Davis Love III Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 It began in April, with Bubba Watson holding off a spirited challenge from Jordan Spieth to win at Augusta National for a second time. In June, American golf went back to its roots at Pinehurst. There would be no home winner at the U.S. Open, however, with Martin Kaymer producing one of the most dominant major championship performances in recent memory. Onto the 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, and we very nearly saw another victory by a monumental margin. Ultimately, Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler made a fight for it, but Rory McIlroy would hold on to join the legends of the game in winning three different majors by the age of 25. Now it is time for the Championship of the PGA of America, the PGA Championship. Undoubtedly the least distinct of golf's four grand slam events, coming fourth in the calendar. It lacks the iconic majesty of the Masters, doesn't have the status of being America's national championship, and lags well behind the Open Championship in terms of history and perceived prestige. However, despite that, the annual battle for the Wanamaker Trophy often proves to be the most compelling of the four. We can look back on some iconic finishes in the last two decades. Few will forget Tiger's battle with a 19-year-old Sergio Garcia at Medinah, with an unheralded journeyman by the name of Bob May pushing Woods (at his peak) all the way at Valhalla in 2000. Phil Mickelson's Monday victory at Baltusrol in 2005, and Martin Kaymer’s triumph after an enthralling – and controversial – Sunday at Whistling Straits in 2010 also stand out in recent editions the event that was previously coined ‘Glory’s Last Shot’. Valhalla, a course with many detractors, will serve as an interesting canvas for the leading players in the game. This Jack Nicklaus design has previously hosted the Championship twice, with Nick Faldo's European Team also succumbing to a surprising defeat against Paul Azinger's United States six years ago in the Ryder Cup. Comparatively generous off the tee, with challenging greens placing an emphasis on accurate iron play, Valhalla is a course that will yield many birdies this week - which will liven up the boisterous Kentucky crowds. Anticipation for this year’s championship has been heightened by the form of Rory McIlroy, who reclaimed the world number one spot after victory in the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at the weekend. With some observers now believing the Northern Irishman to be on the verge of establishing his own distinct ‘era’, a second consecutive major victory would be ultimate statement of intent in that regard. Valhalla is a course that sets up perfectly for the 2012 PGA Champion, but the odds suggest that you simply can’t win them all. However, Nick Price, Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington have all won the season's final two majors consecutively in the past 20 years. Rory McIlroy will see no reason why he can’t increase his major tally to four. Perhaps the most enticing thing about this week is the form of so many of the game’s leading lights, with newly positioned world number two Adam Scott surely due another big victory. In the last four years, the Australian has posted a stunning nine top ten finishes in majors, including his triumph at Augusta National last year. If the 34-year-old can find the extra gear to elevate a solid top ten into genuine contention, he may well join compatriots Elkington, Grady, Graham and Ferrier on the Wanamaker Trophy. Sergio Garcia, a noted critic of the course, looks to be back to his best form, despite losing a three-shot on Sunday at Firestone. While fellow European stalwart Justin Rose continued his imperious summer last week with a top four finish, as he returns to the site of his first Ryder Cup in 2008. Incidentally, he was Europe’s leading point scorer that week. The likes of Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson, Matt Kuchar and Bubba Watson may threaten, while former PGA Champions Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson will be hoping to secure their place in next month’s showpiece at Gleneagles. The two Americans, who formed a formidable partnership at Medinah two years ago, are on the fringes of the automatic qualification places for Tom Watson’s team. The qualifying period ends at the conclusion of this championship, and while both are largely expected to receive a wildcard pick, regardless of what happens this weekend, improved performances at Firestone will perhaps be the catalyst to securing their spot on Sunday. It’s also an important week for three of Europe’s mainstays – Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood – all of whom are outside Paul McGinley’s automatic top nine. All three have lacked consistency this season, and the captain will be desiring to see some semblance of form from this trio. And what of Tiger Woods, whose troubles continued this past weekend. Withdrawing midway through his final round on Sunday due to apparent back pain, grimacing and clutching his back in agony, it was a sorry sight to see the 14-time major champion struggling to take his shoes off. Questions will naturally be asked whether he came back too soon from microdiscectomy surgery in March, but he is yet to officially withdraw from this year’s PGA Championship. Clearly intending to try and play, a notion that makes little logical sense, it would not be a surprise to see him on the tee on Thursday at Valhalla – site of one of his most memorable triumphs. If he doesn’t appear, 98 of the world’s top 100 players are in attendance. All of whom are capable of claiming this year’s last shot at major glory and joining many of the game’s legends on the Wanamaker Trophy. It may prove to be Rory McIlroy, whose own legend is growing by the week. This is the last major for eight months, ladies and gentlemen. Make the most of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Lovely stuff DL3. Can't see past McIlroy. The boy is playing some incredible stuff just now. I genuinely believe he has a chance of beating Jack's major wins record.....certainly a better chance than Tiger has. Will probably put a few quid on Duboission to get a top 6 finish. Really like that guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gy diamond Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Put £5 on big Phil and Schwartzel both at 33/1. If Rory keeps this form up though no one else is getting close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Tiger played 9 holes yesterday and by all accounts didn't look in any discomfort. I expect him to play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Red button has the McIlroy, Bubba and Kaymer group's round Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Valhalla is such a beautiful course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds are Forever Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Really enjoy watching golf at Valhalla, beautiful and interesting golf course. A good tonic after last week's annual borefest at Firestone - the most boring tournament golf course there is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
