PGA Championship Preview

The 2nd major of the year is upon us and this week the PGA Championship welcomes 150 of the best golfers in the world to Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. Below you will find some info about the course and some storylines to follow!

THE COURSE

The golfers this week will be playing on the East Course at Oak Hill. Oak Hill East has been host to a plethora of major tournaments over its history. Designed by Donald Ross in 1901 the course has been through 3 major renovations with the most recent coming in 2019 by Andrew Green.

Early word from the course during practice rounds has been that the setup of the golf course is similar to the setup at Winged Foot for the US Open in 2020. Oak Hill seems to be a very middle of the road major venue and the general consensus is that the course is vastly improved than when Jason Dufner won the PGA here in 2013.

The Fried Egg produced an excellent video on the history and architecture of Oak Hill East as you can see in the video below.

WILL JORDAN SPIETH COMPLETE THE CAREER GRAND SLAM?

The first question that needs to be asked at every PGA Championship is the one above. Jordan Spieth aka The (Former) Golden Child is back to try and complete the career grand slam for the 7th time at Oak Hill. With a win here at the PGA Championship this week Spieth will become the 6th golfer to win the career grand slam.

Now will Jordan actually do it? Who the fuck knows man. The last time we saw Spieth contend was at the RBC Heritage after the Masters where he lost in a playoff to Matt "Baby Face" Fitzpatrick after missing some very makeable putts in the playoff. Spieth has played well so far this season with 5 top 10 finishes. Besides a missed cut at the Wells Fargo, Spieth has had an excellent season without winning a tournament. Oak Hill, since the recent renovation, seems to be a course where creativity, approach play, and driving accuracy will be crucial. If Spieth can control his driver, hit his irons like he has much of this season, and not miss 5 footers, he has a chance.

Spieth odds to win this week are set at 40-1, which are quite low given his form this season.

WHICH RORY MCILROY WILL SHOW UP?

A story for almost the last decade has been which version of Rory is going to show up at the major championships. Still searching for his first green jacket Rory flamed out of The Masters this year missing the cut. He has been very inconsistent this season with missing cuts at The Players and The Masters, while also playing well in the Dell Match Play and the API at Bayhill. Still without a major win since 2014 Rory is searching for some form.

Rory has been embroiled in some controversy after he skipped the RBC Heritage last month, which is a designated event. Rory, having decided to not play in the tournament, forfeited 3 million dollars in PIP money. Rory has stated he needed to take a break from the game and focus on himself and his family and I can't blame him. He has taken the brunt and spearheaded much of the LIV/PGA drama and he was probably shook after what happened at the Masters.

So, I would not be surprised if Rory contends this week. The sportsbooks like him as he is the 3rd highest favorite this week at 14-1. I would fade Rory at this number.

CAN RAHM GO BACK TO BACK?

We have not seen a back to major winner since Jordan Spieth won the Masters and the US Open in 2015. Rahm is in the best position of anyone to accomplish consecutive major wins. Rahms form has stayed sharp, he finished 2nd at the Mexico Open and seems primed to be in the mix this week. He is the best golfer in the world right now and no one will be surprised if he picks up the Wanamaker trophy this week.

CAN LIV WIN A MAJOR?

Brooks "Cool Guy" Koepka and shockingly Phil "FIGJAM" Mickelson proved at The Masters that players from the LIV Tour can still compete in majors. This shouldn't really come as a surprise to those who follow golf. Brooks is still hungry to win majors now that he is finally healthy and Phil is one of the greatest golfers of all time whether you want to ignore that is on you. As for Phil he is unlikely to produce the magic he produced at Augusta, but Brooks has won the PGA Championship twice and is a major hunter. Will Cam Smith, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, or Joaquinn Niemann show up?

DJ and Brooks remain LIV's best opportunity to land a major as Cam Smith has not flashed much form, Bryson sucks at golf nowadays, and the old washed up major winners on LIV (Phil, Bubba, Sergio. Kaymer) are either not qualified this week or just have no shot at winning.