PGA goes all in with Woods, Mickelson pairing..

For PGA Championship tee times, live scoring click here http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/pga-championship/leaderboard.html


It's early Thursday morning and as I have my daily cup of tea with toast and peanut butter to set up another long day sortin' and totin' the mail for Canada Post (my summer gig, and by far the most physically demanding job I have ever consented to..), I wait with you all for the start of the PGA Championship being played down in Kentucky on a newly renovated Valhalla GC, ( all new greens and chipping opportunities, work done under supervision of Jack Nicklaus after the senior PGA Championship in 2011..) and here are my thoughts..


I said last week after Rory won on the tight tree lined Firestone course, driving the ball with the length and control he has right now that nobody can beat him. Valhalla's fairways are much wider, so good luck to all the rest of the field. Rory is the clear favourite... but as usual he is not the story..


The PGA of America has gone all in with the pairing of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and almost as an after thought Padraig Harrington at 8.35.


Yes, Tiger is playing, his back injury suffered on the weekend had nothing to do with his surgery, and once the joint affected was reset he is pain free and with that news all attention goes to him and his pairing whether he shoots 10 under or 10 over.. same old story...For me it is a great side story, one of many, but I do not expect him to be a factor, unless he suddenly finds a way to drive the ball in the fairway, and of course starts to putt like the champion he once was..same for Phil..


Here's who I do expect to contend.. Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler who have been the leading men along with Rory so far this summer.. Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk are just a notch behind in current form.


The weather forecast is not good and will become the story with 100% chance of rain on Friday, and rain and T'Storms around all weekend. http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Louisville+KY+USKY1096


It is going to be hot, humid, muggy so I expect this week to be a marathon both physically and mentally.


Watch for Kenny Perry who just won over the weekend and heads home in front of friends and family to Valhalla, he has lost much of his big belly and is playing well and also from the senior circuit Monty has won 2 majors already this year, was second to Langer who lapped the field in Wales for the senior British Open title and Monty prefers these parkland type courses.


David Hearn 1.00pm, and Graham Delaet 1.15pm are our Canucks in the field..


I've got to get ready for work, but will be keeping tabs all day from my truck and will wrap the day here early this evening..


Have a great day 


Bryan