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Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy open as PGA Championship co-favorites

July 24, 2017
PGA Championship - Round One

Jamie Squire

Jordan Spieth became the second-youngest player to win the first three legs of the career Grand Slam with his triumph at Royal Birkdale, and heads to the PGA Championship with a chance to become the youngest ever to achieve this immortality. The soon-to-be 24-year-old will undoubtedly be the sentimental favorite at Quail Hollow next month. And, judging by the opening odds for the Wanamaker Trophy, Las Vegas is also on board with the Texan.

According to the Westgate Superbook, Spieth starts at 8/1 odds for "glory's last shot." Spieth has only played Quail Hollow once, a T-32 finish at the 2013 Wells Fargo Championship. Nevertheless, given his performance at Royal Birkdale -- along with two other wins, eight top 10s and leading the tour by a mile in iron proficiency this season -- it seems foolish that anyone but Spieth would be at the betting forefront.

And yet, Spieth is not alone at the top. Rory McIlroy, who overcame a rocky start to finish T-4 at the Open, also opens at 8/1 odds. That might seem peculiar, considering McIlroy's recent woes (three misses cuts in four events before Birkdale). Conversely, Quail Hollow has served as friendly confines for the four-time major winner: in seven appearances at the Wells Fargo Championship, McIlroy has two wins, a runner-up and six top-10 finishes. For a man looking to hoist his first trophy of the year, the PGA might be McIlroy's best chance.

Dustin Johnson, coming off a sloppy Sunday at Birkdale, is not far behind at 10/1. Other notable names include Jason Day and Rickie Fowler at 15/1, Hideki Matsuyama and Jon Rahm at 20/1, Brooks Koepka at 25/1, Justin Thomas at 30/1 and Phil Mickelson at 40/1.

The PGA Championship begins on August 10. Jimmy Walker (100/1) is the defending champ.