The Roar » Michael Green

Which Aussies can win the US PGA?

Michael Green — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:12:55 +0000

Nine Australians are in the field for the US PGA Championship, but only two of them can win it.

It’s an exciting time for Australian golf. The country is set for the biggest summer of golf we’ve ever seen and our golfers are no longer just competing, but also winning.

Peter Senior must surely pick up a win on the Champions Tour soon, Mat Goggin on the Nationwide Tour is one win away from an automatic spot back on the PGA Tour and Adam Scott is one of the favourites to win this week’s major, the US PGA Championship.

The US PGA Championship is the smaller, lesser known sibling of the four majors and outside the US, it struggles to have a real identity of its own.

Nevertheless, it is a major championship, and for anyone referred to as “one of the best golfers never to win a major” it would be a welcome victory.

Australia has had three winners at the US PGA Championship since its inception in 1958.

David Graham won in 1979 and went on to win the US Open in 1981. Wayne Grady and Steve Elkington won their sole major at the US PGA Championship in 1990 and 1995 respectively.

But what about 2011?

We have two very fine golfers in very fine form right now. Scott and Jason Day are now ranked in the world’s top-10 golfers and most importantly, both have confidence in abundance.

Let’s take a look at the Aussies in the 2011 US PGA Championship’s field this week and see who has any sort of chance of winning.

These guys can win – Scott and Day. Okay, it’s not really going out on a limb but at $21 and $24, they are good value considering their form.

Day has only played in six major championships which includes three top-10s. One of which was last year’s US PGA Championship.

Don’t rule them out – Robert Allenby, Steve Elkington, Aaron Baddeley

I’m not sure whether I’m more astounded Elkington continues to rank as one of the best dressed golfers or he is listed at 300-1 to win this week. He finished sixth last week after a poor opening round and tends to get up for the PGA Championship.

It was only the fifth time he has made the cut this year but when The Elk is playing well, it often continues for a few weeks.

I’m going to stick with Allenby for a few more weeks. He had some good golf marred by some bad stuff last week. Could contend.

Badds is hot and cold right now. He could miss the cut, or finish top five. I think he’s been too erratic to post a win this week but stranger things have happened.

Can’t see them getting close – Richard Green, Brendan Jones, Geoff Ogilvy, John Senden

I’m off the Dicky Green bandwagon. He made 14 birdies at the WGC event last week, along with 13 bogeys and a double. That won’t get a win in a major.

Jones is capable of a low score but has never put together four good rounds in the US.

Ogilvy is all over the place and is harder to read than Dostoevsky. I yearn for the days when he’s back in contention on Sunday but it’s hard to see it happening this week.

I’d love to see John Senden win a major championship. Alas, I think a solid top-30 is the best bet on Sendo.

Roaring Hot

Yesterday’s most commented articles

The real story of how John O’Neill turned Manchester City down [67 comments]
Australian teams at Super disadvantage [58 comments]
Does the A-League need an injection of humour? [43 comments]

Most read articles last 3 days

Article link: Which Aussies can win the US PGA?. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

2011 British Open: Top Aussie chances

Michael Green — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:22:05 +0000

We Aussie golf fans have an extra spring in our step as we head towards the third major of the year, after some great results by Jason Day at the US Open and US Masters. The Open Championship is being held at Royal St. George’s in England this week. Can we expect another good performance [...]

Article link: 2011 British Open: Top Aussie chances. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

2011 US Open: Top five Aussie chances

Michael Green — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:31:57 +0000

It has been a while since we’ve been this excited about Australian chances at a major golf championship. Could we see a winner at this week’s US Open? Only two Australians have ever won the US Open, which is two more than have won the US Masters. David Graham won in 1981 and of course, [...]

Article link: 2011 US Open: Top five Aussie chances. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Tiger Woods is already on the endangered list

Michael Green — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:53:44 +0000

Tiger Woods withdrew from the Players Championship this weekend after only nine holes, the second time this year he has withdrawn from a golf tournament. Tiger played some horrible golf while dealing with the injury, leading some to speculate that he really should not have even turned up, and perhaps was pressured into making an [...]

