Posted on 05/19/2021 6:47:30 PM PDT by Rummyfan
The contenders who hope to win this week's 103rd PGA Championship at Kiawah Island had better hope their big sticks are ready.
The Ocean Course will measure a whopping 7,876 yards, making it the longest course to ever host one of professional golf's four majors.
Rory McIlroy won the previous PGA Championship played there, in 2012, running away with an 8-shot victory, the widest margin in the event's history. After winning the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks ago, McIlroy is once again among the favorites.
Another big storyline: Jordan Spieth, who has resurrected his career this season after a long slump, will try to become just the sixth player in history to complete the career Grand Slam.
Two of the world's best players, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson, limp into the second major of the season with nagging knee injuries.
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.com ...
**almost 7900 yards at sea level with an ocean wind. Thats going to be brutal...**
They are mostly younger men, in good physical condition. They will be walking 4.5 to 5 miles, while a caddie carries the clubs. My next door neighbor is 88, an Army aircav vet (VN), and probably walks a mile each day; then works in his garden.
I agree they are in good shape, but still nearly 8000 yards is amazing. And the wind on that course — I would be shocked if the winner posted any better than -5
They’ll probably pay the hop along pill popper to be a TV analyst if he can stay focused that long.
The club pros - not a chance. The in-form players are guys like Homa, Speith, Ancer, Hovland and Schwartzl. But I expect “someone else” will win, as always happens - that’s golf. Cameron Tringale, anyone?
I like the big D. The man can drive a golf ball. Though his putting has taken a break.
Who ever ends up winning it will be the most accurate player and not the longest. The trick is finding fairways and greens in regulation. If he can avoid digging a hole for himself in the first round I like Xander Schauffle for always being a contender. As long as he doesn’t get bad caddy advice like he did on the 16th at the Masters he’ll be fine.
Uh...anybody but a white guy?
It takes a lot of balls to golf like me.
I’m a Speith fan! However, there are several others who would be OK as winners. ....Just NO Rory or Pete Rose!!
Who would that be?
This is the one cry baby golfer that I actually root against.
When he was having a bad round, he quit mid-round, feigning teeth problems {not hard to believe for a European, but it was fake}.
I was neutral toward him prior to that incident.
During a tournament this year, both Rory and Patrick Reed, did exactly the same thing, moved their ball in the rough {OK according to the new rules} but Reed was pilloried while Saint Rory was glorified for his piousness.
The new rule sucks, but both were allowed to make the call, and did, but the fawning announcers slathered praise on the truthful Rory while heaping scorn on Reed.
Phil Mickelson is about to win this thing. He will be the oldest man to ever win major championship.
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