How To Watch the PGA Championship, TV Schedule and Storylines
Golf’s second major of the season is here. This is how you can watch with Sling and what to look forward to as Valhalla Golf Club takes center stage.
The golfing universe will turn its eyes to Louisville, Kentucky as the season's second major kicks off on Thursday, May 16. It’s been 10 years since Valhalla hosted big-time golf, and it has a track record of producing dramatic moments. In 1996, Mark Brooks defeated Kentucky native Kenny Perry with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden death-playoff. In 2000, Tiger Woods kicked off the beginning of his “Tiger Slam” with a win at Valhalla. This was the first of four straight major wins that Woods captured, and was home for Tiger’s iconic ‘putt and point’ moment. And in 2014, Rory McIlroy captured his fourth major in three years, edging out Phil Mickelson by one shot. Since then, McIlroy has yet to win another major championship.
Let’s take a look at the TV schedule and our favorite storylines to follow at Valhalla. Sling TV will carry first and second round coverage on ESPN with Sling Orange. Subscribers will need an OTA antenna or Paramount+ to watch complete Saturday and Sunday coverage. Subscribers may also look to ESPN+ for additional coverage. The full PGA Championship TV schedule is as follows:
2024 PGA Championship TV Schedule
Round 1 Thursday: 12-8pm ET on ESPN
Round 2 Friday: 1-8pm ET on ESPN
Round 3 Saturday: 10am - 1pm on ESPN and 1-7 pm ET on CBS*
Round 4 Sunday: 10am - 1pm on ESPN and 1-7 pm ET on CBS*
*CBS is not available on SlingTV. Use an OTA or Paramount+ to watch Saturday and Sunday Coverage. Additional coverage of the PGA Championship on ESPN+ & Paramount+ which includes earlier coverage, featured groups, and featured holes.
The Course
https://www.youtube.com/embed/zpOmE0EjaPc?si=YCbLrrcV_Ql-qAJy
Valhalla Golf Club was specifically built to host Major Championship golf. It’s a big property that is relatively flat but poses plenty of bunkers and creeks winding throughout the course. The rough will be grown out and due to the weather, conditions are going to be on the softer side, making the course play even longer. Speaking of length, it’s no surprise the course has been lengthened since we last saw it in 2014. The first, 12th, 14th and 18th holes received the brunt of the makeover, and a premium will be put on long iron play this week. Over 200,000 patrons are expected to be in attendance at the PGA Championship, so the event will have a great stadium atmosphere with plenty of noise.
Scottie Scheffler's Quest for the Grand Slam
https://www.youtube.com/embed/2bcQailrGRk?si=DCdWa6l7_IiQOD00
It’s been about a month since we’ve seen world number one Scottie Scheffler in action (the Masters Champion and his wife Meredith welcomed their first child last week). For the first time since Tiger Woods over 20 years ago, it actually feels possible that someone might win all four majors consecutively. In his last five starts, Scheffler has won four times along with a second place finish (that could have easily been a victory). The Texas Longhorn has cured his putting woes and has continued to be the best ball-striker in the world, all equating to dominating every event he enters. With plenty of other storylines buzzing around Louisville this week, this one is clearly the top.
Brooks Koepka Looks to Repeat
https://www.youtube.com/embed/9osHAZ-NakM?si=yj13wiayp1uc8b_d
The winner of three PGA Championships (including last year's) enters this week in fine form. After a disappointing performance at Augusta, Brooks Koepka has rattled off a T9 and a win in his last two LIV Golf events. We talked about Valhalla fitting Scheffler, but this is the prototypical set up that has benefited Brooks more than any other player. His previous wins at Bethpage, Oak Hill, and Bellerive all boast similar characteristics; big tracks, with long rough that puts a premium on hitting it a long way with accurate iron play. A win would be Brooks 6th major championship, vaulting him from 15th place all-time to 12th place, where he would be tied with bonafide hall of famers Nick Faldo, Phil Mickelson and Lee Trevino.
Rory McIlroy Coming Off A Win
Not only are Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka coming in hot to the PGA Championship, but so is world number two Rory McIlory. Although some off-the-course news broke this week that McIlroy and partner Erica Stoll filed for divorce, McIlroy won last week, tracking down Xander Schauffele at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, a course that is extremely similar to Valhalla. On top of that, Rory’s last major victory came at this very track, 10 years ago. So, you could say that if there was any time for McIlory to finally break through and get his fifth major, this is it. With that said, the two guys we mentioned above stand in his way.
The last three PGA Championships at Valhalla have all gone down to the wire or to a playoff. It’s likely the cream rises to the top this weekend and Scheffler, Koepka and McIlroy figure to be involved.
The Field
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cqz7JHfY8JI?si=AbKvGoQL3Sr4r9_b
According to DataGolf, the PGA Championship is technically the strongest field in golf. We mentioned the three horses above coming into the tournament in great form, but there are still players like Jon Rahm, Ludvig Åberg, Max Homa and Kentucky native Justin Thomas who are all viable contenders.
Then you have Tiger Woods, who put forth a great effort at The Masters, making the cut. The Big Cat’s odds to win are slim, but as we’ve mentioned in previous columns, these moments of watching Woods compete at majors will be over before we know it, and it’s something we shouldn’t take for granted.
2024 PGA Championship Odds
Top 20 Via DraftKings as of 5/13
Scottie Scheffler +450
Rory McIlroy +750
Xander Schauffele +1400
Jon Rahm +1600
Brooks Koepka +1600
Ludvig Åberg +2000
Bryson DeChambeau +2800
Collin Morikawa +3000
Max Homa +3500
Joaquin Niemann +3500
Viktor Hovland +4000
Patrick Cantlay +4000
Cameron Smith +4000
Wyndam Clark +4500
Timmy Fleetwood +4500
Justin Thomas +4500
Tyrell Hatton +5500
Byeong Hun An +5500
Cameron Young +5500
Sam Burns +6000
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