To finalize our build-up to events at Bethpage Black – we’ve listed a top-5 players to watch at the 2019 PGA Championship.
5. Dustin Johnson – (F) 7:51 AM* (w/ J Rahm, J Spieth)
DJ seems to be saving some of his best golf for the bigger tournaments in 2019. A victory at the WGC Mexico back in February was soon followed up by a T-5 finish at The PLAYERS and another near miss at Augusta.
It’s only a matter of time before the current world number one secures his second major championship and the second major of 2019 offers a substantial opportunity to do just that.
4. Rory McIlroy – (F) 8:13 AM* (w/ Mickelson, Day)
Arguably the form player in 2019 in the lead-up to major season and now that he’s unshackled from all the pre-Masters hype and talk of career grand slams, Rory McIlroy arrives at the 101st PGA Championship seeking to end a four-and-a-half year major drought.
Surely that’s too long for a player of his quality. What’s clear is that he would undoubtedly be a popular champion if he were to capture a third PGA Championship this week.
3. Tiger Woods – (F) 1:49 PM (w/ F Molinari, B Koepka)
We can safely say that if Tiger Woods wins the 101st PGA Championship, we’ll completely lose our minds here. No longer is another major win for the great man a mere fanciful dream – he has the game to be firmly in the mix every time he tees it up in each of the four big ones.
He arrives fresh from his exploits in securing a fifth Green Jacket back in April and has major-winning form at Bethpage Black on his side. Could Woods make further strides as he attempts to rein in Jack Nicklaus’ record?
2. Francesco Molinari – (F) 1:49 PM (w/ T Woods, B Koepka)
The current world number seven is in great form so far in 2019 after taking the Arnold Palmer Invitational back in March and placing T-5 at Augusta. It could have been so much more at the season’s first major if it weren’t for a disappointing final round 74.
The win at Carnoustie back in July 2018 proved the Italian has a major-winning pedigree and he has seemingly combined an uber-consistent golf game with impressive mental toughness. Impressively, he has four top-10s in his last six majors.
1. Brooks Koepka – (F) 1:49 PM (w/ T Woods, F Molinari)
Brooks could become only the second man in history to retain the championship, following in the footsteps of a four-time champion, Tiger Woods (1999 – 2000 & 2006 – 2007). Taking the Wanamaker Trophy last year at Bellerive Country Club – achieved when holding off Tiger’s charge – was a third career major championship in his previous seven appearances.