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The 98th US PGA Championship at the Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey is set to get underway early the early hours of Friday morning (AEST). Players vying to claim the Wanamaker Trophy will need to battle thick rough, tight fairways and slick greens.
Whether you’re working, commuting or eating breakfast, join The Roar for live scores and updates of the first day from 5am (AEST).
Australia’s own Jason Day will be looking to defend his title and become the first Australian to win back-to-back and defend a major championship. The man from Beaudesert has underperformed this year and will be looking to end his 2016 season on a high.
Weather
Forecast for the day’s play sees fairly good conditions with the temperature expected to fluctuate between 23 and 33 degrees Celsius with a clear sunny day.
As the forecast for the following days play sees the possibility of rain and thunderstorms, players will be looking to put themselves into contention during the first day’s play.
Wind speeds are expected to be average around fourteen kilometres per hour on day one.
Contenders
Jason Day – With a disappointing 2016 campaign so far this year, Day will be looking to claim his second major title. For Day, it is about putting all the pieces of his game together during the week. Day doesn’t play bad golf, he purely takes himself out of contention by shooting even par rounds.
One important factor that may hinder Day’s title defence is the two par fives on the Bartusol Golf Course. Day currently ranks number two on the PGA tour for scoring on par fives, averaging 4.51 strokes. For someone who makes a lot of their scores on par fives, could this hurt his chances?
If all aspects of his game are firing then there is no possibly way anyone in the world can stop him.
Jordan Spieth – With two major wins in 2015 and none in 2016, some may say Spieth is suffering from the second year blues. Is the disaster at the 2016 Masters haunting him or is his unique and questionably swing not holding him in good stead?
For Spieth to be in contention he has to hit his Driver well. In his past few tournaments he has hit his Driver like a fifteen handicapper; erratic and inconsistent. If Spieth finds himself in the thick rough off the tee at any stage during the week, then his third major title will have to wait a little longer
He’s not really a contending and he’s not making up the numbers, I’m just saying he has a chance.
Henrik Stenson – Finally breaking through fr his first major win, Stenson will be out looking to claim his second. We all know Stenson hits great tee shots with laser like precision and trajectory, but it will be the putter that determines his success this week at the 98th PGA Championship. Putts inside ten feet will be key in maintaining momentum.
Emiliano Grillo – It’s been almost a year since Emiliano Grillo broke through for his first win on the PGA TOUR and something is telling me Grillo is in for a strong week. Ranked number one on the PGA TOUR for Total Driving in 2016, Grillo will be looking to use his success off the tee to steer clear of the thick rough surrounding the fairways.
We all know Grillo is a great consistent player, but for him to win, everything will need to go right. All I am saying is he has the game to contend and if it fires, watch out!
Outsiders
Matthew Fitzpatrick – The kid has game, need I not say more? Compact and consistent, Fitzpatrick is rock solid in every aspect of his game.
Billy Horschel – The 2015 FedEx cup champion is always a fancy coming into a Major Championship. Ranked number fourteen for birdie or better averages on par fours on the PGA Tour in 2016, Horschel will be looking to take advantage with the abundance of par fours at the Baltusrol Golf Club.
If the putter is hot, Horschel could be there come Sunday.
Who knows?
Rory Mcllroy – Mcllroy is my big query during the last major of the 2016 calendar year. Failing to put four solid rounds together in any major this year, Mcllroy is desperate to claim his first major title since 2014.
I believe inconsistent approach shots are costing Mcllroy solids weeks on the golf course. Ranked 125th on the for proximity to the hole from approach shots in 2016, Mcllroy is clearly leaving himself a lot of lag and pressure putts.
He will need to eradicate this from his game to reclaim his PGA Championship title from 2012.
I don’t know which Mcllroy will show up this week.
No chance
Luke Donald – Hate to harp on it but Luke Donald will not be winning the Wanamaker Trophy in 2016. I honestly don’t know how Donald has fallen to be such an inconsistent player. He doesn’t hit it far enough and his short game is in tatters, no where near the standard it was back he was number one in the world.
Who knows, he has proved he has the class to win tournaments in the past and may have good performance this week.
Although he has never been able to perform in the majors which further strengthens my argument.
Australians
Adam Scott and Marc Leishman – Australia’s only real other chances at the 98th US PGA Championship. Both have been struggling with their games in the majors in 2016, failing to contend and be relevant. I wouldn’t be surprised if either Scott or Leishman was somewhere within four shots come Sunday.
Matt Jones, Scott Hend, Aaron Baddeley, Marcus Fraser, John Senden and Greg Chalmers will just be hoping for a strong week. All have strong games but don’t feel they will hold up against the worlds best.
My prediction – Jason Day. Day will be fired up and will produce a week for the ages.
Question of the week- Will Rory Mcllroy make the cut? I predicted him to have a massive 2016 year and he has failed to fire. I am lacking confidence in the Northern Irishman.
Join The Roar for live coverage of the final round at Baltusrol Golf Club from 5am (AEST).