US PGA outsider tips: Three long shots to consider

Christian Bezuidenhout

Bezuidenhout has played in 15 PGA Tour events this year and missed just two cuts while enjoying five top-20 finishes so that sort of consistency could put him in the mix at a three-figure price.

The South African finished tied for 12th at the AT&T Byron Nelson last week and his short game is well suited to the challenge that lies ahead this week.

He was in contention at last year’s US PGA Championship, sitting tied fifth and just four shots off the lead after the third round before a final-round 77 saw him drop down the leaderboard.

It was a similar story at the US Open and helped by an early tee-off time on Thursday before the wind picks up, Bezuidenhout is the next of our US PGA long shots at 100/1.

Robert MacIntyre

We’re keen to back a British golfer in our US PGA outsider tips and MacIntyre fits the bill at 125/1.

The 25-year-old from Oban is gradually building up his experience at the majors and has made the weekend in all eight appearances at the biggest tournaments so far.

He has the length off the tee to get round this long course but also the short game which is almost certainly going to be vital for anyone hoping to be in the mix this week.

CLOCKING IN…⌚️

⏰️ The tee times are out for the 2022 @PGAChampionship @robert1lefty will be out early on Thursday with Ryan Palmer 🇺🇸 and Alex Noren 🇸🇪

📺 @SkySportsGolf

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— Bounce (@bouncespmgt) May 17, 2022

MacIntyre, who is another early starter on Thursday, is pleased with his game too and believes he is well suited to a major at Southern Hills.

“This week is a major on a tough course,” he told The Scotsman. “The scores won’t get away from us. I don’t think I’ll need to press from the get-go. These are the events I feel I have the most chance. See when the scores go to 24 to 30-under, it’s just a putting competition.

“At these majors, they rarely go past 10-under. That’s massive for me. Normally I’ll have a hiccup somewhere, but you know it may not cost as much as a normal tour event when the scoring is 20-under.

“At majors, if I get it going I can get in contention. Three-under on a tough course is brilliant. Tee to green my game is as good as it’s ever been. You know everybody will be making mistakes. On the easier courses, you make one mistake and it feels like a double bogey. It hits harder. The tougher courses play to my strengths.”