The PGA Championship tees off at Oak Hill in upstate New York on Thursday, and while it's often seen as the lesser of the four golfing majors, those perceptions are a little unfair. With some of the strictest entry criteria of any of the big tournaments, it's arguably the toughest test out there. Here's our full guide to the action, plus, five contenders we expect to challenge at the top of the leaderboard.
Everything you need to know about the PGA Championship
Where's the 2023 PGA Championship being held?
This is the seventh major to be staged at Oak Hill Country Club; the Rochester course in New York staged the US Open in 1956, 1968 and again in 1980, and it's hosted the PGA Championship four times since 1980.
Sky Sports' golf expert Wayne Riley described it as a 'beast' of a course. "This is one of the hardest set-ups that I've ever seen outside a US Open," he said.
"You've got to be an amazing player and hit everything very close. If you miss the green, then you've got to be an incredibly good chipper and an unbelievably good bunker player! Even if that's all working as you would hope it to be, you've still got to putt like a freak every hole."
Who qualifies for the 2023 PGA Championship?
The PGA Championship qualifying criteria are as follows:
- All the last five years' major event winners
- Champions from the previous three years of The Players Championship
- The top three Official World Golf Ranking international federation ranking players
- The current Senior PGA Champion
- Golfers who finished with 20 low scores at the previous year's PGA Championship
- The top 70 PGA Championship point leaders
- Members of both the European and American Ryder Cup teams in the world's top 100
- The winner of any tournament which was co-sponsored by the PGA Tour
When does the PGA Championship take place?
This year's competition tees off on Thursday at around midday BST.
How can I watch the PGA Championship?
Live coverage begins on Thursday from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf.
What happened at last year's PGA Championship?
The 2022 tournament was won by America's Justin Thomas, who came from seven shots down at the start of the final round to win, beating compatriot Will Zalatories in a three-hole playoff. It was the joint-biggest comeback in the history of the PGA Championship.
Who will win the PGA Championship 2023?
Here are five contenders we expect to challenge at this year’s tournament.
Jon Rahm
Given the nature of the course, you'd expect the world no.1 to fare better than most. There are virtually no weaknesses in Rahm's game — his drive is massive, his iron play is unrivalled and his accuracy on the greens has improved dramatically in the last couple of years. Having won The Masters by four shots last month, adding the title to his 2021 US Open victory, Rahm will be the red-hot favourite to lift his third major here.
Dustin Johnson
Of all the LIV golfers lining up at Oak Hill, 'DJ' has to be the biggest contender. Not only is he in good form having topped the leaderboard at the rebel circuit's tournament in Tulsa last Sunday, but he also has major-winning know-how, having lifted the US Open in 2018 and the Masters in 2020. He's finished runner-up in the PGA Championship twice before — could this be the year he goes one better?
Matt Fitzpatrick
After Rory McIlroy's struggles in Augusta (he failed to make the cut), Matt Fitzpatrick looks like the British golfer best placed to challenge in this year's PGA Championship. Having finished joint fifth in last year's competition, he went on to win the US Open. And armed with the knowledge that he has the wherewithal to succeed — plus a drive averaging more than 305 yards — he'll be a threat.
Patrick Cantlay
The American is yet to win a major, but has notched five top-four finishes in tournaments this year. With a tidy all-round game, don't be surprised if he emerges as the breakout star come Sunday evening.
Jordan Spieth
The 29-year-old could complete a career grand slam by winning this weekend, having followed up Masters and US Open successes in 2015 with victory at The Open two years later. He's been suffering from a wrist injury of late but showed good form in finishing second to Matt Fitzpatrick at the RBC Heritage last month.
