Monster Mash Balderdash

Scorecard

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
August 7-10, 2008
Tournament #36 of 48
Oakland Hills CC (South) [Bloomfield Township, Michigan]
Par 35-35=70 - 7,395 yards
Years hosted: 1972, 1979
Purse: $7,000,000 (Winner-$1,260,000)
Field size: 156
Cut: Top 70 & ties after 36 holes (no 54-hole cut if more than 78 golfers survive the 36-hole cut)
Defending champion: Tiger Woods (8-under, 71-63-69-69=272)
Runner-up: Woody Austin (6-under, 274)

Starter

This marks the first PGA Championship without Tiger Woods since 1996. Although he'd rather forget it, Kenny Perry will be reminded and undoubtedly asked about his feelings about sitting in the TV booth instead of warming up for the playoff, which, of course, he lost to Mark Brooks. It's the closest Perry has ever come to winning a major. Twelve years hence and even though Oakland Hills doesn't quite set up well for his draw, you can bet that he will have short odds this week considering how he's played all summer. And, coincidentally, the Ryder Cup will be held at Valhalla next month, site of the '96 PGA. That Perry chose to skip U.S. Open qualifying and the British Open altogether to play at Valhalla again is poetic if not controversial. Which is was anyway.

This week's trivia: What two golfers finished one stroke out of the Brooks-Perry playoff in 1996? HINTS: One of the two has four Top 3s at the PGA, including one victory. The other guy, who's now 41 years of age, finished 16th on the money list that year and 27th in 1997 but lost his PGA Tour card after finishing 201st on the 2004 money list.

First Tee

Benign diaphragm tumor. Splintered leg with a side of ACL. Bum wrist. Those are your 2008 major champions. As easy as it might be to stick with that pattern at the PGA Championship and go with Steve Lowery's elbow, Bart Bryant's elbow or Jay Haas' age, "The Monster" is relentless. Oakland Hills will penalize, demoralize and trivialize. It's long and strong. Thick and slick.

Steve Jones won the 1996 U.S. Open with an aggregate score of 2-under 278. That was when Oakland Hills played 420 yards SHORTER. Since the 2004 Ryder Cup, which was played under its own modifications, Rees Jones has injected his DNA into the layout. In addition to even more length, the changes left less short grass to find off the tee, thanks to narrower fairways, and more challenging sand bunkers. As straightforward as the track might appear, it requires more creativity than meets the eye, which might have something to do with that European romp in the '04 Ryder Cup.

No question, tee-to-green efficiency will be at a premium this week. Short games will be tested to an extreme. And putting on those undulations, well, it should be enjoyable . to watch. The better a guy can play each hole backwards, the better his score will be. Oakland Hills cannot be attacked, it must be embraced. In Man v. Course, there are no human victories, only ties. That said, the course is in pristine condition as you would expect and will play fair.

The last four PGA winners are Tiger Woods twice, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh. Before that, you had Shaun Micheel, Rich Beem and David Toms. Then it's back to Woods twice again and Singh again. Could this week's winner secure a Ryder cup berth at the location where it was last held in the U.S.? The eight automatic qualifiers for the American team will be locked in after this event. Or might Kenny Perry exact revenge against his old self and finish the job this time? His game has never been finer.

I'm taking a more concise approach this week in the player hits. Since all you really need is an objective opinion, that's the focus. Golfers are segregated based on projected finish. I have ignored the 20 PGA Professionals in the field.

The Elements

Splendid weather is on tap this week. There is a slight risk of boomers through Saturday, enough so that rain is bound to moisten the grounds at some point. But it won't be long-lived or create havoc with the tee times. Winds could play a bit of a role before the cut, particularly on Friday, so the early-late draw might be the bargain. The temperature will not be a topic like it was at Southern Hills last year. Expect it to top out in the low 80s on Thursday before it recedes into the 70s for the remainder of the weekend.

Past Champions in the Field

YEAR: Winner (starts) - 2007 finish . Other Top 10s (YEAR)

2005: Phil Mickelson (15) - T-32 . T-6 (2004); T-8 (1998)
2004/1998: Vijay Singh (16) - MC . 4th (1993); T-5 (1996); 8th (2002); T-10 (2005)
2002: Rich Beem (7) - MC
2001: David Toms (11) - T-42 . T-10 (2005)
1997: Davis Love III (21) - MC . T-4 (2005); T-7 (1998); T-9 (2000)
1996: Mark Brooks (20) - MC
1995: Steve Elkington (15) - MC . T-2 (2005); 3rd (1998); T-3 (1996); T-7 (1994)
1993: Paul Azinger (21) - DNP . 2nd (1988)
1991: John Daly (16) - T-32
1986: Bob Tway (22) - T-50

In Defense

Tiger Woods remains out of action.

