James Mason
Thursday morning marks the start of the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow – the 2nd Major of the season – and there are plenty of candidates who will fancy their chances of getting off to a hot start on day one. I’ve analyzed the entire field and have picked out a pair of players who could have value in the First Round Leader market. Let’s get into our PGA Championship 2025 first-round leader predictions and best bets.
Find out our 2025 PGA Championship best bets and predictions, including a longshot pick at +12000 odds
PGA Championship 2025 First Round Leader best bet: Keith Mitchell (+7500)
Odds available at bet365 at time of publishing.
Keith Mitchell has had a habit of starting off tournaments in red-hot fashion this season, most recently carding a superb 61 to hold the 1st-round lead at last week’s Truist Championship. The 33-year-old was also tied at the top after the opening 18 holes of the Valspar Championship and Houston Open, while he was 2nd after day 1 of the Texas Open and tied-5th following the opening round of the Cognizant Classic. Mitchell has also made strong starts at Quail Hollow in the previously named Wells Fargo Championship. He was tied-2nd after round 1 in 2018 and just 2 shots off the early pace the following year.
See our best PGA Championship prop bets for this week, featuring Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm
PGA Championship 2025 First Round Leader prediction: Patrick Reed (+7000)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Patrick Reed showed he still has what it takes to compete in the Majors when taking 3rd place at last month’s Masters and it would be no surprise to see him put in another strong showing at a course he has a warm affinity for. The former Major winner was tied-2nd at Quail Hollow in the 2017 PGA Championship, starting that tournament with a 69 to leave him 2 strokes off the pace, and he returns this year off the back of some promising form on the LIV circuit. Reed was the 1st-round leader in Miami in April and he could be set for another strong opening.