Article link: Tiger Woods is already on the endangered list. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Schwartzel wins US Masters; Aussies settle for second

Michael Green — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:34:17 +0000

The 2011 US Masters was one of the closest in memory. At one stage early on the back nine, at least 10 golfers were within two shots of the lead but ultimately Charl Schwartzel was left standing. Schwartzel chipped in on the first for birdie, holed out for eagle on the third and produced one [...]

Article link: Schwartzel wins US Masters; Aussies settle for second. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Can an Aussie win the US Masters?

Michael Green — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 22:01:02 +0000

Each year we build up the prospects of seeing an Australian golfer win the US Masters. However, in the 62 occasions the green jacket has been awarded, no Australian golfer has ever tried it on. Greg Norman seemed to be sized and fitted for the jacket in 1996 but most of us would rather not [...]

Article link: Can an Aussie win the US Masters?. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Preview: Aussie matches at Accenture Match Play Championship

Michael Green — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 02:38:24 +0000

Six Australian golfers are part of the 64-man field to start in this week’s WGC Matchplay event. The six best Australian golfers – Adam Scott, Robert Allenby, Geoff Ogilvy, Jason Day, Richard Green and Brendan Jones have all qualified to play. The tournament is a head-to-head knock-out event between the best 64 golfers in the [...]

Article link: Preview: Aussie matches at Accenture Match Play Championship. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Aaron Baddeley wins US PGA event at Riviera

Michael Green — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 01:32:48 +0000

Aaron Baddeley has become the first Australian to win on the PGA Tour in 2011 with a two-stroke victory at Riviera Country Club Club in California. Baddeley played near flawless golf to win the Northern Trust Open and beat a resurgent Vijay Singh by two shots. His only mistake all day was when he double-bogeyed [...]

Article link: Aaron Baddeley wins US PGA event at Riviera. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Warne should be Presidents assistant

Michael Green — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 01:17:12 +0000

The Presidents Cup is set for Melbourne in November with the USA and International teams to be decided later in the year. But a quick look at the current standings shows one glaring omission: international team captain Greg Norman is yet to choose his second assistant. Given the USA team have Michael Jordan, may I [...]

Article link: Warne should be Presidents assistant. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Will Woods be any good in Australia this year?

Michael Green — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:40:59 +0000

Arriving in Australia to play last year’s Australian Masters, Tiger Woods was asked how he had been able to maintain a massive degree of privacy away from the golf course. His reply: “People have been extremely respectful of my privacy, especially now that I have a family. They understand it.”

Aussie golfers out of favour with bookies

Michael Green — Thu, 06 May 2010 15:30:58 +0000

The unofficial fifth major rolls around this weekend in the form of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. You know, the one with the island green? It is no surprise the “unofficial fifth major” is held in the US and clearly no one that gives it this title has ever watched the Carramulka Men’s Open. [...]

Article link: Aussie golfers out of favour with bookies. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Ogilvy aiming for third Matchplay win

Michael Green — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:27:55 +0000

The first big golf event for the year is held this week, the World Accenture Matchplay Championship in Arizona. It is entirely debatable, but I consider matchplay the best golf format to play and watch. The match-ups are always intriguing, despite half the field disappearing after one round and Sunday only featuring four players. Australia’s [...]

Article link: Ogilvy aiming for third Matchplay win. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Woods to dust off his clubs for his return

Michael Green — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:37:48 +0000

Rumours of Tiger Woods’ return to golf are rampant as the 2010 PGA Tour is now well underway. His usual opening tournament has come and gone, but the biggest event for the year is just a few weeks away, the Accenture World Matchplay Championship. Accenture was one of Tiger’s big sponsors and they were one [...]

