PGA Championship 2011: 5 Pros Poised to Shine This Weekend

Officially the PGA Championship started early Thursday morning, but unofficially, the season's last major really begins Saturday.

The leaders have an edge at that point, but look for a handful of players to surge up the leaderboard with an early, dominating round: They don't call it "Moving Day" for nothing. 

Based on what we've seen from this golf course and what we've seen from this field along the way in 2011, there should be a handful of 65's and 66's on the cards this weekend, and that will completely change the makeup of the leaderboard. 

And with Tiger Woods inching closer to missing the cut every stroke, there should be room for at least a few longshots or surprise contenders. 

No. 5: K.J. Choi

Round 1: even-par-70

Round 2: -1 through three

Current Score: -1

Choi did not finish strong on Thursday, but birdies at the first two holes today have helped him climb the leaderboard. 

His putting is once again going to be tested this weekend, and he'll struggle with the distances on the long par-4s a little bit more than his fellow pros, but because he is such a gifted bunker player, he will save himself from a ton of trouble, trouble that most of the field cannot avoid. 

No. 4: Gary Woodland

Round 1: even par 70

Round 2: -1 through 17

Current Score: -1

When Woodland  started off hot (two-under through 12) I didn't think it would last. He already had two bogeys on his card and soon added two more to fall back to even par. But today was a different story. as he played much steadier from tee to green: 16 pars and a birdie.

Woodland's length off the tee gives him an advantage over 95 percent of the rest of the field, but putting has been his Achilles heel.  His comfort level seems to be improving on the greens, and that alone is enough to think he can make a run Saturday or Sunday. 

No. 3: Johnson Wagner

Round 1: one-over-71

Round 2: one-under-69

Current Score: E through 36 holes

There has to be a longshot, surprise name on the top of the leaderboard, right? It's a major and there usually is.

Wagner fits the bill, partly because he's such an unheralded player--despite his solid ability off the tee (35th in driving accuracy) and with low-to-mid irons (30th in Greens-in-Regulation)—but also because he's already proven he can win. Remember, Wagner took in Cancun back in February.

A pretty solid finish—two-under through the final 13—will also boost his confidence heading into Saturday. 

No. 2: Nick Watney

Round 1: even par 70

Round 2: -1 through 7

Current Score: -1 through 25

Watney is starting to become one of those "will he ever win a major?" players on Tour, especially since he missed the cut at Congressional and Royal St. George's. But away from demanding USGA setup and the weather in Sandwich, he's been very good and very consistent: fourth at the TPC, eighth at the Byron Nelson, 13th at the Travelers, and of course a win at Aronimink.

And even though that 70 on Day One was a quality score and a solid start, it really could have been a lot better had he not fallen apart at the tough 18th and made a triple bogey 7. 

He'll play it a bit safer through on today and tomorrow and make his move on Sunday. 

No. 1: Lee Westwood

Round 1: one-over-71

Round 2: two-under-68

Current Score: -1 through 36

Give him credit, Westwood really bounced back today after a disappointing start to yet another episode of his chase for a major championship.

Yes, the longer par 4s (2, 3, 8, 11) again gave him some surprising trouble, but it's hard to complain about a round that features six birdies, one at a par 3, one at a (short) par 4, and one at a par 5.

Aside from the British Open, he's been so consistent this year and had so many great finishes (five-under on the weekend at the US Open, a 65 last Sunday at Firestone, a 70 on Sunday at Augusta), that you shouldn't be surprised to see another one at the AAC.