Steve Palmer's US PGA Championship 72-hole matches preview, best bets, free tips

Golf tips, best match bets and analysis for the US PGA Championship at the Ocean Course, Kiawah Island.

When to watch

Sky Sports Main Event and Golf, 1pm Thursday

Best bets

Jordan Spieth to beat Jon Rahm
4pts 11-10 Betfair

Patrick Reed to beat Patrick Cantlay
4pts 4-5 Betfair

Tony Finau to beat Brooks Koepka
4pts 8-13 Betfair

Preview

Jordan Spieth bounced back from a bout of Covid to finish ninth at the AT&T Byron Nelson last week and the Texan seems set to build on that effort with a positive performance in the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

Whether Spieth is good value at 16-1 to get his hands on the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday and complete a career Grand Slam is open to debate, but as 11-10 outsider against Jon Rahm over 72 holes, the three-time Major champion seems a bargain.

Spieth, second in the 2015 US PGA and third in 2019, won the Texas Open at the start of April and followed up with third place in the Masters. Five top-four finishes this year have put the former world number one firmly back on the golfing map.

Rahm, who became a father in the build-up to the Masters, has been adjusting to new clubs and parental responsibilities this year, and his last two tournaments hint that he is finding life more challenging. A missed cut in the Wells Fargo Championship was followed by a share of 34th place in the Byron Nelson last week, where he finished five shots behind Spieth.

Another match-bet option which appeals is Patrick Reed to defeat Patrick Cantlay. The Patricks are coming into the event in differing spirits. Reed warmed up with sixth place in the Wells Fargo Championship, while Cantlay has missed his last four cuts in individual strokeplay - at Sawgrass, Augusta, Harbour Town and Quail Hollow. A putter switch has failed to revive his fortunes on the greens and confidence must be low.

Reed is a Major champion who has finished no worse than 13th in the last five Majors. Cantlay, a Major maiden, has failed to better 17th place in those same five events.

Complete a three-pronged match-bet attack with Tony Finau, a super-consistent Major performer, against Brooks Koepka. Finau has finished third in the last Open, fourth in the last US PGA, eighth in the last US Open and tenth in the last Masters. Koepka has been badly struggling for fitness after knee problems.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport