PGA Championship 2013: Burning Questions Entering Oak Hill

The PGA Championship may not have the status of the other three majors, but there is no shortage of excitement as players prepare to play at the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.

The two big stars in the field are Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, currently the two top-ranked golfers in the world. While a Sunday stretch battle between the two would be dramatic theater, they are not the only golfers in the field.

Nearly all the top stars are competing at Oak Hill, and a number of scenarios will play out. Here are some of the burning questions that will be answered this weekend.

Who Will Emerge as the Top Player of the Year Candidate?

The race for the PGA's player of the year is still not decided. However, it looks like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are the two leading candidates.

If either man wins the PGA Championship, it is almost certain he will come away with the honor. However, if Adam Scott or Justin Rose were to claim a second major, that golfers would raise his status as well.

Brandt Snedeker and Matt Kuchar have been enjoying stellar seasons and have already won two tournaments. A win for either would be the first major of his career and would likely propel that player into player-of-the-year contention.

Will Rory McIlroy's Misery Continue?

Rory McIlroy was the player of the year in 2012, and he looked like a legitimate challenger/successor to Tiger Woods as golf's best player.

McIlroy had the complete game, and, in addition to his physical talents, he had the swagger and charisma many top players have demonstrated through the years. One of McIlroy's top moments came at the 2012 PGA Championship when he claimed the second major title of his career.

The 2013 season has been misery for McIlroy. His earnings have dropped from $8 million to $1.4 million, and, after winning four tournaments last year, he has one second-place finish this year.

McIlroy may not be a legitimate contender this year, but he could start his turnaround at the 2013 PGA with a strong showing.

What Will It Take for Brandt Snedeker to Make a Breakthrough?

It has been a terrific season for Brandt Snedeker. He has already won two tournaments and has two second-place finishes.

However, he has not been a standout performer in major tournaments this year. He finished sixth in the Masters, but he finished outside the top 10 in the U.S. Open and the Open Championship.

Snedeker has a consistent tee-to-green game, and if his putting is on, he has a chance for a top-three finish. However, Snedeker has rarely displayed the consistency in majors he does in other tournaments.

If Snedeker has a bad hole, he needs to shake it off. He is not bothered by a bogey in an every-week type of tournament, but the bad holes stay with him in majors. If he can simply move on to the next hole and not take his poor shots with him, look for Snedeker to have a great showing at Oak Hill.

How Will the Shorter Hitters Contend with Oak Hill?

Oak Hill Country Club is going to test golfers from tee to green. Like any major course, the best golfers are going to have to be extremely accurate in order to have a chance.

However, Oak Hill rewards longer hitters. For example, if you can drive the ball 260 yards on the first hole and keep it in the fairway, you can get an extra 30 or 40 yards of carry. If not, you have a much longer second shot.

Big hitters have an advantage, and those who can't get the distance will likely have to find inventive ways to make up for it.

Can Jordan Spieth Compete with the Best Players in the World?

Jordan Spieth shocked the golf world earlier this year when he won the John Deere Classic. That victory made him the first teenager to win on the PGA tour since 1931.

Spieth, now 20, was able to compete in the Open Championship as a result of that victory, but he tied for 44th at Muirfield after failing to make the cut in the U.S. Open.

Spieth gets his third chance to compete in a major as a professional. He has the tools to have a long and successful career, and he could announce his presence with a memorable performance at Oak Hill.

Spieth has excellent driving accuracy, ranking 21st in that category because he is finding the fairway on 67.19 percent of his drives.

Which Foreign Player Is Going to Emerge?

The PGA Championship has been a haven for foreign-born players. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Martin Kaymer (Germany) and Padraig Harrington (Ireland) have all won in the last five years. The only American to win in that time frame is Keegan Bradley.

It seems quite likely overseas players will once again make strong runs at the title. Look for Ernie Els (South Africa), Jason Day (Australia) and K.J. Choi (South Korea) to have strong four-day runs in the tournament.

Does the Drought End Here?

It's becoming one of the most well-known statistics in sports: Tiger Woods has not won a major since he was victorious in the 2008 U.S. Open.

Five long years have passed since he defeated Rocco Mediate in a famous playoff. His game was in very good shape last year, and he has been dominating the tour this year with five victories, but Woods needs to win a major to satisfy some of his critics—and himself.

Woods wants to increase his victory total in majors to 15. Can he dominate Oak Hill the way he overpowered Firestone at last week's Bridgestone triumph? If he does, it will become one of the biggest stories in all of sports—and not just golf.

Can Phil Claim Dominance over Tiger?

Phil Mickelson has played sensational golf this year, winning twice in Europe and once in the United States.

His triumph in the Open Championship was huge for two reasons. First, he came through in a major he never believed he was going to win. Second, he came through with a 66 in the final round and played his best when the pressure was the highest.

His rival Tiger Woods has won five tournaments this year but no majors. If Mickelson can win his second major of the year, he can make a good case that he is the best golfer in the world, no matter what the Official World Golf Ranking says.

His profile will peak if he can win the PGA Championship.