The horseshoe-shaped green at the 18th hole at Valhalla – image PGA of America
While the PGA Championship has often been seen as the poorer cousin of the four major championships, there is little doubt of the anticipation building for the 2024 version.
Despite the event typically attracting the strongest of the four major championship fields, the PGA Championship has been overshadowed through much of its history. The Masters has the luxury of being played at the same venue each year and therefore gaining familiarity with golf fans and the US Open and Open Championship offer fields open to all provided they meet the qualifying criteria and that they are national championships of the two major regions in the game.
The scheduling of the PGA Championship as the last major of the year until recent times, has also served to reduce its standing amongst the majors but in 2024 there are so many storylines which promise to make the fight for the Wannamker Trophy one of the more interesting for some time.
Scottie Scheffler returns to tournament golf after taking a month off following his win at the RBC Heritage. The arrival of his first born child during that period along with a month away from tournament golf will provide reasonable grounds for concern as to his capacity to challenge for a third major title.
It might be however that the break and the joy of fatherhood could serve to take him to an even higher level but there is that element of doubt, although Scheffler is comfortable about the time away.
“I was able to practice and play plenty at home,”said Scheffler. “Obviously the last week was a bit different with our son coming. But yeah, I would say three weeks is probably a bit of a longer break than I would usually take. I’m sure on a normal year I probably would have been playing at the Nelson.
“But yeah, definitely rested going into this week for sure. I don’t really feel like any rust has accumulated. I was able to practice and play a lot at home. I’m able to do stuff at home to simulate tournament golf, especially on the greens, competing and gambling with my buddies, I don’t really want to lose to them, either, so I was able to simulate a little bit of competition at home.”
Rory McIlroy looks to win his first major since the last of his previous four at this venue in 2014 so he has winning form at this week’s venue, is in oustanding form at present and appears to be back playing at his free-flowing best.
A bombshell was announced today however when it was disclosed that McIlroy has filed for divorce from his wife Erica.
Clearly this is not an overnight thing and has been in the wind for some time. So the issues surrounding the divorce were also in place during last week’s Wells Fargo Championship which McIlroy won with ridiculous authority and ease, but the 35-year-old would not be human if the public disclosure of his marital troubles did not impact him in some manner.
Brooks Koepka is chasing a 6th major championship title and, amazingly, a 4th PGA Championship, his capacity to lift for the biggest events a hallmark of his career. Koepka won at his most recent start in a LIV Golf event in Singapore and so brings form and a love of the biggest stage to Valhalla and the defending champion cannot be counted out despite the disappointment of an ordinary Masters in April.
Xander Schauffele has recorded nine top tens this season and seems to put himself in contention every week without winning. He was unable to hold off the challenge of McIlroy last week but he was well clear in second place. He has yet to win a major but given his level of consistency then surely his time must come.
Of the leading Australians, Cam Smith has recorded only one top ten (9th) in six starts at the PGA Championship but he has played well on LIV this year including when runner-up at the recent event in Singapore and did finish 6th at the Masters so his chances can’t be dismissed.
“Everything feels good,” said Smith. “Game feels great. Feel like it’s just been improving this whole year basically and, yeah, I’m pumped and ready for this week. I’ve only managed to play the first nine so far, we’ve got a little weather here today, so I’ll go see as much of the course as I can today. It will be good. The course is great, it’s in great shape and it’s tough.”
Jason Day is a winner and runner-up at the PGA Championship and is playing well at present as his 4th place finish in Charlotte last week would suggest.
