All eyes are on Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, as the 2026 PGA Championship tees off this Thursday. With first tee times scheduled for 6:45 a.m. ET, the stage is set for a thrilling major championship that promises drama, surprises, and world-class golf.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler headlines the field as the +480 favorite, chasing history as the first back-to-back PGA Championship winner since Brooks Koepka accomplished the feat in 2018 and 2019. Tiger Woods, who memorably won consecutive PGA Championships twice (1999-2000 and 2006-2007), is notably absent from this year's field. Scheffler, already a winner this season, looks to add another major to his growing legacy.
The betting board is stacked with talent. Rory McIlroy sits at +950, followed by Cameron Young at +1200, Jon Rahm at +1500, and Ludvig Åberg at +1800. But before you lock in your picks, SportsLine golf expert David Bearman has crunched the numbers and delivered his predictions—and he's making some bold calls.
Bearman brings serious credentials to the table. After serving as ESPN's golf researcher from 2008-2011 and later as Deputy Editor of ESPN Chalk from 2019-2023, he's been on fire in 2026. He started the year by chasing 28 placement betting picks (top 5/10/20) in the first 11 tournaments, nailed Cam Young outright at The Players Championship, and also hit on Matt Fitzpatrick at the RBC Heritage. With more than 18 units gained this season, his insights carry weight.
One of Bearman's most intriguing calls? He's fading Ludvig Åberg, despite the 26-year-old Swede carrying the sixth-lowest odds. Åberg is still searching for his first major victory, with his best result coming as a runner-up at the 2024 Masters. His major résumé shows a 12th-place finish at the 2024 U.S. Open and a 23rd at the 2025 Open Championship, but he's missed the cut at the PGA Championship in both 2024 and 2025.
"Simply put, I don't trust Åberg with it all on the line on Sunday," Bearman told SportsLine. "Yet, he may very well win 3-4 majors when all is said and done, but I need him to win the first one."
Whether you're backing Scheffler's consistency, McIlroy's power, or a dark horse like Young, the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink is shaping up to be a must-watch event. For the full breakdown of Bearman's picks, sleepers, and golfers to avoid, be sure to check out his complete analysis before the first tee shot.