Article link: Woods to dust off his clubs for his return. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Ogilvy’s win could lure more golfers to Australia

Michael Green — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:09:37 +0000

The whirlwind that was the short and crazy summer of Australian golf is now firmly in the past. The dust that swirled around Tiger’s group as he stalked the fairways of Kingston Heath has now firmly settled, unlike his private life. Most people agree that the money paid to get the world number one in [...]

Article link: Ogilvy’s win could lure more golfers to Australia. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Williams should caddie for Michael Campbell

Michael Green — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:26:31 +0000

It was mentioned during the week that the world would be a much more interesting place if the only nuclear power in the world was New Zealand. It is true that it is a most beautiful country, full of the friendliest people on the planet, and the world would be in good hands. But even [...]

Article link: Williams should caddie for Michael Campbell. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Australian golf’s recession is over

Michael Green — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:06:55 +0000

Australian golf followed the world’s economy in 2009 and seemed to go into a deep recession. A few good performances early in the year were spoilt by six months of playing from the rough but the trend has reversed. The “Australian Swing” tournaments of the past month have given some of our golfers some much-needed confidence [...]

Article link: Australian golf’s recession is over. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Adam Scott’s win a great thing for golf

Michael Green — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:42:23 +0000

Late on Saturday afternoon, the Australian golfing public who had gathered at News South Wales Golf Club’s signature sixth hole to watch The Australian Open were shaken and stirred from their relaxed positions. A snake wound its way through the gallery, perhaps fooled into thinking a few slippery three-footers were potential mates and the resulting [...]

Article link: Adam Scott’s win a great thing for golf. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Australian golf needs another hero

Michael Green — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:00:24 +0000

Sightings of the Tasmanian Tiger are reported in the Australian media from time to time and interest in the extinct marsupial peaks for a few days with plans to clone the animal from extracted DNA. The story comes and goes quicker than you can say “What’s with Robert Allenby’s putting?” and I wonder if the [...]

Article link: Australian golf needs another hero. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Adam’s tempatation has seen his form suffer

Michael Green — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:00:38 +0000

Adam Scott has dropped to number 43 in the world golf rankings this year. We’ve seen way more of him on the beach, with the likes of Ana Ivanovic and Kate Hudson, than we have on any given Sunday. He’s had some injuries, but put yourself in his Scott’s shoes for a minute. At 28 [...]

Article link: Adam’s tempatation has seen his form suffer. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Baker-Finch and that infamous tee shot

Michael Green — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:56:33 +0000

Ian Baker-Finch returns to tournament golf on the PGATour this week at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. His last outing in any form of professional golf was at the same event in 2001, but previous to that, it was at the 1997 Open Championship. It was part of Ian Baker-Finch’s chequered past that drew me to [...]

Article link: Baker-Finch and that infamous tee shot. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Fear of a Shark attack at Augusta Masters

Michael Green — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:29:08 +0000

An inordinate amount of shark attacks have taken place in Australia this past summer and it has raised a certain amount of paranoia at the beach. Only a few weeks ago, at my local beach, a lifesaver reported a shark sighting. The shark alarm sounded and everyone got out the water only to find out [...]

Article link: Fear of a Shark attack at Augusta Masters. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Tiger will need to earn his keep

Michael Green — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:20:30 +0000

The roots of Australian golf have been shaken. Old timers are pulling up their knee length socks and sifting through their old Dunlop 65s. Young punks have swapped the surfboard for a set of sticks. And even your average sports fan is probably aware of the situation.

Turn the Matchplay Final into an ‘Ashes’ series

Michael Green — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:59:25 +0000

An Englishman and an Australian made the final of the World Matchplay Championship. But when Paul Casey and Geoff Ogilvy reached the final, interest in the tournament quickly disappeared. The tournament has run its course in the United States ever since Tiger and Phil were rudely knocked out and the dominance of players from the [...]

Article link: Turn the Matchplay Final into an ‘Ashes’ series. Written by Michael Green, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion