2010 PGA Championship Predictions
The season’s final major and glory’s last shot tees off tomorrow at Whistling Straits, with the world’s best golfers fighting to win the Wanamaker Trophy. Here are my predictions for the 92nd PGA Championship:
Champion: Ernie Els – The Big Easy has had arguably the best year on the PGA Tour in 2010, with wins at Doral and Bay Hill. He also had a solid finish at Pebble Beach and I like his odds on this PGA Championship course.
Contenders: Hunter Mahan – This week I’m looking for young Americans that bomb the ball to play well, and Mahan fits those credentials. With his 64 on Sunday at Firestone, coming off a victory at the WGC-Bridgestone, he is probably the hottest player on tour.
Phil Mickelson – It seems like only a matter of time before Lefty gets the No. 1 World Ranking. This week it could happen if all the right things fall into place. I look for Phil to bounce back after a tough British Open and a 78 on Sunday at Firestone, and his arthritis shouldn’t be a factor.
Rory McIlroy – With the exception of the two 59s thus far this season, McIlroy has produced the best rounds on tour. His 62 in the final round at Quail Hollow and his 63 in the first round at St. Andrews (followed by an 80) were very impressive from the young Irishman. And don’t overlook his tied for ninth finish at Firestone last week.
Retief Goosen – After a sixth place finish at St. Andrews and a tied for third finish at Firestone, I look for the South African to be a serious threat this week.
Steve Stricker – I don’t usually like Stricker in majors but he’s another guy that could become the No. 1 player in the world at week’s end. The only reason I like his odds this week are because Whistling Straits is in his home state.
Dustin Johnson – Forget the debacle at Pebble Beach, this guy is for real and his length will be a huge advantage at Whistling Straits.
Ricky Barnes – He hasn’t performed as well at the last two majors but his tied for 10th finish at Augusta looks impressive as I look for contenders for this week.
Darkhorse: Justin Leonard – Despite a 76 on Sunday at Firestone, Leonard had a top 25 finish at the event and last time the PGA was at Whistling Straits, in 2004, he made it to the three-man playoff before losing to Vijay Singh.
Others to watch: Tiger Woods – After a disastrous week, this is the least confidence I have had in Tiger’s game. But his year will be considered a success if he happens to pull out a victory this week.
Sean O’Hair – After a fifth place finish last week, the young American’s confidence must be sky-high. I think the PGA Championship is the major that best suits O’Hair’s game and I look for a solid finish this week.
Graeme McDowell – I like the chances of the U.S. Open champ this week, especially because it’s on a links course.
Louis Oosthuizen – I have no idea what to expect from the South African this week but whatever he does will be very interesting to watch, given his seven shot victory at St. Andrews.
Anthony Kim – He didn’t perform up to his level last week at Firestone following his return from thumb surgery, but who knows what Kim could do this week.
Winning score: I think that 8-under par will be the winning score this week. This was the score that won the tournament back in 2004 and although the course has been lengthened, the players have not been afraid to shoot low scores this year.
Of note: For the first time since the 1997 Masters, Tiger Woods will not be the favorite to win a major. The odds favor Phil Mickelson at 14-1, with Tiger at 16-1.
