They call it 'Glory's Last Shot' - and this week represents the final opportunity for the world's top golfers to win a major championship in 2015. The US PGA Championship is held at the aesthetically beautiful Whistling Straits course on the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. This course is a par 72 with a myriad of bunkers, a venue which suits decent ball strikers and bombers. Wind is a factor, but it won't play like an Open, and high ball hitters have shown up well here in the past.
Golf is really exciting right now, a result of a kaleidoscope of personalities and story lines. The first story line is the return of world number one Rory McIlroy, back to defend his PGA title after recovering from a ruptured ankle ligament that caused him to miss The Open at St Andrews. McIlroy will play in the first two rounds with Open champion Zach Johnson, and Jordan Spieth, the American who won the Masters and US Open this year and is threatening McIlroy's status at the top of the rankings. What is intriguing about the pair is their contrasting dispositions; McIlroy is all artistry and swagger, a devastating long game the foundation for his success, while 22 year old Spieth is a competitor for the ages, in the Jack Nicklaus mould, with a putting touch that would appear in the best dreams of regular handicappers.
The personalities include our own Shane Lowry; the everyman with bags of talent who is now 19th in the world following his gutsy win at the WGC; the in form Bubba Watson, a loser in a play off at Whistling Straits in 2010, and Rickie Fowler, the colourful Californian who thrilled the masses in the manner of his win at the Players Championship back in May.
For Tiger Woods, his pre tournament talk has been about mosquitoes and 'playing better' - a sad demise for the figure who dominated a sporting generation. Justin Rose is the form horse, after contending at the Bridgestone Invitational and posting a top 10 finish at The Open. Dustin Johnson has history around this course, narrowly missing out on the Wanamaker Trophy in 2010, while Brooks Koepka is a rapidly improving player in a good place with his game.
In terms of selections, I am going for Jason Day of Australia as the headline tip at 14/1. I was so impressed by the strength of character the 27 year old displayed in winning the Canadian Open, one week after a heartbreaking failure to reach the play off at The Open. Day closed the deal with a brilliant putt on 18 in Canada for his second tour win this year. His game is strong in every facet, he has 9 top 10 finishes in majors and he contended until midway through the final round at Whistling Straits in 2010, when an inferior player. Everything points towards a big performance.
I put forward other two each way recommendations. Japan's Hideki Matsuyama has an exceptional long game which I believe will suit this Pete Dye designed course. 45/1 chance Matsuyama won the Memorial Tournament last year and has posted finishes inside the top 20 in all 3 majors this year. The 23 year old also closed with a 66 in Ohio last week and I believe he is often overlooked due to his nationality and low profile. The other player I like at odds of 50/1 is the confident American Patrick Reed, a big hitter that is not afraid to win and who has posted 3 top 25 finishes in the majors this year. Reed performed very well at the Ryder Cup and I believe he would relish a challenge if in contention on Sunday.
