7 Sleeper Picks for the 2017 PGA Championship

The world’s best head to the newly renovated Quail Hollow Golf Club for the PGA Championship. Most of the players in the field will have some experience at Quail Hollow since it is the long-time host of the Wells Fargo Championship. Over the years, Quail Hollow has rewarded the long ball. Looking at recent form and course history, here are a couple sleepers that should play well this week.

Kevin Chappell – 70 to 1

Chappell comes into the PGA Championship with two straight top 15 finishes. Earlier in the year, Chappell shed his title as “best player without a win” at the Valero Texas Open. The 31-year-old has a good track record of success at Quail Hollow, making the cut in his past five starts and posting two top 15 finishes. As usual, if Chappell’s putter gets hot, few in the world are better.

Charley Hoffman – 50 to 1

Hopefully you caught @friedeggpaulie’s advice last week regarding Hoffman, who has seen his odds drop from 125 to 1 to 50 to 1. Hoffman has contended in all three major championships in 2017 and heads to Quail Hollow in top form. In his last six starts he has notched four top 10 finishes, including a 3rd and 2nd place in his past two starts. Hoffman doesn’t have any course history at Quail Hollow, but his strong tee-to-green game should be a good fit.

Jamie Lovemark – 150 to 1

Lovemark hasn’t missed a cut since the Honda Classic in March. Since then, he has notched six top 25 finishes, including a t22nd at the Open Championship and a t27th at the U.S. Open. Lovemark can move it off the tee and ranks 31st on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: tee to green. I like Lovemark to perform well this week despite his spotty career at Quail Hollow.

Patrick Cantlay – 150 to 1

One of the best stories of 2017 has been the return of Patrick Cantlay from a back injury. Cantlay was sidelined for over two years and earned his full status back via a medical exemption. Cantlay has only played in seven events but has been stellar making every cut. He notched a second place finish at Valspar, 3rd at the Heritage and a t22nd at the PLAYERS. Much like Quail Hollow, each of these courses demands strong tee to green play.

Bernd Wiesberger – 100 to 1

Wiesberger is another who lacks experience at Quail Hollow but has a game that fits the course. The big Austrian possesses plenty of pop, and the expected rain should help his cause. Wiesberger has made the cut in all three majors this year and notched his best major performance, a t15th, at rain-soaked Valhalla in 2012.

Charl Schwartzel – 70 to 1

Charl missed the cut in his only start at the Wells Fargo in 2015. The South African bombs the ball and has had a strong 2017 campaign with six top 25’s in fifteen starts. Schwartzel finished 3rd at the Masters and briefly held the lead in the Open Championship.

Danny Lee – 125 to 1

Lee owns a brilliant record at Quail Hollow, finishing t9th and t13th in his past two starts. The New Zealand native has also been in top form, recording four top 10 finishes in his past nine starts.