Back-2-Back

Parker McLachlin. How many times have we hoped for guys like Davis Love III and Fred Couples to win a specific event to qualify for a major? Well, McLachlin never had the intention to qualify for the PGA by winning in Reno. Perhaps he should reassess his priorities. Perhaps Jack Nicklaus should have a heart-to-heart with the Hawaiian.
Projected Finish: MC

Champion

Chad Campbell. You probably won't find another fantasy knucklehead like me that has Campbell in his crosshairs. So be it. CC has the complete game - 22nd in total driving, 15th in GIR, 4th in proximity to the hole, 17th in putting - and has had a quietly solid season, with five Top 10s, including two in his last three starts. He finished T-14 at Firestone and sits 19th on the Ryder Cup points list. He has a decent shot at making the team as a wild card but he can seal the deal this week.

Top 5

Padraig Harrington. A major champion in every sense.

Robert Karlsson. Finished in the Top 8 in all three majors. One Top 10 from securing a PGA Tour card if he wants it.

Phil Mickelson. Only gets grief about thinking too much when he's not winning but has 12 Top 20s this year (six Top 10s).

Henrik Stenson. Big-time performer. Harrington is the only Euro in more control of his game.

Top 10

Robert Allenby. Seven Top 10s in 2008. Has cashed in 19 straight events. Is this really the same guy that missed the cut in all four majors a year ago?

Steve Flesch. OK. I'm indulging myself with one stretch pick. Finished T-10 at last year's PGA (best of six paydays in eight starts) and T-5 at this year's Masters (hard to forget that Sunday 78).

Jim Furyk. No surprise here. Six Top 10s this year. Has four Top 10s in 13 PGAs but none since 2002.

Vijay Singh. Relatively speaking, it was a while between victories when he returned to the top last week, but Singh had cashed eight six-figure paychecks this year before surviving Firestone.

Steve Stricker. Has cashed in last four starts, including two majors and the no-cut WGC-Bridgestone, ending the two-month dry spell that started at the Masters. Lives and dies off the tee.

Top 25

Stephen Ames. Hasn't played four straight events since this time last year, culminating at the PGA, where he placed T-12.

Stuart Appleby. I'm careful to get too excited about last week's T-2. He hadn't had a Top 10 since capping off that stretch of five straight at the PODS. Unlike his U.S. Open struggles, Appleby has had steady results in the PGA, cashing in each of the last eight, seven for Top 25s.

K.J. Choi. Has returned to form the last couple of events. Always plays well in the PGA but the greens could give him fits.

Stewart Cink. Since the Travelers' win, he missed the cut at Birkdale and played his way out of the Bridgestone on the weekend, fading to a T-43. He's cashed in eight of the last nine PGAs, played in the 1996 U.S. Open and 2004 Ryder Cup team. Even though Oakland Hills has been modified twice, that experience can't hurt.

Fred Couples. Hasn't placed inside the Top 25 at the PGA in 10 years but Freddie is back to being Freddie. Three of his five Top 25s this year came at TPC Sawgrass, Torrey Pines (Buick Invite) and Quail Hollow.

Ken Duke. Here's your dark horse of the week, kiddies. Duke has been lighting up the leader board lately, with four Top 20s in his last five starts. He also finished T-18 in his first career PGA last year.

Steve Elkington. If he's on and able, this is as much of a lock as any this week. Elk has seven Top 25s this year and remains one of the premier ball-strikers in the sport.

Sergio Garcia. Did you know that he still ranks 167th in putting and 191st in putts per round? Mercy.

Retief Goosen. If I get a gut feeling about anyone this week, it's this guy. But I know better than to rely on my belly. In 10 PGAs, he has one Top 10 (2005). Both of his 2008 Top 10s came in the no-cut, stroke-play WGC events.

Trevor Immelman. Has cashed in all five PGA starts, including a T-6 at Southern Hills.

Miguel Angel Jimenez. Talk about a flip of the coin. Included in his 12 starts dating back to the Masters, the Mechanic has six Top 10s with a victory (BMW PGA), three MC (British Open was one of them) and one WD (knee). Hasn't had a Top 30 at the USPGA since 1999 (T-10).

Anthony Kim. Tough call here as it really depends on if he's over his soreness from taking batting practice at Fenway Park. (Two weeks ago, I didn't think I'd be writing THAT today.) Daily leagues should keep both eyes on him on Thursday.

Justin Leonard. Do not get caught up in his recent history at the PGA. He has five Top 10s and 10 Top 25s in 2008 and is headed back to the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999. (That isn't a typo.) Switch him with Steve Flesch in my Top 10 if you want.

Hunter Mahan. The more I think about it, the more no one should want Mahan on the Ryder Cup team; well, unless you're a Euro fan. But he's gifted, just not with words.

Sean O'Hair. With his car accident and bad play in the, cough, rearview mirror, he could have a special week. Has cashed in all three PGAs.

D.J. Trahan. Quite possibly the most improved golfer on tour this year, even if he didn't win the Hope. He's this close to making the Ryder Cup team. Finished T-4 at the U.S. Open and T-8 last week.

