Fantasy Race to Dubai: Ones to watch

The European Tour’s Race to Dubai moves to Kiawah Island in South Carolina for the second Major of the year - the US PGA Championship.

The tournament is making its first return to Kiawah Island since Rory McIlroy's eight-shot triumph in 2012. But who will be crowned champion this week? Read on below to find out who our experts think.

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Expert Picks

Our expert picks will be brought to you every week by Sky Sports Presenter Kit Alexander and former Ladies European Tour player, coach and presenter Sophie Walker. The duo also co-host their own weekly _Fantasy Golf Youtube Channel._

Sophie's picks

You can follow Sophie on social media here: @SophWalks (Twitter), @SophWalksGolf (Instagram)

Viktor Hovland

The Norwegian won the Mayakoba Golf Classic and Puerto Rico Open in 2020. Both Paspalum grass courses are exposed to the wind. The world number 11 is on form after a T3 at the Valspar and Wells Fargo his game is incredible tee to green.

Hovland is 2nd in birdie average (4.70), he is averaging over 300 yards from the tee but significantly he hits 64% of fairways (62nd) Finding fairways is key around Kiawah Island as is links experience. Viktor won the US Amateur at Pebble Beach.

Jon Rahm

This guy has to win a major soon, he hasn’t been outside the world's top 3 in 18 months. Rahm has a strong links record, winning the Irish Open in 2017 and finishing 3rd in the Pebble Beach US Open of 2019.

He has performed well around a Pete Dye designed course this year with a T9 at The Players Championship 2021 (Sawgrass GC).

The Tee to Green stats of this man are mind blowing (gaining 1.7 shots on the field) but equally the putting is the other end of the spectrum (losing on the field). PGA Champions are usually this type of player. Think back to past champions Brooks Koepka, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy.

Abraham Ancer

The Mexican has just recorded his highest finish of the season with a 2nd at Wells Fargo. The significance is not only form but the positive correlation between players doing well around Quail Hollow and Kiawah Island.

Ancer isn’t the longest of hitters which may put some of you off as the course is 7848 yard long (longest in ever) but he does hit 72% of fairways (ranked 2nd). Jordan Spieth has been quoted saying “The Ocean course is a second shot golf course”. Abraham ranks 10th in Greens in Regulation (70%) and has a killer short game if he does miss the green (13th in scrambling).

Kit's picks

You can follow Kit on social media here: @KitOnTheCourse (Twitter), @KitOnTheCourse (Instagram)

Rory McIlroy

Rory won in his previous start in the Wells Fargo Championship and he triumphed by eight shots the last time the PGA Championship was at Kiawah Island in 2012. He wasn’t entirely back to his sparkling best at Quail Hollow, but the improvements with the help of Pete Cowen and Dr Bob Rotella were clear for all to see and enough secure his 19th PGA Tour title. He loves the Ocean Course and that winning confidence it back.

Justin Thomas

The world number two won on the Pete Dye-designed TPC Sawgrass earlier this year, and he’s also had victories in the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow and 2018 Honda Classic at PGA National – all courses that are good comparisons for Kiawah Island. Good iron play is going to be key and he’s 2nd on the PGA Tour in ‘strokes gained - approach’ and 28th in greens in regulation. His low-ish ball flight will work if the wind gets up.

Will Zalatoris

The 24-year-old has taken to the PGA Tour like a duck to water. He’s had 10 top-20s in 18 starts since making the step up from the Korn Ferry Tour last summer, including a T6 in the 2020 US Open and solo 2nd in this year’s Masters. He ranks 3rd in ‘strokes gained - approach’, 13th in greens in regulation and averages 306.5 yards off the tee. He also has a tidy short game so he’ll be right there again if the putter performs.