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PGA Championship 2024: Top Contenders and Potential Surprises

As the PGA Championship 2024 approaches, the golfing world is focused on Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. This prestigious event, one of golf’s four major championships, will challenge players with its Jack Nicklaus-designed course, known for its length and strategic demands. Who will lift the Wanamaker Trophy this year? With a field filled with world-class golfers, including top favorites Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Brooks Koepka, an exciting tournament is guaranteed. Here’s a look at the leading contenders and their chances.

Top Favorites for the PGA Championship 2024: Scheffler, McIlroy, and Koepka

Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler enters the PGA Championship 2024 as a clear favorite. Currently ranked number one in the world, Scheffler has already secured four tournament victories this season, including the Masters Tournament 2024. With four wins and a runner-up finish in his last five starts, over $18 million in prize money, and nine top-10 finishes from ten events, he is in exceptional form. Returning from a brief break for the birth of his first child, Scheffler is poised to claim his third major title.

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy is another top contender this year. The Northern Irishman recently won the Zurich Classic alongside Shane Lowry and the Wells Fargo Championship. A previous winner at Valhalla a decade ago and currently second in the world rankings, McIlroy brings confidence to Louisville. With his impressive driving distance and strong long game, McIlroy has a great chance to capture the title.

Brooks Koepka

Reigning PGA Champion Brooks Koepka is also a formidable candidate. Koepka has already claimed a victory on the LIV Golf Tour this year and has a proven track record in major championships. With five major wins, including three PGA Championship titles, Koepka is known for his prowess in big tournaments and poses a significant threat on the challenging Valhalla course.

View all live scores for the PGA Championship 2024

Potential Surprises: Ludvig Åberg and Xander Schauffele

Ludvig Åberg

In his first professional season, Ludvig Åberg has established himself as one of the best players, highlighted by a second-place finish at Pebble Beach and an impressive debut in major tournaments. Over his last four events, the young Swede has gained over 15.5 strokes with his approach shots and is among the top off-the-tee players. Despite limited major experience and a recent knee injury, Åberg has the potential to surprise at the PGA Championship.

Xander Schauffele

Xander Schauffele has consistently performed well over recent years and is currently ranked third in the world. Although he has faced challenges in securing tournament victories, Schauffele’s strength in long games and on the greens could finally lead him to his first major title in Valhalla.

Other Contenders: Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, and Sepp Straka

Aside from the top favorites, other players like Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, and Sepp Straka are also worth watching.

Max Homa

Max Homa has steadily improved over the past few years, recently showcasing a strong performance at the Masters. The American has thrived on long, demanding courses, having won three of his six PGA Tour titles on such layouts, making him well-suited for the conditions in Louisville.

Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa has regained his form since adjusting his putting style. The switch to a mallet putter has yielded significant improvements, making him a serious contender in Valhalla. Morikawa’s accuracy off the tee and putting skills make him a formidable competitor.

Sepp Straka

Sepp Straka may not be the longest off the tee, but his accuracy could be advantageous on Valhalla’s demanding layout. Straka has shown consistent performance this season and could spring a surprise. With solid results in recent major tournaments, including a runner-up finish at the British Open 2023, Straka has the potential to reach the top ranks.

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PGA Championship 2024: Scottie Scheffler: “Newborn in my Arms, Green Jacket in the Closet”

Scottie Scheffler arrives at Valhalla for the 2024 PGA Championship roughly a week after the birth of his son. As number one golfer in the world, recent Masters winner and four time victor this season all eyes are set on him. And with his wife Meredith’s pregnancy already being the talk at Augusta, everyone wants to know how the current best golfer in the world is adjusting to fatherhood.

Scottie Scheffler’s talks to the media at the PGA Championship 2024

Q. Welcome to Valhalla in what is your fifth PGA Championship. Congratulations. How have the first few days of fatherhood been?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: First few days have been nice. It was good to get some time at home. It’s pretty wild. A lot of fun. It’s a pretty exciting time for Meredith and me.

As far as this week goes, yeah, excited to be here, excited to play, be here and compete. This is a major championship week, and this is what I practice and prepare for is to play my best at these events, and hopefully that trend will continue.

Q. Anything about the whole process of childbirth surprise you at all?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah. A lot. (Laughing).

I think it’s just wild watching Meredith go through that. It’s just nuts. I don’t really know how to describe it, watching the little dude come out of Meredith, and we waited, and it was a surprise for us whether it was going to be a boy or girl, so being able to tell my wife that it was a boy, yeah, it was a wild ride.

Extremely proud of Meredith after watching her go through that. It’s nuts. I’m glad it was her going through it and not me because I don’t know if I could have done it. It was pretty nuts.

Extremely proud of her, and the look on her face right after birth, she was just glowing, so proud of herself and so excited to have our little boy.

Q. My wife wanted to insist that I ask about your wife. How is Meredith doing with the last week and specifically celebrating her first Mother’s Day?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Her first Mother’s Day was fun. Her first Mother’s Day was Sunday and then her birthday Monday, so it was a fun five, six days for us. She’s doing well, recovering nicely. We’re very fortunate to be in this position with a healthy mom and healthy baby. Hopefully that will continue.

Q. You were already at the point where people are starting to count up how many majors you might win, how many weeks you might be at No. 1. Staying in the moment is one thing when you’re in a tournament, but how do you stay in the moment between tournaments? How do you avoid looking forward and looking out into the future years and decades?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I mean, I think it’s pretty easy. I don’t really try to look that far ahead. If I listen to the narratives around myself, if it was two months ago it would probably look significantly different than it does now. I’m sure that wasn’t a conversation y’all were having two months ago and all of a sudden now it’s like, Oh, he’s going to win this many tournaments or do that and do this. I don’t really pay attention to it, I don’t really care about it. I’m trying to do the best I can out there each and every week, and as far as anything else, I’m not really too concerned with it.

I may win a lot of major championships, I may be stuck at two the rest of my career. It doesn’t really concern me in the moment. I’m just trying to prepare as best as possible for this week.

At home it was a nice time to reflect a little bit on my career so far and where my life has gone. I married my high school sweetheart and I always wanted to play professional golf and now I’m here. I was sitting there with a newborn in my arms and the green jacket in the closet. It was a pretty special time I think at home.

But at the same time, I think the competitiveness in me doesn’t let me reflect too much and I was trying to do my best to get ready to play this week.

Q. With this being an Olympic year, have you given much thought to that yet, and are you planning to play in Paris this summer?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I definitely plan on playing. I think becoming an Olympian would be a dream come true, for sure. Be a nice little thing to be able to trash talk to my buddies about when they say golfers aren’t athletes. I can claim I’m an Olympian. I think it’s definitely a tournament that has been on my schedule, and I’ll definitely be playing there if I’m able.

Q. You had a big break at the end of last year, but in terms of three weeks off in the course of a season, that’s kind of rare for you. What is your frame of mind coming off reflections, special time you hadn’t golfed, competed in three weeks.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I was able to practice and play plenty at home. Obviously the last week was a bit different with our son coming. But yeah, I would say three weeks is probably a bit of a longer break than I would usually take. I’m sure on a normal year I probably would have been playing at the Nelson.

But yeah, definitely rested going into this week for sure. I don’t really feel like any rust has accumulated. I was able to practice and play a lot at home. I’m able to do stuff at home to simulate tournament golf, especially on the greens, competing and gambling with my buddies, I don’t really want to lose to them, either, so I was able to simulate a little bit of competition at home.

