The 107th PGA Championship, set for May 15-18 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, promises to deliver high-stakes drama as the world’s top golfers vie for the coveted Wanamaker Trophy. With a field stacked with talent, picking the right players for your pool can be a daunting task.
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Some general tips for placing high (and cashing) in your PGA Championship pool:
- Base your strategy on the size of your pool, first and foremost. In larger pools, you’ll need to be more contrarian; while in a small pool, you can almost certainly just pick golfers with the lowest betting odds.
- That said, understand the scoring for your pool. Does the final score include all the golfers you’ve chosen, or does it throw out some names? Rules like that allow you to take some shots on risk-reward types.
- Dig into some strokes-gained data to sort out which golfers are most likely to play well here and help you win.
RELATED: PGA Championship 2025: Power rankings for the entire field at Quail Hollow
To help you gain an edge, we’ve zeroed in on five players who we think are poised to make a significant impact this week: Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Corey Conners, Daniel Berger, and Taylor Pendrith.
Here’s why these golfers are primed to shine and boost your chances of winning your PGA Championship pool.
This article was published in partnership with Betsperts Golf, one of the leading data-analyzing tools in the industry. The Rabbit Hole is a tool that allows users to utilize strokes-gained stats and any other metric from the PGA Tour for their own modeling purposes.
Golf Digest readers can get access to Betsperts’ leading data tool, the Rabbit Hole, for just $5 this week by using the promo code GDWEEKLY. Now’s a great time to use it—so you can win your PGA Championship pools with some advanced stats!
1. Bryson DeChambeau 
Photo by JD Cuban
DeChambeau enters Quail Hollow as one of the most electrifying players in golf, fresh off a stellar 2024 season that saw him claim his second U.S. Open title. Known for his prodigious length off the tee, DeChambeau’s game is tailor-made for Quail Hollow, a par-71 course stretching over 7,600 yards that rewards distance and precision.
Unlike some of his other LIV counterparts, he’s been just fine when returning to play with the best of the PGA and DP World Tour four times a year. He not only put another notch in his belt by winning the U.S. Open last year, but he also found himself in the top 10 at Augusta and had a runner-up finish to Xander Schauffele at last year’s PGA Championship, where he posted a final-round 65.
While we lack some data when it comes to DeChambeau, it’s apparent that he’s still in form and continues to be one of the best drivers of the ball, with a complementary short game that could have him in contention. With his scientific approach and unrelenting competitive drive, DeChambeau is a safe bet to contend and rack up points for your PGA Championship pool. The betting market agrees as his odds have nosedived over the past few weeks; he’s now the third favorite behind only Rory and Scottie.
RELATED: PGA Championship picks 2025: 13 best bets for Quail Hollow
2. Justin Thomas 
Mike Ehrmann
Justin Thomas holds a unique advantage at Quail Hollow, having won the PGA Championship here in 2017. His familiarity with the course, which demands prodigious drives off the tee and strong iron play, makes him a formidable candidate for your PGA pool. Though his past few years have been a bit of a mixed bag, he is a multiple major winner who appears to have found his short game again. After getting his first win in several years at the RBC Heritage, he was in contention again last week at Philly Cricket Club.
During the rough 2023 and 2024 season, he averaged -0.31 strokes gained putting per round (131 measured rounds) while the rest of his game was relatively stable. In 40 rounds so far this season, he’s gaining 0.40 strokes putting per round despite some stumbles at Bay Hill and Pebble Beach. It’s still a tough task to win this week with all the big names in the field, but now that his flat stick is “fixed,” he’s a great name in the second tier for contest use.
3. Corey Conners 
Mike Mulholland
Corey Conners may fly under the radar compared to flashier names, but his consistency and ball-striking prowess make him a dark horse to watch at the 2025 PGA Championship. The Canadian has a knack for performing in majors: Over the past five years, he’s gained 1.21 strokes over the field per round (64 measured rounds) in all rounds played at majors. This is a better mark than Brooks Koepka, Patrick Cantlay or Jordan Spieth.
His strong iron play will buoy him on any course, but on this extremely long track, his accuracy with the long irons should help him find the weekend and maybe even work his way into contention. As a bonus, he’s also played extremely well here at Quail Hollow the past couple of years during the Wells Fargo, finishing T-8 and T-13 in 2023 and 2024. For pool players seeking a reliable point-scorer with upset potential, Conners is an excellent choice.
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4. Daniel Berger 
Icon Sportswire
Daniel Berger’s return to form after back and shoulder injuries sidelined him for 19 months has been one of golf’s feel-good stories. The four-time PGA Tour winner has steadily regained his confidence, and his inclusion in the 2025 PGA Championship field signals his readiness to compete at the highest level.
Berger’s all-around game, particularly his iron play and short-game creativity, aligns well with Quail Hollow’s demands. Though he’s yet to break through in a major, his strong showings at last year’s U.S. Open and last month’s Masters suggest he’s close to a statement performance.
After missing the cut at the Farmers, he has been playing much better golf, finishing in the top 30 in each of his past nine events, including a couple of top-five performances. Looking at his strokes gained data throughout the spring, he’s improving each week and could be ripe for a win this summer. For pool participants willing to take a calculated risk on a resurgent talent, Berger could deliver significant value.
Sam Hodde
Taylor Pendrith is a name to watch as he continues his ascent in professional golf. The Canadian’s breakout 2024 season included his first PGA Tour victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, and he’s carried that momentum with solid performances in 2025, including three top-10 finishes.
Pendrith’s length off the tee gives him an edge on Quail Hollow’s long par 4s and par 5s, while his improved putting has made him a more complete player. While he’s been a bit hit or miss this season, he did finish in the top 10 here last year and has the game to compete on a course like Quail Hollow.
His short game can and does let him down at times (he’s losing 0.42 SG: putting over the past 12 rounds), but in a tiers contest where you need to select names from a group of similar players, you’ll have some warts as you traverse down the board. As a relative underdog, Pendrith offers high upside for pool players looking to differentiate their selections with a player capable of a surprise top-10 finish.
Golf Digest readers can get access to Betsperts’ leading data tool, the Rabbit Hole, for just $5 this week by using the promo code GDWEEKLY. Now’s a great time to use it—so you can win your PGA Championship pools with some advanced stats!
Finding the Right Roster This Week
The 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow will test every facet of a golfer’s game, from driving distance to pinpoint iron play and clutch putting. DeChambeau’s power and major pedigree, Thomas’ course history, Conners’ precision, Berger’s recovery and Pendrith’s emerging talent make this quintet a balanced mix of favorites and value picks. Whether your pool rewards top-10 finishes, low scores, or outright winners, these players offer a strong chance to maximize your points.
As the golf world descends on Charlotte, keep an eye on these five names. Their blend of skill, experience and current form positions them to make waves and, more importantly, help you dominate your PGA Championship pool. Good luck, and may your picks rise to the top of the leader board!
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