Scott Verplank. Regardless of where Verplank sits in Ryder Cup qualification, he's always going to be on the captain's short list of wild card picks. But I fully expect Verplank to knock Azinger dead in his tracks with a superb showing this week. Finished T-9 at Southern Hills last year near home.

Camilo Villegas. Got an email from a regular contact today that suggested that Villegas is a disappointment this year. I respectfully disagreed (in between the obscene criticism). The Colombian has missed just two of 17 cuts and has three Top 10s, including a T-9 at the U.S. Open. His ball-striking is a work in progress but he's still just 26 years of age and developing. He finished T-23 at Southern Hills at year ago.

Mike Weir. Has had a great summer. The swing is holding up. Let the short game shine.

Lee Westwood. Was right there at the end of both the U.S. Open and Bridgestone. Gets criticized for his short game but will most certainly contend.

26+

Tommy Armour III. Has made two of five PGA cuts dating back to 1989 but is having a career year.

Woody Austin. On again-off again game is more like the real Woody no one knew before the President's Cup.

Aaron Baddeley. Just hasn't performed as well this year. Remember when he and Adam Scott were always compared to each other; well, neither has fulfilled the hype in the majors.

Briny Baird. First PGA since 2004 but has cashed in all four starts. Putting a terrific year together.

Bart Bryant. Have cortisone shot, will compete. The right elbow is probably going under the knife in a few weeks though.

Paul Casey. Has never finished better than T-40 (2007) in this major.

Daniel Chopra. Who can forget all that Ryder Cup talk when he claimed the Mercedes-Benz? He's on the outside looking in after just two more Top 25s on the PGA Tour this year. However, both have come in his last two starts if you don't count the missed cut at Loch Lomond.

Tim Clark. Here's your box of chocolates. Sans the quirky British, has played well of late. Three of his six PGAs have resulted in Top 25s.

Darren Clarke. Here's the guy that probably takes Luke Donald's spot on the Ryder Cup team; that is, unless he's able to nudge his way into the Top 5 on the Order of Merit list. Going back 14 starts this year, Clarke has nine Top 25s (one win and three other Top 10s), four MC and one DQ. Of course, that's on the Euro Tour but I bet it's better than you expected. Went 3-1-1 at the 2004 Ryder Cup.

Ben Crane. Best finish in last five starts is a T-25 at the nearby Buick Open. Has failed to cash just twice in 17 starts this year.

Nick Dougherty. Said his game is turning around. We'll see about that. In his last six events, he has three MC and zero Top 50s. Looks more like Brett Wetterich. (Yes, I know Dougherty's mum passed three months ago. I'm merely looking at his results.)

Ernie Els. After a tough few months, he's back in the groove, with three Top 15s his last four times out. Obviously, while I'm blurting out those figures from one side of my keyboard, I'm projecting a modest finish on the other. In my heart of hearts, it would make the MOST sense if Els could win this major without Tiger Woods in the field since the Big Easy has taken more licks from the world's #1 than anyone else. Gotta sneak one in while the champion is staggering, right?

Ross Fisher. A nice up-and-comer that will gain mounds of experience on the dance floors this week. No world-beater with the 14th club.

Richard Green. Not very consistent week-to-week, site-to-site and year-to-year but has three Top 6s dating back to the BMW PGA. Best USPGA finish of three is T-37 in 2006.

Todd Hamilton. He's one of those guys that if you were asked for your opinion on the state of his game, you'd probably start your analysis with, "You know what ." and a slight nod and then fill in the rest with something positive. He's cashed in 14 of 21 starts, just three short of his combined total from the last two years. A Top 10 this week could earn him Comeback Golfer of the Year honors, but he hasn't posted a Top 25 in five PGA appearances.

Anders Hansen. Has played well since returning to the Euro Tour this year. Hasn't played since his T-19 at the British. Overcame knee surgery midseason.

Peter Hanson. Third PGA. Finished T-23 last year and T-59 in 2005. His T-6 at the European Open was strong. Doesn't miss many cuts.

Fredrik Jacobson. A bit of a sleeper this week. Comes in with his game in control, which is the key for this streaky Swede.

Zach Johnson. His summer slide sandwiched the floods in Cedar Rapids, but he rebounded with a T-16 at Firestone. Arrow pointed back up.

Cliff Kresge. Veteran in his career year gets in as last alternate (so far). First PGA Championship.

Tom Lehman. Finished one stroke behind Steve Jones' victory at Oakland Hills in the 1996 U.S. Open. Still meets the greater challenges posed by hard tracks.

Davis Love III. When DL3 looks back at his season, he can't get too excited. I would imagine that his competitive nature allows for zero sympathy in his return from ankle surgery. I probably can't look past the sentimental component to my projection but I'm expecting something magical to occur before 2008 is in the books. In reality, he's only missed four of 15 cuts this season but hasn't deposited a six-figure check in one year.

