Niall Lyons has backed a LIV player to make a fast start as part of his first round leader market preview.
PGA Championship First Round Leader
The opening round of the 2024 PGA Championship seems fair on both sides of the draw but with potential thunderstorms, and a likely Friday morning finish to round one it could become a little disjointed.
Nevertheless, there doesn't seem to be a huge draw bias either way and both sides will have their chances in the first round leader market.
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PGA Championship First Round Leader Tips
Cameron Smith First Round Leader @ 50/1 (Seven Places)
Cameron Smith has enjoyed a return to form this last couple of months on the LIV circuit and at 50/1 and bigger looks worthy of support in round one.
The Australian has managed two runner up finishes in his last four LIV events, the most recent being in Singapore on the Zoysia grass track Sentosa, the same type of grass that we see here in Kentucky.
That may prove a more valuable warm up for this event and the LIV string look to have a strong pool of competitors this time around. Sandwiched in between those second placed finishes was 6th at the Masters and Smith will arrive full of confidence and still slightly under the radar from a betting perspective.
With small greens here, what you do on and around them may come into the equation more than what the analysts believe and Smith is more than capable of outscoring the field on Day 1.
0.75pt each-way C.Smith First Round Leader 50/1 (1/5 7) Unibet, BetUK
Hideki Matsuyama First Round Leader @ 60/1 (Seven Places)
Playing with Cameron Smith is Hideki Matsuyama and with his capability of going silly low I'm happy to get involved at 60/1. In his last 43 rounds of golf he has produced one of each 62 and 63.
The incredible 62 coming at the final round at Riviera to win the Genesis. His 67 in the opening round at Bay Hill in March saw him sit second after round one.
The floor to Matsuyama's round scores may be a shade lower than some of the best in the game, but without doubt the ceiling is as high if not higher than many of the same players.
Sparkling approach play and a much improved short game is a potent combination and any time we see prices of 60/1 to shoot a lowest round score he must be taken into consideration.
0.75pt each-way H.Matsuyama First Round Leader 60/1 (1/5 7) Unibet, BetUK
Chris Gotterup First Round Leader @ 150/1 (Seven Places)
The PGA Championship is often kind to winners on the PGA Tour that season and for that reason the likes of Knapp, Pendrith and Bhatia appeal this week in plenty of markets.
Any of those could make a dive in the first round leader market but I'll opt for someone who comes here off the back of a victory in the shape of Chris Gotterup.
A victory in his first full season on tour is an impressive effort, especially given the opposite field events are a good deal stronger now than what they used to be.
66-64-65-67 at Myrtle Beach will give him a lot of confidence heading to his second Major, with his first being the US Open back in 2022 where he finished a very credible 43rd.
In the second to last group out on Thursday he could be one who benefits from returning Friday morning in even softer conditions and at 150/1 has plenty going for him.
0.5pt each-way C.Gotterup First Round Leader 150/1 (1/5 7) Coral, Ladbrokes
Thomas Detry First Round Leader @ 140/1 (Six Places)
Another triple figure golfer in my plans for round one is Thomas Detry who is having a sneaky good year on the PGA Tour and has the ability to get into the conversation across the four days.
The Belgian has made the cut in his last three Major Championships, including the Open last July where he finished 13th, his best finish in one of the big four to date.
This year some very credible efforts have surfaced including 4th at Pebble Beach and runner up in Houston. 20th at Torrey Pines was a sign he can cope with the long, demanding golf courses whilst 17th at Copperhead is another positive in terms of the long game test here this week.
He led after round 1 at Pebble Beach and was 4th at Torrey after a 66 in round one. He will have placed in this market five times in his last 23 first rounds, and won it once.
That's a fair tally for someone who is having a good year and having been paired with a fellow European in Rasmus Hojgaard looks overpriced at 140/1.
Akshay Bhatia Top Lefty @ 9/4
Brian Harman may struggle with the sheer length of this golf course in Kentucky and I'm happy to take him on in the Top Lefty market with Akshay Bhatia.
As mentioned in my outright preview for the tournament, Bhatia's irons have been scintillating lately and he hits the ball a fair deal longer than the diminutive Harman.
Seven top 20s this season, including his win in Texas has ensured Bhatia is one of the form players of the year and with Mickelson struggling this looks like a market he could easily take down.
The worry may be MacIntyre who came back to life at Myrtle Beach last time out but I expect this recent PGA Tour winner to get the better of him and at 9/4 looks fair value.