Q. Over the past couple weeks, what’s been the best piece of advice you’ve gotten on becoming a dad, and what’s the strangest piece of advice?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I feel like I haven’t really gotten too much unsolicited advice, which I’m a bit thankful for. Every kid, I’m sure, is a lot different, so I think you manage them each differently. Right now I’m literally just standing there changing diapers and handing him back to Meredith so he can feed, and just letting him sleep on me.

It’s exciting. I couldn’t imagine it being the way that it is, and it’s a lot of fun. I miss him like crazy. It was not easy to leave the house Monday morning.

But like I said, I told my son as I was leaving, I was like, I don’t want to leave you right now, but I need to. I’m called to do my job to the best of my ability, and I felt like showing up Wednesday night wouldn’t really be doing myself a service this week when it comes to playing and competing in the tournament, so I had to show up, especially with the weather forecast, showing up, being prepared and ready to play and being back home as quick as I can.

Q. Are there some commonalities in this amazing run you’ve put together, things maybe you notice that other people don’t necessarily, whether it’s unique in putting or any part of your game or the mental approach that stand out to you? It’s been an exceptionally hot run.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I’ve been playing pretty good. I’ve had some weeks where my swing didn’t feel 100 percent and I was able to make up for it with the putter. Then I had some weeks where maybe I wasn’t holing a ton of putts and I was able to make up for it with my ball-striking. I feel like I’m in a good head space.

Does anything stand out to me? I’m not really sure. I think I’ve just been playing some really good golf. This game is funny. Sometimes you get good breaks and sometimes you get bad breaks. I think it’s just a really difficult sport, and sometimes it can seem really easy, and then sometimes it can seem pretty tough.

The last couple months it seems like it has felt fairly easy at times. I think, as a professional, I think that’s always what you’re striving for, and it’s been nice to see some of the benefits of the work that I’ve put in and see some results on the course, as well.

Q. You’re going to expect some changes obviously in how you’ve done things. Can you talk about what you envisage coming in the future, whether it’s changing practice time, reduced time at certain times. The call and the pull of home is going to be greater obviously from now on.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I think just the continued efficiency. Just continuing to get more efficient in the way I do things.

Actually, I was at home working out on Sunday and it was like the fastest workout I ever did at home, just because I was ready to go back in the living room and hang out with Mer and our son. I think a lot of that will come naturally, just being as focused as I can and trying to stay present. When I’m out here at the golf course doing my job, I’m able to focus on that. Then when I get home, I’m able to leave the golf course there and focus on being with my wife and son.

Q. You built a nice record in the PGA Championship already. You hadn’t seen Valhalla, but as you come here, what are you expecting of a PGA test?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I think with the weather forecast this week, it may not be — the scores may not be as close to par as some other major championships. We’ll see how the golf course plays. Like I said, I only played nine holes yesterday and today, so as the tournament goes on we’ll see how the course plays. But with soft greens and soft fairways, I’d imagine the scores would be fairly low here. I don’t know exactly what the winning score will be like, but I think it’ll be — scores would be a little bit lower, I think, than the last major.

But with any major championship, there’s a lot more pressure. The golf courses are always a bit tougher. This is a place where I feel like when you’re hitting it really well, the golf course can open up for you, and there’s definitely a lot of holes where you’ve got to put the ball in play, just with the thick rough. A lot of good elevation change around this golf course. After playing 18 holes, it seems like a really good fair test of golf. Par-3s seem pretty difficult. There’s a couple par-5s you can get after, and then there’s some par-4s that are the same way, but then there’s also a couple par-4s that are pretty challenging.

I think around this golf course you’ve got a good mix of holes, and as players we look for the best test of golf, not necessarily what the winning score is going to be. Just because it’s even par doesn’t mean it was a great test of golf. I think what we’re looking for is be rewarded for good shots and punished for bad ones, and from what I’ve seen around this golf course, it seems like an appropriate test.

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PGA Championship 2024: Tiger Woods on His Possible Ryder Cup Captaincy “We’re Still Talking”

Before the start of the 2024 PGA Championship Tiger Woods talks about his expectations and recent experiences at the Masters in April. The “GOAT” also states, that the Ryder Cup captaincy is still under discussion.

PGA Championship 2024: Tiger Woods “I wish my game was a little bit sharper”

THE MODERATOR:  You were part of the one of the most memorable finishes in this championship’s history back in 2000. When you look back at that PGA, what do you remember most?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I just remember the pressure that I felt, the chance, an opportunity to do something that Ben Hogan did in 1953. The summer was a whirlwind. I was playing well, then coming into this event, being able to play in Jack’s — play with Jack in his last PGA Championship, and also just the timeline. Jack played with Gene Sarazen in his last PGA, and I was playing with Jack in his last PGA, so just the connection with all that.

Obviously making a putt on 18 and getting into the playoff and making a nice putt on the 16th hole, running after it. A lot of great memories from that week. To be able to go head-to-head with Bob May, who was arguably probably one of the best junior golfers that Southern Cal ever produced. It was a fun week and a fun — unbelievable moment, really.

Q. Expanding on that a little bit. When you look at this great collection of victories and majors you’ve won, where does that Sunday with Bob May fit in?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I think that the duel between us both, I think if I remember this correctly, Bob shot three straight 66s, and our back nine, we both shot 31 on the back nine. With leading a championship and both of us playing as well as we did, with all of that pressure and we kept feeding off of one another. He would make a putt, I would make a putt, I would make a putt, he would make a putt. It was a fun back nine.

That was the first year they went to the three-hole playoff, and when we got in at the scoring table, I remember that we were informed it was a three-hole playoff and Bob was completely shocked by that because I don’t think that it really got out that much that potentially it could be the way it plays out, and going back to 16, as I said, I made a nice putt there, ran after it. He made an unbelievable chip from the right rough and almost holed it. Again, we never really missed shots on that back nine and then in the three-hole playoff. For us to shoot those low of scores, it was special.

Q. Since the last time that you were here in 2014 do you feel like the course has changed a great deal or is it pretty much the same place?

TIGER WOODS: It’s gotten bigger. Gotten a little bit longer. I think they extended six tees since we played in 2014. Opened up some of the areas so there’s more flow, less trees. Definitely different than when we played in 2000. But it’s still the same framework that we played in 2000. So, the same corridors, but it’s just gotten a little bit bigger, a little bit longer, just like all golf courses or all championships that we go to now. I’m looking forward to one day they say we shortened this hole up, because it seems like every time we come back and play it’s always getting longer.

Q. State of your game, state of your body and state of your ability to play what’s a pretty hilly golf course?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, my body’s okay. It is what it is. I wish my game was a little bit sharper. Again, I don’t have a lot of competitive reps, so I am having to rely on my practice sessions and getting stuff done either at home or here on-site.

But at the end of the day, I need to be ready mentally and physically come Thursday, and these days of practicing, eating on the golf course, that’s one of the reasons I came up here on Sunday was to knock off some of the work that I have to do in charting greens, get all that stuff done early, so I can focus on literally playing and plotting my way around.

