Wednesday 12 August 2015 14:25, UK
Ben Coley runs his eye over the field for this week's 97th PGA Championship and backs Jason Day to impress at Whistling Straits.
One could argue that when you’re searching manically in the dark for a slogan to help promote a top-grade sporting event, there is a problem. Yet the PGA Championship need not be so insecure - this may be the last major of the season, but in recent years it has often been the most compelling.
Think back to 2014, when Bubba Watson managed to hold Jordan Spieth at arm’s length in the Masters before Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy led from the front for wins in the US Open and Open Championship respectively. Back then, Valhalla and the PGA Championship came to the rescue with a thrilling conclusion which saw McIlroy beat Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson to the famous Wanamaker Trophy.
Twelve months on and McIlroy’s bid for a third PGA trophy in four years has met a stumbling block, yet there’s every indication that he will tee off alongside Spieth and Zach Johnson on Thursday afternoon despite having been out of action since June.
The world No 1 will start second favourite to Spieth on account of concerns over the state of his game following an enforced absence after that footballing injury to his left ankle, that’s despite coming close to victory when last the event was staged at this week’s host venue, Whistling Straits.
Five years ago Spieth was still dreaming of major glory but with form figures of 1-1-4 in this year’s big events he is clearly the man to beat following a solid week at Firestone, a golf course which doesn’t really suit.
However, it’s Jason Day who looks to have the most solid credentials having finished 10th here in 2010 and become a world-class player in the intervening years.
Day has nine top-10 finishes from 20 major starts including in each of the last two, while two PGA Tour victories this year have gone some way to silencing those who doubt his resolution under pressure. Certainly, his performance in Canada last time was one of a man who has figured out how to close the door and it’ll serve him extremely well when his next major opportunity arrives.
As a big hitter - statistically the third biggest on the PGA Tour - this course of over 7,500 yards definitely suits and Day has long shown a liking for all of the works of designer Pete Dye, whose dramatic landscapes will surely make for another thrilling renewal.
This event has a habit of throwing up first-time major winners and Day is among the very best candidates along with Rickie Fowler.
Fowler, like Day, has two wins this season and warmed-up for this week with a fine effort at Firestone, where his putter looked back in the sort of nick which had seen him close out both the PLAYERS and the Scottish Open in such fine style earlier this year.
The popular American was down the field here five years ago but has come a long way since and arguably should’ve won the Wanamaker last year. However, again like Day he’s really stepped up a gear in 2015 and I see no reason why he can’t bring the house down with a victory which would arguably be more popular than any other option.
Others of note must include Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson, both of whom came so close here in 2010, but best-of-the-rest might be 66/1 chance Patrick Reed.
Reed has top-25 finishes in all three majors so far this season and has returned to form recently, producing a run of T29-T20-T16-T15 in his last four starts including a strong effort last week.
This WGC winner certainly knows how to cross the line and with his short-game looking sharp, a big week lies in store.
Finally, take a chance on Soren Kjeldsen at a whopping price.
The recent history of this championship points strongly to two key trends - champions have generally won earlier in the season and finished inside the top-25 the previous week at the WGC. Kjeldsen is one of 16 men who fit the bill in that regard and having been sixth in this event once, his price simply looks too big.
Granted, he isn’t the longest hitter but Kjeldsen’s best ever major finish came at Hazeltine, at the time the longest course in major championship history, and were he a more fashionable name he’d be half the price.
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