It consists of two teams, 24 golfers and 3 days of spectacular golf. The tournament has been held every other year for the past 83 years, stopping only for a World War and the September  11^th terrorist attacks.  It is the Ryder Cup.  The tournament features the United States against most of Europe, with the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe. The 2008 Ryder Cup was held at the Valhalla Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky and featured a spectacular United States victory over a heavily favored European team. The 2010 Ryder Cups starts this weekend and is hosted by the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales.

The Ryder Cup is aptly named after the man who donated the original trophy back in 1927 by Samuel Ryder.  The tournament takes place over three days with a total of 28 matches. Friday features 4 four-ball matches in the morning, followed by 4 foursome matches in the afternoon. The same type of matches are on Saturday, but the format flips. On Sunday there are single matches (12 of them) and all team members must play.  The winner is determined by the number of points accumulated by either winning or halving the matches. The reigning Ryder Cup champion only needs 14 points to retain the cup.

The Europeans have won 5 of the last 7 Ryder Cups.  The 2008 United States’ victory at Valhalla ended a 6 year reign by the Europeans. Before that, the previous United States victory happened at the Country Club of Brookline in 1999 and  occured under both spectacular and controversial circumstances.

The 2010 United States team features 5 Ryder Cup rookies. Let’s meet them:

Phil Mickelson (10-14-6 Ryder Cup record)

Hunter Mahan (2-0-3)

Bubba Watson  (Debut)

Jim Furyk (8-13-3)

Steve Stricker (0-2-1)

Dustin Johnson (Debut)

Jeff Overton (Debut)

Matt Kuchar (Debut)

Stewart Cink (4-7-4)

Rickie Fowler (Debut)

Zach Johnson (1-2-1)

Tiger Woods (9-13-2)

Captain – Cory Pavin

Thoughts:  Only Hunter Mahan has a winning record on the US team. Does that affect the team’s psyche heading into the tournament?  5 rookies and on foreign soil – will the pressure get to them? We have seen how Dustin Johnson does under the pressure of majors – ouch.  In light of recent comments by Rory McIlroy – will Tiger Woods make him eat them? Between Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson what will be the over/under on the numbers of greens that are driven?

Let’s meet the European Team, which features 6 Ryder Cup rookies:

Luke Donald (5-1-1)

Ross Fisher (Debut)

Pete Hanson (Debut)

Padraig Harrington (7-11-3)

Miguel Angel Jimenez (2-7-3)

Martin Kaymer (Debut)

Graeme McDowell (2-1-1)

Rory McIlroy (Debut)

Edoardo Molinari (Debut)

Francesco Molinari (Debut)

Ian Poulter (5-2-0)

Lee Westwood (2-4-0)

Captain – Colin Montgomerie

Thoughts:  6 rookies on the European team, but they are home. Home course advantage should work in their favor, but if the Europeans fall behind, will they succumb to the pressure? How much pink will they allow Ian Poulter to wear?   Europeans have been playing well, with 2 of the major champions on the Ryder Cup team – so they have to be favorites. But they were the favorites in 2008 – don’t expect the Europeans to take the United States team lightly like they did in 2008.

Prediction:  Europe is favored, but the United States team relishes the underdog role. I am going with a mild upset. United States retains the Ryder Cup.

Care to make a prediction??

For those who haven’t seen a local Rochester newscast, read the Democrat and Chronicle or watch the Golf Channel in the past week – Rochester was in the spotlight of the LPGA this past week. For the past 33 years, Rochester has been a traditional stop on the LPGA tour – 2010 upped the ante as the Wegman’s Classic became the LPGA Championship. Rochester was hosting a major! Now don’t get me wrong – this isn’t the first time that Rochester has seen a major. Oak Hill has been the host for several PGA majors and was also the site of the 1995 Ryder Cup.  But for Locust Hill, this was a first and a potential permanent stop for the LPGA Championship. Rochester had to come up huge and for the most part – it delivered.  After walking the course Thursday and working the last 3 days as a course marshal – I thought I would share some of my thoughts and experiences from the weekend:

1. Cristie Kerr absolutely dominated on a course that caused most golfers to struggle all weekend. When most golfers struggled to stay below par – Kerr dominated from the first day. There haven’t been too many golf tournaments that I have watched, where the tournament was over on Friday.  When I think of dominating performances, Tiger Woods’ 2000 US Open victory comes to mind. Not sure if this weekend’s performance compares, but it has to rank as one of the top performances in LPGA history.