Q. We just had Max in here earlier this morning and he was talking about the two rounds he played with you at Augusta and was raving about what you still do on the golf course and the shots you’re still able to hit. Curious, how much of a tease is it for you when you know you still have it in there even at this age and how do you kind of deal with that as you go?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, I can still hit shots. It’s getting around is more of the difficulty that I face day-to-day and the recovery of pushing myself either in practice or in competition days. You saw it at Augusta. I was there after two days and didn’t do very well on the weekend.

Q. As a dad who is a golf professional, what advice would you have for Scottie Scheffler?

TIGER WOODS: Get some sleep. (Smiling.) I mean, he’s got obviously he and Meredith, fantastic, having their first, and those are — as we all of us who have had children, those are some tough years and ahead of them.

As I said, try and get some rest as much as you possibly can. He’s the No. 1 player in the world, and having a great, stable family life at home is important to having a great life out here on TOUR.

Q. The crowds you still see for practice rounds or even just the people who come out to watch you now at 48, do you feel differently when you see that now as opposed to even maybe 10 years ago or five years ago?

TIGER WOODS: I think that I appreciate it more now, just the fact that I don’t come out here very often. I don’t play much, and I’m at home where it’s quiet and it’s so different to coming out to practice rounds when there’s thousands of people out there like it was at Augusta.

A bunch of people came out today. Unfortunately the weather didn’t really cooperate. I’m sure there will be a lot more tomorrow now that it’s cleared out. But appreciating the warmth and the support of the fans is something that I probably 10 years ago certainly didn’t appreciate that then as much as I do now.

Q. Rory said last week in Charlotte that you and him see the future of golf a little bit differently. What’s your position, what do you see as the future?

TIGER WOODS: Well I think that we see the — it’s good to see it differently, but collectively as a whole we want to see whatever’s best for all the players, the fans, and the state of golf. How we get there, that’s to be determined, but the fact that we’re in this together and in this fight together to make golf better is what it’s all about.

Q. Justin mentioned earlier when he was in here that one of his core memories here is watching you when he was a kid win in 2000 here. What’s your sense for what as close as you are to him what this means for him to have this championship in his hometown?

TIGER WOODS: Well I think that, I don’t know if JT was in diapers still or not, but I think that having a major come to your hometown where you grew up and it’s special for him, it’s special for Mike and Jenny and everyone who’s been involved in his life.

This is his hometown. The fact that he’s able to play a major championship where he grew up is special. Unfortunately I can’t say that I ever have, just because I missed the U.S. Open at LA Country Club. It would have been nice to play in my hometown. But to have JT come here and — he’s going to get some appreciation from the fans and the ovations are going to be loud for him, as they should be.

Q. You said at the Masters that you were going to talk to Seth after that week about maybe captaining next year’s Ryder Cup team. Did that meeting take place, and if so, is there any update?

TIGER WOODS: We’re still talking. There’s nothing that has been confirmed yet. We’re still working on what that might look like. Also whether or not I have the time to do it. I’m dedicating my so much time to what we’re doing with the PGA TOUR, I don’t want to not fulfill the role of the captaincy if I can’t do it. What that all entails and representing Team USA and the commitments to the PGA of America, the players, and the fans and as I said, all of Team USA. I need to feel that I can give the amount of time that it deserves.

Q. Earlier you mentioned the state of golf and fans. Wondering from your advantage point where you think that relationship stands now and why?

TIGER WOODS: I think the fans are probably as tired as we are of the talk of not being about the game of golf and about not being about the players. It’s about what LIV is doing, what we’re doing, players coming back, players leaving, the fans just want to see us play together. How do we get there is to be determined.

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PGA Championship 2024: The Major Returns to Valhalla

The PGA Championship 2024 is coming up and this year it will take place at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. The golf club, nestled in the beauty of Kentucky, is no stranger to hosting major golf events, and this will be the fourth time the PGA Championship has been held here. Past majors at Valhalla have seen golf legends such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy claim victory.

PGA Championship 2024: The rich history of the Major in Valhalla

As the dust of the track and the cheers of the fans started to settle at the 150th Kentucky Derby in Churchill Downs, the agitation at nearby Valhalla Golf Club reignited with the preparations for the 106th PGA Championship. And the “most exciting two minutes in sports” gave way to “once in a decade golf celebration in Kentucky.” According to Churchill Downs, Mystik Dan’s win marked the first three-horse photo finish since 1947 and the first race decided by a nose margin since 1996. Like an echo of the Kentucky Derby, the three PGA Championships contested at Valhalla in the last three decades concluded with a photo finish or a nose margin–a playoff or one stroke difference in golf lingo.

Pictures of the Kentucky Derby. (Photo: PGA of America)

“I had a heartache in 96 when Mark Brooks beat me in a playoff,” said local golf star Kenny Perry about his defeat at the first PGA Championship in Kentucky. Four years later, Tiger Woods prevailed in a playoff against Bob May to win his fifth and third consecutive major at Valhalla. “Tiger was incredible,” remembers two-time Masters winner José María Olázabal, who shot a 9-under-par 63 course record on the third day and finished tied fourth. “I have great memories of that amazing round and Valhalla, a solid golf course with tough rough,” said the Spaniard. “But I specially remember the Ryder Cup there in 2008, when the Americans played really well.”

Perry was part of that American winning team captained by Paul Azinger.  “My dad, at 86 years old, came off the green in his bib overalls and gave me a hug. This is where I love to go, and to me, this is the pinnacle of golf in Kentucky,” added Perry about the 2008 Ryder Cup and Valhalla Golf Club. “We were fortunate to have epic and historic finishes,” said Jimmy Kirchdorfer, General Chairman of the 2024 PGA Championship. “A lot of people from Kentucky would say the Ryder Cup, when the US was struggling to win for a while, was the best sporting event they have ever been to.”

Jimmy Kirchdorfer and Justin Thomas. (Photo: PGA of America)

After the memorable victory of Rory McIlroy by one-stroke in the 2014 PGA Championship in the darkness, Kirchdorfer, along with the new co-owners of Valhalla Golf Club and its membership have been instrumental in bringing the PGA Championship back to Kentucky one decade later. “The tremendous response from the Louisville and Kentucky community has been essential to make this event a record-breaking championship,” said 2024 PGA Championship Director, Ryan Ogle, as he supports his assessment with staggering numbers.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland poses with the Wanamaker Trophy during the Award Ceremony for the 96th PGA Championship, at Valhalla Golf Club, on August 10, 2014 in Louisville, KY. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America)

Over 200,000 spectators are expected during the week, breaking the record ticket sales set in 2018. Valhalla will accommodate 700,000 square feet of temporary flooring, over 285 tent structures, and 600 TVs will be spread across the property. On The Rocks, the Elijah Craig Bourbon Speakeasy by the 14th hole of Valhalla Golf Club will be one of the massive hospitality structures showcasing the official bourbon cocktail of the 2024 PGA Championship, the Elijah Craig Mulligan. “In terms of size, it will be more than double compared with 2014,” added Ogle, also highlighting the over 500 million households around the world with access to over 250 hours of live coverage.

The Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. (Photo: PGA of America)

“I am very excited about the PGA Championship in Kentucky. When the time comes, it will be a very special week,” said two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, who will be playing a major in Valhalla for the first time. “I have been to Valhalla a handful of times. It is obviously well known and the most famous course in Kentucky, a special place,” added Thomas, who grew up playing golf at Harmony Landing Country Club, in Goshen, Kentucky, where his father Mike is still a pro.

