In the days leading up to the start of play, players have been highly complimentary of the restoration at Southern Hills overseen by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner. The only caveat has been the possibility of bottle necks brought on but the close proximity of some tees and greens.
Arguably the most notable name is the one missing from the list, the PGA of America announcing last Friday that defending champion Phil Mickelson had withdrawn from the championship as he continues his sabbatical from golf.
In the annals of golfing weirdness, here’s a double whammy for the ages: the PGA Championship will be played this week not where it was originally scheduled to be played and without its 51-year-old defending champion in the field.
There will be no repeat of the will-he-or-won’t-he saga that dominated headlines leading up to the Masters. He’s playing competitive golf this week. The question now: how good will that golf be?
The eight-time PGA Tour winner had surgery to repair the hamate bone in his left wrist on April 14 and was expected to be sidelined for upwards of two months.
The Americans embarrassed the Europeans and took great joy in doing so. There is so, so much to discuss, so here are 18 parting thoughts from Whistling Straits.
American and European players were greeted with a friendly reminder prior to arriving in Haven, Wisconsin, that the bunkers – all 1,012 of them – at Whistling Straits will, indeed, be played as bunkers:
The PGA of America uses a year-long points formula to determine its winner, with tournament victories, official money standings, and scoring averages featured in its equation.
It was the sixth win of her LPGA career, and along with getting the Major monkey off her back at a young age, Korda will also rise to No.1 in the world for the first time.
Australian Golf Digest
