Next week brings the second men’s major championship of 2024 and top player momentum is on a definite upward trend. Defending Champion and 5-time major champion, Brooks Koepka is coming off another LIV title winning the LIV Singapore event last week. Scottie Scheffler won his second green jacket and also second major last month. He followed that up with another win at the Heritage the following week. Then, Rory McIlroy, has caught fire at Quail Hollow for a runaway victory the week before the PGA Championship.
The PGA Championship is the championship of the PGA of America and it dates back to 1916. The championship rotates among different courses and this year returns to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The course was designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus back in 1986 with the purpose of building a club that could host a major championship. Valhalla, the great hall described in Norse mythology where the souls of Vikings feasted and celebrated with the gods, is now the namesake of a modern paradise for championship golf.
Quick Facts on the 2024 PGA Championship
Defending champion: Brooks Koepka
Last year’s top 3 – Brooks Koepka, Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland
Golf course architect – Jack Nicklaus, 1986
Known for: Wanamaker Trophy, PGA Club Pros qualify to play with the best in the game
One tradition that makes the PGA Championship unique is that it has a qualifying system for the PGA clubs professionals that are the backbone of the golf industry. This year 21 PGA professionals qualified and have the chance to play with the best in the game and compete for a major championship. PGA Professional Michael Block who tied for 15th last year will return and hope to capture the magic of 2023 that included a hole-in-one in the final round.
Valhalla Golf Club had it’s first chance to host a men’s major championship back in 1996 when it hosted the PGA Championship which was won by Mark Brooks. It quickly hosted again in 2000 with Tiger Woods beating out Bob May in a playoff making the PGA Championship one of his three major wins that year. Then, in 2014 Rory McIlroy won his last major championship at Valhalla.
Who are the favorites going into the 2024 PGA Championship?
- Scottie Scheffler
- Rory McIlroy
- Brooks Koepka
- Jon Rahm
- Ludvig Aberg
- Xander Schauffele
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Collin Morikawa
- Patrick Cantlay
- Wyndham Clark
- Cameron Smith
- Joaquin Niemann
- Max Homa
- Viktor Hovland
- Will Zalatoris
So, these are the favorites and with the quality of golf being played by the guys at the top, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see one of them take home the Wanamaker trophy. However, don’t count out the rookies. The PGA Championship has also had eight players win this championship on their first attempt. None did it better than John Daly in 1991. At Crooked Stick John Daly won his first major and first PGA Championship famously getting the last minute call as a 9th alternate. The PGA of America also extended six special invitations to LIV tour players including Taylor Gooch. There are lots of interesting stories and angles to digest as we go into the year’s second major. Let’s get the second major championship of 2024 underway.