Thomas will be the only Kentuckian at the traditional Champions Dinner, hosted by the 2023 winner Brooks Koepka at the home of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs. “Whatever my mom is cooking at home would be my recommendation for food in Kentucky,” noted Thomas as a potential culinary advice to Koepka, who finished T-15 in Valhalla in 2014. That year, Michael Block, the PGA of America Golf Professional who became the people’s hero in 2023 when he finished T-15 at Oak Hill, made his debut in the PGA Championship in Valhalla after winning the PGA Professional Championship.

The beautiful Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. (Photo: PGA of America)

“Kentucky has been great. We have been staying downtown Louisville all week and everyone has been absolutely fantastic. It was a great experience,” said after missing the cut in 2014 Block, part of the Corebridge Financial Team of 21 PGA of America Professionals competing along the best in the world in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.

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PGA Championship 2024: The Valhalla Golf Club

The PGA Championship 2024 will take place at Valhalla Golf Club between May 16 and 19. The last time the major was held on this course, Rory McIlroy won on a dramatic final day in 2014. Ten years after McIlroy’s last major victory, a lot has changed on the golf course. A look at the venue for the second major of the year.

PGA Championship 2024: The Return to Valhalla

Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, is a private golf club designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1986. This year, as part of the PGA Championship 2024, the major will be held for the fourth time in the history of the golf club – most recently in 2014. Since then, the club has switched from bentgrass on the fairways and tees to a Zoysia variety This allows the grass to be cut shorter and the ball to roll better. Some tees have also been lengthened.

The first hole of the course is a par 4, stretches over almost 443 meters (484 yards) and has been extended by 35 meters (38 yards). Due to the bend to the left, players should be careful not to hit too close to the left side of the fairway. Since 2014, the second hole has also been a par 4 with a length of 457 meters (500 yards). It continues with a 190-meter (208-yard) par 3 that winds between the tee and the green and then curves around the right side of the green. The green is protected by a large bunker on the right and a smaller bunker on the left and behind the green. On the fourth hole, another par 4 with a length of 340 meters (372 yards) awaits, which is protected by a deep bunker on the left and a small bunker on the right. Two more par 4s await on the fifth and sixth holes, which stretch to 423 meters (463 yards) and 453 meters (495 yards). While hole five, which bends slightly to the right, is one of the most difficult holes on the course, the sixth hole offers a special highlight with Floyd’s Fork running through it. It continues with the par 5 of the seventh hole: at a length of 546 meters (597 yards), players have the option of playing to the left or right thanks to a split fairway. The shorter route is to the left, the safer one to the right. At 174 meters (190 yards), the eighth hole is the shortest hole on the course. It is guarded by a deep bunker in front of the green and a slippery catchment area behind it. The first nine holes end with a 379-meter (415-yard) par 4. The difficulty of this hole lies in the uphill approach to the clubhouse. One of the largest and deepest bunkers on the course is located directly to the right of the green.

With a length of 539 meters (590 yards), the second longest hole on the course opens the back nine as a par 4. Both the tenth hole and the 193-meter (211-yard) par 3 eleventh hole are largely unchanged. At 452 meters (494 yards), however, the twelfth hole has been lengthened by 25 meters (27 yards) compared to 2014. The green has one of the deepest bunkers on the course on the right and dense Kentucky bluegrass on the left. This is followed by the 321-meter (351-yard) par 4 13th hole, Valhalla’s signature hole and the shortest par 4 on the course. The tee shot has been set about 9 feet (2.7 meters) lower to allow for good visibility. The green is built almost 6 meters (20 ft) high on large boulders and surrounded by water. At a length of 232 meters (254 yards), the 14th hole is the longest par 3 on the course, which has been lengthened by around 34 meters (37 yards) since 2014. The three par 4s on holes 15 (398 meters/435 yards), 16 (465 meters/ 508 yards) and 17 (432 meters/ 472 yards) are largely unchanged. Finally, a par 5 with a length of 521 meters (570 yards) awaits on the 18th. The hole has been lengthened by 26 meters (28 yards) since 2014. A large bunker protects the left side of the fairway and the water on the right.

Video of Valhalla Golf Club at the PGA Championship 2024

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PGA Championship 2024: Favorites, TV Times and Valhalla – An Overview

The PGA Championship 2024 is just around the corner. Between May 16 and 19, the best golfers in the world will compete at the legendary Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. At the second major of the year, players will compete for the coveted Wanamaker Trophy and prize money of $17.5 million with the champion winning $3.15 million (As of 2023). A look at the tournament’s favorites and headliners, the famous course and streaming offers.

PGA Championship 2024: Defending Champion Koepka and other Favorites

At the PGA Championship 2024, Brooks Koepka will be the defending champion and one of the big favorites in Valhalla. The 34-year-old LIV golfer has already won the major three times and successfully defended his title in 2019. Koepka is already an outstanding major golfer and will certainly be one of the top players this year.

There is still a question mark over the participation of the second big favorite in the tournament. Scottie Scheffler is expecting his first baby in the next few days and has therefore withdrawn his participation for the time being. However, the first rumors are already emerging that the child has already been born and that participation in the PGA Championship 2024 is back on the cards. The 27-year-old finished second behind Koepka last year and is currently in outstanding form. This year, Scheffler has already won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, defended his title at THE PLAYERS Championship and triumphed at The Masters 2024, followed by victory at the RBC Heritage just one week later. Should the world number one take part in the tournament, he will certainly be a big favorite for the Wanamaker Trophy.

The third player to be mentioned is certainly Rory McIlroy. Although it has been ten years since the 35-year-old’s last major victory, the two-time PGA Championship winner is always a force to be reckoned with. Fittingly, McIlroy’s last victory at a major was at the 2014 PGA Championship, which was also held in Valhalla at the time. Possibly a good sign for the world number two. Other favorites are sure to be in-form players Wyndham Clark, Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg and Co.

Fans can also look forward to Justin Thomas, the winner of 2017 and 2022, and Phil Mickelson, who celebrated his second title in 2021 after 2005. Four-time champion Tiger Woods, who is playing his first tournament since The Masters 2024, is also sure to be a special highlight.

How to watch the PGA Championship 2024: US & UK

In the USA, the PGA Championship 2024 will mainly be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+. CBS will also broadcast the tournament on Saturday and Sunday. These channels will provide full coverage.

DayTV channel and time
Thursday, May 16ESPN+ 7:00AM-12:00PM
ESPN 12:00PM-8:00PM
Friday, May 17ESPN+ 7:00AM-1:00PM
ESPN 1:00PM-8:00PM
Saturday, May 18ESPN+ 8:00AM-10:00AM
ESPN 10:00AM-1:00PM
CBS 1:00PM-7:00PM
Sunday, May 19ESPN+ 8:00AM-10:00AM
ESPN 10:00AM-1:00PM
CBS 1:00PM-7:00PM
The TV times in the US.

In the UK, Sky is the rights holder for the broadcast of the tournament and offers a broadcast of the entire event.

DayTV channel and time
Thursday, May 16Sky Sports Main Event from 13:00
Sky Sports Golf from 13:00
Sky Sports Main Event from 22:30
Friday, May 17Sky Sports Golf from 13:00
Sky Sports Main Event from 17:00
Sky Sports Main Event from 22:30
Saturday, May 18Sky Sports Golf from 14:00
Sunday, May 19Sky Sports Golf from 14:00
Sky Sports Main Event from 19:30
The TV times in the UK.

