PGA Championship: Second Round Betting Update

• After the first round of the PGA Championship, Jason Day and Brendon Todd sit atop the leaderboard at five-under-par.
• Brooks Koepka still leads the betting board with -450 odds to three-peat after a round of 66 on Thursday.
• Other big names like Bryson DeChambeau (+1200), Rory McIlroy (+2800), and Tiger Woods (+1800) now hold much better value while still being in contention heading into day two.

SAN FRANCISCO – After an impressive showing on the course Thursday, former PGA Champion Jason Day returned to the top of the leaderboard at five-under-par.

Brendon Todd came in late to join the Australian at the top of the board and lead a strong group of big names heading into Friday.

The first round of play provides some great insight on which players will be around for the finish and which ones will bow out before the weekend. This makes now a perfect time to get in some last-minute bets on golfers who now have much better value than before the event began.

Two-time reigning PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka shot a 66 in his first round to stay just one stroke behind the leaders and holds a heavy lead on the live legal sports betting odds for the tournament.

Note that since the tournament is underway these are live betting odds that will change and shift dramatically with each hole of play.

Betting after the first round presents terrific opportunity to get a great value on golfers who might have underperformed on Day 1, but still have a good shot of winning the tournament.

Comparing the leaderboard to the odds can lead to some surprising connections for golf bettors looking to win big.

With that in mind, there a few players sitting in prime position for a run.

Justin Thomas (+4000) Rd1: 71 (+1)

Thomas had a weak first round that put him just over par but is still one of the best golfers in the world ready to get his game back on track.

JT just came from behind to win last week at the St. Jude, so is familiar with playing catch up. With three days to go, getting JT at +4000 when he opened at +1200 is too good to pass up.

Patrick Reed (+4000) Rd1: 68 (-1)

In the same boat is Patrick Reed, who is getting inflated odds despite shooting under par in Day 1. Reed played very well Thursday and just barely missed out on going two under after a long putt stopped just short on the edge of the cup.

Reed hasn’t been at his best since the hiatus but has shown flashes of his brilliance throughout his play. Getting these odds on a top player just three shots off the lead is a steal.

Martin Kaymer (+8000) Rd1: 66 (-4)

Martin Kaymer sits just one shot off the lead after a first-round 66 yet is getting +8000 odds to win via live betting odds.

That is just absurd for a two-time Major Champion and former world No. 1. While Kaymer’s game has dropped off since his last win in 2014, the German is still only 35 years old.

Oddsmakers are clearly doubting Kaymer’s abilities to hold a lead, but putting any golfer just a shot off the lead at +8000 is cause for golf bettors to pounce.

News tags: Brooks Koepka | Bryson DeChambeau | golf | Jon Rahm | Justin Thomas | PGA | PGA Championship | PGA Tour | Rory McIlroy | Tiger Woods