2. Locust Hill and Rochester deliver! It is a great sign when the crowds surpassed tournament officials expectations on Friday, forcing officials to call in additional shuttles. The weather on Saturday forced tournament officials to push up the tee times, but Rochester fans were there. On Sunday, the crowds were huge and really showed their support for all of the golfers. Locust Hill Country Club was in phenomenal shape – possibly the best I have seen it in the last 3 years. The fairways were like walking on a carpet and the greens were in fantastic shape. The rough was U.S. Open like and penalized any golfers who missed the fairway with their drives. How deep was the rough? Put it this way, when I stepped into the rough – these size 12s disappeared.

3. Two instances where I was really impressed with several of the golfers. During a back-up at the 13th hole, Morgan Pressel was on the tee waiting to hit her drive. Since there was a delay, Morgan proceeded to walk down and start up a conversation with a 7 or 8 year old girl that she had never met before. While the little girl was shy at first, Pressel continued to talk with her and by the end – she had a new fan. Something tells me that little girl will be talking about her encounter with Pressel for quite a while. On Sunday, Michelle Wie missed a birdie putt on the 16th green. As she was walking off the green and right by me – she tossed her golf ball to an unexpecting little boy. His eyes were as huge as saucers and the look he gave his Dad said it all. Wie could have pouted after missing the putt, but instead took the high road. That is how you create fans…. What you don’t do is…

4. Boos to Dottie Pepper and her comments against the LPGA Championship being in Rochester. Her anti-Rochester rants on multiple occasions were in these eyes – out of line. Sure she can have a opinion, but wait until after the tournament to share them. Blasting Rochester, while the tournament was here was of poor taste. Rochester has been a major stop for years on the LPGA and has supported players like Pepper throughout the years.  Wegmans has been a major corporate sponsor over the years and has been good to the LPGA. Wegmans is one of the reasons that the winner of the LPGA Championship walked away with a check for $370,000.  Rochester being a small market city, is not the reason that NBC, ABC,CBS or ESPN didn’t cover the tournament. The fact that it was the LPGA is probably the main reason for the lack of major television coverage.

5. We got the full spectrum of Rochester weather this weekend. Cool weather to start the tournament, rain on Saturday – followed up by hot and humid on Sunday. Regardless, the fans were troopers and were out in full force. LPGA officials have to think Rochesterians are crazy.We will sit through anything.

I am not sure if the LPGA Championship will be back in Rochester in 2011. Wegmans and Locust Hill have expressed an interest, and as of right now – so have has LPGA officials. The opinion amongst the players, is they are in favor of it returning, albeit it is not overwhelming. What I do know is that the LPGA needs Rochester, NY on the tour and Rochester needs the LPGA. One way or another – there will be a tour stop in 2011. Whether it is a major is a different story. For right now, Cristie Kerr is the defending champion.

After two months of a steady diet of NHL and NBA playoffs, June has brought on a new flavor to our sports infused diet. June has brought us World Cup soccer and starting tomorrow – U.S. Open Golf. Yes,  golf is back in the limelight and this time around, the U.S. Open is going West Coast Style – Pebble Beach to be exact.  Opened in 1919 and designed by James Neville, Pebble Beach golf course is known for its spectacular views of  the Pacific Ocean. 6,828 yards and a Par 72,  – if it sounds good, well you too can play Pebble Beach. Probably not this week, but it can be done. Just be prepared to mortgage the family home as a round of 18 will cost you $495… plus another $35 for a cart.