There is also the official PGA Championship app, which offers further exclusive content for visitors on site and viewers at home.

PGA Championship 2024: Return to the Legendary Valhalla Golf Club

Ten years after Rory McIlroy’s legendary victory at the Major, the PGA Championship 2024 will once again take place in Valhalla. The golf club, nestled in the beauty of Kentucky, is no stranger to hosting major golf events, and this will be the fourth time the PGA Championship has been held here. Past majors at Valhalla have seen golf legends such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy claim victory.

The course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, stretches over a length of 7609 yards and is played as a par 71. At 597 yards, the seventh hole is the longest on the course. The shortest hole on the course is hole 3 at just 208 yards.

Categories
PGA Tour

PGA Championship 2024: The Best Field in Golf is Coming to Valhalla

The PGA Championship 2024 takes places from May 16th to May 19th at the Valhalla Golf Club. Valhalla, nestled in the beauty of Kentucky, is no stranger to hosting major golfing events, and this marks its fourth time hosting the PGA Championship. Past championships at Valhalla have seen golfing legends like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy claim victory, setting the stage for what promises to be another thrilling tournament.

Brooks Koepka Eyeing Another Title at the PGA Championship

Leading the pack is the three-time and defending PGA Champion, Brooks Koepka. Koepka’s dominance on the course is undeniable, and he will be a force to be reckoned with at Valhalla. Joining him is an impressive field of 16 PGA Champions and 33 Major Champions, each poised to leave their mark on this prestigious event. The diversity of the field is a testament to the global appeal of golf, with players hailing from countries all around the world. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, the 2024 PGA Championship promises to showcase the best talent the sport has to offer. With two spots reserved for winners of this week’s PGA Tour events, the field is sure to see some last-minute additions.

PGA Championship 2024 Field

Player Country
Åberg, Ludvig SWEDEN
An, Byeong Hun REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Beem, Rich Austin, TX
Bevell, Josh Nashville, TN (CFT)
Bezuidenhout, Christiaan SOUTH AFRICA
Bhatia, Akshay Wake Forest, NC
Björk, Alexander SWEDEN
Blair, Zac Orem, UT
Block, Michael Mission Viejo, CA (CFT)
Bowser, Evan Naples, FL (CFT)
Bradley, Keegan Woodstock, VT
Burmester, Dean SOUTH AFRICA
Burns, Sam Shreveport, LA
Cantlay, Patrick Jupiter, FL
Clark, Wyndham Denver, CO
Cole, Eric Tequesta, FL
Cole, Preston Charlotte, NC (CFT)
Collet, Tyler Vero Beach, FL (CFT)
Conners, Corey CANADA
Daly, John Cleawarter Beach, FL
Davis, Cameron AUSTRALIA
Day, Jason AUSTRALIA
DeChambeau, Bryson Dallas, TX
Detry, Thomas BELGIUM
Dobyns, Matt Glen Head, NY (CFT)
Donald, Luke ENGLAND
Dufner, Jason Auburn, AL
Dunlap, Nick Tuscaloosa, AL
Eckroat, Austin Edmond, OK
English, Harris Sea Island, GA
Finau, Tony Lehi, UT
Fitzpatrick, Matthew ENGLAND
Fleetwood, Tommy ENGLAND
Fowler, Rickie Murrieta, CA
Fox, Ryan NEW ZEALAND
Garnett, Brice Gallatin, MO
Glover, Lucas Jupiter, FL
Gooch, Talor Oklahoma City, OK
Griffin, Ben Chapel Hill, NC
Grillo, Emiliano ARGENTINA
Gross, Larkin Center Cross, VA (CFT)
Hadwin, Adam CANADA
Harman, Brian Saint Simons Island, GA
Harrington, Pádraig IRELAND
Hatton, Tyrrell ENGLAND
Henley, Russell Columbus, GA
Herbert, Lucas Orlando, FL
Hisatsune, Ryo Japan
Hodges, Lee Athens, AL
Hoffman, Charley San Diego, CA
Hoge, Tom Fort Worth, TX
Højgaard, Nicolai DENMARK
Højgaard, Rasmus DENMARK
Homa, Max Scottsdale, AZ
Horschel, Billy Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Hoshino, Rikuya JAPAN
Hossler, Beau Mission Viejo, CA
Hovland, Viktor NORWAY
Hubbard, Mark The Woodlands, TX
Hughes, Mackenzie CANADA
Im, Sungjae REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Jaeger, Stephan GERMANY
Johnson, Dustin Jupiter, FL
Jones, Jared Houston, TX (CFT)
Kanaya, Takumi JAPAN
Kaymer, Martin GERMANY
Kellen, Jeff Rockford, IL (CFT)
Kim, Si Woo REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Kim, Tom REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Kirk, Chris Watkinsville, GA
Kitayama, Kurt Las Vegas, NV
Knapp, Jake Costa Mesa, CA
Kobori, Kazuma NEW ZEALAND
Koepka, Brooks West Palm Beach, FL
Kohles, Ben Dallas, TX
Lawrence, Thriston SOUTH AFRICA
Lee, Kyoung-Hoon REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Lee, Min Woo AUSTRALIA
List, Luke Augusta, GA
Lowry, Shane IRELAND
MacIntyre, Robert SCOTLAND
Malnati, Peter Knoxville, TN
Marek, Brad Berkeley, CA (CFT)
Matsuyama, Hideki JAPAN
McCarthy, Denny Jupiter, FL
McIlroy, Rory NORTHERN IRELAND
McNealy, Maverick Stanford, CA
Mendoza, Kyle Oceanside, CA (CFT)
Meronk, Adrian POLAND
Micheel, Shaun Colliersville, TN
Mickelson, Phil Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Mitchell, Keith Saint Simons Island, GA
Molinari, Francesco ITALY
Moore, Taylor Southlake, TX
Morikawa, Collin La Canada, CA
Mueller, Jesse Phoenix, AZ (CFT)
Murray, Grayson Raleigh, NC
Nakajima, Keita JAPAN
Niemann, Joaquin CHILE
Noren, Alex SWEDEN
Norrman, Vincent SWEDEN
Oakley, Zac King of Prussia, PA (CFT)
Ogletree, Andy Alpharetta, GA
Olesen, Thorbjorn DENMARK
Otaegui, Adrian SPAIN
Pavon, Matthieu FRANCE
Pendrith, Taylor CANADA
Perez, Victor FRANCE
Phillips, Tracy Tulsa, OK (CFT)
Polland, Ben Teton Village, WY (CFT)
Poston, J.T. Sea Island, GA
Puig, David SPAIN
Putnam, Andrew University Place, WA
Rahm, Jon SPAIN
Rai, Aaron ENGLAND
Reed, Patrick The Woodlands, TX
Rodgers, Patrick Avon, IN
Rose, Justin ENGLAND
Schauffele, Xander San Diego, CA
Scheffler, Scottie Dallas, TX
Schenk, Adam Vincennes, IN
Scott, Adam AUSTRALIA
Shattuck, Braden Aston, PA (CFT)
Smith, Cameron AUSTRALIA
Smith, Jordan ENGLAND
Soderberg, Sebastian SWEDEN
Somers, John Clearwater, FL (CFT)
Speight, Josh Dallas, TX (CFT)
Spieth, Jordan Dallas, TX
Straka, Sepp AUSTRIA
Stricker, Steve Madison, WI
Svensson, Adam CANADA
Svensson, Jesper SWEDEN
Svoboda, Andy Oak Brook, IL (CFT)
Taylor, Nick CANADA
Theegala, Sahith Spring, TX
Thomas, Justin Louisville, KY
Todd, Brendon Watkinsville, GA
Tosti, Alejandro ARGENTINA
Valimaki, Sami FINLAND
van Rooyen, Erik SOUTH AFRICA
van Velzen, Ryan SOUTH AFRICA
Villegas, Camilo COLOMBIA
Walker, Jimmy Terrell Hills, TX
Wallace, Matt ENGLAND
Wells, Jeremy Estero, FL (CFT)
Widing, Tim SWEDEN
Woodland, Gary Topeka, KS
Woods, Tiger Jupiter, FL
Worthington II, Wyatt Las Vegas, NV (CFT)
Yang, Y.E. REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Young, Cameron Jupiter, FL
Zalatoris, Will Dallas, TX
Categories
European Tour Ladies European Tour Ladies Tours Live PGA Tour PGA Tour Champions Top Tours

