It’s here people! The 97th PGA Championship returns to Whistling Straights Golf Club today, the site of the championship in 2004 and 2010, when it produced champions Vijay Singh and Martin Kaymer, respectively.

Each of the championships held at the links style course in Kohler, Wisc., have ended in playoffs. This one will hopefully provide just as much drama.

In 2010, Dustin Johnson missed out of the playoff between Kaymer and Bubba Watson, after he grounded his club in a bunker on the 72nd hole of the tournament. He will be one to watch this weekend, as he has been playing great golf, and is the type of golfer that Whistling Straights calls for: a long bomber.

Others that fit into this category include Watson, Rory McIlroy, who is back fresh off of a foot injury, and of course Jordan Spieth, who has been the best player on TOUR in 2015.

Expect this major to be just as good as the previous two at Whistling Straights, because this is the type of course that provides what golf fans want, and that’s drama. It is a luxury to have both McIlroy and Spieth in the field this week, something that we didn’t have at St. Andrews last month. With a win, Spieth could overtake McIlroy’s number one ranking in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Phil Mickelson seems to always play well in this event, but he is not trending in the right direction. As wayward as his driver can be, this place does not fit his eye.

As for Tiger Woods, he is “looking to improve.” Tiger said in his Tuesday press conference that if he played well, he’d play more this year, and if not, that would give him more time to practice. That kind of tells me where the expectations for Tiger should be this week.

Don’t sleep on Jason Day, who is as ready as anybody to break through in a major. He is one of the few two-time champions on TOUR this year, and always contends in the majors. He is has increased driving distance by nearly fifteen yards this season, and is playing as good as anyone right now.

All we can hope for is another thrilling finish to the PGA Championship. Last season’s at Valhalla was one for the ages as McIlroy outlasted Rickie Fowler and Mickelson, for his second major in a row and the fourth of his career.

I would be shocked to see a runaway winner at the Straights. I could be wrong, but I think this is gonna be a good one.

By Adam Capps

Sports Editor

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