Of the previous 109 U.S. Open tournaments, Pebble Beach has hosted 4 previous U.S. Opens. Past winners at Pebble Beach are:

1972 – Jack Nicklaus

1982 – Tom Watson

1992 – Tom Kite

2000 – Tiger Woods

The U.S Open has developed the reputation of being tough on the golfers. Higher then usual rough (“Open rough” as it is commonly referred as),  pinched fairways and tough pin placements, leave the golfers beaten after 4 rounds. In fact don’t be surprised if you see even par in contention come Sunday.  In 2006 and 2007, the U.S. Open winner finished at a +5 for the tournament.

So who are the favorites? Well if the past U.S. Opens have taught us anything – expect the unexpected. Last year,  Lucas Glover and Ricky Barnes came out of nowhere to battle it out on Sunday. The year before – Rocco Mediate.  So who is this year’s surprise contender?  Well one player not being talked about – Tiger Woods.  Tiger arrives at Pebble Beach in an unique spot – he not on the short list of favorites. Names like Mickelson, Villegas, Rose, Els and others are mentioned before Woods. In fact Woods is so far out of the limelight – I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the tournament Woods makes a run.

So who will win the 2010 U.S. Open? Do we have another Lucas Glover? Another Frances Quimet? Or will it be a dominating performance by someone like Tiger Woods? No one knows. But starting Thursday morning, 156 golfers will attempt to write their names in the history book as the 110th winner of the U.S. Open. Will you be watching?

Me? I expect to get  a healthy serving of U.S. Open golf this weekend. After all – it only comes around once a year.

By Aaron M Smith

As I was driving home from work today it hit me – is there a better week in sports than the one we are in right now? Think about it – Opening Day with the greatest rivalry in sports, College basketball will name both a King and a Queen, the Frozen Four, and all week – the Masters. Can it get any better?

Yes, here it is – my annual article all about the Masters. The name says it all  – the Masters – the best of the best. The tournament is by invitation only and if the Augusta National Golf Club doesn’t think you make the cut ( excuse the pun), well you better find somewhere else to play for the week.  For the first week of April, Augusta, Georgia is the focus of the golf world.  The Magnolias and Azaleas are in full bloom, and 97 golfers will  fight for the elusive green jacket.

No other course is more recognized than Augusta National Golf Club. Ask even the most marginal of golf fans and they will tell which course has names such as Amen Corner, Hogan’s Bridge and the Eisenhower Tree.  Most fans know that Augusta National built in 1934, is the brainchild of golf great Bobby Jones and course architect Alister MacKenzie. But did you know that while most golf courses in the world have been rated by the USGA – Augusta National stands alone? Only Augusta National has its own rating and has refused to have its course rated by the USGA.

So what will the 201o Masters bring us? In 2009, we watched Angel Cabrera hold of Kenny Perry to win his first green jacket on the second playoff hole. In 2008, it was South African, Trevor Immelmann. This year’s Masters marks the return of Tiger Woods to the PGA.  Tiger who has already won 4 green jackets will be looking for his fifth – one shy of the Jack Nicklaus’s record of six Masters championships. Controversy aside, here is hoping that Tiger has a smooth return to the PGA.

When you hear Jim Nantz on CBS with the famous phrase, ” The Masters:  A time honored tradition” – they aren’t kidding.  Every year the week starts off with an honorary tee shot. In past years it has been Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer. In 2010 Jack Nicklaus takes a turn. No other tournament has a Champions Dinner – hosted by the prior year’s Masters champion.  A Par 3 tournament signals the end of the festivities and the beginning of tournament play.