Weekly preview: What’s the panorama like for the best English golfers on Tour

PGA Tour: The CJ Cup

Las Vegas never dissapoints and this weekend is no exception. The Summit Club will hold the CJ Cup and the best players around the world will join the event to play their best cards for the victory. Although the great majority of participants are from the U.S. the Englishmen come strong to win the trophy. Ian Poulter and Paul Casey are playing revenge on Las Vegas after missing the cut last weekend at the Shriners Children’s Open. Justin Rose is ready to come back to the field one month after his last tournament appearance, at the BMW PGA Championship. Tommy Fleetwood tees off at 6:37pm (CET), and his fellow teammate Tyrrell Hatton is starting at 8:42pm (CET). Hatton came close to a win during his last event at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and he is ready to shake off the bitter taste of second place.

PGA Tour The CJ Cup
Course The Summit Club, Las Vegas, Nevada (USA)
Prize Money $9,750,000 US-Dollar
Defending Champion Jason Kokrak
Headliner Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas
English players Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton

European Tour: Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters


Continuing with the Spanish weeks on the European Tour, eyes stay on world number one Jon Rahm seeking for the local player tricks. This weekend Valderrama Golf is venue to the Estrella Damn N.A. Andalucia Maters. The south always brings sunny days and good vibes on and off the course to create the perfect atmosphere to enjoy the game of the greatest European Tour golfers. A few English stars to get a chance at this year’s tournament include, Richard Bland, Daniel Gavins, and Matthew Fitzpatrick.

EU Tour Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters
Course Valderrama Golf Course, Andalucía, Spain
Prize Money 3 Mio EUR
Defending Champion John Catlin
Headliner Jon Rahm, Rafa Cabrera Bello
English players

David Horsey, Graeme Storm, Andy Sullivan, James Morrison, Chris Paisley, Laurie Canter, Paul Waring, Robert Rock, Richard Bland, David Howell, Ross McGowan, Matthew Southgate, Eddie Pepperell, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Richard Mcevoy, Chris Wood, Jack Senior, Ross Fisher, Callum Shinkwin, Jordan Smith, Steven Brown, Marcus Armitage, Oliver Wilson, Oliver Fisher, David Horsey, Graeme Storm, Chris Paisley, James Morrison, Paul Waring, David Howell, Robert Rock, Ashley Chesters, Aron Rai, Daniel Gavins, Andrew Johnston, Laid Shepherd

LET Tour: Aramco Team Series – New York

Moving into the ladies tours, this weekend the Ladies European Tour receives full attention since the LPGA cancelled the Shanghai tournament due to covid. The best female golfers around the world come together to play at the Glen Oaks Club, in New York, entering the top 5 to last events of the season.

LET Tour Aramco Team Series – New York
Course Glen Oaks Club, New York (USA)
Prize Money 200,000 EUR / 800,000 EUR (TEAM)
Defending Champion
Headliner Nelly Korda, Jessica Korda, Lexi Thompson
English players

Bronte Law, Trish Johnson, Charley Hull, Alice Hewson, Annabel Dimmock, Meghan MacLaren, Felicity Johnson

PGA Tour Champions: SAS Championship

The new century began celebrating the SAS Championship for the first time in 2001, and survived through a global pandemic in 2019, when it turned out to be one of the few events that took place regardless. The PGA Tour Champions is where the legends play and the show must go on. This year, they all come together at the Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Caroline. Furthermore, the European Team Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington is also entered. Paul Broadhurst is the only English player in the tournament.

PGA Tour Champions SAS Championship
Course Prestonwood Country Club – Highlands Course
Prize Money
2,100,000 US-Dollar
Defending Champion Ernie Els
Headliner
Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Bernhard Langer
English players Paul Broadhurst
Categories
PGA Tour

Phil Mickelson: “I love to compete, I love playing the game”

Q. Can you share your emotions about such an historic day and what inside of you made you keep the belief that this could happen again?

PHIL MICKELSON: It’s been an incredible day, and I’ve not let myself kind of think about the results until now, now that it’s over. I’ve tried to stay more in the present and at the shot at hand and not jump ahead and race. I’ve tried to shut my mind to a lot of stuff going around. I wasn’t watching TV. I wasn’t getting on my phone. I was just trying to quiet things down because I’ll get my thoughts racing and I really just tried to stay calm.

I believed for a long time that I could play at this level again. I didn’t see why I couldn’t, but I wasn’t executing the way I believed I could, and with the help of a lot of people, my wife especially, Andrew Getson and my brother Tim and Steve Loy, I’ve been able to make progress and have this week.

It’s very exciting because I’ve had a few breakthroughs on being able to stay more present, be able to stay more focused, and physically, I’m striking it and playing as well as I ever have but I haven’t been able to see that clear picture.

Although I believed it, until I actually did it, there was a lot of doubt, I’m sure.

Q. Over the last several years, as the age crept up, you never really let that get in the way. You always downplayed it, actually tried to dismiss it, probably. How did you do that? I mean, certainly, you know the history that it doesn’t work out as much at this point. What did you do?

PHIL MICKELSON: Worked harder, is the deal. I just had to work harder physically to be able to practice as long as I wanted to and I’ve had to work a lot harder to be able to maintain focus throughout a round. That’s been the biggest challenge of late.

My desire to play is the same. I’ve never been driven by exterior things. I’ve always been intrinsically motivated because I love to compete, I love playing the game. I love having opportunities to play against the best at the highest level. That’s what drives me, and I think that that’s what is — the belief that I could still do it inspired me to work harder.

I just didn’t see why it couldn’t be done. It just took a little bit more effort.

Q. You’re going to have so many stories when your career is over to your grandkids. How would you describe this day to them, do you think?

PHIL MICKELSON: Certainly one of the moments I’ll cherish my entire life. I don’t know how to describe the feeling of excitement and fulfillment and accomplishment to do something when — you know, of this magnitude when very few people thought that I could. But the people that believed in me, my wife, Amy, Tim and Andrew Getson, those are the people that continued to inspire me to get the best out of me.

Q. You’ll be remembered for a lot of achievements and one of them now is an old guy who broke records. What does that mean to you?

