Wednesday 27 July 2016 14:59, UK
Could we see a British or Irish winner at the PGA Championship? We look at the challengers.
Rory McIlroy's record in the PGA Championship is exemplary. Even in 2013, a miserable campaign by his own high standards, McIlroy finished eighth having challenged for the title on the final day at Oak Hill.
Either side of 2013 he produced a runaway win at Kiawah Island and a hard-fought follow-up at Valhalla, while way back in 2009 he was third behind the battle between YE Yang and Tiger Woods.
Often considered the fairest, most straightforward of the four majors, the PGA Championship allows McIlroy to use his key weapons and when he's able to do so, there's still a strong feeling that he's the best player in the sport.
And so to Baltusrol, where heavy rain in the run-up to tee-off should make his driving a massive advantage. Fifth place at Troon was impressive enough against a draw bias, which suggests Rory is primed for his fifth major championship and he certainly looks the pick of the British and Irish challengers.
No Englishman has ever won the PGA Championship - at least not since it reverted to a stroke play tournament in 1958. It's a remarkable fact, but not one which should put you off 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose.
The 35-year-old warmed up for Baltusrol with 22nd place in The Open, when finally able to declare himself fit following a back injury which had interrupted his preparations, and with two top-five finishes in the last four renewals of this event, Rose should be confident of a big week.
The world No 11 has thrived on similar, old-fashioned courses in this part of the US and his tee-to-green supremacy will be a massive asset. Expect a sustained challenge.
While Rose appears to be peaking just in time, Danny Willett's form has taken a dip since he won the Masters back in the spring.
He's still found it within himself to lead the Irish Open at the halfway stage and finish third in the BMW PGA Championship, but 37th at Oakmont and 53rd at Royal Troon are two major performances which fall below the standards he's set over the last 18 months.
Concerns around putting and learning to deal with the expectation which now follows him around remain and Willett, who has also become a father for the first time, remains one to swerve.
Lee Westwood's PGA Championship record isn't particularly strong, but he was 17th at Baltusrol in 2005 and that experience may count for plenty as others see the course for the first time.
Plus, since finishing second in the Masters he's embarked on a remarkable run of consistency, just like the Westwood of old, which includes 32nd in the US Open and 22nd in The Open.
As such it seems logical to expect a strong week at a ball-striker's golf course even if winning may again prove beyond him.
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that Shane Lowry has struggled since missing out on the US Open. Holding a clear lead with 18 holes remaining, Lowry was ultimately well beaten behind Dustin Johnson and is the type of character to be quite hard on himself as he strives to win at the highest level.
Still, he'll recover eventually and perhaps a return to the US and a tough, long course, one not dissimilar to Oakmont, will help. Lowry must bounce back from a missed cut at The Open but loves playing difficult tracks like this one and can't be ruled out.
With six top-25 finishes in succession, Andy Sullivan is enjoying a fine summer which includes 23rd at the US Open and 12th at Troon.
Now inside the Ryder Cup team as things stand, just a few more solid performances will seal his debut at Hazeltine in September and you can be sure Sullivan will be fully focused on what's been a long-term goal.
As for how his skills match up to Baltusrol, Sullivan's controlled fade off the tee helps him find plenty of fairways and that's a key asset with juicy, wet rough guarding the fairways. He missed the cut last year but has come a long way since then.
It's been a tough summer for Paul Casey, who has missed the cut in three of his last four events, the exception being the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which did not have a cut.
Coupled with the fact that he's never managed a top-10 finish in the PGA Championship and was 59th at Baltusrol in 2005, it's easy to overlook a player who is searching for the form which helped him to fifth at the Tour Championship last season.
The lone Scottish challenge comes from Russell Knox, who has bagged top-30 finishes at both the US Open and The Open.
A resident of Jacksonville, Florida, Knox should be at home in these stateside majors but his PGA Championship record shows two missed cuts from as many attempts.
Still, it's hard to ignore the fact that he's a different player now, with a win in the locker just one step down from the highest level, and if he finds fairways and putts well, there's no obvious reason he can't contend.
One of the stories of the summer, Andrew 'Beef' Johnston is surely the value in Sky Bet's top GB and Ireland market at 40/1, even if Justin Rose is the man most likely to throw down a sustained bid for the title.
Johnston has relished being thrust into the limelight thanks to a combination of a breakthrough win and his likeable persona, and the supposed distractions of the media don't appear to be preventing him from playing good golf.
A top-10 finish at The Open earned him a place in this field and he's sure to welcome the opportunity, with his fairways-and-greens game seemingly well-suited to Baltusrol.
What we shouldn't forget as Beef gains more attention is the reason he's here in the first place: he's a seriously talented player.
Tyrrell Hatton is in fine form but it should be noted that so far he's looked an outstanding links player, so top-five finishes at Castle Stuart and Troon may not be all that relevant here.
Similar comments could apply to links-loving Chris Wood but his fitness is more of a concern, while Matt Fitzpatrick's form has nosedived since his victory in Sweden.
Graeme McDowell hasn't fired on all cylinders for some time but can't be underestimated as a major winner and the same applies to Padraig Harrington, the 2008 PGA champion whose form of late has offered some promise.
Luke Donald may not be far from a return to form but needs to show more if he's to be considered a major player again and the same goes for Ross Fisher, although his performance at Bethpage in 2009 and superb driving makes him more interesting than some.
Jamie Donaldson looks a long way from the star of the 2014 Ryder Cup while Bradley Dredge, Darren Clarke and James Morrison are hard to fancy.
Watch the PGA Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins from 6pm on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 4. Or watch from £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
