PGA Championship 2011: 15 Bold Predictions for Tournament at Highlands Course

The 93rd edition of the PGA Championship takes place at the Highlands Course of the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia.

Being the fourth and final major of the golfing calendar, it is known as Glory’s Last Shot, and it gathers the world’s best golfers. They are all after the Wanamaker trophy, but most of all, becoming part of golf’s history.

The huge Atlanta Athletic Club course is measured at a staggering 7,467 yards and will present a rigorous test to all players. It’s the third time the course will host the event. 1981 and 2001 were the two previous occasions.

As it’s customary at all major golf competitions, the highest standard of play is in order and nothing but the best is expected from all players.

We will surely see an array of skill and shot-making and the winner will most likely be decided on the 72nd hole.

Whether most people like it or not Tiger Woods is back and the question remains on whether he is ready to contend again or not. With a Rory McIlroy win, Tiger’s detractors would state that officially there is a new era in golf.

But it's not only about these two. There are many other capable contenders, so let’s take a look at some predictions, including my favorite to win it all.

- Carlos Torres 

1. Weather Will Be a Factor

They don't call the city of Atlanta, Hot-lanta for nothing. We are in the middle of the summer and the temperatures so far in the deep south, specially here, have been soaring.

The players will have to adjust in order to deal with the heat. Whether it will be by be carrying extra gloves or an extra sets of towels.

They will deal with possible exhaustion on such a long course. Pacing themselves will be key.

Now, if you check some weather websites you might get a different scenario for the weekend. They call for isolated or scattered thunderstorms in the area.

That will call for different countermeasures, as playing in the rain and a soaked field is a whole different story.

One way or the other, weather will certainly be a factor in how players will approach this long course.

2. The 15th Hole Will Be the Most Difficult Hole

On the third round of the 2001 PGA Championship played here, David Toms aced this hole.

The monster par three hole has been lengthened since 2001 thanks to a new elevated tee that brings it back to 260 yards.

There will be no aces here this week. The objective here will be to try to par the hole.

Players might be tempted by the top down flight to the green—which means it won't play as long—but they have to keep in mind that the green is very well protected.

It will play extremely difficult with a large pond that runs along the entire right hand side of the hole, making long and left the wise bail out for anyone wishing to aim at par here.

With all due respect to the 18th hole, this will play slightly more difficult.

3. Martin Kaymer Will Not Repeat as Champion

Martin Kaymer defeated Bubba Watson in a playoff last year to win the PGA. After that he went on a tear and won two more tournaments in a row.

He started 2011 with a win in Abu Dhabi, but ever since his best finishes have been on match play. The exception to this was the Alstom Open where he finished fourth.

He didn't do bad at The Open finishing T12. Last week at the WGC he finished T29. He is not playing bad rounds, just not playing major championship golf.

I don't see him turning things around enough here to repeat.

4. Darren Clarke Will Not Make It Two Majors in a Row

Darren Clarke seemed long removed from his days as a major championship contender before his improbable, but very popular win at the Open.

He definitely went all out and against all odds and won the Open playing the best golf of his life.

He seems rejuvenated and will be poised playing alongside fellow countryman Rory McIlroy during the first two rounds. Clarke was McIlroy's childhood favorite golfer.

But winning back-to-back major championships in a year is a rare feat and custom for only the great ones in the sport. He will have to defeat greater odds this time.

Would be the story of a lifetime, but it's not likely to happen.

5. Bo Van Pelt Is a Good Longshot to Win

If you are looking at great odds to win, 80/1 sounds very good to me. And Bo Van Pelt has those very same odds.

While he is not known for his putting, on a long course like this, you need to be very good with the driver and Bo is ranked seventh on the Tour in total driving.

When he brings his putting game he can be very good. As it shows in his three top 10s this year including his T8 finish at the Masters and his T14 at the U.S. Open.

He has been close at times and with odds this good it could be worth a shot. Make that a long shot.

6. Webb Simpson Will Be Close Again

Webb Simpson is someone who has been playing very consistent golf through his last six tournaments. He has been gaining ranking spots and could be ranked inside the top 50 after this week.

In the last two majors, the US Open he finished T14 and in the Open T16. He certainly is sitting on a good performance at a major soon. The good news for him is that he is playing the PGA this week.

He has top 10 finishes at the Memorial, AT&T and most recently the Greenbrier. I think he will finally crack the top 10 at a major this week and who knows, he might even break through and win it.

7. David Toms Will Be in the Top 10

Ten years is a long time, and that is how long it has been since he won the PGA at this course.

He finished second at The Players Championship and then won the Crowne Plaza Invitational. He missed the cut then at the FedEx and the US Open before his T17 at the Travelers.

He had to withdraw from the John Deere due to a hip injury, forcing him to miss The Open. Then he came back last week at the WGC-Bridgestone and finished T9.

A week ago David Toms was at 80/1 odds to win this week. But everyone seems to have noticed his top ten finish at the WGC-Bridgestone and now his odds are down to 50/1.

Don't think he is quite ready yet, but I do see another top 10 finish for him here. But if he is totally healthy, he might rekindle his 2001 magic.

8. Dustin Johnson Will Once Again Find a Way to Lose the Tournament

The player that has the total package to win this tournament at this course is Dustin Johnson.

By this time he should have been able to have at least two major championships to his credit. He exhibits the demeanor, the skill and the swagger on the course that all great ones have.

