He looks ready to go, and he will find out Thursday what kind of traction he has. With past champions that include Y.E. Yang (2009), Shaun Micheel (2003), Rich Beem (2002), Mark Brooks (1996) and Wayne Grady (1990), it’s about time we another rank outsider victor!
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Rory McIlroy is confident he can “excel” at Baltusrol and likes his chances of winning another major at the PGA Championship this week.
Bubba Watson is the rare top golfer excited to represent the U.S.in the Rio Olympics. The last time the PGA was not played in August was in 1971, when it was held at PGA National in Florida in February. Last time out at Baltusrol, only four out of the 24 club pros made the cut, with Steve Schneiter the best placed in T40. Over the years, it has been played in every month except for January, March and April.
Korea’s Byeong Hun An came out on top in the long drive contest at the US PGA Championship, much to McIlroy’s dismay. But certainly in the last 25 years since some of the early players had some chances, Jesper Parnevik in particular. “I’m now ranked the best player in the world, but I need to work harder than I ever have before to keep that spot”.
He is not one to get the big head, and it helps that his next major is in New Jersey.
Spieth is having a very good year, and he needs reminded of that every now and then.
Stenson had to endure two significant slumps in his career, the first one that led him to swing coach Pete Cowen.
Mickelson feels he is now playing the best golf of his career and is certain he will win more majors and, as he prepares for the next one in a busy golfing summer, the veteran admits that his Springfield victory 11 years ago was a significant moment in his career.
Jordan Spieth, who played a practice round with Michelson on Tuesday, walked over to his playing partner Tuesday and told him it was fun to watch him, and that he was unlucky not to win. “I’ve still got a bit of fight in me”. Because it’s not to the same standard.
Jason Day broke the major score to par record with his 20-under-par total at Whistling Straits a year ago – but it’s unlikely to even get close here. One victory changes everything.
Ditto for McIlroy, whose only victory was the Irish Open before a home crowd.
Woods is the only player to win two majors in consecutive seasons. This was going to be the year when he asserted himself, except it hasn’t happened.
Mickelson shot 65-67 to open the 2005 PGA and went wire-to-wire to win – the last player to do it. Frustration becomes instant gratification. “What I want to do is play to that level I played to at the British Open and have to believe it will be enough this time if I’m able to duplicate that performance”, he said. It’s hard to stay … not stay positive, I’m trying to stay as positive as I can and I feel like I am positive because my game is in good shape. When defending champion Day won this tournament a year ago at Whistling Straits, the trio had combined to win four of the past six major championships and golf fans were drooling over the prospect of these generational rivals battling it out on Sundays at majors for years to come.
“It has been a insane last 12 months”. He proceeded to play one of the most impressive rounds of his lengthy career, posting a 6-under 65 without a single bogey – and lost by three. A major makes it a great one.
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Mickelson has been paired with defending champion Jason Day and two-time victor Rory McIlroy for the first two rounds, while the tradition of having the winners of the year’s first three majors – Danny Willett, Dustin Johnson and Stenson – in the same group has been maintained.
