Barely a month has passed since Rory McIlroy claimed his second Masters title–becoming only the fourth player to go back-to-back at Augusta–and anticipation is building around whether the man from Hollywood, Northern Ireland, can capture a seventh major crown this week by winning the PGA Championship, which starts today at the Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia (May 14-17).
Current World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, of the USA, is defending the title he won in dominant fashion last year and he remains the bookies favourite at odds of +500 to retain his PGA crown, implying a 16.7 percent chance of winning, but McIlroy, who turned 37 earlier this month, is in hot gambling pursuit at +800 – or 8/1.
For the betting industry, the PGA Championship, which has struggled with its identity through the years, has now become a crucial tournament. Sandwiched nicely between the Masters and the US Open, the event has an expanding global audience and is now a key revenue driver.
And the impending demise of the controversial Saudi-backed rebel LIV Golf Tour has, if anything, only added to the PGA Championship cachet.
Other top golfers running in the PGA Championship stakes are Cameron Young, +1300; Jon Rahm, +1750; Xander Schauffele, +1900; Bryson DeChambeau, +2300; Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick, of Sheffield, both +2400; and two more Brits Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose, each on odds of +2500.
Economics of the PGA Championship
Prompted in great part by the launch of the contentious LIV Golf League in June 2022, the PGA and other tournament purses have been increasing across all major professional tours.
Last year, for example, the total purse of the PGA Championship was a staggering US$19 million (£14m), with the winner receiving a cheque for US$3.4 million (£2.5m).
When Tiger Woods won the third leg of his “Tiger Slam” in 2000 at the PGA Championship, he took home US$900,000 (£665,975) from a total prize purse of US$1.7 million (£1.25m).
In the space of 25-years, the purse has increased by 280 percent. Yet this isn’t just a rise in inflation, it’s also a reflection of the rise in the popularity of golf when compared to other sports.
Further abetted by new and improved TV contracts and additional sponsors, golf’s four major tournaments–the storied Majors: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and British Open–have all benefited from the surge in sponsorship and prize money.
According to Global Data, last year’s PGA Championship attracted no fewer than 23 sponsors, which drove revenue of US$50.42 million (£37.29m).
This was a slight decrease from the US$52.1 million (£38.53m) generated in 2024, but the overall prize fund increased by US$500,000 (£367,000) from 2024 to 2025.
Golf Betting Handle: A Market In Acceleration
The American Gaming Association estimates that Americans bet US$166.94 billion (£123.48bn) on sports throughout 2025, although it’s not clear just how much of that was wagered on golf.
However, the PGA Tour reported in February that a 20 percent increase in the golf betting handle for 2025 was registered – the fourth consecutive year the figure had reached double-digits.
The end of season playoff events saw the biggest betting growth compared to 2024, rising by 50 percent, while millions were wagered across the four major championships.
As such, the PGA Championship is consistently ranked as one of the most wagered tournaments of the year.
Like every major, the narratives surrounding the week, plus the fact the best players in the world are all playing at the same time, appeals to both bettors and sportsbooks alike.
Traditional markets, such as tournament winner, first-round leader and top-10/20 finishes, remain the backbone of betting action, yet other markets are showing real growth.
Operators such as BetMGM, Bet365 and DraftKings offer boosted odds and
promotional offers, in play markets and player-performance props which enhance the overall iGaming sports betting experience.
Players to watch at the 2026 PGA Championship
While Scheffler has the chance to become the first player since Brooks Koepka in 2019 to defend his PGA Championship title, all eyes are on McIlroy.
Boosted by another Masters win, he has an ideal chance to win golf Major number seven.
Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood lead the English charge at Aronimink, which is sited in eastern Philadelphia. Rose has even won at the venue before, securing the AT&T Championship here back in 2010.
Will this afford golf’s Mr Nice Guy to win the PGA Championship after his perennial runner-up role at the U.S. Masters?
Only time will tell.
Welcome to the PGA Championship and iGF’s wonderful new world of golf coverage.
