch

Talor Gooch Wins 2023 LIV GOLF Adelaide
Talor Gooch of RangeGoats GC and caddie Malcolm Baker during day three of Liv Golf Adelaide at The Grange GC on Apr 23, 2023 in Adelaide, Aus. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake via Getty Images)

The Oklahoma State product scored back-to-back LIV Golf titles and holds down the No.1 spot on the upstart tour’s season-long points standings… The talented Gooch made news last week when the USGA de-qualified him for next month’s U.S. Open.

Odds: 80-1
Book Rank: T26
PGW Rank: 16th
Last 6: 36, 1, 1, 34, 18, 14
Last 6 Majors: 34, 34, MC, 20, 14, 33
Best at PGA: T20 (2022)


13. Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa on the 9th hole during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial CC on May 26, 2022 in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by Ben Jared / PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

The two-time major winner opened 2023 with three top-6 finishes in his first four starts. But since then, the Cal native has posted just a single top-10 and enters off two consecutive poor results: T31 (Heritage) and MC (Fargo)… On the major stage, though, the 26-year-old seems unflappable, with two wins, three other top-5s and two more top-10s in just 13 career starts.

Odds: 30-1
Book Rank: T12
PGW Rank: 13th
Last 6: MC, 31, 10, 28, 13, MC
Last 6 Majors: 10, MC, 5, 55, 5, 1
Best at PGA: Win (2020)


12. Jordan Spieth

Jordan Spieth 2022 PGA Championship Southern Hills
Jordan Spieth plays a shot during a practice round at Southern Hills CC on May 17, 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, ahead of the 2022 PGA Championship. (Photo by Richard Heathcote via Getty Images)

The Texan is entering in questionable form due to an injury-related WD at last week’s Byron Nelson… Before the injury, though, the one-time “Golden Child” of golf was in solid form, having posted four top-5s in his seven most recent starts, highlighted by a T4 at the Masters and playoff loss at Hilton Head. The 29-year-old icon, who has twice finished inside the top 3 at the PGA Championship, seeks to become just the sixth player in history to complete the career grand slam.

Odds: 40-1
Book Rank: 19th
PGW Rank: 11th
Last 6: MC, 2, 4, 31, 3, 19
Last 6 Majors: 4, 8, 37, 34, MC, 2
Best at PGA: 2nd (2015)


11. Justin Thomas

2023 RBC Heritage Power Rankings Justin Thomas
Justin Thomas reacts on the third green during the first round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National GC on Apr 06, 2023 in Augusta, GA. (Photo by Patrick Smith via Getty Images)

The 15-time Tour winner has not landed in the winner’s circle since claiming his second PGA in May 2022, and does not look close to being his old self. The star who reeled off 13 wins in a five-season span (2016-2020) has won just twice in the last 33 months, albeit two biggies (The Players and PGA). The former top-result machine enters amid a season with just a single top-5 finish and only one other top-10 result.

Odds: 40-1
Book Rank: 11th
PGW Rank: 17th
Last 6: 14, 25, MC, 10, 60, 21
Last 6 Majors: MC, 53, 37, 1, 8, 40
Best at PGA: Win (2017, 2022)


10. Tony Finau

Tony Finau Wins 2022 Rocket Mortgage Classic
Tony Finau prepares to play a shot on 9th tee during the final round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit GC on July 31, 2022 in Detroit, Mich. (Photo by Mike Mulholland via Getty Images)

The Utah native arrives in New York off a win in Mexico, his fourth victory in 19 tour starts… Beginning in 2018, over a span of 13 major starts, Finau recorded an incredible nine top-10 finishes. Since then, though, he’s gone seven straight majors without a single top-10 result.

Odds: 25-1
Book Rank: T7
PGW Rank: 10th
Last 6: 23, 1, 31, 26, 17, 19
Last 6 Majors: 26, 28, MC, 30, 35, 15
Best at PGA: T4 (2020)


9. Jason Day

Jason Day Wins 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson
Jason Day reacts after making birdie on the 18th green during the final round of the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch on May 14, 2023 in McKinney, TX. (Photo by Tim Heitman via Getty Images)

The 35-year-old Aussie enters off a win at the Byron Nelson, his first victory of any kind since 2018. Ranked inside the top 20 for the first time in four years, the former world No.1 seems to be fully back after several years of physical and emotional setbacks.

Odds: 25-1
Book Rank: T7
PGW Rank: 19th
Last 6: 1, MC, 39, 5, 19, 10
Last 6 Majors: 39, 55, MC, 44, MC, 38
Best at PGA: Win (2015)


8. Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy Wins 2022 FedEx Cup TOUR Championship
Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the 13th tee as Scottie Scheffler looks on during the final round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake GC on Aug 28, 2022 in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Sam Greenwood via Getty Images)

The Northern Irishman won the CJ Cup back in the fall, but since the calendar flipped to 2023, the now 34-year-old has not played particularly well. He followed up a missed-cut at the Masters with a no-show at Hilton Head, costing himself $3 million, and then finished T47 at Quail Hollow, a course he usually owns… In six stroke-play starts on the year, McIlroy has more missed-cuts (2) than top-10s (1).

Odds: 14-1
Book Rank: 3rd
PGW Rank: 7th
Last 6: 47, MC, 3, MC, 2, 29
Last 6 Majors: MC, 3, 5, 8, 2, 46
Best at PGA: Win (2012, 2014)


7. Patrick Cantlay

2023 RBC Heritage Power Rankings Patrick Cantlay
Patrick Cantlay reacts to a putt on the 10th green during the final round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National GC on Apr 09, 2023 in Augusta, GA. (Photo by Andrew Redington via Getty Images)

The world No.4 has not been particularly stellar in majors, with just three top-10s in 21 starts… On the season, the 31-year-old UCLA product has only two results outside the top-25, with four top-4 finishes.