For years I couldn’t wait for opening day.To me, opening day meant the return of spring and the end of winter.  But now? It is the beginning of the Masters. And this is the only time you will hear me say it – I hope it rains this weekend. But until then – enjoy the week – it is the best sports has to offer.

photo by Jamie Germano D&C Staff photographer

By Aaron M Smith

Brian Gionta, Patrick Kane, Ryan Callahan, Marty Reasoner and Erik Cole.  Most hockey fans would look at this list and see a list of quality NHL players. What most people don’t realize upon first glance is that all of these players  have one thing in common – they are originally from Western, New York.  Long winters, close proximity to Canada, the Buffalo Sabres and the Rochester Americans – Western New York  has long been a perfect recipe to breed NHL-quality players.  On March 28, 2010, a major new ingredient was added to that recipe – the Rochester Institute of Technology men’s hockey team.

Within a 48 hour span, the RIT Tigers sent major shock waves throughout the college hockey world. The 2010 Atlantic Hockey Conference champions knocked off  two college hockey powerhouses – the  University of Denver and the University of New Hampshire to reach the 2010 Frozen Four.

Now it should be noted that the men’s hockey program at RIT has a long history, competing on the Division II and Division III levels. The program has had its share of success during that time, with 8 trips to the Frozen Four and winning 2 national championships – one each at the Division II (1983) and Division III (1985) levels.  However, nothing breeds respect like success on the Division I level and in 2005 – the decision was made to join the Atlantic Hockey Conference.

Over the last 5 years, the Tigers have had a successful introduction to the Division I level, winning the regular season championship 3 times (2007, 2009 and 2010).  Frank Ritter Arena, with a capacity of 2,100 is a consistent sellout.  Air Force goaltender, Andrew Volkening has been on record as saying that Ritter Arena is the hardest place to play for an opposing player.

But for the school without athletic scholarships, their introduction has also brought disappointments.  Until 2010, RIT has struggled in the Atlantic Hockey Conference tournaments and has been shut out from subsequent NCAA hockey tournaments. RIT has also gone 5-19-1 against Division I teams outside of their conference.

So what does last night’s win mean for the Tigers? Well for starters a trip to Detroit for the Frozen Four. For coaches, it brings a major recruiting tool to the forefront; any school success makes it that much easier to recruit. For a school that doesn’t have scholarships, every advantage is needed and utilized.  How about hockey fans? Easy – more hockey.  For Western New York hockey? Similar to the U.S.  men’s hockey team  silver medal run in the 2010 Winter Olympics (Patrick Kane and Ryan Callahan), RIT’s run has brought further respectability within the hockey world for Western New York.  Even the Atlantic Hockey Conference is able to cash in.

For kids, it breeds excitement in the sport. All of the kids who watched RIT’s victory last night, there is one more reason to lace up those skates. One more reason to go to the rink. Today if you asked them if they wanted to be like Brian Gionta, Ryan Callahan or Patrick Kane, I am sure the answer is yes. After last night, I bet if you ask them who they want to play for when they get older,  a lot of their answers changed to the RIT Tigers.

On April 8, 2010 – Detroit, Michigan will be home to a  new  kind of Tiger – the RIT Tigers. For RIT and Western New York that  is priceless.

"Here you go buddy."

By Aaron M Smith

First let me go on the record as saying that I am happy Tiger Woods is returning sooner rather than later to the PGA Tour. However, I am not in favor of Tiger making his return to the Masters. I know, I know  – Augusta National officials have a different opinion about Tiger coming back to Masters. Trust me – I get it.  But for me, the Masters are sacred and Tiger’s return is going to be a media circus. The circus doesn’t belong at Augusta National.

Over the last few days, I have listened to experts say how the Masters is the perfect for Tiger’s return. The familiarity of the Masters for Tiger, Augusta’s ability to control the media and the cordial fans – should allow Tiger to play without distraction. Really? I am always up for a challenge, how about you?. How do we distract Tiger Woods at the Masters? Well, I have brought it upon myself to come up with a list of ways to distract Tiger – some plausible, some ridiculous.  Here they are:

10. During Tiger’s first press conference, which I am sure is going to be interesting – have Tiger Wood’s wife, Elin Nordegren sitting in the front row, taking notes.

