PGA Championship leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/pga-championship/leaderboard.html
For me, something happened to the PGA Championship back in 1999 when it went from being the weak sister of the majors, to being a consideration for the best every year. With Rory back in the running and despite the fact 25 places are reserved for club pros, this may be the strongest field of the year at this bunker infested Whistling Straits course in Kohler, Wisconsin...
Perhaps that something was the arrival of the Tiger era ! Remember 1999 was the year at Medinah where Mike Weir was tied for the lead going into the final round with rounds of 68 68 69 -11. Sergio Garcia who was only 19 was T3 at -9 with Stewart Cink, had caught the public's attention with his shot making in particular the one from beside a tree trunk that he sprinted up the hill to watch it curve and slice miraculously onto the green..
Weirsy had a bad day, shot 80 caught up in the Tigermania, Woods aged 23 went on to shoot 72 on Sunday win his 2nd of 14 majors with Garcia a shot behind and many thought a long and glorious rivalry was in the making.
Then in 2000 it was Tiger again breaking Bob May's heart in the playoff at Valhalla, then David Toms and Phil Mickelson duking it out in the final pairing in Atlanta in 2001. The Tiger show continued in 2006 back at Medinah, then again at Southern Hills in 2007. Paddy Harrington had already won the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2008 and he capped off his year of year's with the PGA at Oakland Hills and as fate would have it, Sergio whose putt for the win at Carnoustie lipped out, was second to Paddy again.
Remember YE Yang and his sensational 3 wood from 220 yards, drawn around a tree, over a greenside bunker to 10 feet for birdie on the last hole at Hazeltine in 2009 to beat Tiger.
With the Tiger era in abayence if not over, Rory has won two of the last three, the first by 8 shots at Kiawah Island in 2012, the second last year, capping his summer of summer's (won the Open Championship, then the Bridgestone WGC) edging Phil Mickelson in the gathering darkness at Valhalla..
It all gets underway at 745 EST, this morning, the Rory, Jordan Spieth (going for 3 majors in a year), Zach Johnson pairing grabbing all the headlines, the bookies have Jordan at 9-2 and Rory 9-1.
Bubba is at 12-1, remember he has been 2nd in his last two outings and was second the last time they played here at Whistling Straits. Jason Day is also at 12-1 as is Dustin Johnson.
Tiger is in the field and watch out if he goes -3 on his first nine, all the headlines will suddenly swing to him, he is off at 915am, but I think the winner will come from the late flight, Brooks Koepka Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson, David Lingmerth and Sang-Moon Bae are all off at 210 before the big pairing at 220.
David Hearn is first in the first pairing at 745, Graham DeLaet had to withdraw with his thumb injury. Nick Taylor is in the last pairing at 3pm est
I always listen to what the caddies have to say and Mickelson's long time caddy Bones says the course with all it's dunes and bunkers looks like a links course but it really isn't. It's soft and the guys will be playing target golf, which may let many who aren't in the bomber category into the final equation.
Bryan
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