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The 100th PGA Championship is upon us; as the fourth Major of 2018, the world’s best will be at the Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis, MO, USA. Create by Robert Trent Jones, this 7500 yard beast will favour the long hitters. The last time the PGA Championship was held at Bellerive was in 1992 with Nick Price winning in a playoff, so I expect the we will see many changes in to the course over the past 26 years. The field is very strong, similar to all Majors, and returning Champion Justin Thomas will have play his best if expects to win back to back PGA Championships.

Predicting a winner for any professional golf tournament is challenging. Predicting a Major Championship winner is doubly difficult. Unlike Sebastien from Live and Breathe Golf who intentionally predicted Dark Horses, I will remain more mainstream. I think this last Major of 2018 will not see a long shot win because the best players in the world are all peaking. This will make it virtually impossible for someone outside the top 15 to muscle their way into the winners circle come Sunday.

In order of preference for winner, I predict the following three players will plat their way into the last or second last group on Sunday afternoon. Additionally, I am going to predict a Dark Horse who, if they play exceptionally all weekend, has an outside chance of winning.

Rory McIlroy. I predict Rory will win the 2018 PGA Championship. He is hitting the ball a country mile and his short game is the best it has been in years. The key to his win will be keeping the ball in play and his putting. If both of these are in place, he will be very tough to beat.

Justin Rose. Justin always plays well in the Majors. This year he has two top tens (with a second place at The Open) and one T12. He is short game is solid and has the long game to compete. His key will be hitting the green in regulation. If this stat is high, he will be challenging Rory for the championship on Sunday.

Jason Day. Jason is either winning or is outside the top 10. I have a feeling that he is going to peak this weekend and will be in the hunt every day. Winning twice on Tour this year sets him up for another win and possible player of the year votes. His score is solely reliant on his putting. If he is hot on the greens, the rest of the field better watch out.

Phil Mickelson. Phil is purely a sentimental choice. He still has plenty of game and after his dancing video, I thought this might be his weekend. The dancing video is not related, but I just had to mention it. 🙂 Phil is my Dark Horse and we shall see how he does.

The 2018 PGA Championship starts tomorrow. The field is set and I expect some outstanding play at the last Major of the year. I predict Rory McIlroy will win and I shall be watching and cheering him on.

Who is your choice for the 2018 PGA Champion?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!