PGA Championship 2015: Complete Guide to This Year's Tournament
Well, it's hard to believe, but we've finally arrived at the final major of the year, the PGA Championship.
It's been an unforgettable season already, with Jordan Spieth's history-making quest highlighted by two of the most exciting major finishes in recent memory at the U.S. Open and British Open.
Now, at the always-thrilling Whistling Straits, it's time to see who will walk away with the Wanamaker Trophy.
Here's everything you need to know to prepare for the final week of major golf in 2015.
All About Whistling Straits
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Whistling Straits is a links-style golf course located in Wisconsin. It's one of two 36-hole courses associated with the luxury golfing resort, The American Club.
Whistling Straits consists of the Irish Course and the Straits Course. The Straits Course will host this year's PGA Championship.
Previously, the Straits Course has hosted the 2004 PGA Championship, won by Vijay Singh; the 2007 U.S. Senior Open, won by Brad Bryant; and the 2010 PGA Championship, won by Martin Kaymer.
The course was designed by Peter Dye in 1998 on the site of Camp Haven, a U.S. Army training facility in the 1950s. Lake Michigan is visible from every hole on the course, and eight holes directly touch the shoreline.
Wind is a huge factor at Whistling Straits, as are the elevation changes, sand dunes and fescue.
Where to Watch
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Thursday, August 13
2 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Friday, August 14
2 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Saturday, August 15
11 p.m. ET to 2 p.m. ET, TNT
2 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET, CBS
Sunday, August 16
11 p.m. ET to 2 p.m. ET, TNT
2 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET, CBS
Live streaming is available throughout the tournament at PGA.com.
Biggest Storylines
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Is Rory McIlroy Really Healthy?
Rory McIlroy injured his left ankle playing soccer with friends right before the British Open and was unable to defend his title. He hasn't played competitive golf since.
The Northern Irishman has been practicing at Whistling Straits and claims he is 100 percent fit for golf, but the biggest question the first couple of days will be Rory's form and fitness.
Will Rory McIlroy or Jordan Spieth Finish the Tournament Ranked No. 1?
McIlroy's health is such a big story because not only is he the defending champion of this tournament and the world No. 1, but because the rise of Jordan Spieth is threatening his hold at the top of the game.
There are a lot of different ranking scenarios, but as reported by Steve Elling of Golf Blot, it comes down to this: If McIlroy wins or finishes alone in second place, there is no way Spieth can take over the top ranking; if Spieth finishes worse than solo third, McIlroy is safe as well.
Can Dustin Johnson Overcome His Whistling Straits Demons?
Dustin Johnson has been one of the more intriguing and heartbreaking stories this golfing season. The American had a putt to win the U.S. Open, and then a putt to force a playoff, but missed both. Then he was in command after two days of play at the British Open before falling way back on the weekend.
Now, still without a major, Johnson comes to the site of one of the biggest heartbreaks of his career. At the 2010 PGA Championship, he had a one-stroke lead heading into the 72nd hole but ended up missing a chance to make the playoff due to a two-stroke bunker penalty.
Keep an eye on Johnson to see if he bounces back or succumbs to the ghosts of the missed majors in his past.
Will Anyone Pull a Martin Kaymer?
Five years ago, Martin Kaymer shocked the golfing world by taking the trophy at Whistling Straits, a result that seems a lot less surprising now that he has a second major and was ranked world No. 1.
While the elite players in the game have been stealing the show all season long, it's worth looking down the rankings to see if there are any breakouts in waiting.
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Top Pairings
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Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Zach Johnson (First tee, Thursday at 2:20 p.m. ET)
Spieth and Johnson hold all of the majors this year. McIlroy is the world No. 1 and defending champion. Spieth and McIlroy are battling it out for the No. 1 ranking this week. Need I say more?
Jason Dufner, Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington (First tee, Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET)
These guys might not have been the best players in 2015, but they've each won this tournament, and they all know how to play aggressive, exciting golf.
