The world's top-ranked golfer and the most recent major champion come into the PGA Championship as nearly co-favorites, but neither one is generating the biggest buzz at sportsbooks heading into the second major of the year at Quail Hollow.
Scottie Scheffler (+450) is the favorite to win the PGA Championship, just barely edging out Rory McIlroy (+475) for the top spot at ESPN BET.
McIlroy opened at +900 and briefly became the favorite at +450 following his triumph at the Masters to complete the career grand slam. However, Scheffler's first win of the season at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, as well as heavy money action backing the 28-year-old to win his third major title, including an outsized 21.5% of handle at ESPN BET, caused the two to swap odds in recent weeks.
That said, neither Scheffler nor McIlroy is causing the biggest headache for sportsbooks this week. That honor belongs to Bryson DeChambeau, the very clear third-shortest option on the odds board at +800, according to ESPN BET.
Following an excellent run of form with a top-five finish at Augusta National and three top-fives in LIV Golf, including a win at the most recent tournament in South Korea, DeChambeau has garnered the second-most bets at ESPN BET and goes down as the largest liability at BetMGM, who moved him from +2200 at open to his current position.
"Right now, I feel the world is on DeChambeau," Caesars Sportsbook lead golf trader Anthony Salleroli told ESPN. "Anybody that reads into Quail Hollow, it fits his game. It's a bomber's course."
DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello also notes there has been significant action on the 31-year-old to lead after the first round.
DeChambeau isn't the only golfer with a good course fit and, unlike some majors, there's a multitude of data to back that up, as Quail Hollow is one of the rare major courses that also annually hosts a PGA Tour event.
While he's not racking up the same type of liability as DeChambeau, McIlroy is still attracting significant action given his status as a four-time winner of Quail Hollow's regular-season tournament. Avello notes that McIlroy has attracted a lot of money at DraftKings, which surprised him given the very short price.
Other players who have enjoyed recent regular-season success on this course include Xander Schauffele (+2000), Jason Day (+9000), Wyndham Clark (110-1) and Max Homa (125-1).
There's also, of course, Justin Thomas (+1600), who won the PGA Championship the last time it was played at Quail Hollow in 2017; he ranks fourth on both ESPN BET's odds board and bet/handle rankings.