The first major championship I went to was the PGA at Oakland Hills two years ago. I remember that week like it just happened. I was lucky enough to get tickets to the Wednesday practice round as well as Thursday's round and Sunday's round.
This was the last major of the season and 2008 had already given us the Tiger vs. Rocco duel at Torrey Pines and the Royal Birkdale British Open where Padraig Harrington clinched back-to-back Open championships with a 5w on the 17th that many called the shot of the year.
Having been to the Buick Open just the month before, I thought I knew what to expect. But this was completely different. The world's greatest players were there: Harrington, Mickelson, Villegas, Kim, Sergio, Poulter, Stricker. The atmosphere, even at Wednesday's practice round, was electric. The PGA Championship is the last major of the year. Glory's final shot. Players have to wait eight, long months to have another go at a major.
Oakland Hills, the "monster" as Ben Hogan dubbed it after the 1951 U.S. Open, lived up to its name and reputation as Padraig Harrington won his second major in a row. The course played extremely tough, like a U.S. Open course, and par was a great score on any hole as birdie opportunities were few and far between. This year's PGA at Whistling Straits (WI) on the shores of Lake Michigan holds the same promise of the world's top players trying to tame a very difficult, windswept course.
Normally, Tiger Woods goes into every tournament he plays as the odds on favorite to win. But this is Tiger Woods A.E. (after Elin) and times they have a changed. Phil Mickelson, despite his disaster of a closing round at Firestone, appears to be the favorite in most circles. Rory McIlroy also looks to be a favorite, especially playing on a links style course like those he grew up playing in Northern Ireland. Lee Westwood, so close to breaking through the door for his first major victory recently, is sidelined with a calf injury and will not compete.
Perhaps one of the young guns like Bridgestone winner Hunter Mahan or Open Champ Louis Oosthuizen will surprise everyone.
Whether it be a superstar like Mickelson or Harrington, a World Top 10 looking for his breakthrough like Poulter or Casey, or a young gun like Mahan or McIlroy looking to take advantage of a tamed Tiger, the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits promises to be full of drama on one of golf's grandest stages.
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