Form guide to the PGA Championship

Simon Lewis, Atlanta

HOW appropriate that the final major of the year should be held at an athletic club. The PGA Championship returns to the Atlanta Athletic Club today for the first time since 2001 and with the Highlands Course lengthened by more than 200 yards to 7,467 and playing to a par 70 as opposed to the members’ regular par-72, and mid-90s temperatures and humidity pushing the heat index into triple digits, this year’s tournament has all the makings of a marathon.

So here’s our form guide to help you decide who can last the pace in the major known as “Glory’s Last Shot”.

Top 10 contenders

11/1 Rory McIlroy (world ranking 4)
The US Open champion is back on an American parkland course and looking extremely good.
PGAs: Two
Last year: T3
Best finish: T3 (2009 and 2010)
Best round: 67 – 2010 (R3, Whistling Straits).
Top 10s: 2
Missed cut: 0
Majors this year: T15, 1, T25
Form (last four events): 5, 1, T34, 6


14/1 Luke Donald (world ranking 1)
Three wins and 12 top-10 finishes from 16 starts in 2011, red-hot form, needs a major.
PGAs: 7
Last year: Missed cut
Best finish: T3 (2006)
Best round: 66 – 2006 (R3, Medinah)
Top 10s: 1
Missed cut: 1
Majors this year: T4, T45, missed cut
Form (last four events): 1, missed cut, T17, T2


15/1 Lee Westwood (world ranking 2)
Fit, relaxed and added putting confidence to go with great tee-to-green game.
PGAs: 13
Last year: DNP
Best finish: T3 (2009)
Best round: 67 – 2000 (R4, Valhalla)
Top 10s: 1
Missed cut: 5
Majors this year: T11, T3, missed cut
Form (last four events): T3, T14, missed cut, T9

 
25/1 Tiger Woods (world ranking 30)
Just back from injury after three-month lay-off and finding his way back into tournament rhythm and feel.
PGAs: 13
Last year: T28
Best finish: 1 (1999, 2000, ’06, ’07)
Best round: 63 – 2007 (R3, Southern Hills)
Top 10s: 8
Missed cut: 0
Majors this year: T4, DNP, DNP
Form (last four events): T24, T4, WD, T37 

 
25/1 Adam Scott (world ranking 9)
Back in business with a long putter which gave him victory last weekend at Firestone.
PGAs: 10
Last year: T39
Best finish: T3 (2006)
Best round: 67 – 2006 (R4, Medinah)
Top 10s: 2
Missed cut: 3
Majors this year: T2, missed cut, T25; Form (last four events): Missed cut, T3, T25, 1

 
28/1 Jason Day (world ranking 7)
Young Aussie has to be considered a genuine contender after four top-10 finishes in last five majors.
PGAs: 1
Last year: T10
Best finish: T10 (2010)
Best round: 66 – 2010 (R3, Whistling Straits)
Top 10s: 1
Missed cut: 0
Majors this year: T2, 2, T30
Form (last four events): 2, T68, T30, T4


28/1 Phil Mickelson (world ranking 6)
Second here in 2001, runner-up at Royal St George’s and a great putter on Bermuda greens.
PGAs: 18
Last year: T12
Best finish: 1 (2005)
Best round: 65 – 2005 (R2, Baltusrol)
Top 10s: 8
Missed cut: 1
Majors this year: T27, T54, T2
Form (last four events): T58, T2, MC, T48


28/1 Steve Stricker (world ranking 5)
Excellent ball striker and playing at a consistently high standard in the biggest tournaments.
PGAs: 14 Last year
T18 Best finish: 2 (1998)
Best round: 64 – 1995 (R2, Riviera)
Top 10s: 2
Missed cut: 5
Majors this year: T11, T19, T12
Form (last four events): T19, 1, T12, 14


28/1 Dustin Johnson (world ranking 8)
Runner-up with Mickelson at Sandwich and keen to live down his 72nd hole PGA debacle last year.
PGAs: 2
Last year: T5 Best finish: T5 (2010)
Best round: 67 – 2010 (R3, Whistling Straits
Top 10s: 2
Missed cut: 0
Majors this year: T38, T23, T2
Form (last four events): T18, T2, T6, T48

33/1 Rickie Fowler (world ranking 28)
In impressive form of late and surely on the brink of his first professional tournament win.
PGAs: 1
Last year: T58
Best finish: T58 (2010)
Best round: 70 – 2010 (R3, Whistling Straits)
Top 10s: 0
Missed cut: 0
Majors this year: T38, missed cut, T5
Form (last four events): T13, T5, T22, T2

 
Also for consideration...

