PGA Championship: Tiger Isn't Here But The Show Goes On

It was a huge blow for everyone associated with the PGA when Tiger Woods decided to have season-ending surgery to repair his already excruciatingly painful knee.

Since then, however, the remaining players have put on their own fireworks show. Kenny Perry rose to win three events early on in the season, but the real story has been Padraig Harrington.

In what is arguably golf's most prestigious title, the British Open, Harrington made a final round charge to win the crown for the second straight year.

This week there is another major championship on the line: the PGA Championship. Oakland Hills, in Bloomfield, Michigan, is playing host this year, and there may not be a better place for the championship to be played.

Each year it is always on Golf Digest's list of most difficult places to play, and there is solid reason: the course is flat-out treacherous. This kind of course makes the best come out to show off their game and leaves the middle ground heading for comfort back home.

Many of big guns of the tour saw their names on the first page of the leaderboard as the final round started this afternoon, but one has risen to the top: Sergio Garcia.

Garcia has been erratic in major championships to say the least, but through six holes in the final round, El Nino is four-under par, sharing the lead with former British Open winner Ben Curtis.

The real storyline of this Sunday is if Garcia will take home his first major title, or will a big name like Phil Mickelson or Harrington make a late Sunday charge?

Curtis is an interesting story as well. After coming from absolute nowhere to capture the Open crown just a couple of years ago, he is back in contention in a major, as he is out to show that the Open victory was no fluke.

To the casual golf fan, this leaderboard may not look star-studded, but with Garcia, Mickelson, and Harrington as the notables, several second-tier stars line the first ten slots.

Don't count out Sweden's Henrik Stenson or India's Jeev Milkha Singh, who both have played under the radar all year.

As crazy as it sounds though, my money is on Garcia to take home the title, and in just a couple of hours, the winner will be crowned.