High Stakes in Westchester: The Tour's Second Major Looms Large

The DGA Tour turns up the pressure this weekend as the league heads to The Westchester Wildcard—the second major of the 2025 season. With larger payouts, double points, and bragging rights on the line, every swing this Sunday will echo louder than usual.

While much of the focus will be on who can rise to the occasion, history already has its eyes on a select few. Only three players in DGA Tour history have captured a major: Kyler Messner (The 2024 Masters and 2025 Eaglesticks Invitational), Will Eyman (2024 Westchester Wildcard), and Tyler Monk (2024 Eaglesticks Invitational and Turnberry Showdown). On Sunday, one of those champions makes his return. Tyler Monk is back in the field for the second time this season. Although ineligible for points or prize money, his presence alone brings weight—especially on a course known for leaderboard-altering conditions.

But Monk’s return isn’t the only headline. Sources close to the tour have confirmed Seth Paszke will be making yet another equipment adjustment—this time resurrecting the right-handed putter after a historically bad 42-putt performance at Pine Hill. Paszke, who switched to left-handed play roughly a year and a half ago, will now swing lefty and putt righty. It's an unconventional strategy, but in a league where bare feet and 92s with three birdies happen, anything goes.

Meanwhile, Mike McGuire may also be shaking things up. Rumors suggest he’s on the verge of replacing the clubs he just began using earlier this season. A bold move before a major, especially for a player who’s been trending upward—Mike’s second-place finish at Pine Hill marked a breakthrough, and his iron play has improved each week. At +1000, he’s a sneaky mid-tier value for bettors looking to ride the hot hand.

The field is loaded with contenders. Defending Westchester champion Will Eyman returns to the site of his greatest DGA triumph, where he carded a 76 gross (-9 net) last year to take home his first—and only—major. Will’s cleaned up his card this season, eliminating triples and finding more control around the greens. He enters Westchester at +850, with both history and momentum on his side.

The betting markets suggest the favorite is clear: Kyler Messner at +400. His stats are undeniable—league leader in pars (23), second-lowest bogey percentage (40.35%), and a scoring average of 80.33. He's already claimed two majors, and Westchester’s tight layout rewards his tidy, repeatable game. After struggling with the putter at Pine Hill, a bounce-back feels inevitable.

But right behind him on the odds sheet is Jack Spence at +550—model of consistency all season. Spence has yet to finish outside the top 5, holds the best birdie rate in the league (11.32%), and has avoided triples entirely through three events. His ball striking is surgical, and Westchester is the kind of track that rewards players who can hit fairways, control distance, and keep their heads. He’s knocking on the door.

And don't sleep on Trevor Monk, coming in at +700, who keeps showing up and cashing. With two top-3s already this season and one of the highest par totals in the league, Monk’s game is built on balance. His ability to avoid the meltdown holes gives him an edge when the pressure mounts. If the frontrunners slip, Trevor could sneak through and steal one.

Then there’s Harry Gilmore, priced at +900. Fresh off a dramatic win at Pine Hill, Gilmore’s rise from wildcard to winner has become one of the league’s best storylines. His fearless, shoeless approach is turning heads—and generating results. “No shoes, no f**ing problem,”* he said after winning Pine Hill. If the back nine doesn’t eat him alive, he’s fully in the mix again.

Auston Sorg checks in at +1400 and continues to be the most volatile player on tour. His Pine Hill scorecard looked like a stock market crash—3 birdies, 2 pars, and 9 double bogeys. Still, with elite par-5 scoring and the raw ability to string together low holes, he’s the league’s biggest X-factor. If he can stay upright through 18, he’s capable of winning.

Shea McGuire comes in at +1200, a steady presence with a proven ability to hang around. He’s one of the few players who hasn’t carded a triple bogey this season and ranks high in total pars. He won’t wow you with fireworks—but in majors, sometimes boring is beautiful.

Further down the field, Gianni Young is back in action, searching for rhythm and consistency. His 2025 return has been a bit off-beat, but the talent is there. If his ball striking syncs up, Westchester could be his launching point. Seth Paszke, with the putter switch in place, enters as the ultimate wild card. Right-handed again on the greens, he might finally start converting the looks he’s been wasting.

Dylan Sharp also returns to Westchester, where last year he posted one of his better rounds. No one’s placing bets on a victory, but maybe they'll sprinkle him in a top 10 parlay.

And then, there’s Jamichael Billups. While still officially ineligible for points due to league status, his advanced metrics are almost mythical. He’s played just one round, but posted a gross 76 with zero doubles, zero triples, and a birdie rate north of 10%. If he plays—and that’s still uncertain—he immediately becomes the field’s biggest problem.

The field is deep, the pressure is high, and the storylines are swirling. Westchester has crowned unexpected champions before, and with double points on the line, Sunday could reshape the standings in a single round.

Place your bets. The Westchester Wildcard awaits.