Penpix for Aussie hopefuls at the PGA Championship

Darren WaltonAAP
Camera Icon2015 winner Jason Day will head to the PGA Championship confident after recent complications. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AP

PENPIX FOR THE SIX AUSTRALIANS AND LEADING INTERNATIONAL CONTENDERS AT THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AT VALHALLA GOLF CLUB:

JASON DAY

Age: 36

World ranking: 19

Best result in a major: champion (2015 US PGA)

Read more...

PGA Championships played: 14 (11 cuts made)

Best PGA Championship finishes: champion (2015); runner-up (2016)

The revitalised former world No.1 returns as a genuine contender again after rebuilding his swing and ranking following chronic back issues and a confidence crisis that threatened to prematurely end his career.

Odds: $51

MIN WOO LEE

Age: 25

World ranking: 36

Best result in a major: T5 (2023 US Open)

PGA Championships played: 2 (1 cut made)

Best PGA Championship finish: T18 (2023)

The Perth prodigy has yet to catch fire in 2024 but showed glimpses with a top-25 at the Masters and tends to thrive on golf's biggest stages, as evident with his best PGA finish yet last year.

Odds: $67

ADAM SCOTT

Age: 43

World ranking: 56

Best result in a major: champion (2013 Masters)

PGA Championships played: 23 (17 cuts made)

Best PGA Championship finishes: 3rd (2018); T3rd (2006)

Continues to set gold standards for consistency and longevity as he tees up for a 91st consecutive major - more than double the next best among active players - but despite a string of top-25 results hasn't contended all year.

Odds: $126

CAMERON SMITH

Age: 30

World ranking: 61

Best result in a major: champion (2022 British Open)

PGA Championships played: 8 (7 cuts made)

Best PGA Championship finish: T9 (2023)

With two runner-up showings in the LIV league, including last start in Singapore behind Brooks Koepka, plus two team wins and a tied for sixth at the Masters suggests the former world No.2 is hitting his straps.

Odds: $41

CAM DAVIS

Age: 29

World ranking: 62

Best result in a major: T4 (2023 PGA Championship)

PGA Championships played: 3 (3 cuts made)

Best PGA Championship finish: T4 (2023)

Th unsung Sydneysider's joint fourth last year was the best performance from an Aussie at the 2023 US majors while he also pulled to within two shots of Scottie Scheffler on moving day at the Masters to show he's the real deal.

Odds: $201

LUCAS HERBERT

Age: 28

World ranking: 90

Best result in a major: T13 (2022 PGA Championship)

PGA Championships played: 5 (4 cuts made)

Best PGA Championship finish: T13 (2022)

Will be eager to make the most of his surprise opportunity to revive his majors career after being one of seven LIV Golf defectors invited to Valhalla. A part of Smith's Rippers outfit that has won the past two teams' events.

Odds: $201

LEADING INTERNATIONAL CONTENDERS:

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER (USA)

Age: 27

World ranking: 1

Best results at the majors: champion (2022, 2024 Masters)

PGA Championships played: 4 (3 cuts made)

Best PGA Championship finish: T2 (2023)

With four wins and a second from his past five starts, including the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players Championship and Masters treble, the world No.1 is the hottest favourite in years.

Odds: $5

RORY MCILROY (NIR)

Age: 35

World ranking: 2

Best results at the majors: champion (2011 US Open; 2012, 2014 US PGA; 2014 British Open)

PGA Championships played: 15 (14 cuts made)

Best PGA Championship finishes: champion (2012, 2014)

With victories in his past two starts also, the Northern Irish superstar would ordinarily be the man to beat at the venue of his second PGA Championship triumph a decade ago. But these are heady days for Scheffler.

Odds: $8.75

BROOKS KOEPKA (USA)

Age: 34

World ranking: 39

Best results at the majors: champion (2017, 2018 Open; 2018, 2019, 2023 US PGA)

PGA Championships played: 11 (11 cuts made)

Best PGA Championship finishes: champion (2018, 2019, 2023)

Ominously, just like last year, the former world No.1 looks to be peaking for the tournament he's dominated like few others before. Captured a tour-best fourth LIV Golf title in Singapore in his most recent start to place his rivals on notice.

Odds: $16

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails