2024 Preview: Early 2024 PGA Championship Picks and Tournament Preview

With the PGA Tour still reeling from the effects of Jon Rahm’s $400 million defection to LIV Golf, golf’s four majors have taken on even more significance. The narrative surrounding the majors is bound to be about the best of the PGA Tour vs. the best of LIV – and there will be so much more on the line than simply bragging rights. The PGA Championship has long been established as one of the biggest prizes in the game, but 2024’s tournament will be extra special as it will take place at one of the world’s most iconic courses, Valhalla. It will provide the perfect backdrop for the world’s best golfers as they battle it out for their share of the $17.5 million PGA Championship purse. Although the tournament is still some months away, that won’t stop us from making our early PGA Championship picks. Here is who stands to have a major chance of etching their names alongside the tournament’s list of illustrious winners.

 

Jon Rahm

It wouldn’t be right to start any 2024 PGA Championship preview without focusing on the man of the moment, Jon Rahm.

Rahm’s $400 million decision to defect to the LIV Tour sent shockwaves throughout the golfing fraternity, and by the time the PGA Championship Picks rolls around, many will be relishing the showdown between Rahm and the best talents of the PGA Tour.

Rahm is a two-time major winner, but his best finish at the PGA came back in 2018 where he finished fourth. 

A ferocious hitter, Rahm can beautifully combine his power with a deft touch around the greens. With Valhalla sure to suit, he is bound to be a leading contender.

Brooks Koepka

Sticking with the LIV theme, Brooks Koepka will be back to defend the PGA title he won back in 2023. 

After narrowly missing out on the 2023 Masters title to Jon Rahm, Koepka showed all of his class to win 2023’s tournament by two strokes and, with it, his fifth major title.

With three PGA Championships already in his back pocket, Koepka often saves his best for the majors, particularly this one, and will arrive at Valhalla with a swagger in his step.

Often unerringly accurate off both the tee and with his irons, it won’t be a surprise to see him high up on the PGA leaderboard today as the tournament hits its final stages.

Scottie Scheffler

With LIV players unable to accrue world ranking points, many have questioned the worth of the modern-day ranking system, but one thing is sure: when Scottie Scheffler is playing well, he is undoubtedly the best player on the planet.

Bound to be the number one selection for those making their early PGA Championship Picks and fantasy golf picks, Scheffler will only have one aim this season, and that is to win more major championships.

Despite a consistent 2023, Scheffler wasn’t able to add to his 2022 Masters victory. With his putter letting him down when he needed it the most, the Texan will be looking to bounce back and cement his status as the game’s best player with a victory at the 2024 PGA Championship.

 

Viktor Hovland 

2023 was memorable for Viktor Hovland, who scored the biggest prize of his career when landing the 2023 FedEx Championship. 

Having risen to a career-high ranking of four in the world, Hovland has teed off in the final group of a major on two separate occasions but has yet to land his first major title.

Arguably the best driver on the Tour, Hovland’s 2023 success came from his improved short game and rock-solid putting. Having become one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour, Hovland will be aiming to become the first-ever Norwegian to win a major championship.

Rory McIlroy

The most talented player in the 2024 PGA Championship field will be Rory McIlroy. A four-time major winner, it’s quite unbelievable that McIlroy’s winless major run has now extended to ten years, with his last victory coming back at the 2014 Open Championship.

Although not able to get over the line when it comes to the majors, McIlroy has achieved almost everything else in the game and heads into the 2024 season fresh off the back of winning the Race to Dubai title for a fifth time.

Still only 34, McIlroy has time on his side to win more majors but will hope to break his long losing run at the 2024 PGA Championship.

Other contenders

The beauty of tournaments like the 2024 PGA Championship is that anyone can win, and outside of the featured contenders that we have already spotlighted, several players will have serious aspirations of winning the tournament.

Patrick Cantlay has long been a fixture inside the world’s top five but has yet to seriously contend when it comes to the majors. He will be hoping to go a few spots better than his third-place finish at the 2019 PGA Championship.

Despite his undoubted talents, Xander Schauffele is another who is without a major title. 2023 was a frustrating one for the Californian who had to battle through a back injury and wasn’t able to land a blow at any of the majors. Now back to full fitness, Schauffele will be a danger to all in the field and is more than capable of winning this tournament.

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas are both multiple major winners and will be hoping to find themselves in major contention once more, as will Max Homa. 

Set to be hugely popular in pre-tournament betting, Homa is on a trajectory to the top. With a game that few can match, he will be aiming to score the biggest prize of his career and announce himself as one of the world’s greats at the 2024 PGA Championship.