PGA Championship 2013: Stock Watch for Golf's Top Stars Heading into Oak Hill

The PGA Championship appears to have the stuff that could make it one of the best and most dramatic major championships in recent years.

While last year's winner Rory McIlroy is struggling badly, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are both at the top of their game. Could this be the tournament where golf's two biggest superstars both put on a show for the ages down the stretch on Sunday?

The golf world certainly hopes so.

Here's a look at the stock watch for the biggest names in golf going into the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. this week.

All stats courtesy of PGATour.com unless otherwise noted.

Matt Kuchar: Stock Up

Matt Kuchar does not have a superstar's persona. However, he does have a superstar's golf game.

He has enjoyed a remarkable season and he is second behind Tiger Woods in FedEx Cup points. He has an ease of temperment on the golf course that has helped him win twice and finish second twice.

While not at the top of his game at the Bridgestone Invitational, he tied for second in the RBC Canadian Open the week before.

Kuchar has the skills in the short game to compete with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. If he has the confidence in himself to battle with them for four rounds, he has a real opportunity to win the first major of his career.

Luke Donald: Stock Down

Luke Donald has not been playing like a world-class golfer this year. He has had a difficult time putting four solid rounds together, making it tough for him to compete for a title at the PGA Championship.

There are significant problems with Donald's game. He has never been a huge hitter and he depends on accuracy.

That's been an issue this year. Donald is only hitting 60.97 percent of his greens in regulation, which ranks 178th on the tour. That's not going to allow him to contend in major tournaments.

Brandt Snedeker: Stock Up

Brandt Snedeker has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour each of the last two years.

He won just under $5 million last year and he is nearly at that figure this year. He won two tournaments in 2012 and he has already copped two titles this year. Snedeker has the complete tee-to-green game to contend on a consistent basis; he is also a solid putter.

Snedeker is averaging 4.10 birdies per round, ranking fourth on the tour.

Dustin Johnson: Stock Down

Dustin Johnson has the ability to drive the ball as far as anybody on the golf tour. On occasion, he has combined his power with scintillating iron shots, and that allows him to contend for championships.

However, Johnson has lacked consistency. He has failed to make the cut in five of 17 events this year. After earning nearly $3.4 million last year, Johnson has earned $2.3 million this year.

He finished 55th in the U.S. Open and he tied for 32nd in the British Open.

Johnson's big problem is his accuracy off the tee. He is finding the fairway on 51.51 percent of his drives, a figure that ranks 185th on the tour.

Phil Mickelson: Stock Up

Phil Mickelson is enjoying one of the best seasons of his illustrious career. His brilliant 66 in the final round of the British Open gave him a championship in a tournament that he never thought he would win.

Mickelson has risen to the No. 2 spot in the World Golf Rankings. He appears to be at the top of his game. Mickelson always had the capacity to hit sizzling shots that few other golfers would try, but now he has tempered his go-for-broke mentality with a sense of restraint that had been missing from his game.

If Mickelson is at his best, there's no reason he can't take home his second major of the year.

Sergio Garcia: Stock Down

Sergio Garcia's game has not been in top form in recent weeks. While the Spaniard has plenty of power and flair, he lacks the consistency needed to win on a regular basis.

Garcia has not won a tournament on the PGA Tour since taking the Wyndham Championship in 2012. In his last three tournaments, he finished 15 over par in the U.S. Open, seven over par in the British Open and five over par in the Bridgestone Invitational.

If Garcia can't get close to even par in three consecutive tournaments, he has little chance to win the PGA Championship.

Tiger Woods: Stock Up

Tiger Woods is on top of his game after winning the Bridgestone Invitational by seven strokes. Not only is he coming off a brilliant performance, he has been excellent all season.

The victory at the Firestone Country Club was his fifth of the season and the 79th of his career. He is climbing up the all-time win list and Sam Snead's record of 82 wins (via Jason Sobel of Golf Channel) is in sight.

However, he wants to win majors. He has been stuck on 14 since winning the 2008 U.S. Open, which has been hanging over Woods' head in recent years. While he is playing sensational golf, he is going to have to take it to a new level to get back into the winner's circle in the PGA Championship.

Stock Down: Jim Furyk

It has been a struggle this season for veteran Jim Furyk. After earning $3.6 million in 2012, he has brought home just $1.3 million this year.

Furyk failed to make the cut in the U.S. Open or British Open. While he finished tied for ninth in the RBC Canadian Open and the Bridgestone Invitational, he is not playing with his usual confidence.

Furyk's putting has gone askew this year. He ranks 120th in strokes gained while putting and that's why he has been struggling this year.