{"id":1565171,"date":"2023-05-16T15:40:56","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T19:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1565171"},"modified":"2023-05-16T15:40:56","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T19:40:56","slug":"2023-pga-championship-predictions-winners-sleepers-busts-holes-to-watch-oak-hill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/2023-pga-championship-predictions-winners-sleepers-busts-holes-to-watch-oak-hill\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 PGA Championship Predictions: Winners, Sleepers, Busts, and Holes to Watch at Oak Hill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There's nothing quite like a major championship<\/a> week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week, it's the 2023 PGA<\/a> Championship at the historic Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. It'll be the first PGA Championship held at Oak Hill since 2013 when Jason Dufner rode a second-round 63 to his first and only major title. Ten years prior, Shaun Micheel came out of nowhere at Oak Hill to win his lone major. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The East Course will play much differently this time around, as the track has been lengthened to nearly 7,400 yards and will play as a par-70. With thick rough surrounding the tight fairways and small greens, the bombers will clearly have an advantage over the shorter hitters this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let's dive into the 2023 PGA Championship and see how our golf experts see the week playing out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 PGA Championship predictions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Sports7's
2023 PGA Championship predictions | Mike Calendrillo\/Sports7\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few predictions for the 2023 PGA Championship from Sports7 golf experts Jack Dougherty<\/a> and Luke Norris<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jack Dougherty: Cameron Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to ride the hot hand at this year's PGA Championship, look no further than Cameron Smith<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The talented Aussie is coming off a dazzling 9-under 61 in the final round of LIV Golf Tulsa, which got him into a playoff with Dustin Johnson and Branden Grace. Smith lost to DJ in the playoff, but he has to be feeling great about his game leading up to the second major championship of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I'm a bit worried about Smith's inconsistent driver with how penalizing the rough is going to be at Oak Hill, but he's the best in the world at scrambling for pars from awkward spots on the golf course. A strong short game is going to be paramount this week with how long the course is going to play and how many greens these players are going to miss. If he can keep it in the fairway for most of the week, I love Smith's chances to win his second major in his last three tries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luke Norris: Patrick Cantlay<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So much of me wants to take Xander Schauffele here, but I\u2019ll instead go with his good pal Patrick Cantlay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being long and accurate off the tee is obviously crucial in any golf tournament, but it\u2019s going to be especially important at this longer version of Oak Hill. And this plays right into Cantlay\u2019s wheelhouse. The 31-year-old ranks second on the PGA Tour in total driving, and he\u2019s really just due for a win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since surprisingly missing the cut in Phoenix, Cantlay hasn\u2019t finished lower than 21st in any of his last seven starts, a stretch that includes four top-10s. He\u2019s right on the cusp of getting back into the winner\u2019s circle, and it\u2019s undoubtedly time for him to add a major championship to his impressive resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biggest sleeper<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jack Dougherty: Nicolai Hojgaard<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Absolutely absurd.\u00a0

Nicolai Hojgaard drives the green and nearly aces the par-4 16th @Zurich_Classic<\/a> \ud83e\udd2f pic.twitter.com\/E5Hu4FawXU<\/a><\/p>— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 22, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>