9.  Have the course marshals trade in their uniforms for priest costumes.

This would give a new meaning to the green at Amen corner.

8.  Replace those familiar Masters flags on each hole with familiar choices from Victoria Secret. If you don’t know – ask Tiger.

7.  As Tiger is hitting his approach to one of the greens have spectators hold up pictures of  Rachel Uchitel. Ouch!

6.   If Tiger hits a drive that is headed wayward – course marshals yell “Fifty.”  See if he notices the difference.

5.  As Tiger approaches the 18th green, the gallery serenades him with the Righteous Brothers, ” You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.”

4.  Get fellow golfers that are golfing with him to clean their clubs while he is trying to hit and say, “Oh yeah, that feels good..”

3.  Some of the golfers can gain new sponsors – like Viagra and Cialis. A new golf bag with that new sponsorship should certainly provide a distraction.

2. Have Dr. Phil waiting on the first tee box. “Tiger, let’s talk….”

1.  This was already suggested on this site, so I can’t take credit. If you are paired with Tiger Woods on Sunday – hire a Playboy Bunny to be your caddy on Sunday.

In all seriousness, I wish Tiger Woods the best in his return to golf.  But we can have a little fun, right Tiger? Sorry that was a low blow. I promise I’ll stop..
Got a way to distract Tiger Woods? Let’s hear it.

By Aaron M Smith

I am not sure if anyone caught any golf over the weekend, but the 2010 Honda Classic gave us a tasty appetizer in preparation for the main course – the majestic Amen Corner. The name of this nemesis? The “Bear Trap”.  The 15th ,16th and 17th holes of the PGA National Resort & Spa course are named just that. The course is designed by Jack Nicklaus and the “Bear Trap” absolutely wrecked havoc on the PGA golfers all weekend.  In fact watching Vijay Singh plunk his tee shot on the 17th  hole – a 166 yard, Par 3 -  in the water almost made me feel better about my golf game…. almost. Still, cheers to Camilo Villegas for managing to steer clear of trouble all weekend and capturing his second tournament victory on the PGA tour.

While Camilo’s name will begin to come up in conversations regarding the top players on the PGA tour – it is time to continue our look at golfers who may replace Tiger Woods as the best player in the world. Up this week – Padraig Harrington. Harrington joined the tour in 1995 and has not looked back. Having won back to back British Open Tournaments in 2007 and 2008, Padraig broke through on  U.S. soil in 2008 – capturing the PGA Championship. In fact Harrington became only the second PGA golfer in the last 10 years to win back to back major tournaments. The other? You got it – Tiger Woods.

But was this enough for Padraig Harrington? Apparently the answer is no as Harrington decided to make major swing changes right before  the 2009 season. Why did he change? Well, Harrington felt that if he was going to elevate his game to be one of the best in the world, he needed to make changes.  The Irishman felt his game lacked consistency and in order for him to compete over the long haul – he needed to take the step. The result was a difficult 2009 season for Harrington.   Frustrating tournaments and struggles throughout 2009 tested every inch of Harrington’s resolve.

But what makes Harrington so special? He currently ranks right at the PGA average in Driving Distance (275 yards) and Scoring (70.6). The major tell? Harrington’s ability to get out of trouble. Currently Harrington’s sand saves % is 8th in the world at 71.64% .  Compare it to the Tour average of 59.60% and it speaks volumes of Harrington’s ability to get out of trouble and still score high.

So what does 2010 bring? Well if you ask Padraig Harrington, he would probably ask for a major or two. But if his swing continues to improve,  he could find himself replacing Tiger Woods  as the top player on the PGA Tour.