Steve Marino. A great test for this PGA first-timer. He'll be challenged to harness his usual aggression from tee to green. Three of his four MC this year occurred at TPC Sawgrass, Muirfield Village and Torrey Pines (U.S. Open), not quite the evidence you want when leaning towards starting him at Oakland Hills.

Billy Mayfair. Ball-striker extraordinaire but will he negotiate the greens? Grinders like Mayfair are rewarded this week.

Graeme McDowell. Everyone's favorite chic pick at the British finished T-19 at Birkdale and then placed a forgettable T-56 at Firestone. On the Ryder Cup bubble so I'm expecting him to figure out whatever is in his way this week. There's so much at stake.

Rocco Mediate. Like Kenny Perry, favors the draw and will be fighting the natural flow of the course half of the time.

John Merrick. This is likely to be the last time in a LONG time that this guy plays on a Q School tour card. Finished T-6 at the U.S. Open. I love his game.

Nick O'Hern. Has cashed in 10 straight starts, including a T-3 at Congressional.

Geoff Ogilvy. Comes in with one of the best histories without ever winning the PGA, with three Top 10s and nothing worse than a T-27 in five appearances. However, he missed the cut at the British and was T-68 at the Bridgestone. Things that make you go, "Hmm ."

Rod Pampling. Like his countryman, Geoff Ogilvy, Pamp has gone in the tank in his last two starts, finishing MC-T56 and the British and WGC-Bridgestone, respectfully.

Corey Pavin. Like the Little Engine That Could, you gotta hand it to the guy. Can't win events like this but gives it a go anyway. I don't know and will probably never understand that gear.

Kenny Perry. See Rocco Mediate above.

Ian Poulter. His tidy season continued with a T-16 at Firestone, his seventh Top 25 in 12 starts. His only lost week was due to the wrist injury at the U.S. Open, after which he promptly finished runner-up at the British. Has cashed in last five PGAs.

Andres Romero. It's fun watching this guy develop. Kind of like witnessing a thoroughbred learning how to stand on all fours. In reality, he's missed the cut in both career PGA starts and has just one Top 30 (T-6, BMW PGA) since the Masters. Remember what I said about the fact that guys cannot attack Oakland Hills.

Justin Rose. Ugh. What a Top 5 wouldn't do this week for owners like me that have been ever-so-patiently waiting for something, anything good. Turns out the T-2 at the Memorial was probably a glorious tease.

Rory Sabbatini. Hasn't had a Top 25 since the Buick Invite and has a horrendous record at the PGA, missing five of eight cuts and "boasting" a career-high solo 68th in 2003. Makes my cut based on his T-27 at Firestone. Imagine the headlines if he actually wins without Tiger Woods in the field. With Sabbs' history of petting against Woods' fur, the former just might step up and admit that he's playing with an injury, too . an inflated ego. Woods could always kick back with a "Rory is as beatable as ever" to be playful. Hey, a guy can dream .

Adam Scott. Likely the major that the precocious Aussie will eventually win first. Has cashed in last six PGAs, including Top 12s in three of the last four. Could silence Jack Nicklaus with something big this week but hasn't had a Top 10 since the Wachovia.

John Senden. A much better value in the non-weekly fantasy formats. Has scuffled a bit lately but tends to stand out on more difficult courses. Finished T-4 at Southern Hills last year.

Jeev Milkha Singh. If you thought Nicholas Thompson played a lot of golf, JMS makes Nitro look like a slacker. Singh has played in 77 tournaments in the last 36 months and still ranks a hearty 66th in the world. He's a ball to watch swing the club, looking more like your Saturday partner or your grandfather. And talk about keeping your head down. Surprisingly, this is his first PGA.

Heath Slocum. Until one of them wins it or fails to qualify, Slocum and Bubba Watson and Boo Weekley should always be paired together at the PGA. Meanwhile, Slocum has made 16 straight cuts and has cashed in four of five PGAs. He hasn't played since the British and hasn't posted a Top 30 since the Travelers (solo 4th), but no worries. Plug in with confidence.

Brandt Snedeker. It's been a frustrating late spring and summer for the likeable Tennessean. Aside from his T-9 at the U.S. Open, there isn't anything worth mentioning. However, it is noteworthy that he posted three sub-70 rounds last week at Firestone, so he might have an ounce of momentum coming in.

Kevin Sutherland. Predictably, he has cashed in 15 of 18 starts this year. Has made six of 10 PGA cuts. Great bottom roster filler.

Bob Tway. Having a good season and just might earn his 2009 tour card from the Past Champion category. That said, he'll be 50 in May so he would only be biding his time until the Champions Tour opens its gates. In a nice tribute, he's paired with fellow PGA champions, Steve Elkington and Mark Brooks. Fact of the week: Tway leads the tour in putting. He's also cashed in seven of his last eight starts as well as his last two PGAs.

