Golf’s final major of the season gets underway today as the 91st PGA Championships take place at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota .
As it was more than 80 years ago, the Wanamaker Trophy is still prized as one of the golf world’s greatest treasures and a tremendous field is present, led by a man who already owns four of those trophies- Tiger Woods.
Hazeltine is a course similar to Medinah. An array of skinny fairways, hook&fade bunkers, ponds, and tricky greenside traps. The course’s main defense is length, 7,685 yards. Hazeltine, the 2009 version, will feature the longest par-3, par-4, and par-5 in tournament history: 12 is a 520-yard par-4, 13 is a 247 yard par-3, and 15 is a 642-yard par-5.
With commitments from 100 of the world’s top 101-ranked players, this event features the deepest world-ranked roster of the season.
Defending Champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland leads a group of 13 PGA Champions in the field, and joined by: Bob Tway (1986), John Daly (1991), Paul Azinger (1993), Steve Elkington (1995), Mark Brooks (1996), Davis Love III (1997), Vijay Singh (1998, 2004), David Toms (2001), Rich Beem (2002), Shaun Micheel(2003), Phil Mickelson (2005) and Tiger Woods (1999, 2000, ’06, ’07).
So, outside former champs like Tiger, Phil and Padraig and the usual suspects like Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia, and Jim Furyk, who are the players that might fly under the radar and grab the Wanamaker trophy?
Lee Westwood- Just missing out on a British Open crown three-putting the 72nd green at Turnberry — including a missed 4-foot comebacker that would have later gotten him into a playoff — Westwood has proved himself an elite player that can compete at the highest level on any type of track at any time.
Hunter Mahan- with four top-six finishes in his last five starts, despite missing the cut at Turberry, this is one hot golfer with a fiery iron game proven with Top Ten finishes at the Masters and US Open.
John Senden- The silky-smooth swingin’ Australian is a demon at greens-in-regulation and the PGA layout could suit his talents. He had a fourth place finish year before last in the PGA Championships.
Steve Stricker – a next-door natïve of Wisconsin, Stricker has two wins and eight top-10s . His short game is super and could ride a hot putter to victory.
Last held at Hazeltine in 2002, Rich Beem won the championship by holding off a charging Tiger Woods, who birdied the last four holes. Hazeltine will host the 2016 Ryder Cup.
Broadcast Schedule
| Thursday | August 13 | 2-8 PM EDT | TNT |
| Friday | August 14 | 2-8 PM EDT | TNT |
| Saturday | August 15 | 11 AM – 2 PM EDT | TNT |
| 2-7 PM EDT | CBS | ||
| Sunday | August 16 | 11 AM – 2 PM EDT | TNT |
| 2 – 7 PM EDT | CBS |
Looks like Tiger has got the course figured out early on.
I think defending champion Padraig will have something to say by Sunday night
Is Phil’s head clear enough to focus? He’s been through some tough times off the course.
Hey Tiger has a share of the lead middle of back nine of the first round. A notorious front-runner, look out if he builds up a lead.
Pretty cool the amount of tv coverage TNT gives for the PGA title.
Looks like a nice course to be in the gallery. wonder how much tickets are going for.
I gotta believe Tiger breaks his drought and wins a major here.
Look out for Retief Goosen, HE flies under the radar all the time and is so talented.
If is comes down to a short game, put my money on Phil.
100 of 101 top ranked player? man that is an amazingly deep field. so many could break through and get the trophy.
I feel Steve Stricker is due to break out and this is a good opportunity.
[...] 2009 PGA Championships | Sport and Cinema.com [...]