Sleeper picks to win 2026 PGA Championship include English star, Ryder Cup captain and 80/1 shot

The PGA Championship has a glittering list of star-name champions over the last decade but has also thrown up some unlikely winners in the past.

While the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas have dominated the event recently, we’ve also seen players from further down the bookies’ lists claim glory.

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Jimmy Walker, Jason Dufner, Y.E. Yang and Shaun Micheel are among the less household names to claim the Wanamaker Trophy since 2000.

And while there are a few clear favourites to win the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink, there are other players to consider for a top ten or better.

Here are talkSPORT.com’s sleeper picks for the second major of the year plus odds from talkSPORT Bet.

Matt Fitzpatrick 25/1

Fitzpatrick is the most in-form player in world golf right now.

The Englishman has won the Valspar Championship, the RBC Heritage and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in recent weeks.

He also came second at The Players, performed well at The Masters and had two top ten finishes in the majors last summer.

Fitzpatrick is, of course, already a major champion having clinched victory at the 2022 US Open.

The Country Club is not too dissimilar to Aronimink and Fitzpatrick should be confident of keeping his fine form going with another good display.

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Patrick Cantlay 50/1

Cantlay is probably overdue a win more than any other player in the field for the 2026 PGA Championship.

Having not tasted victory since the 2022 BMW Championship, Cantlay is often overlooked at the majors but the 34-year-old is coming back into form.

He’s played ten tournaments this year and came T14 or better on six occasions, performing best at the recent Valspar Championship and RBC Heritage.

He finished inside the top ten at the Truist Championship last time out and was T12 at Augusta last month too.

He should will arrive in Philadelphia confident and with something of a point to prove.

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Russell Henley 50/1

Like Cantlay, Henley is often not a player that immediately springs to mind when looking for tournament winners.

But the American is also in good form this season, having finished third at The Masters and sixth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

He has also been T10 or better in five of the last seven majors, having only had one such finish in his previous 36.

The 37-year-old may well be entering the twilight of his career soon but is clearly now getting to grips with the toughest tests in golf.

Aronimink is not the longest major venue either and instead demands patience with the putter and accuracy with the irons which should help Henley’s game.

Patrick Reed 66/1

Reed has enjoyed a brilliant year so far.

After confirming his exit from LIV Golf, he has won twice on the DP World Tour and finished T12 at the Masters.

He was in contention at Augusta for a while before fading over the weekend and now has another crack at a major.

The 35-year-old was handed a special invite to play at Aronimink and will be hoping to better his second placed finish from 2017 at Quail Hollow.

He won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and the Qatar Masters over the winter but has not teed it up since Augusta.

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Keegan Bradley 75/1

Aronimink last hosted a professional event at the 2018 BMW Championship – the winner that week? Keegan Bradley.

Bradley beat Justin Rose in a playoff to win that tournament and will obviously have fond memories of the Pennsylvania track.

It shouldn’t be forgotten that before his Ryder Cup captaincy nightmare, Bradley was one of the most in-form players on the PGA Tour throughout 2025.

He is also a former PGA Championship winner, having beaten Jason Dufner in a playoff at Atlanta Athletic Club in 2011.

With his Ryder Cup hangover still relatively fresh in his mind, Bradley will be keen to remind everyone of his talents.

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Adam Scott 80/1

Scott has been the model of consistency this season, not missing a cut in 12 events while being in the top 25 nine times.

He also has two fourth-placed finishes in Signature Events this year too – at the Genesis and Cadillac.

Scott will be playing his 99th major at Aronimink, a staggering achievement in itself.

His one major victory came at the 2013 Masters, but he has statistically performed best at the PGA Championship over the years.

Phil Mickelson won the 2021 PGA Championship at the age of 50 and now Scott will hope to mix it before turning 46 years old later this summer.