PHIL MICKELSON: So it’s very possible that this is the last tournament I ever win. Like if I’m being realistic. But it’s also very possible that I may have had a little bit of a breakthrough in some of my focus and maybe I go on a little bit of a run, I don’t know.

But the point is that there’s no reason why I or anybody else can’t do it at a later age. It just takes a little bit more work.

Q. You’ve mentioned him a few times, but can you talk some more about your relationship with Andrew Getson and what he’s done to get you here?

PHIL MICKELSON: So he is a tremendous instructor because of his ability to simplify it. He has helped get my swing on plane from parallel to the ground. Obviously I have a long swing but rather than try to change that when it’s halfway down, halfway through, you know, it’s on a track and he helped me get there and develop and refine my feel and touch and simplify it. He doesn’t cloud my head with a lot of things.

When he’s out here with me, he’s able to keep me on track right away if I make a few errors. His guidance has been invaluable, really, to get me back to playing at the highest level because I was striking it very poorly when we started working together years ago, and I had a great performance at the 2016 Open Championship where I lost to Henrik Stenson.

But he’s really helped me get my ball-striking back and as I’m starting to focus a little bit better. You’re starting to see the results, but he has been getting my swing there for some time now.

Q. You’ve given credit to your brother for his role. Can you share a story of something he did today or even along the way?

PHIL MICKELSON: I’ll tell you a perfect example, and this is an intangible that makes him relatable or understand me, get the best out of me and makes him a great caddie is I’m walking off 6, I had made some uncommitted swings the first six holes. I had been striking the ball awesome the first three days. I had a wonderful warm up session, like I was ready to go and I made some uncommitted swings the first six holes. He pulled me aside and said, “If you’re going to win this thing, you’re going to have to make committed golf swings.”

It hit me in the head, I can’t make passive — I can’t control the outcome, I have to swing committed. The first one I made was the drive on 7. Good drive on 7 gave me a chance to get down by the green and make birdie. From there on, I hit a lot of really good shots because I was committed to each one.

Q. I just have two questions. One quickly, I know you can’t think of it at 5 holing out of the bunker, but when you look back on that, that just seemed like a moment where it’s meant to be for you to some degree. You probably are not thinking that at that moment, but thinking now, is that one of those things that happens in a round that maybe is a sign?

PHIL MICKELSON: Certainly it was a momentum builder. It was a little bit early in the round to start jumping ahead because, you know, so much can happen. It was only the fifth hole but that was a big momentum thing.

Biggest thing was getting it up-and-down. I just didn’t want to throw away another shot and I had fought hard to keep the round in check and I was still 1-over through four. So that — I just needed to get that up-and-down and to have it go in was a bonus but I knew I had a lot of work ahead.

Q. Does this forge your belief even more, all the focus and what you’ve done these four rounds that you’ve talked so much about, trying to keep the focus? How does that help you for The Open?

PHIL MICKELSON: I’ve believed for some time now without success that I could play at my best and compete in major championships still, but until this week, I haven’t proven it to myself or anyone else.

But I do believe that I believe that if I stay sharp mentally I can play well at Torrey Pines. I’ll take two weeks off before that and go out to Torrey and spend time, spend time on the greens and really try to be sharp for that week because I know that I’m playing well and this could very well be my last really good opportunity, although I get five more, but really good opportunity to win a U.S. Open. SO I’m going to put everything I have into it.

Q. Can you describe the scene on 18 and did you think you would ever see Brooks after he got swallowed up by the crowd?

PHIL MICKELSON: It’s an incredible experience. I’ve never had something like that. It was a little bit unnerving but it was exceptionally awesome, too. So that was kind of a special moment that I’ll be appreciative of the way that people here have supported me and the entire tournament.

Q. The last couple days in here, you seemed drained. Were you, and how different physically and mentally did this week feel than when you won majors when you were younger?

PHIL MICKELSON: Certainly it takes a lot out of me. It takes a lot out of me. Like last night I didn’t have enough sunlight to work on the things I wanted to. I wanted to work on some putting and work on a few shots that I hit before this round and I didn’t want to let it go all the way till this morning. And because we finished so late, I just didn’t have a lot of time.

Certainly takes more energy out of me. But if I work a little harder, spend a little more time in the gym, eat well, practice hard, there’s no reason why I can’t put it all out there for 18 holes.

Q. Can you talk about what happened with the driving iron before the round and how that might have impacted you?

PHIL MICKELSON: Little things happen, but yesterday, I hit a couple of squirrelly shots on 12 and 13 and the face on my 2-wood flattened. Fortunately I had a backup head and swapped it out and hit it great today.

As I was teeing off today my 2-iron face cracked. I mean, just you can’t swing it as hard as I hit it and not expect them to crack — I’m kidding.

Tim noticed when I put it back that it had cracked across the face. It happens. In fact, if it doesn’t happen, you start to question the manufacturer, hey, aren’t we making this as hot as we can. It’s certainly part of it, but fortunately I had a 4-wood that’s a very comparable club to that 1-iron distance-wise and I was able to use that club effectively. I used it off 3 tee, 4 tee. There was a few times that I hit it and I hit that club very well.

It’s just one of those things that happens and you just have to be prepared for it, which is why I bring backup clubs out here.

Q. What do you call it?

PHIL MICKELSON: I call it both. I have a 4-iron and then I have that iron so it’s a one, two, three, whatever you want to call it.

Q. Can you talk about the back and forth that happened over the first five holes? As we were watching it, it seemed like a heavyweight fight. What was the experience for you?

PHIL MICKELSON: I was not as steady as I had been. I just made a couple uncommitted swings and it led to some inconsistencies in scores because those first four or five holes — those first four holes are not that hard. 1 is downwind, if you hit a decent shot it’s a sand wedge in. 2 I think I hit a 2-wood off the tee and a 4-iron in. You should birdie those holes. 3 was drivable and I played them, you know, over par, so I was just not making committed swings.

And I think Brooks had a couple poor swings, too, and we just weren’t steady. But we seemed to steady it out a little later.

Q. Earlier this week you mentioned some of the brain training and longer meditation sessions. What other breakthroughs did you find?

PHIL MICKELSON: Just the ability to kind of quiet my mind and get rid of all the exterior noise. That’s kind of been the biggest — I don’t want to get all spiritual but that’s kind of been the biggest thing for me.

Q. What was the best shot you thought you hit today and how does this win inspire younger golfers that may have grown up watching you and now believing that they can have a long career?

PHIL MICKELSON: I hit a couple of good shots on the back. I thought the 7-iron into 10 was really good because I had to start that ball out over the bunker at the bunker’s edge and made that birdie putt there. So that was a big swing.

And I made some good tee shots on 15 and 16. Those were really good swings, too.

But there’s no reason why the game of golf can’t be the game for a lifetime. And if you take care of your body and do it the right way, and now with the exercise physiology and technology that’s out there like with TPI and everything, that you can work out the right way to get your body to function right and play golf for a lifetime, so I’m appreciative of that.

Q. That scene on 18, did you allow yourself to enjoy that? I mean, I know you’ve still got the hole to finish, but you hit a great shot from back there, but could you for a moment or two take that in?

PHIL MICKELSON: Yes, like I’ve never had that experience, and to see that kind of — to feel that kind of excitement and enthusiasm was — and be at the forefront of that was pretty special. That’s a moment I’ll always, always cherish.