35/1 Nick Watney (world ranking 10)
Blew up in last round a year ago whilst in contention but a two-time winner this year in US.
PGAs: 3
Last year: T18
Best finish: T18 (2010)
Best round: 66 – 2010 (R3, Whistling Straits)
Top 10s: 0
Missed cut: 2
Majors this year: 46, missed cut, missed cut
Form (last four events): T13, 1, missed cut, T23
 
35/1 Martin Kaymer (world ranking 3)
Defending champion has not won since Abu Dhabi in January but is coming into form.
PGAs: 3
Last year: 1
Best finish: 1 (2010)
Best round: 67 – 2010 (R3, Whistling Straits)
Top 10s: 2
Missed cut: 1
Majors this year: Missed cut, T39, T12
Form (last four events): T18, 4, T12, T29
 
40/1 Matt Kuchar (world ranking 11)
Consistent performer on the PGA Tour but yet to convert to major success.
PGAs: 3
Last year: 10
Best finish: 10 (2010)
Best round: 67 – 2010 (R1, Whistling Straits)
Top 10s: 1
Missed cut: 2
Majors this year: T27, T14, MC
Form (last four events): T10, MC, MC, T19
 
55/1 David Toms (world ranking 19)
Back from hip injury and winner here in 2001. Enjoying a career revival this year with Colonial win.
PGAs: 14
Last year: T33
Best finish: 1 (2001)
Best round: 65 – 2001 (R2, R3, Atlanta Athletic Club)
Top 10s: 2
Missed cut: 4
Majors this year: T24, missed cut, DNP
Form (last four events): Missed cut, T17, WD, T9

60/1 Sergio Garcia (world ranking 51)
Back with a vengeance a year after missed cut at PGA prompted a break from the game.
PGAs: 12
Last year: Missed cut
Best finish: 2 (1999, 2008)
Best round: 66 – 1999 (R1, Medinah)
Top 10s: 4
Missed cut: 5
Majors this year: T35, T7, T9
Form (last four events): 2, T9, T39, T53
 
80/1 Gary Woodland (world ranking 37)
Big hitter, debut win on PGA Tour this year and one of only nine Yanks to make cut at three majors this year.
PGAs: Debut
Majors this year: T24, T23, T30
Form (last four events): T47, T30, T4, T45

 
90/1 Fredrik Jacobson (world ranking 56)
First-time US win in June, good track record on Zoysia grass courses, in-form top-20s in US Open and Open.
PGAs: 5
Last year: Missed cut
Best finish: 17 (2004)
Best round: 69 – 2005 (R2, Baltusrol)
Top 10s: 0
Missed cut: 2
Majors this year: DNP, T14, T16
Form (last four events): T14, W, T16, T11

Longshots
125/1 Graeme McDowell (world ranking 13)
Indifferent year after a stellar 2010 but McDowell has possibly turned a corner mentally.
PGAs: 6
Last year: Missed cut
Best finish: T10 (2009)
Best round: 68 – 2006 (R2, Medinah) and 2008 (R3, Oakland Hills)
Top 10s: 1
Missed cut: 3
Majors this year: Missed cut, T14, missed cut
Form (last four events): T24, MC, T25, 65

125/1 Simon Dyson (world ranking 49)
Irish Open champion with a T6 at The Open, and loved the heat at Southern Hills in ’07.
PGAs: 3
Last year: T12
Best finish: T6 (2007)
Best round: 64 – 2007 (R4, Southern Hills)
Top 10s: 1
Missed cut: 1
Majors this year: DNP, DNP, T6
Form (last four events): T3, T14, MC, T9

150/1 Padraig Harrington (world ranking 69)
Could this be the week, unburdened by making coaching changes, that Harrington turns a corner?
PGAs: 12
Last year: Missed cut
Best finish: 1 (2008)
Best round: 66 – 2008 (R3, R4, Oakland Hills)
Top 10s: 2
Missed cut: 5
Majors this year: Missed cut, T45, missed cut
Form (last four events): T14, MC, MC, T59

200/1 Darren Clarke (world ranking 33)
The hero of Royal St George’s looking to emerge from his post-major winning slump.
PGAs: 12
Last year: T48
Best finish: T9 (2000)
Best round: 65 – 2004 (R1, Whistling Straits)
Top 10s: 1 Missed cut: 8
Majors this year: DNP, DNP, 1
Form (last four events): T66, 1, MC, T68


350/1 Steve Elkington (world ranking 256)
PGA champion in ’95, accurate off the tee and tied for fifth last year at age 47.
PGAs: 18
Last year: T5
Best finish: 1 (1995)
Best round: 64 – 1995 (R4, Riviera);
Top 10s: 6
Missed cut: 3
Majors this year: NA
Form (last four events): Missed cut, T55, missed cut, T6

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/ebYrzbnKS6g/post.aspx

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