Over the last two days, reporters have been lining up to announce that Tiger Woods  is hitting golf balls. Tiger Woods is running and getting into “golf shape”. In some ways it is a modern day version of Paul Revere’s midnight ride letting fellow New Englanders know that the British were coming. This time it is fellow PGA golfers taking notice. Tiger Woods is coming! Tiger Woods is coming!  With the Masters just a little more then a month away, the question is alive. Will Tiger Woods play at Augusta in 2010?  I believe he won’t and here is why – while Tiger certainly loves the spotlight, he won’t want the Masters (a tournament he absolutely loves)  to be his first tournament back. It will be his first taste of reporters asking questions about that fateful night in November and you can bet they will be relentless. So Tiger will want to get a tournament or two under his belt before playing in a major – which leads me to believe that he won’t be in the Masters. The U.S. Open?  Yes. Masters? No.

Which takes me to the topic – Steve Stricker. As Tiger continues to be away from the game, his stranglehold on the number 1 spot in the rankings grows weak.  Enter Steve Stricker, the #2 golfer currently in the world. Sticker, already known for his smooth swing, started his march to the top in 2009 and with one win already in 2010 -  he has picked up right where he left off.
Stricker joined the PGA tour in 1990 and has accumulated a total of 8 PGA wins  during his career. What makes this number remarkable is the slump he  suffered in the early 2000′s ultimately losing his PGA card in 2004. Using tournament exemptions, Stricker battled his way back on to the tour winning 6 times (one non-PGA event) since 2007. 4 of those wins happened in 2009 and Stricker has already won once  in 2010 ( Northern Trust Open). Stricker’s one knock? Winning a major tournament. While Stricker has six Top 20 finishes in major tournaments, he has not captured the big one.

So what has changed? According to those who know Stricker the best – confidence. Known for his swing and smooth putting, Stricker didn’t know how to close tournaments out. Many golfers will tell you that  you drive for show and you putt for dough. Great rounds Thursday through Saturday get you a late tee time on Sunday. But Sunday is a whole different story. This is where Stricker has struggled in the past and for awhile – appeared to be his achilles heel. But with experience comes wisdom and Stricker has appeared to have figured it out. 4 wins in 2009 and one win in 2010 show signs of a golfer who has put it all together. Maybe that means a major or two in 2010? For now, it certainly looks like a  golfer ready to take the No. 1 spot away from Tiger Woods.

This just in – Tiger Woods interrupted my vacation and I want an apology!! As I was trying to enjoy the last remaining rays of the Florida sun before having to head back to winter,  Tiger Woods was less than 2 hours away – making the world stop.  Tiger Woods stepped up to a podium and time stood still. Even as I spent my lunch at the Cortez Kitchen, eating Fried Oysters and Hush Puppies ( it was Friday and it’s Lent – what can I say), all eyes were glued to the television for those 11 minutes. Tiger if you are out there and reading this – you didn’t owe me an apology before – now you do. My last remaining time in the sun was spent listening to so-called “experts” trying to interpret what he said or better yet – people asking me what I thought his intentions were. Personally, I am more worried about the snap hook I developed with my irons over the  last 3 months of dormancy. Where did that nasty habit come from?

But after those 11 minutes, I am pretty sure I heard a  long and loud collective groan.  No,  it wasn’t from the Fried Oysters settling my stomach. Rather that collective groan   came all the way from Augusta, GA as Masters officials heard the speech and realized that Tiger probably isn’t playing in the 2010 Masters (Note:  I am so glad my ticket application for the Masters was rejected, as this news would have truly provoked a groan from me).  Most golf analysts felt that before February 19th, Tiger would back in time for the 2010 Masters. No way was this disappearing act going to continue for that long.  Tiger would never let the opportunity of winning a Major slip through his fingers. But after those 11 minutes, people aren’t so sure anymore. Now the question is whether Tiger will be back in 2010. Wait- did you just hear that? It was another groan, this time from the West. Its from the people running the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. No Tiger in 2010? It could happen.

