Get excited, boys!
Let’s see, the pairings for the first and second round of next week’s PGA Championship at The Ocean Course At Kiawah Island — which some describe as “Whistling Straits but flat” — have been released and the “marquee” threesome includes defending PGA Champion Keegan Bradley, four-time PGA Champion Tiger Woods and 2010 PGA Champion Martin Kaymer. <<yawn>>
Then there’s the traditional PGA Championship grouping of the winners from the season’s first three major championships: Masters champ Bubba Watson, U.S. Open champ Webb Simpson and Open champion golf of the year Ernie Els. Alright, they should be pretty fun to follow.
Besides Bradley-Woods-Kaymer, there are two more sets of PGA Champions grouped together in the first two rounds (or click here for the PDF version):
*Shaun Micheel (2003), David Toms (2001) and John Daly (1991), who start Thursday at 8:20 a.m. on No. 1 and Friday at 1:30 p.m. on No. 10.
*Y.E. Yang (2009), Rich Beem (2002) and Vijay Singh (1998 and 2004), who start Thursday at 1:30 p.m. on No. 10 and Friday at 8:20 a.m. on No. 1.
Some of the other notable groupings:
* Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jim Furyk — Thursday at 8:10 a.m. on No. 10 and Friday at 1:20 p.m. on No. 1
* Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter and Steve Stricker — Thursday at 8:40 a.m. on No. 10 and Friday at 1:50 p.m. on No. 1
* Lee Westwood, Bill Haas and Angel Cabrera — Thursday at 8:50 a.m. on No. 10 and Friday at 2 p.m. on No. 1
* Charl Schwartzel, Rickie Fowler and Nicolas Colsaerts — Thursday at 1 p.m. on No. 1 and Friday at 7:50 a.m. on No. 10
* Hunter Mahan, Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia — Thursday at 1:10 p.m. on No. 1 and Friday at 8 a.m. on No. 10
* Luke Donald, Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson — Thursday at 1:30 p.m. on No. 1 and Friday at 8:20 a.m. on No. 10
Those are all decent, with the last two groups being my favorite. I’m guessing Adam and Sergio will have the most ladies in their gallery. Meanwhile, Rickie will have control of the under-17 crowd, along with the 40+ guys dressed head-to-toe in all-orange PUMA gear.
There are 13 PGA Champions and 32 major champions currently in the field. The PGA of America boasts that it “perennially features the strongest and deepest field in golf” since it’s the only all-professional major and all 108 of the top ranked players in the OWGR have committed. Instead of the top amateurs and other qualifiers, the field includes the best 20 club pros in the country…
Without further ado, here are the tee times and groupings for the first two rounds:
Who will you be following? And who are you putting your money on to win the Wanamaker Trophy?
(Getty Images/Scott Kinnaird)
‘Glory’s Last Shot’ is about the lamest tagline ever, for any sport!…
I am picking Duffner to win.
…and also no longer accurate: from this year forward the ladies have a major after the guys. This year only because of the Olympics it’s the Women’s British Open but from next year the Evian Championship will become the new legitimate holder of the title “Glory’s Last Shot” even if the golfing media won’t accept that reality.
Kevin
Hey Steph see you there
“from this year forward the ladies have a major after the guys.” The women have majors?
Hello Dear, are you in fact visiting this website daily, if
so then you will absolutely get good know-how.
I’m glad to see that you “escaped” from the Aresehole of the world, Akron.” As a former golfwriter, one who made many mistakes that caused me tremendous embarrassment personally and among my peers, I can’t remember ever remember feeling that I was bigger than the venue. The people who sponsor the events can be jerks at times, but they are performing an event that represents their community, and Akron has long been one of the most valued supporters of big-time golf. A golf background, a Yale diploma, even the fortitude to buck the golf establishment — which can be difficult — does not give you the right to demean the venue. You are NOT bigger than the venue. I’m sure that your mom in Seattle is proud to know that her daughter became one of the major stories of an outstanding event in an outstanding venue in a city filled with hard-working, blue collar individuals. A side note: Cut Tiger some slack? He has been arrogant from the outset and unlikeable to many, with or without the sex scandal.