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The famed and newly transformed East Course at Oak Hill Country Club is ready to host the strongest field in golf as they prepare to tee off.
The upcoming 2025 PGA Championship in Rochester, New York, is expected to offer a notable test on the challenging 7,394-yard, Par-70 Oak Hill course. Kerry Haigh, the Chief Championship Officer of the PGA of America, has shared additional information with playin-ny, highlighting the specific holes that will present the greatest difficulty for both spectators and bettors during this second major tournament of the year.
With the introduction of live and legal New York sports betting, accessible online throughout the state, the nine regulated online sportsbooks are fully equipped to cater to the avid sports bettors participating in this year’s PGA Championship in New York, from the first tee to the green.
2025 PGA Championship NY sports betting odds
An examination of the golf odds to win the 2025 PGA Championship from the prominent online sportsbooks highlights the favoritism and predicts a significant number of bets on the top three ranked golfers globally.
The chances of winning remain consistent for all bets, including prop bets and live betting, and are subject to possible changes.
There are numerous highly ranked players who have odds of winning ranging from +2000 to +3500. This group includes not only the aforementioned individuals, but also Tony Finau, Max Homa, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, and other LIV golfers and major champions from 2025 PGA Tour.
- Justin Thomas
- Patrick Cantlay
- Xander Schauffele
- Jordan Spieth
- Viktor Hovland
- Cameron Young
- Collin Morikawa
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Sungjae Im
Chat with Kerry Haigh and course overview
During a recent discussion with playin-ny, Kerry Haigh provided valuable information about the alterations and advancements made to the course in 2019-20, courtesy of architect Andrew Green.
Haigh emphasized that the redesigned greens will not only feature smaller elevated greens and restored shapes and contours on the pure bentgrass putting surfaces but also include added pockets and corners. These modifications will not only create more hole locations but also introduce additional challenges with increased runoff areas.
Haigh strategically places holes in small corners and close to bunker faces on the championship course, challenging players to attempt difficult shots.
According to Haigh, the updated design incorporates mounds and hummocks along the fairways and surrounding the greens, as well as a plethora of new bunkers that are not only deeper but also more challenging to navigate. These bunkers are expected to present difficulties for players who happen to encounter them outside the fairway or near the greens.
Anticipating a tough test for the world’s top golfers, Haigh places great importance on driving to avoid the challenging step-cut 3-inch deep rough and dense fescue outside the fairways. Keeping a close eye on the weather, Haigh notes cooler temperatures in the 60’s and a 50% chance of rain on Saturday. As the person in charge, Haigh has the authority to make adjustments to the course, pin positions, and green speeds in order to set a target score of 70 and even-par if he deems it appropriate.
Take a glimpse at the most challenging holes at Oak Hill, which are set to test the skills of the world’s top golfers in the upcoming 2025 PGA Championship.
Toughest holes at Oak Hill East Course for 2025 PGA Championship
As the 2025 PGA Championship prepares to commence, let’s specifically examine some of the most challenging holes.
No. 3: Par 3, 230 yards
Oak Hill features a challenging par-3 hole that stretches out over a considerable distance. This hole requires golfers to navigate a steep incline towards a green that slopes from the back to the front. The green is situated at the peak of a diagonal ridge, with bunkers strategically carved into the slope resembling stair steps. These deep bunkers, along with a deceptive false front, pose a great challenge as they can cause shots to roll back towards the fairway. This particular shot is widely regarded as one of the most daunting at Oak Hill.
No. 6: Par 4, 503 yards
During the course transformation, this hole is one of three newly added ones, and it underwent significant changes, just like holes 5 and 15. To successfully drive to the green, which slightly bends to the right, players must navigate through narrow fairway bunkers on the left and the Allen’s Creek bow on the right. The green itself slopes upwards towards the back, nestled between the creek that intersects the fairway and continues down the left side, extending beyond the length of the green.
No. 7: Par 4, 461 yards
Allen’s Creek runs along the right side of the hole before crossing the fairway, making precise placement crucial due to the presence of Oaks on the left side that narrow the fairway. The majority of players will choose a club other than a driver for better accuracy. The uphill approach leads to one of the smallest greens, which is protected by two bunkers. Placing the pins in front, right behind the bunkers, will make this hole exceptionally challenging, particularly for tee shots that were poorly placed.
No. 9: Par 4, 482 yards
The narrow fairway poses a challenge for longer hitters attempting the uphill blind shot towards the triangle green. Those who tee off towards the right side face the possibility of going out-of-bounds or encountering obstructions from overhanging trees. Additionally, the green slopes from back to front, and failing to land accurately risks making par challenging, particularly if the pins are positioned behind the right front bunker.
No. 17: Par 4, 502 yards
Members usually play this hole as a par 5, but PGA professionals will face a tough challenge towards the end of the course. To have a clear shot at the green, they’ll need to hit a powerful drive of 300 yards or more to reach the highest point of the fairway. Any shots that miss the mark will be sent far away from the green due to the closely mown run-off, making it difficult to recover. Additionally, if approaches veer towards the right, they will encounter mounds and hummocks, making it even harder to make a successful recovery shot.
No. 18: Par 4, 497 yards
The final hole presents a remarkable dogleg to the right, with a fairway that narrows to a mere 20 yards at the 300-yard mark. On the right side, there are three deep bunkers, while both sides of the fairway are lined with trees. However, the most notable aspect of this hole is the green, strategically placed on a ridge overlooking a 12-foot depression. Adding to the challenge, an extension to the back right of the green slopes sharply towards the front and is flanked by three bunkers on the right and one on the left. It was on this very spot that Shaun Micheel secured his PGA Championship victory in 2003, hitting a remarkable 7-iron shot that came to rest a mere 2 inches away from the hole.
Overall snapshot of Oak Hill for PGA Championship
It is anticipated that scoring will be challenging, as players are likely to finish far below the winning score of 10-under par achieved by Jason Dufner at the 2013 PGA Championship held at Oak Hill.
To spot a greater number of birdies, direct your attention to holes 2, 5, 10, 12, 13, and 14. Additionally, keep tabs on the birdie experts of the season on Tour: Jon Rahm (30.76%), Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Scottie Scheffler, and Cameron Young. Scheffler and Rahm hold the top two positions in hitting greens in regulation, while Cantlay and Finau both rank within the top 15 on the PGA Tour.
The top performers in strokes gained total for their most recent 50 rounds consist of Finau, Rahm, Cantlay, Schauffele, Scheffler, Matsuyama, Spieth, McIlroy, and Day.
Haigh acknowledges that the 2025 PGA Championship will introduce a variety of strategies and choices, with an emphasis on driving. However, the presence of daunting bunkers, tricky greenside runoffs, and demanding greens and pin placements will elevate this event to a significant moment in golf and New York sports betting history.
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