Bubba Watson. It should be a treat, as always, to see Watson maneuver his ball around Oakland Hills. Since his near-hit at the nearby Buick Open, he placed T-41 at the Deere and missed the cut in Canada. If there's a class in course management at Wayne State, Oakland or UM-Dearborn on Wednesday, Watson should audit it.

Boo Weekley. Ever since his second child was born, Weekley has scuffled, missing the cut at Birkdale and posting a lackluster T-66 in Akron. Perhaps no one would like to see a rebound to his usual elite ball-striking more than Paul Azinger, because Weekley is currently 7th on the points list and on the Ryder Cup team.

MC

Paul Azinger. Let's be serious.

Rich Beem. Has it really been six years (and four PGA MCs) since the dance?

Mark Brooks. Has missed the cut in each of the last eight years.

Mark Brown. 0-for-3 at the PGA and has seriously cooled since his consecutive victories at the top of the year.

Jonathan Byrd. Historically, not a smart bet in any major.

Angel Cabrera. Missed cut at Royal Birkdale and Torrey Pines. Missed cut in last three PGAs (2007, 2006, 2004).

Mark Calcavecchia. 2008 majors: MC-WD-MC. Last four PGAs: MC-WD-T70-DQ.

Michael Campbell. Missed the cut in the last two PGAs. Has cashed in just four events all year (best: T-35, BMW Asian).

Alex Cejka. He's back in a trough on the sine wave of his season.

Ben Curtis. Has missed just four cuts this year but has cashed in just two of five PGAs, topped by a T-34 three years ago.

John Daly. In disgrace, just doesn't know it.

Chris DiMarco. With his T-12 at Firestone, he's back in the hunt for a tee time at The Barclays, so he might step up and surprise again this week. But there hasn't been any consistency all year.

Simon Dyson. Has missed six of his last nine cuts, which weighs more than his T-6 at Southern Hills last year.

Niclas Fasth. Brutal lately.

Alastair Forsyth. My only noteworthy shot on the Scot is that he earned medalist honors at U.S. Open qualifying two months ago; otherwise, it's been a series of paltry paydays and free weekends.

Hiroyuki Fujita. Don't worry about pronunciation; you won't need to remember his name.

Brian Gay. First PGA since 2003 and has cashed in all three career starts. However, he was a mysterious early withdrawal at Reno, where he's 9-for-9. Abstain until further notice.

Mathew Goggin. Speaking of mysterious, Goggin has been out since the AT&T National and was an early withdrawal from the Milwaukee stop. Something is fishy here. This will be his first PGA.

Paul Goydos. Hasn't made a cut in a major since the 1999 PGA, a stretch of eight starts.

Jay Haas. First PGA Tour event of the year. Has eight Top 5s (including two wins) on the Champions Tour. Shouldn't son, Bill, be playing in these by now?

Soren Hansen. Has flamed out in three starts since back-to-back Top 5s in Europe.

Peter Hedblom. First-timer hasn't played since a T-14 at Loch Lomond.

J.J. Henry. His year in sum: 12 MC in 23 starts, 0 Top 25s. Played at Firestone via his 2006 Ryder Cup appearance, where he went 0-0-3. Headed back to Q School if he can't hack the Fall Series.

J.B. Holmes. Has missed four of last six cuts on tour, including the British and U.S. Opens.

Charles Howell III. 0-for-3 in 2008 majors but has cashed in six of seven PGA starts.

Ryuji Imada. Failed to cash in both starts since the U.S. Open. His modified schedule isn't paying off. 0-for-1 at the PGA (2007).

Richard S. Johnson. His only Top 35 of 2008 was his Milwaukee victory played concurrently with the British Open. That means no Masters invite.

Brendan Jones. The one-time PGA Tour member (2005) has found a home in Japan, where he won three times in 2007. He hasn't missed a cut anywhere all year but finished T-70 in the British, his only start in an elite event with a cut.

Shingo Katayama. Missed the cut at the Masters and U.S. Open but has been tearing up the Japan Tour. That's almost as good as winning "The Big Break."

Martin Kaymer. First PGA. Has struggled since his mom passed. Give him more time.

Jerry Kelly. 0-for-3 in 2008 majors. Cashed in just four of 11 career PGAs.

James Kingston. What momentum he might have had with his solo 2nd at Loch Lomond quickly evaporated.

Soren Kjeldsen. Had cashed in 15 straight events before missing the British cut. Hasn't played since. First PGA.

Greg Kraft. If you're not a duffer league and you needed to pick up Kraft this week, I want to see your rulebook.

Pablo Larrazabal. Europe has their Greg Krafts, too! First PGA.

Peter Lonard. Has missed the cut in his last three PGAs. Oh, and anytime he goes out and posts a Top 10 like he did at Firestone last week, I don't get too excited. You can never trend this guy.

Steve Lowery. Pieced together a T-20 at the Bridgestone so if you have the stones, go for it. Recently took a break to nurse a sore elbow.

John Mallinger. First-timer gets lost in the depth of this field.

