Dilemma for Davis

"If only it was as easy for me, as it was for you, Jose."

On Tuesday, September 4th, the day after the scheduled conclusion of the Deutsche Bank Championship, U.S Ryder Cup Captain, Davis Love III, will announce his four Captain's Picks, which will complete his 12 man team for the 39th Edition of the Matches. 

However, unlike Jose Maria Olazabal, who had a considerably less complicated decision to make, the U.S qualification system, in addition to the widespread improved form of the American players in 2012, has left the 48 year old, Love, with a bit of a problem. His automatically qualified 8 are good, very good in fact, but so are another half a dozen who marginally missed out, when the deadline fell after the PGA Championship. In amongst this group of near missers are Ryder Cup stalwarts, future stars, and some of the form players of this season. Whether the fact they missed out is an indicator of a dramatic increase in U.S strength, or a failing in the qualification system, is debatable. I would argue that it's a combination of the two. But I digress. Ultimately Davis will leave have to leave a few very dissapointed, and arguably deserving, men out. You would have to imagine that he already has, in his mind, a prefered group of players that he will pick, taking into consideration their perceived compatibility with the 8 players who have automatically qualified. However, cases can be made for a number of potential picks, and should one of them win the Deutsche Bank, even someone who was outside Davis' initial thoughts, then they could force the Captain's hand.

The one positive for Davis Love, and the Americans fans, is that any of the combinations won't be weak, and all have the potential to alter the course of a match on their day. However, that doesn't make this decision any easier for him, and we may gain an insight into the direction of his Captaincy with the players he selects on Tuesday.

Lets take a closer look at the touted contenders.

Hunter Mahan

Age - 30

World Ranking - 18

2012 PGA Tour Money List - 6

Ryder Cup Rank at Close of Qualification Process - 9

Ryder Cup Appearances - 2

Presidents Cup Appearances - 3

PGA Tour Wins - 5

Best Finish in 2012 - Win - WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship + Houston Open

Last 5 Results - CUT, CUT, T55, T48, T19

Steve Stricker

Age - 45

World Ranking - 10

2012 PGA Tour Money List - 13

Ryder Cup Rank at Close of Qualification Process -10

Ryder Cup Appearances - 2

Presidents Cup Appearances - 4

PGA Tour Wins - 12

Best Finish in 2012 - Win - Hyundai Tournament of Champions

Last 5 Results - T54, T7, T2, T23, T5

 

Jim Furyk

Age - 42

World Ranking - 31

2012 PGA Tour Money List  - 18

Ryder Cup Rank at Close of Qualification Process - 11

Ryder Cup Appearances - 7

President Cup Appearances - 7
PGA Tour Wins - 16
Best Finish in 2012 - T2 - Transitions Championship + WGC Bridgestone Invitational
Last 5 Results - CUT, T42, T2, CUT, T34

Rickie Fowler

Age - 23

World Ranking - 23

2012 PGA Tour Money List - 17

Ryder Cup Rank at Close of Qualification Process - 12

Ryder Cup Appearances  - 1

President Cup Appearances - 0

PGA Tour Wins  - 1

Best Finish in 2012 - Win - Wells Fargo Championship

Last 5 Results - T24, CUT, T60, T31, T41

Brandt Snedeker

Age - 31

World Ranking - 20

2012 PGA Tour Money List - 11

Ryder Cup Rank at Close of Qualification Process -13

Ryder Cup Appearances -0

Presidents Cup Appearances -0

PGA Tour Wins -3

Best Finish in 2012 - Win - Farmers Insurance Open

Last 5 Results - 2nd, T28, CUT, T50, T34

Bo Van Pelt

Age - 37

World Ranking - 28

2012 PGA Tour Money List - 20

Ryder Cup Rank at Close of Qualification Process -14

Ryder Cup Appearances -0

Presidents Cup Appearances -0

PGA Tour Wins -1

Best Finish in 2012 - 2nd - AT&T National

Last 5 Results -T24, T18, T8, T7, CUT

Dustin Johnson 

Age - 28

World Ranking - 16

2012 PGA Tour Money List - 21

Ryder Cup Rank at Close of Qualification Process -15

Ryder Cup Appearances -1

Presidents Cup Appearances -1

PGA Tour Wins - 6

Best Finish in 2012 -Win - FedEx St. Jude Classic

Last 5 Results - T3, T48, T19, T9, T33

Bill Haas

Age - 30

World Ranking - 33

2012 PGA Tour Money List - 27

Ryder Cup Rank at Close of Qualification Process -17

Ryder Cup Appearances -0

Presidents Cup Appearances -1

PGA Tour Wins - 4

Best Finish in 2012 -Win - Northern Trust Open

Last 5 Results -CUT, T7, T32, T19, T19

Nick Watney

Age - 31

World Ranking - 19

2012 PGA Tour Money List - 19

Ryder Cup Rank at Close of Qualification Process -30

Ryder Cup Appearances -0

Presidents Cup Appearances -1

PGA Tour Wins - 5

Best Finish in 2012 -Win - The Barclays

Last 5 Results -1st, T31, CUT, T19, T23

The 94th PGA Championship - Preview

The eyes of the golfing world will fall upon South Carolina this week, specifically the Kiawah Island Resort, as the 94th PGA Championship, the final major of the golfing season, moves into town.