Q. When we were all younger, you watched Greg Norman and Tom Watson have opportunities in their 50s to win Open Championships back then. When you saw those back then, did anything in the back of your mind think that, yeah, you know what, it will be normal competing for major championships when I’m there?

PHIL MICKELSON: I didn’t see why — I mean, I thought the 2009 Open Championship performance by Tom Watson was the greatest — one of the greatest sporting performances, and he hit a perfect second shot, too. He couldn’t land it any better and it still went over. It was one of the greatest performances in the sport. And it’s inspiring, yeah, to see people like that do it.

And I hope that this inspires some to just put in that little extra work, because first of all, there’s no reason why you can’t accomplish your goals at an older age. It just takes a little more work.

Q. On 17 when you backed off the tee, was it the wind or did a particular thought cross your mind?

PHIL MICKELSON: As I was standing over, it I didn’t feel right-to-left. I felt almost the wind go straight down left-to-right, and I’m playing close to the pin and letting it work away. And if I had a left-to-right pin that wasn’t going to be the right shot or line.

So it didn’t feel right as I was over it and I started to have doubt and it just didn’t feel right, so I backed away. But that’s was what I was sensing. It just wasn’t — my senses weren’t feeling what I was anticipating or expected.

Q. You talk about the amount of work it takes at this age to keep going. What’s the biggest thing you’ve had to give up, sacrifice or miss out on in recent years when other guys are able to enjoy certain things in life?

PHIL MICKELSON: Food. (Laughter.) Yeah, I’ve got to eat a lot less and I’ve got to eat better. I just can’t eat as much and I have to let my body kind of recover. But it’s also been a blessing for me because I feel better and I don’t have inflammation and I wake up feeling good.

It’s been a sacrifice worth making.

(PGA Championship Pressconference, Source: ASAP Sports)

Categories
Top Tours

PGA Championship 2020: Co-Leader Jason Day interview after 1st round

Co-leader Jason Day talked to the media after his first round at the PGA Championship 2020 at TPC Harding Park.

PGA Championship 2020: Interview with Jason Day

JOHN DEVER: Welcome back to the 2020 PGA Championship. Pleased to be joined by 2015 PGA Champion Jason Day. It’s been five years, but today you opened with a terrific 65, 5-under, no bogeys. Tell us about the no bogeys and how you saw your round go today.

JASON DAY: Yeah, it was good. I got off to a great start. Got a little bit lucky between the bunkers on 10, but got to take the luck when it comes by.

Today I drove it really nicely, and when I was out of position, I left myself on the right side of the fairways to be able to at least get somewhere around the greens, and if I did miss the greens I left it in the right spot.

Yeah, pretty sound the whole way around. I hit a lot of good-quality iron shots coming into the greens. Wasn’t overly aggressive. And there was a couple of shots on 9 and 17 where I hit it pretty tight, but overall it was very solid.

Q. Do you feel some momentum coming in, and then can you take us through the birdie at 9, what you hit in?

JASON DAY: Yeah, so there was definitely a lot of momentum coming in off the previous finishes that I’ve had, three top 10s, which has been nice. The game feels like it’s coming around. I’m pleased with it.

I’m not like excited — I shouldn’t say I’m not excited. I am excited to come out and play every day, but I know that I can improve, and mainly my putting can improve a little bit more.

I feel like I’ve been working very hard in the off-weeks and especially when I come to a tournament to be able to get my putting back to where it is because it’s always been a strength of mine, and I feel like the game is slowly coming around, the confidence is coming around because I’m starting to see the results, which has been good.

But getting back on 9, I hit a nice drive down the left-hand side, had 211 yards, and there’s a black triangle tower at the back of the green, I was trying to go at that, and I kind of just blocked it a little bit, but it was a 5-iron from 211, landed it pretty much on about 203 yards and then bounced up to the pin, and it was a very dead straight putt, so it was very hard to miss that one.

Q. I’m just curious your thoughts on the challenges of the rough. I know it’s patchy in certain areas. Could you talk about the challenges of playing from the rough here.

JASON DAY: Yeah, I mean, fortunately I wasn’t in too much of it today, and then when I did hit into it, I got lucky. Like you said, it’s very patchy. Actually when I was doing the interviews, I was watching Xander hit up 9. You obviously can tell how hard it is, and he was just off the fairway.

Looking back on it, on today, I think — I would think that the shorter guys would have a little bit more trouble out there just because if they just miss the fairways then they’re laying up, whereas if you can just kind of get up there and bomb it as far as you can, you can gouge something up towards the green. But it is very thick and patchy in some parts of the golf course.

Q. We spent a lot of time talking early in the week about Tiger and his back and the cold weather and everything. You’re kind of in a similar situation. The first three days when it’s cold, and everything that’s going on, are you a little bit more cautious?

JASON DAY: Yeah.

Q. And then when you see the sun come out today do you kind of smile a little bit?

JASON DAY: No, it’s still pretty cool. I mean, obviously it was nice to be able to have the sun for a change. I mean, it’s been kind of overcast and gray here.

But it has been cool — you’ve got to be careful. It is a lot colder; 50 degrees pretty much to be precise from last week. So it was nice to play in the hot weather last week and then this week you’re always cautious of doing certain things, bending over.

But I pretty much lather up in Deep Heat and I go — I mean, I try and burn the skin off my back, to be honest. And I feel pretty good, so I’ve been fine.

Q. Sorry, lather up with what?

JASON DAY: Deep Heat.

Q. Any examples of how strange it felt in a major to not have fans? An introduction? When you made birdies? Was there any moment where you thought, where’s the noise?

JASON DAY: Yeah, I mean, it’s — I think we’re on 11 — sorry, hold on. We’re on 12 —

Q. 12 is by the road.

JASON DAY: Yeah, 12 tee, and they’ve cut the blue tarp or the actual screen that we have up, and they’re watching through the actual fence. It is unfortunate that we can’t have fans.

I actually miss playing in front of fans because you obviously work off that, especially in a major championship. You work off that energy. Usually it’s buzzing, and it happens from Monday all the way through to Sunday. It’s just a lot of people here. There’s a big buzz going around the golf course.

And today, we’re used to it by now, but it’s still not the same. I know that we are playing the PGA Championship. It’s a major championship. It’s the first one of the year. It’s still just not the same.

Q. Is it more awkward in a major and not just a regular event?

JASON DAY: You can definitely feel the difference in intensity. I know the intensity, it was a little bit more quieter on the range than it has been in previous starts that we’ve had on the Tour, and guys know that, but it just doesn’t feel right.

Q. You talked about your confidence and gaining that, but how happy are you to actually have your mental strength back, because clearly that’s out there now.

JASON DAY: Yeah —

Q. 9 is an example. You missed the putt on 8 —

JASON DAY: Missed the putt on 7, missed the putt on 8 —

Q. And then you came out and did that on 9.

JASON DAY: Once again, I finally had enough of feeling sorry for myself, and it’s easy to do that in this game because it is so mentally tough. You can start blaming everything else but yourself. Sometimes you’ve just got to pull your pants up and just move on, you know.

I feel like the momentum that I’ve had over the last three starts has kind of seeped into this week. I’m excited about — the funny thing is that every day I’m excited to go back to the golf course and play, whereas before I was struggling to get up and going, oh, do I want to kind of put myself through this again. To be honest, I’m excited to get out and play every week now.