JASON DAY

Age: 37

World Ranking: 32

Best finish at the PGA: Win (2015)

PGA Tour wins: 13

Why he can win: Almost always Australia’s best chance at the majors, and he showed why at Augusta. The Queenslander was right in the mix through three days at the Masters, but the putts didn’t drop on Sunday, settling in a tie for 8th. Quail Hollow is a happy hunting ground for Day; he has numerous great finishes around the Charlotte loop, including a PGA Tour win at the Wells Fargo Championship in 2018, a tie for 9th at the 2017 PGA Championship, and T4 last year behind Rory McIlroy.

Day’s game is as complete as it has ever been. He has a fantastic strategic brain and has the ability to get himself around any major championship layout thrown his way.

Odds: $81

 

CAM SMITH

Age: 31

World Ranking: 148

Best finish at the PGA: Tied 9th (2023)

PGA Tour wins: Six

LIV Golf wins: Three

Why he can win: Only one career top-10 at the PGA Championship for the Queenslander; it is his weakest hunting ground out of the four majors. There is no way you can rule out a player like Smith, even though he appears not to have had his best stuff of late. When discussing the chances of a player of Smith’s calibre, a successful week is signed off only when the sun sets on Sunday and he is holding a trophy. Quail Hollow is not a course on paper that would really fit Smith.

However, Smith has found form at the right time with two top-10s in his last two appearances on the LIV Golf tour, and he has had two solid hit-outs since a disappointing Masters campaign. The putter is still as good as it comes, and the approach game has improved since Augusta. Nobody will fancy going head-to-head with Smith if he is running hot.

Odds: $126

 

CAM DAVIS

Age: 30

World Ranking: 68

Best finish at the PGA: Tied 4th

PGA Tour wins: Two

Why he can win: Quail Hollow has suited players who can carry the ball a long way. Davis fits the bill here; he can hold his own alongside some of the longest players on the respective tours. There also won’t be as much of a magnifying glass put on the flatstick at Quail Hollow. Davis is bouncing back after a lean few months on tour; expect a decent showing.

Odds: $501

 

MIN WOO LEE

Age: 26

World Ranking: 27

Best finish at the PGA: Tied 18th (2023)

PGA Tour wins: One

Why he can win: There are not many players on the planet who garner a crowd like Perth’s Min Woo Lee; he will have a fan base out there this week and will revel in it. He also has all the tools to have a proper tilt at the title. A long, premier ball striker and great around the greens, Lee tasted victory on the PGA Tour for the first time this season and has lived up to all the hype surrounding him. The next step is to seriously contend in a major, which we all know he can do. He is the shortest-priced Aussie with the bookmakers.

Odds: $91

 

ADAM SCOTT

Age: 44

World Ranking: 53

Best finish at the PGA: Third (2006, 2018)

PGA Tour wins: 14

Why he can win: In his 25th start at the PGA Championship, Scott has made it clear he is chasing another major crown before Father Time passes him by. It has been a tricky few months results-wise, for Scott. His best finish on the PGA Tour this year came at The Sentry (T15) in January. He has only had one top-25 since then.

His experience and consistency over a long period mean you can never rule a champion like Adam Scott out of any big tournament; the most pressure he will feel is the pressure he puts on himself. Definitely one to look out for.

Odds: $201

 

KARL VILIPS

Age: 23

World Ranking: 117

Best finish at the PGA: Debut

PGA Tour wins: One

Why he can win: This young man's composure under pressure early in his pro career is admirable, with a skill set built-in, not taught. Doing it at a major championship is something entirely different. It is an outside chance, but Vilips is an exceptional ball-striker who is excellent at keeping the ball in play. Combine this with being plenty long enough to combat Quail Hollow and who knows? We've been shocked at this event before.

Odds: $501

 

ELVIS SMYLIE

Age: 23

World Ranking: 201

Best finish at the PGA: Debut

PGA Tour wins: 0

Why he can win: The smooth-swinging, lanky lefty was ultra-impressive at home this summer. He is another homegrown product who has an incredibly bright future. Smylie is coming into this week in good form, too, with two top-20s in his last two starts on the DP World Tour. Another young guy with fantastic composure, an exceptional short game, and the ability to post low numbers. Not at all favoured by the bookies, but on paper looks a fantastic fit for the venue.  

Odds: $501

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