Prayad Marksaeng. Another terror in the Far East but is still adapting to play in the U.S.

George McNeill. More of a marathon man than a sprinter, suiting the needs of the season-long fantasy formats. First PGA start.

Colin Montgomerie. Flip a coin. It will probably land on its side.

Ryan Moore. Basically, he's had three good starts all year and none since the Memorial two months ago.

Louis Oosthuizen. First-timer has missed three of his last four cuts and has just one Top 25 since winning the Telkom PGA in February.

Hennie Otto. The palindromic South African is making his first PGA start. Hasn't played since missing the cut at Birkdale.

Pat Perez. Enters the week riding a two-event, missed-cut streak. Was hoping that some new changes in his game would take effect sooner. Better you wait.

Carl Pettersson. The human ATM has cashed in just one four PGAs, that a solo 54th in 2004.

Jeff Quinney. Currently in the ebb more than the flow of late, missing three of the last four cuts. Second career PGA (MC, 2007).

Jyoti Randhawa. Has missed five of last eight cuts. Nothing better than T-43 in last five starts.

Chez Reavie. Shouldn't even be here. Too soon to know if the Canadian triumph is trendy but it was his only Top 30 finish in six months. Don't fall into the Scott Strange trap .

Charl Schwartzel. Hasn't played since the Scottish for some reason. Is 0-for-2 in PGA starts. So young and so good though. Has seven international Top 7s this year.

Scott Strange. (Continuing from my Chez Reavie rant .) Strange won in Wales and was swiped off the European Tour waiver wire. All he's done since is miss three cuts and post three finishes of T-49 and worse. Shouldn't be here either.

Toru Taniguchi. 0-for-5 in the PGA Championship.

Vaughn Taylor. Game has come around of late but has missed last two PGA cuts. Perhaps worth a flier in deeper formats this week.

Nicholas Thompson. Has signed six checks of $95K or more this year and then nothing more than $35K in the rest. Pressure this week might be too great for his iron game. I'm still trying to nail him down.

David Toms. Has cashed in 10 straight events and is still on the FedExCup bubble. Took some time off in the summer to spend with family and might be starting to turn the page on his career and life.

Johnson Wagner. His only Top 25 is his breakthrough victory in Houston. Unimpressive if not steady since. First PGA.

Steve Webster. No thanks. Hasn't had a Top 35 since the BMW PGA, missing three of six cuts in the meantime.

Charlie Wi. First career major but is too inconsistent week-to-week to earn any trust.

Dean Wilson. Has cashed in one of four career PGA appearances (T-29, 2006).

Oliver Wilson. Wayward driver could be his bane. Daily leagues should monitor his opening round to see if he's going tee-to-green efficiently. Could surprise as equally as he could plummet.

Ned Said, ".

YAHOO!
Group A
Vijay Singh . I usually save at least one start in the season to use Singh in the PGA. He is a two-time winner at the event with four other Top 10 finishes. He won last week at the WGC-Bridgestone because of his excellent ball-striking and, if he had been making putts from the 4- to 8-foot range, the tournament wouldn't have been as close as it was. Singh played in the U.S. Open in 1996, when it was played at Oakland Hills CC, and he came away with a T-7 finish.
Phil Mickelson . He is a tough call this week. Phil played great at the WGC-Bridgestone, but he bogeyed three of the last four holes to fall into a tie for fourth place. It's hard to know if there will be any kind of hangover from the collapse. His record at the PGA is very good, with seven Top 10s in 15 starts, including a championship in 2005.
OTHERS TO CONSIDER:
Jim Furyk . He has been playing some of his best golf of the season recently; however, he did have a bit of disappointing outing last week at the WGC-Bridgestone, where he finished in a tie for 27th place. His record at the PGA is good, with four Top 10s in 13 starts; however, he hasn't done well in recent years, with two missed cuts and two middle-of-the-pack finishes in his last four starts. Furyk played at Oakland Hill CC in the 1996 U.S. Open and came away with a T-5 finish.
Geoff Ogilvy . Ogilvy rolled into the British Open riding a streak of three Top 10s, and then proceeded to miss the cut. He then played in last week's WGC-Bridgestone, finishing in a tie for 68th place. His recent record at the PGA Championship is very good, with a current streak of three Top 10s.
GOING DEEP:
Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Boo Weekley, K.J. Choi, Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan and Ernie Els.

