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The Wanamaker Trophy in 2023 at Quail Hollow.
Getty Images
Bob May didn’t win.
But yet, here’s a story about him. Another one, in fact. So no, he said in a 2020 GOLF.com interview, he didn’t play the what-if game over his runner-up finish, after a playoff, at the 2000 PGA Championship.
“The only thing that would be different was the financial side of things,” May said. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but there were guys who came after me who won tournaments but who didn’t get nearly the publicity I got from finishing second.
“I have no regrets. That day is now stitched into the history of the game. I feel fortunate that I was part of it, and that 20 years later we’re still talking about it.”
Twenty-five years later, too. Why? As May suggested, you probably know the details.
The winner? Tiger Woods, which helped earn him the “Tiger Slam.” Earlier in 2000, he’d won the year’s second and third majors — the U.S. Open and Open Championship, respectively — the PGA gave him the fourth, and then he won the 2001 Masters.
But was it nearly derailed by May? It was. In the final round at Valhalla, May fired a 66 to Woods’ 67 to force a three-hole playoff that was settled by a single shot. There’s more here, though. You know Woods and his accomplishments. As for May, though, he didn’t just not win at the PGA — he never won on the PGA Tour.
A takeaway then?
Twenty-five years later, he remains one of the reasons — if not the reason — to scroll down the odds board as you try to find a winner at this week’s PGA. It’d be some nod to May if an underdog were to win at Quail Hollow.
With that, let’s continue to mine. Below, members of our staff have each made a long-shot selection to assist you with your own weekly picks, whether those are for a low-stakes office fantasy league, or (legal!) big-bucks bets with a sportsbook. It’s an enjoyable endeavor for us. Deploy it as you wish.
On to our analysis.
2025 PGA Championship sleeper picks to watch
Adam Christensen
Sleeper pick: Russell Henley, +6000. There are not many golfers on Earth who have played more consistently than Russell Henley this year. The main concern in picking Henley is his lack of distance at a course that will favor the heavy hitters, but he has been so accurate this year that maybe he can overcome that. If he has a great week putting and chipping, he could steal a championship.
Connor Federico
Sleeper pick: Max Homa, +8000. At Quail Hollow, he won his first Tour event at the 2019 Wells Fargo, and he dominated the 2022 Presidents Cup, finishing with four wins and no losses in his United States debut. Homa is overcoming some recent struggles, but a T12 finish at the Masters proves he can contend for a major championship. I like his odds considering all the success he’s had in Charlotte.
Jessica Marksbury
Sleeper pick: Max Homa, +8000. The man’s had an admittedly tough season thus far, but his bright spot to date was the Masters, where he finished T12. That gives me some hope for his performance this week, at a course where he’s played well in the past, winning the Wells Fargo Championship in 2019 and finishing T8 the past two years. If any track can help extricate Homa from the funk he’s currently in, it’s this one.
Maddi MacClurg
Sleeper pick: Jordan Spieth, +4000. Recent flashes, like his final-round 62 at the Byron Nelson, hint that he’s not far off from a win. Sure, Quail Hollow favors the long ball, but it also requires imagination and grit, two things Spieth has in spades. If the putter heats up, don’t be surprised if he goes low. And with the career Grand Slam just out of reach, it could be the push he needs to get it done.
Kris McCormack
Sleeper pick: Joaquin Niemann, +2700. Niemann has been one of the most in-form players globally, securing his third LIV Golf victory of the year in April at Mexico City. Earlier in the season, he also clinched wins at LIV Golf Adelaide and Singapore, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure and maintain consistency across different courses.
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Four experts on how to bet on PGA Tour golf like a professional gambler
Zephyr Melton
Sleeper pick: Keegan Bradley, +12000. Why not a little magic ahead of the Ryder Cup for the captain? Stranger things have happened.
Nick Piastowski
Sleeper pick: Stephan Jaeger, +20000. Big course. Big hitter. Jaeger finished 21st at last year’s Wells Fargo, where he shot a 65 in the second round, so he’s gone low in the past.
Josh Schrock
Sleeper pick: Rickie Fowler, +14000. I picked Justin Rose as my Masters sleeper and that paid off. There were legitimate reasons for that selection. This time, I’m just going to go off vibes. Rickie hasn’t played well since a T18 at the Cognizant in early March. But he finished T5 the last time the PGA Championship was at Quail Hollow and has good history at the Wells Fargo Championship, including a win in 2012 and a fourth-place finish in 2019. No time like the present to turn back the clock.
Josh Sens
Sleeper pick: Keegan Bradley, +12000. A past PGA Champ who clearly relishes big moments. A good opportunity for him to stir up chatter about his potential role as a Ryder Cup player-captain.
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