die hard doonhamer Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Incredible par from Jason Day on 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Connolly Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Jason Day just belted it into a hazard that the rules official described as "infinite". The ball was basically sitting down in jungle, which happened to be across a stream. Caddy took his shoes and socks off to go and find it, then Day did the same. Caddy threw him a club across the stream, which he had to catch or would have faced a penalty. He caught it, thinned it across the fairway, and got up and down for a Seve-esque par. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footiechick Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 That par by Day was superb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jupiter Jazz Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Is Jim Furyk ever not on the front page of a leaderboard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Connolly Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Day is just spraying it everywhere at the moment, but it doesn't seem to be affecting him too badly. Would like to see him win, seems a decent guy as well as a cracking player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Cracking 66 by Marc Warren today, puts him at -5 and a decent chance of a top ten finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Hahn Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Is Jim Furyk ever not on the front page of a leaderboard? It seems not but I was startled to hear he wasn't won a tournament since 2010! Really enjoyed watching this, find this the most entertaining of the US side majors. They always seem to set the course up to yield a few more birdies unlike the US Open which seems to set them up to be as brutal as possible. Don't really find that entertaining and I find the annual wankfast over Augusta pretty nauseating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
die hard doonhamer Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 So Rory goes in to the final day with a 1 shot lead. Seems he didn't play great today so i imagine he'll be delighted to have that lead. Can't see past him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Distant Doonhamer Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Jason Day just belted it into a hazard that the rules official described as "infinite". The ball was basically sitting down in jungle, which happened to be across a stream. Caddy took his shoes and socks off to go and find it, then Day did the same. Caddy threw him a club across the stream, which he had to catch or would have faced a penalty. He caught it, thinned it across the fairway, and got up and down for a Seve-esque par. It seems totally bizarre that Day and his caddy would risk a penalty like that. Edit to add very good round by Danny Willet who unfortunately seems to be yet another golfer who endlessly talks about "we" in his interviews. It`s annoying enough to hear the usual "we played well" stuff but did he not actually say that "we have a bad back" at one point. FFS man get a grip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Distant Doonhamer Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 It seems not but I was startled to hear he wasn't won a tournament since 2010! Really enjoyed watching this, find this the most entertaining of the US side majors. They always seem to set the course up to yield a few more birdies unlike the US Open which seems to set them up to be as brutal as possible. Don't really find that entertaining and I find the annual wankfast over Augusta pretty nauseating. TBH I generally find it the least enjoyable of the Majors as it comes across in many ways as just another PGA tour event. That said I`ve really enjoyed this one so far. Some cracking viewing. Really hope there are a big number of players in contention over the closing holes tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Hahn Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Awesome round from Weisberger as well. Not a player I know that much about but remember seeing him finish well in a couple of European Tour events. I also hadn't realised that Mikko Ilonen has become some player. He seemed pretty average when I used to watch a lot of European Tour golf and I never saw him competing at Majors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Going to be a cracking finish tonight, I've got a fiver e/w on Fowler so I'll be hoping that he can hit another low score and finally get over the winning line after being in contention at every major this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Connolly Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 It seems totally bizarre that Day and his caddy would risk a penalty like that. Edit to add very good round by Danny Willet who unfortunately seems to be yet another golfer who endlessly talks about "we" in his interviews. It`s annoying enough to hear the usual "we played well" stuff but did he not actually say that "we have a bad back" at one point. FFS man get a grip. It was a bit odd, but the he wouldn't have been able to take the bag in, and it would have also involved several more crossings of the creek. He had also taken ages by that point, so some rules official would probably have had the watch out. Howard Clark, Ewan Murray and Butch all didn't seem entirely sure of the rules in there, so it may actually have been the safest option! Agreed on Willet - they showed a clip of him chipping in and he said something along the lines of "we couldn't have hit it any better". A*sehole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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