Kiawah Island's Ocean Course, has a controversial place within the history of the game. Opened in 1991, the Pete Dye design, was custom built to hold the 29th Ryder Cup Matches, which were memorable, both due to the difficulty of the course, and the gamesmanship on display from both sides. It become known as the "War on the Shore" and, along with Brookline in 1999, it became a set of Matches perhaps remembered for the wrong reasons. The United States team won the competition by 14½ to 13½ points, winning back the Cup when Bernhard Langer missed a six foot putt on the 18th hole of the final match against Hale Irwin, a putt that, if made, would have retained the Ryder Cup for Bernard Gallacher's Europe. For this tumultuous Ryder Cup, the Ocean Course will forever be remembered in the eyes of the public, long before this PGA Championship.

The Ocean Course has also hosted the World Cup of Golf on two occasions, in 1997 and in 2003. In the first of these two events, Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley won the team title, while Colin Montgomerie won the individual title. (Yes, Monty really did win in the States). When the World Cup returned six years later, Trevor Immleman and Rory Sabbatini won for South Africa.

Most recently The Ocean Course was host to the Senior PGA Championship in 2007, an event that illustrated the difficulty of this course in a wind, which is rated as the most difficult course in the United States. Denis Watson of Zimbabwae won the Championship that year.

Typical of a Pete Dye design, The Ocean Course is extremely quirky looking, with complex greens and deadly runoffs. With the number of sand areas on this seaside course, the PGA, in an effort to avoid the controversy surrounding Dustin Johnson's penalty on the 72nd hole in 2010 Whistling Straights, have determined that all bunkers will be regarded as "waste areas". In other words, you can ground your club and move loose impediments. While this may sound unusual, it was in place here both in 1991 and in 2007. 

On a calm day, low scores are more than possible on The Ocean Course, however, should the wind blow strongly then it could become very messy indeed.

As Championship golf returns to Kiawah Island, another chapter in the near 100 year history of the PGA Championship is about to be written.

HISTORY

The PGA Championship was first played in 1916, months after the formation of the Professional Golfers Association of America (USPGA) who set up their own Championship, specifically for the purpose of providing a high profile tournament for professional golfers during a period when they were neither successful or held in high esteem in Golf, a sport that at the time was largely run by wealthy amateurs. Originally a Matchplay tournament, the PGA was won in its early days by some of the greatest professionals of all time. Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen (who went on to win the Championship 5 times) and Tommy Armour. 20 years later, the likes of Sam Snead, Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan claimed the title, before 1958 when the Championship was changed to a strokeplay format, which it has remained ever since, due to pressure from the new US Television Corporations. Since then the Championship has been renowned for its excellent field and high quality of Champion. Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus largely dominated the Championship during the 1960s. The Golden Bear went on to win an incredible 5 PGA titles during his career. It was the Major that eluded Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, but some of the all time greats have lifted the historic Wanamaker Trophy since. Ray Floyd, Lee Trevino, Payne Stewart, Paul Azinger, Nick Price, John Daly, Davis Love III, Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington and Martin Kaymer can all claim to be a PGA Champion.

However, the PGA has often in the past been criticised for both the poor quality of golf course that it was hosted on and the extremely hot August conditions that it has been played in. But thankfully, in recent decades the PGA has been played at some of the greatest Championship courses in America. Yes, the weather is often uncomfortable for golfers to compete in, but this Championship has developed its own unique folklore in the history of the Major Championships. Who will ever forget Tiger Woods at his peak battling the unheralded Bob May in a truly classic Championship at Valhalla in 2000? Just the year before, many will recall Sergio's emergance as a contender. As a 19 year old, the young Garcia pushed Tiger all the way at Medinah (home of the 2012 Ryder Cup) including his famous shot round the trees at 17 followed by his sprint up the fairway. Woods eventually prevailed for his 2nd Major title, but the predicted battles between the two sadly never came to fruition. Davis Love III, labelled for years as the best player to have never won a Major, romped the field at Winged Foot in 1997 by 5 shots after making a birdie on the 18th below the iconic rainbow. 2 years previously, sweet swinging Aussie, Steve Elkington, defeated Colin Montgomerie in a playoff at Riveria, one of Monty's many missed opportunities in a Major. In more recent years there hasn't been a shortage of great moments. The duel between Padraig Harrington and Garcia at Oakland Hills in 2008 went down to the 72nd and the Irishman went on to put further salt in the wounds of Sergio following their similar battle at Carnoustie 13 months before. YE Yang overtaking Tiger Woods' 54 hole lead and earning himself an historic victory defeating Tiger down the stretch in 2009. Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson survived the Sunday shootout at Whistling Straights, after Dustin Johnson's debacle in the bunker that wasn't on the 72nd resulted in a two shot penalty which cost the talented American a chance of his first Major. The German eventually lifted the title. And of course, last years PGA Championship was in its own way a classic as Keegan Bradley overcame Jason Dufner in a playoff following a dramatic back nine duel. Bradley, who won the WGC Brdgestone Invitational yesterday, became just the 3rd player in history to win in his Major Championship debut, along with Ben Curtis (2003 Open) and Francis Ouimet (1913 US Open). 

