It’s time for the second major of 2024
Valhalla Golf Course is the venue for the PGA Championship and first major to be hosted in Kentucky since 2014 which was won by Rory McIlroy. Valhalla is a 7,588 yard par 71 and was designed by Jack Nicklaus. 16 LIV Tour members will participate at Valhalla which includes 2023 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka. The field of 156 golfers includes major champions Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods, McIlroy, Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas. