Despite his slump and his seven-year major championship drought, he is excited about other things on his plate, including the opening Monday of Harbourside Place, his sports-themed restaurant in Florida.
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My, how times have changed. His game let him down a bit on Sunday at Firestone but that should spur him on to finish the job this time around…his 3rd round 63 on what many believe to be one of the most testing courses on the PGA Tour circuit was pretty impressive too! Despite their combined 19 victories in majors, their rivalry has given way to Jordan versus Rory nearly overnight.
McIlroy is paired with Spieth and Open champion Zach Johnson this week.
“I’ve never seen mosquitoes like this, like they have here”, Tigers Woods told reporters on Tuesday.
The Englishman has hit form ahead of the year’s final major with three straight top-10s heading into the event at Whistling Straits.
HEAVY DUTY: Davis Love III won the PGA Championship in 1997 at Winged Foot. “There isn’t anyone that doesn’t have scars and doesn’t have a memory when they step up on a tee where the last two times they hit it left in the water and you’ve got to rip one down the middle”.
He also finished second at the Canadian Open a fortnight before that, but as in 2014 he missed the cut this year in both the US and British Opens and will be trying to bounce back in the final major of the year.
Mickelson is 45, hasn’t won on the Tour since 2013 and has seen his short putting turn unreliable.
Dustin Johnson (15-1): DJ has held the lead in four of the 12 rounds of Major Championship golf this season. The greatest player of his generation, at the moment, is an afterthought.
“It’s a ball striker’s golf course“, said Spieth. I think I’m right in saying there wasn’t a lot to remember, ‘ added Rose, who was second in the Masters in April and won the Zurich Classic in New Orleans a fortnight later.
“I think it’s fantastic for golf that he’s back, back playing”. Whatever they say is fine. What’s that? Been a week and a half or two weeks and it feels good.
“It gave me confidence in all parts of my game, in every tournament, not just majors”.
Madison’s Steve Stricker said that’s not atypical of Mickelson’s career, though he admitted age may be becoming a factor.
“It’s handsome to play”, he said. “I want to play well in front of the home state fans”. It’s happened to all of us.
Even if Woods and Mickelson don’t contend this week, the tournament isn’t doomed like it might have been in years past. But now I’m back out here at a level I can practice and play again.
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“I’ll be nervous – and beyond – on the first tee on Thursday, but I’m looking forward to getting out there and competing, whether it’s just for 36 holes or if I can get 72 in”. And these are the five players we expect to be near the top of the leaderboard. He said: “I’ve let everyone get closer to me to Race to Dubai – Louis and Danny did well at Open and now Shane is a rival as well”.
