What will the PGA Championship bring?
After Hideki Matsuyama ran away with an impressive victory last week at Firestone, the PGA Championship comes to Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina. This course has seen some impressive victories over the years from Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, and Tiger Woods. The PGA Championship is “Glory’s Last Shot” every year on the PGA Tour. Expect the following to happen this week at the last major of the year:
- Low Scoring
Since 2003, Quail Hollow has hosted the Wells Fargo Championship every year except 2017, due to get ready for the PGA Championship. The winning score has been -10 or above in every year but one. These players tear up this course. If players cannot cash in on their birdie chances this week, they will not win. The final major of the year also proves to be the easiest major year in and year out.
2. Expect Another Rickie/Rory Showdown
Back in 2014 at Valhalla, Rory won in the dark for his fourth major victory. Right behind him was Rickie Fowler who is still looking for his first major win. They dueled back and forth the last round, but it was Rory’s back round surge was too much for Rickie. The famous eagle by Rory at the 10th was just the beginning. He then birdied the 13th and 17th to beat Mickelson by one, and Fowler by two. Rory was crowned his fourth major, and second PGA. Rory has won at Quail Hollow twice in his career, and Rickie has won once. Expect a flashback of 2014 this week.
3. Dustin Johnson returns to dominance
It has been an interesting year for Dustin Johnson. Coming off a red-hot season with multiple wins and his first major, he was supposed to dominate. The fluke back injury at Augusta as haunted him ever since. It seems that Dustin is a step away from being dominant again. He has played much better the past few weeks at the RBC Canadian Open and The Bridgestone Invitational, finishing eighth and 17th. Look for Dustin to play well this week, and slowly start getting back to his normal self.
4. A Major Winner Claims Another Title
This year, we have already seen two new major winners with Sergio Garcia at The Masters, Brooks Koepka at the U.S. Open. Jordan Spieth won his third major this year at Royal Birkdale, and expect a past major winner to reclaim a title this week. This course is not new to the players like Erin Hills was at the U.S. Open. Players know the ins and outs or Quail Hollow as it’s played every year on the PGA Tour. With that being said, many past major winners have played well here such as Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson. Mark it down, a past major winner will claim another major victory.
5. American Pride
American’s this week will be all over the top of the leaderboard. In the last 13 years the PGA Championship has produced six winners from the United States. Players like Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, and Phil Mickelson are just a few names to watch out for. All of these players are very aware of what Quail Hollow will bring this week, and expect at least a few American’s to make a serious run at the Wanamaker trophy this week.
6. No One Inside the Top 30 In the FedEx Cup Will Win
Here is my one prediction of the week. No one inside the top 30 of the FedEx Cup will bring home the victory. Some of the big names this eliminates are Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, and Hideki Matsuyama. Since a major champion will win this week, we need to find someone outside the top 30 that has won a major. Here are some of the best options remaining:
- Zach Johnson
- Rory McIlroy
- Phil Mickelson
- Jason Day
- Bubba Watson
7. Rory Wins Number Five
After much debating between Zach Johnson and Rory McIlroy I chose Rory because of his past with Quail Hollow. This guy is due. He hasn’t won a major since 2014 and his game is better than ever. Even with a new caddy last week, he still managed to finish in the top ten and had a real chance to win on Sunday. The driver and the putter has always been a question for Rory, but his driver was one of the best in the field last week. If Rory can get his putter to come around, he will find a way to win. Rory would become just the sixth player to win three or more PGA Championships if he can snatch the Wanamaker trophy once again.
