The PGA Championship
It’s no secret in the golf world that the game comes and goes. One week you could be on top of the world and the next week you find yourself at the very bottom. Last week’s winner of the Byron Nelson has faced a lot of demons and rose to the occasion and secured the victory. Jason Day completed his comeback last week after putting together a spectacular season thus far. On Sunday afternoon, Jason Day lit the golf course up firing a red hot 62 (9 under par) to edge out Si Woo Kim and young star Austin Eckroat. After his victory, Day spoke about some of the demons he faced and even the idea of retirement five years ago. Throughout Day’s career, he has battled swing issues and injuries including back problems and vertigo which seemed to be the toughest of battles for him. Coupled with that were the mental health issues that were brought on by the physical issues. Depression is haunting, but Day made massive changes in his life and swing. He adopted a less aggressive swing to help mend some of his physical injuries and really found his love for the game. These changes have slowly but surely got Day back into the winner’s circle. On top of his win, Day has also notched seven top 10’s as well. Jason Day is one the best players to ever do it, expect Day to continue this top level play for the rest of the season. Speaking of top level play, we made It to major number two of the 2022-2023 season.
This week the top players around the world will gather at Oak Hill East Course, in Rochester, New York for the PGA Championship. Now per usual, there is always drama leading up to a major. The LIV Tour and PGA Tour followers go after each other across social media. The kicker is that most if not all of the players on each tour really don’t care. Their focus is on one thing, winning a golf tournament. These players want to win majors against the best players in the world, it’s extremely simple. All of this drama is perpetuated by golf fans just looking for their five seconds of fame on Twitter. Despite that nonsense, we are in for some top tier golf at a top tier venue. Oak Hill is an absolute gem, but in the past four years, major changes have been made to resurrect its original character. Oak Hill was designed by the famous Donald Ross, but over time the structure and character of a golf course changes due to the elements, but in 2019 that all changed. Between major changes to fairways, greens, and bunkers Oak Hill East is now back and ready to host the world's greatest players. These players will be up against firm, fast fairways and greens, thick rough, and Oak Hill East will be playing around 7400 yards. Let’s not forget it's Rochester in May, there is bound to be questionable weather as well. Regardless of course conditions and weather, the scores will be low this week. In regards to the field, there are a few key groups to watch. For starters Jon Rahm, Cam Smith, and Matthew Fitzpatrick. This group is going to be all eyes on. Rahm is still the hottest player in golf and Smith and Fitz are top ranked players in the world that bring a worldwide fan base to the stage. Another top group is Brooks, Scheffler, and Woodland. This is the second best group in my opinion, Brooks has never missed a cut at a PGA Championship, Scottie’s track record speaks for itself and Woodland has a very solid five top 10’s in his last 10 starts. Lastly, the one key player to watch is Jason Day. He’s trending in the right direction and is putting together some quality rounds together with almost zero mistakes.
In my personal opinion, the player that will win this week will be the one that hits their spots around the golf course, not just bomb and gauge, and the player who makes everything inside six feet on the greens. Putting in today’s game is the absolute difference maker, it generates momentum and down the stretch making that clutch six, seven footer to save par on the 71st hole is the part of the game that wins championships. (Mike)
Every once in a while sports remind me why I tune in. Jason Day winning on Mother’s Day was so poetic. After losing his mom and struggling with injuries it just seemed fitting that his first win in five years was on Mother’s Day. Jason Day is one of the easiest players on Tour to root for and I have said for a long time that he is due for a win. His resurgence has been my favorite story of the golf year by far. Hoping he can keep the momentum rolling and have another solid finish this weekend at a tournament that he has won before.
I have often spoken negatively of the LIV guys, but it is hard to argue against a few of them finishing highly this week. I hope they all miss the cut in every major they play in, but I expect at least two of them to get a top ten this week. Brooks and DJ are hard to bet against this week. Whether they still have that winners mentality when it comes down to the back nine on Sunday remains to be seen, but ultimately I think they both fall just short.
My pick for this week is Viktor Hovland. Just like last week’s winner, Hovland is way overdue for a win. He is way too good on the big stage to still be winless and I think he puts it all together this week to join the ever growing list of young players with at least one Major. A guy that I do not think is getting the attention he deserves this week is Tony Finau. He is having a career year right now and he always finds himself at least in the conversation on the weekend. I have not seen a lot of chatter on Big Tony like this week, but I expect him to be right there on Sunday. (Tyler)