Tuesday 26 July 2016 07:20, UK
With Nick Price's withdrawal and a ninth alternate chosen, the 1991 PGA Championship unearthed a new breed of golfer.
John Daly was the big-swinging American invited into the field for the 73rd edition of the event at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Indiana following Bill Sander, Mark Lye and Brad Bryant’s decision not to accept the alternate place.
And it was his robust, brash style that steered him to within two-shots of the lead on the 7,289-yard course at the end of the first day.
"I was just happy to get in [the tournament],” said Daly, who missed 11 of his first 23 cuts on the PGA Tour.
Indeed, it was the 25-year-old’s ability to out-drive his opponents which caused the biggest stir among the field.
"John never saw 280 (yards). He was pumping it out there 300 yards in the air,” said two-time major winner Fuzzy Zoeller.
Bruce Lietzke, runner-up to Daly in 1991, added: “The first two or three drives he hit, I wasn’t able to see because the ball came off the club face faster than I was used to.”
Daly bettered his first round by two-strokes with a stunning 67 on day two, one of only seven players to shoot under 70 that day, to climb to the top of the leaderboard at the half-way point.
The American flirted with the highest form of danger during the third round, almost bringing his breakthrough major to a premature end. Putting for an eagle at the par-five 11th, Daly’s caddie Jeff Medlin appeared to tap the flag at a point on the green, which would have been deemed a violation of the rules if proved to have intentionally aided his golfer’s stroke.
However, Daly was cleared of any wrongdoing after lengthy discussions with the Club’s Rules Committee, and the support of his fellow professionals, and headed into the final round with a three-stroke lead.
He made the worst possible start with a bogey at the first, but birdies at three and five steadied the round and, more importantly, kept the rest of the field three strokes back. Two further gains at 13 and 15 gave him a three-shot lead with two holes to play.
A bogey at 17 did nothing to dampen the spirits of Daly who emerged down the 18th fairway with his arms aloft, further endearing himself to the spectators.
“It was cool going through the crowd high-fiving everybody. My right hand was so sore after that week.” Daley said.
“My fingers were so sore. Man, I don’t do that anymore. I’m scared I’m going to get injured.”
Daly avoided the water at the last, before two-putting for par to secure a remarkable three-shot victory, and was quick to deliver his thanks over his meteoric rise from complete unknown to major champion.
“I can tell you one thing, I’ve done this my way,” said Daly, who later became Rookie of the Year in 1991. “I don’t have anybody to blame for this win but me, and I love it.”
However, Daly isn't the only unlikely name to have seen his name engraved on to the US PGA Championship trophy through the years...
Mark Brooks
Mark Brooks had four PGA Tour wins to his name and was not fancied by many in the build-up to the 1996 US PGA Championship, but his overall record in majors was a healthy one. He already had a tied-fifth finish at the US Open in 1990, a tied-third finish at The Open in 1995, followed by a tied-fifth finish at the same event in 1996.
He entered the final in joint second with Vijay Singh on nine-under par, two strokes behind leader Russ Cochran who vanished from the top of the leaderboard – eventually finishing tied-17th.
Even so, with one hole to play, Brooks was two shots off the lead, although a dramatic two-stroke swing, a birdie for Brooks and a bogey for Kenny Perry, enforced a play-off. While Perry hacked his way out of the rough and onto the green in four on the par-five 18th, Brooks calmly collected a two-putt birdie for his one and only major title.
Shaun Micheel
To call Shaun Micheel’s success in 2003 a surprise would be an understatement. The American managed just three professional wins throughout this career and only one on the PGA Tour – the US PGA Championship.
Chad Campbell was Micheel’s closest pursuer in the final two rounds, but it was the latter’s stunning shot on the final hole of the tournament which defines his victory.
With Campbell requiring a birdie to force a play-off, Micheel floated a seven iron from 174 yards to within two inches of the cup. A tap-in gain sealed a remarkable win for the then 34-year-old.
YE Yang
Tiger Woods had a record of 14 major wins from 14 times he had led the field after 54 holes. However, the world No 1’s run was not to be extended thanks to YE Yang in 2009.
The Korean began the day two shots adrift of Woods, but after 13 holes the players were level. Then came the spectacular from Yang, who chipped in for an eagle on the par-four 14th.
Although Yang benefited from back-to-back bogeys at 17 and 18 from Woods, the 37-year-old drew a dazzling 210-yard approach onto the green at the last, finishing with a three-stroke win.
"I knew the odds were against me. I tried to be the least nervous I have ever been and went for broke," said Yang. “I have always dreamed about this."