So what does this mean outside of a probable 30% drop in attendance and TV viewership? Well for starters it means more Sunday afternoons of watch Ian Poulter and Paul Casey battling it out for the tournament championship. No offense to either golfer, but they are no Tiger in red staring down his opponent during his Sunday charge. By the way, Ian Poulter may have become the first golfer in the history of the PGA Tour on Sunday to actually win a  tournament in a pink leisure suit. But I digress.

It also means that there will be a new No. 1 in golf. Tiger’s stranglehold on the top spot will soon give way to another golfer. But who will it be? Which golfer has the game to take it to the next level and lay claim to that top spot? Well that is what we are going to discuss over the coming weeks. As we lead up to the Masters, we are going to take a look at the golfers most likely to take away  the claim of being the No. 1 in golf.
Until then – I am going to find Tiger. I want an apology….

Some may call it the black sheep of the majors.  Some even forget that it is  a major. But starting Thursday, August 13th, the fourth and final major of the 2009 season gets under way – the PGA Championship. This year, the PGA Championship is being hosted by Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

Hazeltine Golf Club was constructed in 1962 by Robert Trent Jones and will be playing out at approxiametly 7,674 yards, Par 72.  This is the 7th major hosted by the golf course, including the 2002 PGA Championship. It is safe to say that the people of Chaska, Minnesota know what championship golf looks like. The 2002 PGA Championship was won by Rich Beem and it should be noted that in 2002,  4  of the holes on the course were listed among the 50 most difficult holes in the United States.  The addition of fairway bunkers throughout the course since the last major, should only help to increase  the difficulty and headaches for the players.

For those watching this weekend, there are 2 holes to pay particular attention to as they may prove to be pivotal in determining the winner of this year’s 2009 championship:

Hole #7 – A Par 5 hole, that was viewed by many in 2002 as a scoring hole – a chance to make up some ground on the leaderboard. The hole playing out 572 yards was reachable for most golfers in two shots, but new fairway bunkers may force golfers to think twice about their strategy on the hole. In 2002, the hole produced 11 eagles and 148 birdies. Don’t be surprised if golfers use this hole come Sunday to make a late push up the leaderboard.

Hole #16 -  is a difficult Par 4, playing out a 402 yards. Johnny Miller was once quoted as saying that it was “the hardest par 4 I have ever played.”  The hole is surrounded by water and leads to an narrow and elevated green. In 2002, the hole produced 114  bogeys, 51 double bogeys, 48 birdies and 6 “others.”  Needless to say it is not a scoring hole and who ever is leading come Sunday afternoon will surely be holding his breath through the entire hole.

The PGA has also decided to take advantage of this past weekend’s drama, as they have paired Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington (PGA Defending Champion) together for Thursday’s  and Friday’s opening rounds. Expect large crowds to follow this group and with Harrington showing growing confidence in his swing changes – expect the Irishman to be near the top come Sunday afternoon.

Tiger Woods enters this weekend as the odds on favorite – a role Woods usually finds himself  in just about every tournament he enters. But back to back tournament victories has seen Woods playing at a very high level. Still it will be interesting to see if he can avoid some of the mistakes and bad putting he has shown in the earlier 2009 majors.  Furthermore it will be interesting to see if Tiger can push aside the controversy from last week’s ending at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Woods has found himself in the spotlight (more so then usual) after his criticism of a ruling judge during Sunday’s final round. Count on seeing Tiger near the top come Sunday afternoon.

Stewart Cink, the defending 2009 British Open Champion, will be paired with 2009 Masters Champion, Angel Cabrera, and 2009 U.S. Open Champion, Lucas Glover.  The pairing of the current year’s champions in the opening rounds, has been a tradition for the PGA Championship. Cink has continued to play very good golf since his first major and I expect him to be in the mix throughout the tournament.

As for predicting a winner of the 2009 PGA Championship – this writer has learned his lesson – don’t even try. But given that 2009 has already produced 2 unlikely winners in Lucas Glover and Stewart Cink , I am counting on an unlikely name contending for the championship come Sunday.

Enjoy..