Winners and Losers at the US PGA

[Bag Chatter]

By M Anderson

We knew it was going to be good but few had any idea that it would be this good. On a course that veered from the sublime to the ridiculous, the golfing gods blew into town and there was thunder and lightning to match anything the skies could offer.


The Winners

Padraig Harrington
The transformation is complete from a player that seemed to finish 2nd more than anybody else to a steely-eyed, ice-blooded winner. Gone is the expression of pleasantly bemused surprise and instead is the face of a man whose relentless practice, iron will and titanic mental strength has seen him win 3 majors in 13 months. The best clutch putter on tour at the moment.

Sergio Garcia
What can you tell someone who shoots the third lowest round of the final day and still loses to the same person who beat him the last time he was in contention for a major. After the carnage of The Open last year, he played some scintillating golf to fight his way to the top. Only at the death did he blink before the other guy.

Ben Curtis
The quiet man was back to his best of 5 years ago when he won The Open and deservedly played his way into the Ryder Cup team. An unconventional swing to say the least but showed that it could be devastatingly effective.

Charlie Wi
He had the best seat in the house for 9 holes of the most compelling golf ever and he was there because he earned it. Playing in his first PGA Championship at the age of 35, being 4th after the third round was a great achievement and his 9th place was no less than he deserved.

The Losers

Colin Montgomerie
Missed the cut 5th from last at +20. Surely the chance has gone for one of the most gifted of European players to win that major that has always eluded him.

Phil Mickelson
It might be a little harsh to have Philly Mick in this category as his 7th place would be a cause for celebration for pretty much anybody else in the world but with Tiger out, the expectation that Phil would exert his dominance was obviously too much. Never seemed to get going.

JB Holmes
Looked destined to play his way into history when his bloodcurdling drives and great short game but then came up short himself blowing up with a final round of 81 dropping him 27 places to 29th place. Looking to take the title of slowest player on the PGA, his ready-steady-pause…ready-no-not-yet…ready-set-hey-caddie-what-do-you think behaviour is becoming infuriating.

PGA of America
Ruined the fantastic Oakland Hills for the first 2 days before finally salvaging the course into the glorious set up it should have been just in time for the final round. While not quite Shinnecock of 2004, greens and flag positions were heavily mismatched. Drives that landed in the fairway would run through into a first cut of rough that was too punitive and wild drives would land in trodden areas giving perfect lies. Also gave one of the most inept and dismissive presentation ceremonies ever and appeared desperate to let the TV paymasters hurry off to whatever reality show is currently doing the rounds.

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