6th Aug 2018 | USPGA Championship
US PGA Championship Trends
The final golf major of the season starts a week Thursday. We narrow down the field by looking at recent winning trends.
On Thursday, Bellerive CC hosts it’s third major championship having previously hosted the US Open (1965) and the US PGA (1992). The final major of the season, it is the last opportunity for players to break their duck.
With the US PGA Championship changing venue each year, winning trends need to be treated with caution, however there are some common threads that tie together the last eight winners.
Top-60 scoring average
The last eight winners ranked inside the top-60 of their respective tours for scoring average; even 2011 surprise winner Keegan Bradley finished the season ranked 30th.
Top-60 in all-around ranking
The USPGA is generally regarded as a strong all-round test. The last eight winners ranked inside the top-60 for this metric.
Top-60 on tour for birdie average
The USPGA Championship isn’t a tournament you can win by being passive. The last eight champions ranked inside the top-60 on tour for birdie average.
Top-25 finish on last start
The last eight winners recorded a top-25 finish in their last start prior to the PGA Championship; for most players this is the WGC-Bridgestone.
Players that fit all four trends:
Aaron Wise
Brian Gay
Brooks Koepka
Dustin Johnson
Ian Poulter
J.J. Spaun
Jason Day
Jon Rahm
Justin Rose
Justin Thomas
Kyle Stanley
Luke List
Marc Leishman
Patrick Cantlay
Phil Mickelson
Rickie Fowler
Rory McIlroy
Tommy Fleetwood
Tony Finau
Zach Johnson
Odds correct at time of publishing: 04:11 6th Aug, 2018 but subject to change