Group B
Stuart Appleby . Appleby has actually been played some good golf for a while but he really couldn't put four good rounds together until last week, when he finished tied for second at the WGC-Bridgestone. He has one Top 10 in 11 starts at the PGA but he has finished in the Top 20 in three of the last four years.
Retief Goosen . He set his schedule up differently this year to include the Canadian Open, where he tied for 30th place. He seemed to be sharper last week at the WGC-Bridgestone, finishing T-4. Goosen use to have a tough time with the PGA Championship, but recently he has been playing better in the event, earning his first Top 10 in 2005, when he finished tied for 6th place.
Anthony Kim . It hard to pick a second-year player to do well in a major but Kim has played very well in the last three months, winning with some tough fields at the Wachovia and AT&T National. He played in his first PGA last year, finishing in a tie for 50th place.
Robert Allenby . Right now, he is one of the most dependable players in Group B. He hasn't finished outside the Top 20 since a T-42 at THE PLAYERS back in the second week of May. He has a good record at the PGA, with two Top 10s in 14 starts.
OTHERS TO CONSIDER:
Stewart Cink . He has played well through most of the season but, after his win at the Travelers, he has been in a little mini-slump, with a missed cut at the British Open and a T-43 last week at the WGC-Bridgestone. His record is good at the PGA, with two Top 10s in 11 starts.
Mike Weir . He has been playing well in spots during the summer and is coming off of a T-5 finish at the Canadian Open. His record at the PGA is pretty good, with three Top 10s in nine starts. Quite a few Canadians will drive over for the tournament so it will have a home course feel for Weir.
Sean O'Hair . O'Hair missed some time this season with a pulled chest muscle and is just starting to play well again, with a T-3 at the Canadian Open and a T-12 at the WGC-Bridgestone. His best finish in three PGA Championships is a T-12 in 2006.
Chad Campbell . Campbell was in a horrible slump in the spring but, after a T-18 at the U.S. Open, he has continued to play well and has moved up to 22nd place on the FedExCup points list. He has played in six PGA Championships. His best finish is a second place in 2003.
GOING DEEP:
Paul Casey, Justin Leonard, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Kevin Sutherland, Ian Poulter, Camillo Villegas, Ken Duke and Rocco Mediate.

Group C
Kenny Perry . He has been the hottest player on the tour, with three championships in the bank. He came out last week flat, with a T-66 finish at the WGC-Bridgestone. His record at the PGA is good, with three Top 10s in 17 starts.
Lee Westwood . He played well last week at the WGC-Bridgestone and, if he could have dropped makeable birdie putts on the 17th or 18th holes, then he would have forced a playoff. His history at the PGA is fair,with three Top 20s in 11 starts at the event.
OTHERS TO CONSIDER:
Trevor Immelman . He has played well at times this season after his Masters championship, tying for 19th place at the British Open three weeks ago. He earned his first Top 10 at the PGA last year, when he finished in a tie for 6th place.
Darren Clarke . His game has been slowly coming back after not playing much during the past couple of years. He looked good last week at the WGC-Bridgestone, where he finished in a tie for 6th place. His record at the PGA is fair, with one Top 10 in nine starts.
GOING DEEP:
Fred Couples, Chris DiMarco, Ben Crane, John Merrick, Andres Romero, Steve Marino, Peter Lonard, Tim Clark and Martin Kaymer.

PGATour.com
Group 1: Vijay Singh . If he strikes the ball like last week and can make putts from the 4- to 8-foot range, he will hard to beat.
Group 2: Robert Allenby . Playing the best golf right now but Geoff Ogilvy has a great recent record at the PGA Championship.
Group 3: Jim Furyk . He has a very good record at the PGA Championship.
Group 4: Stuart Appleby . He has played well recently. Last week, he finally put four good rounds together.
Group 5: Hunter Mahan . He put a lot of pressure on with his Ryder Cup comments, then went out and played well at the WGC-Bridgestone.
Group 6: Ernie Els . Right now, he is playing the best of the players on the list.
Group 7: Mike Weir . It will seem like a hometown for him at Oakland Hills.

ESPN.com
Jim Furyk . A carryover player. He has a solid record at the PGA Championship.
Kenny Perry . A carryover player. Hopefully he will rebound from last week's T-66 at Firestone.
Chris DiMarco . A carryover player. A T-12 at Firestone and he will be a hit or miss type of player at the PGA Championship.
Paul Casey . A carryover player. He is playing great golf right now.

RESHUFFLE - Q School/Nationwide Tour

Listed below are the results of the latest reshuffle, which occurred following the Reno-Tahoe Open. The next reshuffle will occur following the Viking Classic (September 21).

From the fantasy perspective, this list provides non-weekly formats a projected value (i.e. ability to set schedule, more opportunities to play, likelihood to improve number) of golfers playing out of this category. However, with the PGA Championship and FedExCup Playoffs coming up, the only two events where the list below plays a role until the next reshuffle is for next week's Wyndham Championship and next month's Viking Classic.

