The PGA has long been considered the most attainable of golf’s major championships. Now with two-time defending champion and four-time winner Tiger Woods convalescing, it is more winnable than ever.
With the tournament underway today at Oakland Hills (Mich.), the question is: Who is ready for a major breakthrough?
In the Tiger Woods generation, many seem destined for frustration in their quest for a major title. Sergio Garcia holds the best-player-never-to-win-a-major distinction, followed closely by Adam Scott. But there are many others who are worthy.
“It’s an opportunity for a lot of people to try and take advantage of the world’s No. 1 not being in the golf tournament,” said Ian Poulter. “It might mean that I might be one place further up the leader board come Sunday.”
The PGA has provided deliverance for players such as Poulter. Consider the past two decades.
It’s the tournament that got Vijay Singh (1998), Nick Price (‘92), and Payne Stewart (‘89) off the schneid, and gave quality players such as David Toms (‘01), Davis Love III (‘97), Steve Elkington (‘95), and Paul Azinger (‘93) their lone major. The PGA has rewarded grinders like Mark Brooks (‘96) and Jeff Sluman (‘88), and vaulted Shaun Micheel (‘03), John Daly (‘91), and Wayne Grady (‘90) from obscurity. Heck, even quintessential journeyman Rich Beem (‘02) won a PGA.
Several Europeans, including Englishman Poulter, are ready. But no one from the Old Country has won in the 89-year history of the PGA. Their victory at Oakland Hills in the 2004 Ryder Cup, however, gives major-less Europeans such as Lee Westwood reason for hope.
“It’s amazing that a European has not won,” said Westwood. “Obviously it’s great for European golf what happened here in 2004. So as a whole, we should be buoyed by that.”
