The omens bode well for continued Major success at Whistling Straits this week with 59 European Tour Members intent on prolonging a sequence which has seen Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen capture the US Open and The Open respectively.
With YE Yang defending the title in Wisconsin, three of the four Major trophies are currently in the hands of European Tour Members, the exception being the 2010 Masters winner Phil Mickelson.
Furthermore, Honorary Member Vijay Singh landed his third Major title in the 2004 US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits while fellow European Tour Members Darren Clarke and Miguel Angel Jiménez share the course record of 65 over the unique Pete Dye creation hugging the shores of Lake Michigan.
European Tour Members have won the last two US PGA Championships, Padraig Harington’s success in 2008 preceding Yang’s historic win last year when he became the first male Asian golfer to win a Major title.
Yang’s status has now reached heroic proportions back home after his win 12 months ago and he is hoping to emulate Tiger Woods, the player he defeated down the stretch at Hazeltine, to become only the second golfer to successfully defend the US PGA since the format changed to stroke play in 1958.
Now the intrepid new generation have a golden opportunity to get their hands on the Wanamaker Trophy over the famed links-style course that boasts a staggering 1,200 bunkers.
Tradition dictates that the season’s three Major winners be grouped together for the first two days, an opportunity that McDowell is relishing.
“It’s going to be an exciting week,” he said. “Akron was a big turning point for me. I felt a lot better post ‘Pebble’ and much more under control, more focused and ready to go. I don’t remember a lot from 2004, only that is was a magnificent golf course.
“Playing with Phil and Louis is a great draw for Thursday and Friday and there will be a great atmosphere. Things like that help hit home what you have achieved and I am excited about it.”
Oosthuizen is also looking forward to his first Major wearing the mantle of Open Champion, a closing five under par 65 and top ten finish in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club setting up the South African nicely for another Major challenge..
“I was a bit rusty at the start last week but felt I played better and better in every round so I am happy with 65 going into this week,” he said. “I’ve not heard much about the course other than it is tough and windy.
“The windy part I like and I am looking forward to seeing Whistling Straits for the first time. Having won one Major, I want a second and if you win a second you want a third. Certainly winning at St Andrews has given me confidence and I feel ready for the next challenge.”
Five of the last six Majors have been won by first-time champions and Harrington, who became the first European to win the US PGA since Tommy Armour in 1930 when he triumphed at Oakland Hills in 2008, believes the title is wide open with the successes of McDowell and Oosthuizen instilling a new confidence in so many players.
"There are a number of Europeans familiar with Graeme's game who believe they, too, can win a Major," said Harrington. "And there will be a number of young South Africans who feel the same way about matching Louis Oosthuizen's achievement at St Andrews. Seeing your friends get a breakthrough encourages guys to open up a bit more; become more relaxed, and win. Players are no longer scared of winning and there's more of them capable of doing it."
Lee Westwood, the game’s form player with four top three finishes in the last five Majors, was forced to withdraw from the US PGA Championship with a calf injury along with Australia’s Robert Allenby and Japan’s Toru Tanaguchi. With the exception of these three players all remaining players from the World’s top 100 are in the field.
A total of ten European Tour members will sample the unique experience of a US PGA Championship for the first time at Whistling Straits, namely Fredrik Andersson Hed, Grégory Bourdy, Rhys Davies, David Horsey, Martin Laird, Shane Lowry, Ross McGowan, Edoardo Molinari, Noh Seung-yul and Danny Willett.
From an American standpoint, the event marks the final qualifying event for The US Ryder Cup Team. Eight players will secure their berths in Corey Pavin’s team on Sunday night, with the US Captain selecting his four wild cards on September 7. There is therefore plenty at stake for many players hoping to be at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales in October where the United States will be looking for their first away win in The Ryder Cup since 1993.
The Europeans in the field are also jostling for places in Colin Montgomerie’s Team. With so many points at stake, all those players outside the nine automatic qualification places know one good week could secure their place in Wales.
There are currently four players in the World’s top 25 not in the nine automatic places and they, along with all the Europeans in the field, will be looking to either play their way into the team or do enough to impress the Captain.