Sergio Garcia, Bill Haas, Louis Oosthuizen (10th tee, Thursday at 8:25 a.m. ET)
Oosthuizen has finished tied for second at the last two majors, Garcia is always one to watch and Haas can surprise.
Rickie Fowler, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson (10th tee, Thursday at 9:05 a.m. ET)
There isn't a major-less trio more exciting than Fowler, Day and Johnson. Is this finally the weekend for one of these guys to get the monkey off of his back?
Martin Kaymer, Tiger Woods, Keegan Bradley (10th tee, Thursday at 9:15 a.m. ET)
Kaymer won this tournament the last time it was at Whistling Straits, Keegan Bradley won the PGA Championship in 2011 and Tiger is, well, Tiger.
Top Contenders
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Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth is trying to do something utterly ridiculous and win three majors in one year. And considering the 22-year-old finished fourth at the British Open, if he wins the PGA, he'll have completed the most statistically impressive major season in golf history. So yeah, I'd say he's a top contender.
Dustin Johnson
It's easy to get wrapped up in Johnson's history of heartbreak, particularly this season. But don't let that narrative overshadow the fact that the American has the length and the accuracy to dominate this golf course.
Jason Day
Day had a terrible spell of vertigo at the U.S. Open and had a history of atrocious play at the British Open, and yet he finished in the top 10 in the last two majors anyways. The Aussie should not be overlooked this week.
Bubba Watson
All the focus is on the top two guys in the rankings, but Watson is holding steady at No. 3. He was the runner-up last time the PGA Championship was played at Whistling Straits, and he's finished second in his last two starts.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler won the biggest tournament of his career in May when he took the Players Championship trophy, but he's yet to replicate his 2014 top-five streak at the majors. Still, considering his last four starts include a win and a second-place finish, he's a big threat at Whistling Straits.
Also Dangerous: Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen
The Dark Horses
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When talking about dark horses at this tournament, you have to start with Martin Kaymer. The methodical German dissected this course back in 2010, and he's playing much better, more consistent golf today than he was back then.
Adam Scott doesn't really seem like a dark horse, but he hasn't played well enough lately to be considered a top contender. Still, he's sneakily finished tied for fourth at the U.S. Open and tied for 10th at the British Open, so he's been in the picture at majors.
The steady Jim Furyk has to be talked about, as does the anything-but-steady Phil Mickelson. Both veteran Americans have what it takes to win at Whistling Straits.
Oh, and remember Zach Johnson, that guy who just won the British Open? Yeah, this is a links-style course as well, so it wouldn't be a shock to see him in the picture late.
But my favorite dark-horse pick is Brooks Koepka. The 25-year-old is one of the more under-the-radar young players on the Tour right now, but after a tie for 10th at the British Open, he's having his steadiest major season yet.
The PGA Championship is famous for having breakthrough winners. If that trend continues, I'm tapping Koepka.
The Favorite
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Jordan Spieth might be the safer pick, considering his sustained consistency and excellence this season, but I'm picking Rory McIlroy for the win at the PGA Championship.
Sure, he's been out since the week before the British Open, and there are questions about his ankle. But if McIlroy says he's ready to play, I'm inclined to believe him.
And, as reported by Kevin Maguire of ESPN, McIlroy is feeling confident:
"I'm finding the middle of the clubface. I think the one thing for me was if my short game was sharp. But I've been chipping and putting since basically this happened. I was putting in the boot. So I've kept that part of the game sharp. So everything feels pretty good.
"
Winning three majors in one year is just ridiculously difficult, which is why even though Spieth is a golf-playing machine who seems to be able to handle anything, I'm struggling to pick him to win the PGA.
Plus, as hard as it is to imagine anyone winning three majors in a year, it's equally as difficult to imagine McIlroy getting through a year without a major in the prime of his career.
So I'm doing the slightly risky thing and picking the world No. 1 to triumph at Whistling Straits.
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