He just doesn't seem to be able to close the deal. A year ago in this tournament he had the unfortunate incident where he grounded his club in the hazard, which eventually led to him being out of the playoff and winning chances.

And not long he was just two stokes off the lead at The Open. Then  at the 14th hole fairway he sent the ball sailing out of bounds, leading to a double-bogey that took him out of contention for the title.

He finished T2.

His breakthrough victory at a major will come. But before I venture in predicting a major win for him, I'll wait for that win where he really closes it out emphatically. That won't be here.

9. Rickie Fowler Will Inch Closer to His Breakthrough Victory

Rickie has been getting closer and closer to getting that victory that propels him into the elite of the golf world.

Since he missed the cut at the US Open, he has been playing very impressive golf, albeit not getting that sought after win.

His play at The Open was great. He made several eye-catching shots, but lacked that final punch in the last round and he finished T5.

Last week at the WGC-Bridgestone he hovered around and fired a championship worthy final round 66. Unfortunately for him Adam Scott was too far ahead so he finished T2.

But is that improvement—and the fact that he can hit the ball a mile—that will take him to be contending again this week, and it's possible we could be seeing orange holding the Wanamaker.

10. Thanks to Steve Williams, Adam Scott Will Not Win

Adam Scott was some time ago called the next Tiger Woods. He has a swing similar to the one Tiger once had, thanks to his swing coach Butch Harmon, who was also Woods coach.

He now has Tiger's old caddie, Steve Williams. And while Adam is red hot after his win last week at the WGC-Bridgestone, the recent antics by Williams put him in a tough spot.

Scott has said all the right things after Williams stole the spotlight from him and seemed calm before the media.

But the added scrutiny now and unwanted pressure will definitely test him this week. All eyes will be on him thanks to Williams and his animosity towards Tiger.

At a bigger stage like a major championship, it takes somebody that has been there before to take it all in and thrive on it. This will be the first time for Adam on that kind of spot.

All thanks to Steve Williams recent antics.

Scott does not strike me yet as that person able to deflect all that pressure. He may contend, but will not win.

11. This Is Sergio Garcia’s Best Shot at Winning the Wanamaker

Among all four majors, the PGA Championship historically has been where Sergio Garcia has his highest finishes.

He has finished second twice and third once. This year he has been in the top 10 at the last two majors and seems to have returned to form finally.

He seems rejuvenated and is playing once gain great golf, although his finishes at the Greenbrier and the WGC would suggest he has lost it again, participating in a major always brings out the best on him.

Now a more experienced, patient and savvy player, he has the best chance of his career to win his first major.

12. Phil Mickelson Has the Perfect Setting This Week

Phil Mickelson has always been known for his risk taking shots and disappearing acts. Well, after his almost miraculous comeback at the Open, he has done just that in two tournaments.

He was heavily favored to win the Greenbrier and missed the cut. Then last week at the WGC, he finished T48.

I think this just suits him well this week. None of the big time attention has been put on him. Just like the final round at the Open when he came out of nowhere and played that remarkable final round.

He is at his best when not on the spot. I expect him to be near the leaders the first two round and make a charge in the weekend and challenge for the win.

The only question will be if he will run out of steam again.

13. Tiger Woods Has Everything to Gain and Will Make the Best of It

Its incredible how so much people just want to count Tiger Woods out. They are ready to fold him and throw him out the trash forever.

Well he is back, he is healthy and for the first time in a while I see some of his swagger back with him.

While most people would not allow him, he is trying to put his off-the-course past problems behind. And to a degree eventually he will.

This year I believe that what was left for him to get back, which is his competitive fire,  might have been fueled by his former caddie.

He is already down to 30 in the world. By Woods standards, this is like the Dow Jones going under the symbolic 11,000.

While he might not win back everything he once had, he still has a lot to win and to look forward to.

I think we will get a glimpse of what Tiger was and what he will be in the near future. I see him finishing in the top 10 and even contending for the win.

I don't think he is quite ready with his golf play or with his mindset, but I would not count him out.

14. Third Time's the Charm for Rory McIlroy

The US Open Champion is expected by many to win here and take over the golf world and displace Tiger Woods once and for all.

He won the US Open in record fashion and in a course longer and as difficult as the Highlands.  Thus he should be able to tame this monster equally.

He comes from finishing T6 at the WGC and has finished T3 the past two years, so if you believe in the Irish luck, the third time could be the lucky charm for the Northern Ireland native.

He has the added incentive that he wants to return to the PGA Tour next year, plus the type of weather he likes will most likely be around during the week.

He is definitely a contender here and I think he will finish at least in the top five finish this year.

15. Luke Donald or Lee Westwood Will Win the PGA

It may be the second safest bet, but you can only hold the top two players in the world out of contention for a little while. They are just too good and consistent to be counted out.

I expected that by this time of the year both of them would have won a major. I thought Donald would win the Masters and Westwood the US Open.

They both ran into Charl Schwartzel and Rory McIlroy respectively.

Donald and Westwood both missed the cut at The Open, but have bounced back with great performances at the WGC in preparation to the PGA.

Westwood has been working harder every year to achieve his goal of winning a major and he’s too good a player to keep missing at the majors. 

Donald is my favorite to win here this year. Although he may seem like he does not have the length to tame a course like this, he is dead accurate from the tee and is a great putter.

What he may lack in length, he makes up for it in his iron game, which is used a lot on this long course. He is due for his major championship and his time has arrived this weekend.