PGA Championship 2013: Tee Times, Date and TV Schedule

Once again, we enter a 2013 major with Tiger Woods in prime position to end his major drought that has now exceeded five years. That's only produced disappointment for the 14-time major winner up to this point. Will the year's final major play out differently? 

After winning last week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational by seven strokes, Woods is an overwhelming favorite as the playing professionals flock to Rochester, N.Y., to tackle the difficult Oakhill Country Club.

Oakhill was also the site of the 2003 PGA Championship. Shaun Michael took the Wanamaker at four under that year. He was one of just three golfers to finish under par.

Meanwhile, Woods finished all the way back at 12 over and in 39th place.

This tight, tree-lined course should be as difficult as it was in 2003, and it will be a complete test of all-around skill.  

Avoiding the thick trees off the tee is going to be difficult but essential. 

At 7,180 yards, this course is not overly long. However, it is a par 70 and plays longer than that number suggests. Distance will be key on plenty of holes, and players will not have the luxury of leaving their drivers in the bag all round. 

Check out the viewing vitals below, and then I'll take a closer look at the chances of victory for Woods and two other notable golfers below. 

When: Thursday, Aug. 9, to Sunday, Aug. 12

Where: Oakhill Country Club, Rochester, N.Y.

Tee Times: First group is off at 7:10 a.m. ET. For a complete list of tee times for the first two rounds, visit MajorChampionships.com.

Note: All statistics, unless otherwise noted, are courtesy of PGATour.com. 

Tiger Woods

With every major that passes without Woods claiming victory, the pressure builds. He is still four majors shy of Jack Nicklaus' all-time record of 18 majors, and at 37, the clock is ticking. 

The world's No. 1 has everything going for him to close that gap. With five wins, Woods has had a marvelous season. 

However, his ball striking is at its high point for the year right now, and that is good news for the legend.

When Woods struggled at this course in 2003, he hit less than 50 percent of his fairways. Performance off the tee will be crucial for Woods at Oakhill, and he has been rounding into form. 

Going back to the Players Championship, which was Woods' next start after the Masters, he has hit at least 62 percent of his fairways in each of his five events. While the 62 percent did come last week, he wasn't regressing. Woods finished that tournament with his highest driving average for the year. 

With confidence returning to his driver and his putting stroke dialed in, Woods is going to be extremely tough to beat. 

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson is going to enter this tournament with no pressure at all. Sure, there is no doubt he'd like to add a sixth major and second PGA Championship under his belt, but fresh off his British Open victory, Mickelson has earned a window of contentment that should carry past this event. 

Since claiming his maiden Open Championship, Lefty has made one start. That came last week at the WGC event. He finished in 21st. 

Mickelson was striking the ball well enough, but the laser-like focus that led him to another runner up at the U.S. Open and then the win in the British appeared to have disappeared. Perhaps he was simply thinking ahead of this tournament. 

It could also be a sign, however, that his impressive hot streak is at an end. Remember, the week before capturing the British, he won the Scottish Open.

Also, at 57.1 percent, he finished with his lowest mark in driving accuracy since the Players Championship. 

Mickelson still did a nice job with his putter in his last start, and he played too well to be counted out this week. 

In 2003 at this event, Mickelson was a respectable 23rd at eight over. However, it was all downhill for him at the tournament after firing a 66 in the first round. While that proved he can go low on this course, it also showed he's likely to struggle more often than not. 

Given all of this, it would be a surprise to me if this future Hall of Famer made a serious run at this title. 

Adam Scott

Adam Scott already suffered through the major hangover that Mickelson may be in the clutches of now. The Australian won his inaugural major at the Masters this year.

He impressed in his starts following with a 19th at the Players and a 13th at the Memorial. However, he then fell off the pace with a 45th at the U.S. Open then a 57th at the AT&T National. 

It appears to be all systems go again for this 33-year-old. 

He made a run at the British Open that had him winding up in third, and he followed that up with a 14th at Bridgestone last week.

Scott is a terrific ball striker, and he should give himself ample opportunities to score this week. The biggest question will be if his anchored putter will aid or hurt him. And in that regard, it is difficult to predict. Scott's had an up-and-down year with the flat iron. 

If he wants to claim his second major this season, he will need his putting stroke to be at its best.