He tied for 23rd in the '03 PGA Championship when he was known primarily for his art degree from Northwestern and painting as a hobby.Ģ013 MAJORS: Masters-T20, US Open-T8, British Open-DNP. Expect a reasonable chance to bounce back at Oak Hill. Open, played with eventual champion Justin Rose and shot 75 to tie for eighth. He was within two shots of the lead going into the final round of the U.S. PGA MOMENT: Playing in the last group - and wearing a red shirt - with Tiger Woods at Medinah in 2006, and closing with a 74 to tie for third.īACKSPIN: Donald is best defined by the tale of two Opens this year. The last player to win his first major in his 40s? His best mate, Darren Clarke, in the British Open two years ago.Ģ013 MAJORS: Masters-T25, US Open-T8, British Open-Cut. The question is whether his tie for third in the British Open drained him or gave him renewed hope that he can win a major. Perhaps more troublesome is that he now has gone 30 tournaments since his last win at the Scandinavian Masters. PGA MOMENT: Having to miss the 2010 PGA Championship because of a leg injury.īACKSPIN: Westwood missed his best chance yet to win a major by failing to hold a two-shot lead at Muirfield last month. (Five best players to have never won a major)Ģ013 MAJORS: Masters-T8, US Open-T15, British Open-T3. Still, is any other top player more unpredictable? If he wins at Oak Hill, he's a slam dunk for player of the year no matter what Woods does in the FedEx Cup. ![]() 1 in the world, nor has he ever been voted PGA Tour player of the year. PGA MOMENT: Tapping the Nicklaus plaque with his 3-wood and hitting a shot to easy up-and-down range for birdie on the 18th hole to win by a shot in 2005 at Baltusrol.īACKSPIN: Mickelson's win at Muirfield makes him one of the greatest players in golf history, even if he never wins a U.S. A win allows him to join Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus as the only players in the last 50 years to win a major in three straight seasons. He still doesn't have a win this year, shocking for a guy who started at No. He still hasn't had his wisdom teeth removed. McIlroy started the year with a missed cut in Abu Dhabi, an early exit from Match Play and a WD from the Honda Classic with sore wisdom teeth. The difference is he was not as far away as he is now. PGA MOMENT: Breaking the PGA record for margin of victory (8 shots) last year at Kiawah.īACKSPIN: This is where it all turned around last year for McIlroy. MAJORS: US Open (2011), PGA Championship (2012).Ģ013 MAJORS: Masters-T25, US Open-T41, British Open-Cut. Yes, he's still capable of winning any major on any course. Not to be forgotten are his four wins this year, and his No. ![]() That would be one thing out of Woods' control. ![]() Jack Nicklaus suggested that maybe the major champions this year played better. Why wait? Some will argue it's his putting on the weekend. PGA MOMENT: Becoming the first player to win back-to-back after the PGA Championship switched to stroke play in 1958.īACKSPIN: This is looking more and more like an empty year in the majors for Woods, which would mean seven months of analysis until the Masters. 2 in the world.Ģ013 WINS: Farmers Insurance Open, Cadillac Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players Championship. Don't read anything into that, for it doesn't take much to get going the wrong way at Muirfield, especially under the stress of trying to catch up. Scott had the lead at the British Open with six holes to play until he made four straight bogeys to fall back. PGA MOMENT: Tied for third at Medinah in 2006, even though he was six shots behind Tiger Woods.īACKSPIN: Mike Weir was the Masters champion and made a spirited run at the PGA title when it was played at Oak Hill in 2003. Open-like course makes him a favorite.Ģ013 MAJORS: Masters-1, US Open-T45, British Open-T3. His missed cut at the British Open was troubling. Rose only has one leg of the slam after his win at Merion. They all went on to capture the career Grand Slam. Tiger Woods (2000), Jack Nicklaus (1980), Ben Hogan (1948) and Gene Sarazen (1922) are the only other players to win the U.S. PGA MOMENT: Has missed the cut five out of 10 times at the final major.īACKSPIN: Rose can join some ultra-exclusive company with a win at the PGA Championship. (The three major champions, the defending PGA champion and Tiger Woods)Ģ013 MAJORS: Masters-T25, US Open-1, British Open-Cut. 8-11 at Oak Hill Country Club (players listed in predicted order of finish): A capsule look at 20 players expected to contend in the PGA Championship Aug.
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