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2026 PGA Championship winner predictions, picks: One of these nine players will likely claim Wanamaker Trophy
TL;DR
The 2026 PGA Championship is expected to be won by one of nine top players, reflecting a shift in the tournament's competitive landscape. Recent winners have predominantly been major champions, indicating a trend away from underdog victories.
Key points
- 2026 PGA Championship expected to have nine top contenders
- Tournament has moved to May on the calendar
- Recent winners are mostly major champions
- Shift away from underdog victories
- Phil Mickelson's win in 2021 was a notable surprise
Ted Hyman, CBS Sports
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. -- The PGA Championship of your granddaddy's days produced winners like Rich Beem, Shaun Micheel and an every-so-often surprise. A championship that was last on the calendar, it felt like one where the little guy still had a shot as the sun was setting on the season.
That version of the PGA Championship sounds romantic in theory, but it is now dead in practice.
With the move to May on the calendar, the PGA Championship has produced winners who have gone on to claim multiple majors. The only recent surprise has been Phil Mickelson, and let's be honest, Lefty doing what he did at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island in 2021 was, sort of, classic Phil.
Besides that, it has been the world beaters of this generation -- Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele and, of course, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who serves as the reigning champion at Aronimink Golf Club. Big and brawny golf courses have seen big and brawny golfers reign supreme.
The test may be different this week at Aronimink Golf Club, where the green complexes serve as the main defense and Donald Ross hopes from the grave that his masterpiece can withstand the modern game, but the answers will still need to be offered up in the form of precision iron play, touch on and around the greens and with the big stick in hand.
So, let's get into the nine players that are most likely to ace the test out of the 156 in the field at the 2026 PGA Championship.
2026 PGA Championship predictions, favorites to win
Odds via BetMGM
Q&A
Who are the top contenders for the 2026 PGA Championship?
The article highlights nine players likely to contend for the Wanamaker Trophy at the 2026 PGA Championship.
What changes have occurred in the PGA Championship's scheduling?
The PGA Championship has moved to May, altering the dynamics of competition and the type of winners it produces.
How has the perception of the PGA Championship changed over the years?
The tournament has shifted from being seen as an opportunity for underdogs to a competition dominated by players who have won multiple majors.
What notable surprises have occurred in recent PGA Championships?
Phil Mickelson's unexpected victory at the Ocean Course in 2021 is cited as a recent surprise in the tournament's history.
