Casey a juicy price to top GB and Irish ranks at PGA Championship
Published:
With severe doubts in place over the full fitness of defending US PGA Champion Rory McIlory, it could well pay dividends to look for alternatives to the world number one.
Guessing the identity of the eventual winner is always a teak-tough task for any golf tournament, but for the Majors there are a plethora of markets to tap.
One such is the Top GB and Ireland player at Whistling Straits. Make no bones, an on-song McIlroy would be extremely difficult to back against, given he’s won two of the last three PGA Championships and tied for third at the same venue in 2010.
However, there’s really no telling how the 13/8 favourite for this mantle will shape up after missing a month of the summer schedule, including the chance to defend his Claret Jug, owing to a nasty ankle injury.
These fears will most probably turn punters towards Justin Rose at 4/1 in this market, which is entirely understandable given the Englishman’s exploits in Majors this season and superb recent form.
The 2013 US Open champ was second to Jordan Spieth at Augusta, finished 27th at Chambers Bay and his recent 6th at the Open Championship has been followed up with successive top fives on the PGA Tour.
Nevertheless, Rose’s record around Wisconsin’s uniquely-challenging course – two PGA appearances and two missed cuts – casts a decent-sized shadow over his claims.
In turn this presents his fellow countryman and 16/1 chance Paul Casey as a fine bet to fly the flag instead.
Finishing with a flourish in 2010, Casey lept nine places up the Sunday leaderboard to finish with a share of 12th the last time he played Whistling Straits, which is a huge tick in his credentials column.
Always regarded as a threat in Majors before his injury troubles, this season has seen a return to crisp ball striking for Casey, who ranks 5th on the PGA Tour in that discipline and sixth in GIR.
His Masters sixth gave notice the Cheltenham native was back in a season littered with top tens and coming off a final-round 67, earning a tie of 17th at the Bridgestone, Casey is in fine touch too.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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