Odds: 18-1
Book Rank: T4
PGW Rank: 6th
Last 6: 21, 3, 14, 9, 19, 4
Last 6 Majors: 14, 8, 14, MC, 39, MC
Best at PGA: T3 (2019)


6. Xander Schauffele

2023 RBC Heritage Power Rankings Xander Schauffele
Xander Schauffele plays his tee shot on the 4th hole during the first round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National GC on Apr 06, 2023 in Augusta, GA. (Photo by David Cannon via Getty Images)

The reigning Olympic gold medalist enters on a heater, highlighted by four straight top-10s including three top-5s… While he has yet to win a major, Schauffele has consistently finished well in the biggest events, with ten top-10s in 23 major starts. Xander, Cantlay and Finau are the best players in the world without a major.

Odds: 18-1
Book Rank: T4
PGW Rank: 5th
Last 6: 2, 4, 10, 5, 19, 39
Last 6 Majors: 10, 15, 14, 13, MC, 26
Best at PGA: T10 (2020)


5. Dustin Johnson

Dustin Johnson Wins 2023 LIV Golf Tulsa
Dustin Johnson of Aces GC hits a tee shot on the 18th hole during Day 3 of the LIV Golf Tulsa tournament at Cedar Ridge CC on May 14, 2023 in Broken Arrow, OK. (Photo by Ian Maule via Getty Images)

Fully healed from an injury which hampered his game earlier in the season. Now (laughably) ranked 82nd in the world, DJ enters off an overtime win in Tulsa and a solo 10th in Australia. The longtime world No.1 and two-time major winner could become just the 13th player in history to win three of the four legs of the grand slam.

Odds: 30-1
Book Rank: T12
PGW Rank: 8th
Last 6: 1, 25, 10, 48, 7, 13
Last 6 Majors: 48, 6, 24, MC, 12, 8
Best at PGA: 2nd (2019, 2020)


4. Cameron Smith

2023 PGA Championship Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith plays a chip shot during a practice round prior to the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill CC on May 15, 2023 in Rochester, NY. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)

The 27-year-old Aussie, and greatest putter on the planet, enters in very good form (T2 Tulsa, T6 Singapore and T3 Australia). The reigning British Open champion has not fared too well at the PGA, though: a T13 (2022) and T25 (2015) are his only top-40 finishes in this event.

Odds: 25-1
Book Rank: T7
PGW Rank: 4th
Last 6: 2, 7, 4, 34, 29, 26
Last 6 Majors: 34, 1, MC, 13, 3, 33
Best at PGA: T13 (2022)


3. Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler Wins The 2023 Players Championship
On the 18th green, Scottie Scheffler reacts to winning THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on Mar 12, 2023 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Photo by Logan Bowles for the PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

The world No. 2 enters in tip-top form, with thirteen consecutive top-12 finishes, highlighted by two victories, five other top-5s and three additional top-10s!… In his last eight major starts, the Texan owns six top-10 finishes, including a maiden win at last season’s Masters.

Odds: 8-1
Book Rank: T1
PGW Rank: 2nd
Last 6: 5, 11, 10, 4, 1, 4
Last 6 Majors: 10, 21, 2, MC, 1, 8
Best at PGA: T4 (2020)


2. Brooks Koepka

2023 PGA Championship Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson
Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson on the third hole during a practice round prior to the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill CC on May 16, 2023 in Rochester, NY. (Photo by Michael Reaves via Getty Images)

The Florida State product does not need help getting himself hyped for majors, as he’s consistently excelled on the biggest stages. In a three-season blitzkrieg (2017-2019), Koepka won four times while finishing runner-up twice more. Starting in 2020, though, the two-time PGA winner has battled through a multitude of injuries which limited his play and hampered his once-dominant style. Now injury free, and in top form, Koepka returned to the major stage in April and finished T2 at the Masters. In his last five starts, Koepka owns four top-10s (1, 2, 3, 6), including three top-3s.

Odds: 18-1
Book Rank: T4
PGW Rank: 3rd
Last 6: 6, 3, 19, 2, 1, 29
Last 6 Majors: 2, MC, 55, 55, MC, 6
Best at PGA: Win (2018, 2019)


1. Jon Rahm

2023 PGA Championship Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm points on the 9th green during a practice round prior to the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill CC on May 15, 2023 in Rochester, NY. (Photo by Warren Little via Getty Images)

In terms of who’s playing the best among the best, it’s hands-down Rahm, who’s won six times (and two additional top-3s) in his 13 most recent starts, highlighted by a victory at the 2023 Masters. Rahm owns two top-10 finishes (T4, T8) in six career PGA Championship starts.

Odds: 8-1
Book Rank: T1
PGW Rank: 1st
Last 6: 2, 15, 1, 31, 39, 1
Last 6 Majors: 1, 34, 12, 48, 27, 3
Best at PGA: T4 (2018)


Bonus: Phil Mickelson

LIV Golf London Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson looks on as Phil Mickelson tees off on the 4th tee on day one of the LIV Golf Invitational London at The Centurion Club in St Albans on June 9, 2022. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images)

The 52-year-old superstar recorded his sixth major victory at the 2021 PGA Championship… Lefty, whose main priority these days is growing his LIV Golf brand and competing in majors, enters off a couple of poor results on the breakaway tour alongside a spectacular runner-up finish at the Masters. Phil cannot be counted out. Anywhere.

Odds: 150-1
Book Rank: T40
PGW Rank: 45th
Last 6: 45, 15, 16, 2, 41, 32
Last 6 Majors: 2, MC, MC, MC, 62, 1
Best at PGA: Win (2005, 2021)

Advertisement

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your name here