Barring any late kickabouts, the golf course of Whistling Straits should be treated to the Jordan Spieth-Rory McIlroy duel we were all looking forward to at St Andrews four weeks ago.
The two have, predictably, been grouped together for the opening rounds of the PGA Championship and organisers (plus Nike, Under Armour and the TV networks around the world) will be hoping that pairing continues to the bitter end come Sunday evening.
Spieth’s sensational year shows no sign of abating and with six top 10s in his last seven starts added to his two majors wins and a tiedfourth at the Open, it’s almost inconceivable he won’t be in the mix this weekend.
As a curious side note, in his two previous appearance at the PGA Championship he’s has missed the cut shooting scores of +8 and +6.
For McIlroy, the road to redeeming himself in the eyes of the fans he let down at the Open is a little more fraught with difficulty. He’s a two-time winner of this major while the last time it was played at Whistling Straits he finished tied for third, a missed 20-foot putt on 18th denying him a place in the playoff.
The pedigree is there but there’s no question he’s come back a little too early from his ruptured ankle ligament. Were this a standard PGA or European Tour event would McIlroy still be in the field? It’s unlikely, and while his fitness and determination to return is admirable, it leaves him with a sizeable obstacle to keep pace with the likes of Spieth.
Just being in contention will be impressive. Whether that’s good enough for McIlroy remains to be seen. But outside of golf’s new grandstand duo, it’s the nearly-men who perhaps provide the most intriguing narrative going into the final major of the year.
– PGA Championship: Interactive Infographic
– PGA Championship: McIlroy insists he’s ‘100 per cent’ ready to play
– Bridgestone Invitational: Shane Lowry races into top five after triumph
And while it would be disingenuous to brand any of this trio as ‘surprise winners’, the PGA Championship is one that has seen non-regular champions often emerge from the field – four of the last five winners were first-time major winners.
Dustin Johnson’s familiarity with the course is well-known as the harshest of rule infringements five years ago cost him two shots and a share of the lead.
His revival after a troubled 2014 has been one of the best stories on the Tour and while he’s still a player who divides opinion – both among his peers and fans – given whispers over past misdemeanours, he can be, on his day, as good as anyone in the world.
He’s posted sub-par scores in seven of the 12 rounds played at Augusta, Chambers Bay and St Andrews and is a fine ball striker with the driving distance to tame any course. He would, you imagine, have the bit between his teeth and determination to right what he undoubtedly considers a wrong, as well as conquering any lingering personal demons.
If Johnson can be cast dastardly villain (not including Bubba Watson, of course) seeking redemption, then Jason Day is the guy everyone’s rooting for following a string of near-missed.
The Australian is firmly established as one of the most talented players of his generation yet major glory continues to elude him. His consistency in the tournaments that matter most is outstanding: nine top-10 finishes in major championships, including three in his last six appearances.
The 27-year-old himself admits the issue is a mental one. The last piece of the puzzle required to get over the line. Missed putts down the stretch cost him at St Andrews while vertigo, of all things, was his enemy at the US Open.
Each tournament allows him to learn a little more about himself in pressure situations and if the elements can come together, this could very well be his weekend.
Ditto Rickie Fowler, our dashing prince of the piece, who has the unofficial sixth major in his bag in the Players Championship and while failing to replicate his blistering 2014 form is a man always in contention.
His crown as the golden boy of American golf has been passed to Spieth but he is still the vision of the modern golfer; a style and swagger that has helped define a new generation of player.
The main actors dominate the pre-tournament hype, but expect at least one of a strong supporting cast to emerge triumphant come Sunday’s concluding episode
