Glory's Last Shot, Preview of the 2010 PGA Championship

The PGA Championship is commonly advertised as "glory's last shot" and it could not be more true than this week, we are still waiting to see if world #1 can win a golf tournament in 201o and this week is his last chance at a 2010 major. After a career worst finish a week ago Tiger has anything and everything but confidence, he hasn't been even close to what we have grown accustom to seeing from him. Tiger though has had an ability to at least tease us for a few days that he may win a major this year. At the Masters we were all waiting for a big run on Sunday and instead we got a 3 putt bogey on 14 ending his chances. At the US Open at Pebble Tiger made the California coastline shake on his back 9 on Saturday bolting into the top 4, then gave us a no show Sunday. At the British Open Tiger started with a solid, seemingly ho hum round of 5 under and hung on during tough playing conditions Friday but was not a factor during the weekend. With that being said I don't even think he's one of the favorites this week, he has yet to prove he can put a solid weekend together much less a tournament.
I do like Sergio Garcia this week, he played very well at the Brigestone Invitational and decent at the Greenbriar Classic. I know he hasn't won a major and since the '07 Open hasn't even been close, but Whistling Straits suits his game, he's fairly long off the tee and a fairly straight driver of the golf ball. Players that do that will make there lives much easier on there approach shots to these multi tiered greens. He also has what I refer to as competitive spunk, when he plays well he has that swagger, and if his putter allows he could hoist the trophy Sunday afternoon. The putter is the big key for him.
I also think we'll hear a lot from Ernie Els this week. He is currently leading in the FedEx Cup points race and has seemed to return to some of his younger glory days. He had a very solid showing at the US Open and had he played well would have won, Els is long and straight, but maybe most importantly he's been there before. The guy knows how to win a major and what it takes mentally to do it. Els has a great chance to have a very strong finish this week and if the putter is as good as the first 63 holes of the US Open he'll probably have another major Sunday afternoon.
For the first time in a while I think the favorite from the American front is not named Phil or Tiger. Instead its Jim Furyk, he to is playing solid golf as of late and coming of a good week at the Brigestone his grinding mentality is perfect for Whistling Straits. Of the tee Furyk is a constant drumbeat almost every time, about 300-315 off the tee right down the middle. He has a great short game and a lot of that is due to his mentality. His irons will be the "factor" for him this week, if he can consistently give himself looks at birdie and avoid unforced errors from the fairway he won't be outside the top 5.
There are also some sleepers that I think deserve being mentioned. I'll start with what may be the obvious, world #2 Phil Mickelson. He said in his press conference yesterday he has had arthritis issues and it was evident during the weekend of the Brigestone Invitational Phil was not Phil. He is also has the tendency like Tiger to spray it just about......well.....anywhere off the tee. I don't think a player like that will be able to survive this week especially one who is struggling with joint pain. Adam Scott is another guy to keep an eye on if he gets his putter performance remotely close to the other 13 clubs in the bag, the swing is there he just has struggled at putting the ball in the hole. Lee Westwood I still feel is not ready to break through to get a major title, he is to inconsistent and he has gone the opposite direction of Sergio in recent weeks and really struggled last week actually withdrawing. A young American that I like a lot is Ricky Fowler, he has a calm demeanor but has a fierce competitive fight in him that will serve him well in majors. He is not only pretty accurate off the tee but he hits it a pretty fair distance as well. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see him in contention all week, he's one of those guys that has tons of talent and slides under the radar until he makes a major run at a title, for Fowler that run may very well be this week.
So lets all sit back and watch the final major year and see who will capture glory's last shot, and claim Ryder Cup points as captains will make there selections outside of the top 8 after the PGA tournament. Let the games begin in what is arguably one of the most wide open majors in recent memory.
- Kyle