Here are list of players in this year’s PGA Championship field to watch out for, that have their own storylines entering the tournament.
Of the 156 golfers in this year’s fourth and final Major, only one will be able to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy.
The award, named after Rodman Wanamaker, was first awarded in 1916. Back then, the grand prize was $2,500, which he funded out of his own pocket.
He is also credited with the formation of the Professional Golfers Association, for which the tournament is founded on.
Of course, the purse of today’s tournament would blow Mr. Wanamaker’s mind. The purse for the event is $10 million, with the winner taking home $1.8 million and the Wanamaker Trophy for four days of work on the golf course.
Are you in the right career, after hearing that? Yeah, we chose the wrong career to make a living.
However, not all of us have the talent as this week’s players. They are the best golf has to offer. They come from all parts of the world, and have accomplished many things in their own careers.
With this week being the last major of the season, every player in the field will be competing to have their name etched into golfing history.
You might be a one-hit wonder, but it won’t matter.
A win here will have your name mentioned in the same breath as previous champions Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Walter Hagen.
Just ask Rich Beem.
Who, you ask? The PGA Champion from 2002, who was the first to take down Tiger in a Major Championship. His victory dance on the 18th hole of that year’s championship lives on cause of its elevated popularity of out-dueling Woods.
If you decided to check in on some golf this week, here are some marquee names to keep an eye on.
The Favorite- Jordan Spieth
It’s been quite the year for the 21-year old Texan.
Spieth won the first two legs of the calendar year Grand Slam (the Masters in Augusta, GA and U.S Open Championship in Seattle, WA).
He’s march towards immortality came to a halt last month at the Open Championship, which was held at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland (the birthplace of golf). Spieth was left out of the three-man playoff by one stroke, after making a Sunday charge.
He returns to American soil with aim of taking the last Major, giving him three out of four championships this golf season. Spieth would join exclusive company with Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan, as golfers who have won three majors in a single season.
The Contenders- Jason Day, Dustin Johnson
It seems like when you mention Jordan Spieth, these two names are brought up. At least this year. Both Day and Johnson have been at the top or near it in the past two majors, and have brought awareness to their games for different reasons.
How can you forget Day’s battle with his inner-ear vertigo at the U.S. Open? He battled through and was within in contention till his falter in the final round.
However, he made up for it at the Open Championship where he was near the top of the leaderboard. Only to find heartbreak on the final hole, missing the playoff, like Spieth, by one-shot.
Johnson’s road in the Majors was magnified after his three-putt collapse at the 18th hole of the U.S. Open. He just needed to two-putt to get himself into a playoff. Unfortunately, that would not happen and Spieth took the title.
At last month’s Open Championship, both Johnson and Spieth were paired together for the first and second rounds. Johnson was leading the tournament, until another collapse that started in the third round, ending his chances of celebrating a championship win.
Now, he returns to his nightmare from 2010. Johnson lost the tournament over a controversial ruling on the last hole that he just needed par on. The golf gods weren’t smiling on him that day, and he would be denied. You can bet, Johnson is aiming for a better outcome and to rid the title of “the best player to have never won a major”.
The Return of the Champion- Rory McIlroy
He’s baaaaaccckkkk! The two-time winner of the championship will return from injury to defend his title. The world’s number one suffered an ankle injury last month, which prevented him from defending his Open Championship at St. Andrews. The expected timetable for his return was estimated 4-6 weeks. However, he left no question that he is ready to get back to business and to tell everyone not to forget about him.
And to ramp up his return to the course, McIlroy is paired with Spieth, to open their rounds. Along with 2015 Open Champion Zach Johnson, they will hit the links at 1:20 pm EST.
This is will be one pairing not to miss!
Seeking a good showing- Tiger Woods
As a fan of Tiger Woods, it’s been hard to see him fall from the perch he stood on for so long.
Once the most dominant and feared players in golf, he has become the opposite. Working through injuries, swing changes, possible mental blocks on the course, or his publicized private life have all factored into his once invincible fortress of solitude into a straw house that can be easily blow away by a bigger, and meaner wolf.
Still, there is no denying of his accomplishments in this Major. Woods has hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy four times. His last came in a defending champion-fashion in 2007.
However, his play of late has left many to wonder, and criticize, his ability to even get the ball in the fairway, let alone being a factor in a golf tournament. Woods has become a punch line of jokes, with much of it from his own doing.
Still, he still draws the attention of fans, whether he is in first or last place. With a good showing in his last tournament, it should give Woods confidence heading into tomorrow.
We just want a good showing that he can back up his words. Woods doesn’t have to win. That would just be a bonus for his fans.
No, just be there on Sunday and make a strong statement that progress is really happening.
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