Current "number." Name, 2008 earnings

* - In the field at the PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

CURRENT RANK

1. *Nicholas Thompson, $1,294,663
2. *John Merrick, $1,175,347
3. Tim Wilkinson, $747,815
4. Brad Adamonis, $729,156
5. Michael Letzig, $728,985
6. Matt Jones, $703,000
7. Dustin Johnson, $621,605
8. Patrick Sheehan, $591,650
9. Kevin Streelman, $584,898
10. James Driscoll, $570,630
11. Jason Day, $535,535
12. Jon Mills, $457,083
13. Frank Lickliter II, $449,751
14. Roland Thatcher, $445,212
15. Tag Ridings, $390,599
16. Brett Rumford, $373,579
17. Y.E. Yang, $352,529
18. Carlos Franco, $316,340
19. Justin Bolli, $307,902
20. Omar Uresti, $279,110
21. Martin Laird, $265,700
22. Marc Turnesa, $238,109
23. Brenden Pappas, $236,160
24. Kenneth Ferrie, $222,398
25. Jin Park, $227,102
26. Scott Sterling, $219,232
27. Jimmy Walker, $173,759
28. Chad Collins, $161,117
29. Kent Jones, $158,347
30. John Riegger, $148,594
31. Alejandro Canizares, $125,539
32. Chris Stroud, $121,853
33. Todd Demsey, $121,627
34. Jim McGovern, $114,843
35. Kyle Thompson, $98,156
36. Paul Claxton, $93,323
37. David Lutterus, $87,661
38. Michael Bradley, $77,584
39. Jason Allred, $71,953
40. Bob Sowards, $67,237
41. Tom Scherrer, $60,531
42. Brad Elder, $52,461
43. Jonathan Kaye, $41,375
44. Travis Perkins, $36,583
45. Cody Freeman, $34,568
46. Ron Whittaker, $34,177
47. Tommy Gainey, $30,185
48. Duffy Waldorf, $7,350
49. Carl Paulson, $0

NOTE: Parker McLachlin is the third golfer from this category (Chez Reavie, Richard S. Johnson) to win in 2008. He will play out of the Winners category through 2010 and has been removed from this list.

Medical Extensions

[Name (PRIORITY RANKING) - has: # of events played/$ earned . remaining: # of events remaining under extension/$ remaining unearned]

*- In the field at the PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

*Ben Crane [MAJOR) - has met his requirement and will retain this status for the remainder of 2008
Jason Bohn (MAJOR) - has met his requirement and will retain this status for the remainder of 2008
Brett Quigley (MAJOR) - has met his requirement and will retain this status for the remainder of 2008
Dudley Hart (MAJOR) - has met his requirement and will retain this status for the remainder of 2008
Chris Perry (MAJOR) - has: 0/$0 . remaining: 18/$515,445
Joey Snyder III (MAJOR) - has: 0/$0 . remaining: 25/$647,466
Brandt Jobe (MAJOR) - has: 16/$254,114 . remaining: 7/$520,050
David Berganio, Jr. (MAJOR) - has: 1/$0 . remaining: 5/$346,345
Hank Kuehne (MAJOR) - has: 0/$0 . remaining: 18/$636,221
Shane Bertsch (MAJOR) - has: 21/$564,276 . remaining: 7/$181,144
*Paul Azinger (MAJOR) - has: 7/$28,090 . remaining: 7/$583,021
Wes Short, Jr. (MAJOR) - has: 0/$0 . remaining: 15/$743,061
David Duval (MAJOR) - has: 14/$46,287 . remaining: 6/$666,948
Patrick Moore (NATIONWIDE/3 WINS) - has: 0/$0 . remaining: 12/$452,636
Jonathan Kaye (Q SCHOOL/NATIONWIDE) - has: 8/$41,375 . remaining: 13/$743,805
Michael Bradley (Q SCHOOL/NATIONWIDE) - has: 8/$77,584 . remaining: 6/$675,707
Carl Paulson (Q SCHOOL/NATIONWIDE) - has: 0/$0 . remaining: 15/$428,522
Kris Cox (NON-EXEMPT) - has: 7/$0 . remaining: 1/$748,451

Birthdays - August 6-12

8/6 . Doug Ford (86); Billy Mayfair (42)
8/7 . none
8/8 . none
8/9 . Patrick Sheehan (39); Brett Wetterich (35)
8/10 . Kenny Perry (48)
8/11 . Grant Waite (44)
8/12 . Larry Ziegler (69); Ron Whittaker (37)

The 19th Hole

For the few of you keeping score, I received zero responses to my query asking how the FedExCup has increased your interest in the PGA Tour. No sweat. Personally, it plays more like a fantasy league for me, with a culmination of sorts where one guy is crowned the champion, even if it isn't at season's end. At the end of the day, I really don't care who wins first prize as long as the golf is good. If THE TOUR Championship plays out like the WGC-Bridgestone, yuck. Imagine if Phil Mickelson still clinched the Cup with that gas can ending.

Last year, we were treated to a Tiger Woods' victory in the final event. As it turned out, the winner of the tournament happened to win the Cup, too. However, in my opinion, once the Top 30 qualify for THE TOUR Championship, all points should be erased. Winner takes all at that point. That would be a true playoff.

"Starter" ANSWER: Steve Elkington, who was defending his 1995 PGA title, and Tommy Tolles finished T-3 at Valhalla.

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