The Major Players Coming Into Kiawah

Tiger Woods - After a dissapointing start in Akron last week, Tiger eventually finished in a tie for 8th, despite struggling on the greens. He hit the ball very well, from the tee and onto the green, however, the stats can be misleading, as close approaches were rare for him. Nonetheless, Tiger's game is extremely solid and he is looking more like a contender at each Major he comes to again. Can he win a 5th PGA and tie Jack Nicklaus and Walte Hagen's total? Time will certainly tell, and it will be interesting to see how he handles any potential wind, as he doesn't yet look the most confident with his swing at times. Playing alongside Keegan Bradley and Martin Kaymer on Thursday, Tiger will attract the attention, but can he deliver the goods and end his four year major drought?

Lee Westwood - The worksop man is coming into 'Glory's Last Shot' realising that term is becoming ever more relevant to him. He has had his chances in Majors, as we all know, perhaps most notably at Turnberry in 2009 and Augusta in 2010, but at 39 Lee's time needs to come soon or his time may well pass by. It is getting into the "Monty Stage" where we continually note him down as a potential winner, but it just doesn't happen. For one of the first occasions in years, Westwood is coming into a major in poor form, shooting his highest round worldwide on Saturday since the 2003 Portuguese Open, and Kiawah is not the kind of venue to come to when you're searching for your game. No one is tipping Lee as a result, but, coming in under the radar for once, you just never know.

Luke Donald - The World Number One posted another top ten finish at the Bridgestone last week, and with his tie for 5th at Royal Lytham three weeks ago, Luke is in fine form coming into the PGA. For many, particularly in America, Donald will never earn the respect that he deserves, until he wins a Major Championship. With chipping areas around the green awkward to play from at Kiawah, Luke's brilliant short game will be a valuable asset and should ensure that he at least remains in the right half of the field.But can he win? Well, that is the question. Top tens may be profitable in terms of money and World Ranking points, but it is the win that he truly wants, and if he gets into contention, with that putting stroke, I wouldn't bet against him becoming the first English player to win the PGA since Jim Barnes in 1919!

Rory McIlroy - Crisis? What crisis? Having received criticism all Summer, Rory showed something closer to his best at the WGC, eventually finishing in a tie for 5th. He has good vibes in this Championship, having finished 3rd both in 2009 and in 2010. We've long heard, from Rory himself, that he isnt the greatest wind player, so maybe Kiawah isn't for him. But, keep an eye on the forecast, as should the winds be reasonably light, McIlroy could quite easily put himself into contention, or he could struggle to make the cut. At times he is a very mercurial player, but when people have put him down, he might just surprise and win a second Major.

Jason Dufner - The runner-up last year is many observor's outside favourite coming into Kiawah. He has won twice on the PGA Tour this season, finished 2nd once, and has four other top tens, including a tie for 4th at the US Open. He has the consistency to be a contender on a Major venue, although his putting from short distances is at times suspect, and that may prevent him from winning. However, he is as good a bet as anyone in the field.

Look for the likes of Hunter Mahan to again contend in this Championship. The US Ryder Cup Standings are finalised this week, the top 8 qualify, and despite two wins this season, Hunter is outside it, so he has a lot to play for. Adam Scott will be looking to bounce back from his disaster finish to the Open Championship. While it may be too soon for him after such a dissapointment, it's certainly a story that people will be behind. The likes of Steve Stricker and Dustin Johnson will have the home suppoort behind them as they search for a maiden major, while Graeme McDowell has been a contender all Summer, and may find Kiawah to his liking.

The top 108 players in the World Rankings are here this week, in search of the Wanamaker Trophy. It'll be an intriguing Championship, on a unique venue, and while it may not be the most "iconic" Major, but the PGA has provided numerous exciting finishes in its history. We may see another this week in 'Glory's Last Shot'.