PGA: 2006 PGA Championship Preview

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By Jonathan Wall via TheSandTrap.com

The final major championship of the year returns to Medinah Country Club with a longer layout and deeper rough. Can Woods hoist the Wanamaker Trophy again, or will the 7,500-yard layout bring Tiger to his knees?

The chance of Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia pulling off another 1999 finish at Medinah is improbable; however, that doesn't mean Phil can't take over Sergio's role and turn the 2006 PGA Championship into one of the best majors in golf history. As always, the TST staff is hard at work getting ready for Thursday with our major championship predictions and pairings.



The PGA may be the last major of the year, but I think we all know deep down that we're going to be glued to our chairs come Sunday afternoon for another down-to-the-wire finish.

Last Year
Phil Mickelson had his typical "ah-shucks" grin on as he looked the Wanamaker Trophy over after winning the PGA Championship last year. For Mickelson it was his second major championship in two years, but for those watching the tournament at Baltusrol and on television, it was the first time they really saw Lefty get rid of the "go for broke" attitude and win with consistency and smarts.



Mickelson made news at the PGA Championship for not only winning the tournament, but also for what he did on the 72nd hole.



247 yards away and some 10 yards behind the plaque in the fairway that commemorated the 1-iron Jack Nicklaus hit to the green in 1967 to win the U.S. Open, Mickelson tapped the plaque twice with his 4-wood for luck before hitting his approach shot.



While the shot came up a bit short, Mickelson was able to hit his patented flop shot to two feet before tapping in for birdie to win by one shot over Thomas Björn and Steve Elkington in a Monday finish that had to be delayed due to torrential rains.



The Course
7,561.



As in yards. That's the number everyone watching the tournament and those in the field will notice when they tee off on Thursday morning at Medinah Country Club for the 88th PGA Championship.



Since Medinah hosted the PGA back in 1999, the course has added over 100 yards of length as well as new trees and extra-thick rough. However, while the course might be bearing down on the competition, you still have to remember that Tiger Woods won the tournament in 1999 with a score of 11-under-par 277. I'd like to say that the course will be tougher; but I'm still skeptical that it can do enough to keep the winner from posting a double-digit score below par.



Regardless of my opinion, I still feel that Medinah has a lot to offer the competition in terms of intriguing holes.



The par-five seventh hole should be the first test of the day for the golfers. At 587-yards, the seventh is a slight dogleg to the right that is covered with trees. If you spray your tee shot to the left or right, you take birdie out of the picture completely. I've seen the hole in person since I'm here at the tournament - its jail on either side.







The par-three 13th hole could be the make-or-break hole of the back nine if the wind is blowing in across the water. At 244-yards, the hole is the longest one-shotter on the course and has one of the most difficult two-tiered greens on the since the green slopes from back to front severely. If the wind is playing into the players, you might see Woods or a big hitter taking a fairway wood to reach the green. Chunk a shot short of the green and you're swimming with the fish. Sounds like an easy hole, huh?



"605-yard par-5 over water with trees lining both sides of the fairway." That is the best way to describe the par-five 14th that leaves ZERO room for error the entire way home. Most players will be happy with a tee shot in the fairway that leaves a simple second and third shot to one of the easier greens on the course. If you catch the hole when the wind is in your favor, you might have a shot at hitting the par-five in two with a couple of monster shots. However, if you're a medium hitter, you need to be content on reaching the green in three.



As silly as it sounds, there really isn't an "easy" hole on the course. With trees and water lining most of the holes - as well as wind coming into play on almost every hole - you have what we in the golf business like to call a "shot makers course." You normally don't use those two words together when looking at a course this long; however, after scoping out the track the last couple of days, I think it's safe to say that the winner will need to bring all he's got if he wants to hoist the Wanamaker on Sunday.



Who's Hot
You can't stop Tiger Woods right now; you can only hope to contain him. Woods, who has two wins and a tie for second in his last three events, is by far the hottest player in the world right now. If that wasn't reason enough to choose Woods this week, his past performance at the 1999 PGA should give him the biggest confidence boost in the field. Forget that Woods hasn't had the best of luck with the driver in majors this year - just playing at Medinah should be more than enough for Woods to come out on top. If he happens to bring the same game he had at the Buick Open, the field might as well not show up Thursday.



Mr. Consistent is in the field again this week and his name is, Jim Furyk. While Tiger Woods might be the best golfer on the planet right now, there might not be another golfer playing as solid as Furyk. With four top five finishes in his last four events, Furyk has been the model of consistency. However, the last four finishes isn't what makes him so incredible this season. The stat that's so astounding is the fact that Furyk has finished in the top ten in 50 percent of his starts on tour this year. That stat is just plain sick.



Vijay Singh might have played in just one tournament (Buick Open) since missing the cut at the British Open, but you can't overlook his stats and track record at the PGA Championship. After winning the Barclays back in June, Singh then finished in a tie for sixth, a tie for fourth, and most recently, a tie for eleventh at the Buick Open, making him one of the hottest golfers over of the past couple of months. Singh has also won the PGA Championship twice (1998, 2004), meaning you never count him out in this major.



Who's Not
Phil Mickelson might be going for his second straight PGA Championship, however, if Lefty thinks he has a great shot to win this week, he isn't basing it off of his recent performances. After finishing second at the U.S. Open in June, Mickelson has been ice cold after getting cut last week at the International for this first time this year. Before The International, Mickelson had finished in a T65 and T22 the previous two tournaments. Lefty might have the game ready for a major championship, but if stats are a telling-tale, he might have some trouble this week.



Oh how far the mighty have fallen. After winning the PGA Championship back in 2002, Rich Beem has yet to find his game that made him one of the biggest up-and-coming stars on tour. This year Beem has missed six cuts in his last nine events, and looks destined to miss the cut at the PGA. Someone might want to give Beem a hug after playing the nearly 7,600-yard Medinah course.



I really thought Ryan Moore had it all figured out after finished in a tie for second at the Buick Championship. Boy was I wrong. Since the Buick, Moore has gone downhill the whole way, missing the cut in two of his last five events. His best finish since then has been a tie for 27th at the John Deere. Those stats aren't PGA Championship worthy.



TV Coverage Times
All times eastern (ET) unless otherwise noted.



Thu, August 17 USA 2 - 8pm
Fri, August 18 USA 2 - 8pm
Sat, August 19 USA 11am - 2pm
CBS 2pm - End of Play
Sun, August 20 USA 11am - 2pm
CBS 2pm - End of Play

Live Video Streaming Coverage Available on PGATour.com



Thu/Fri, Aug. 17/18 12:30 - 2pm
Sat/Sun, Aug. 19/20 10am - 11am


Photo Credit: © AP, © PGA.

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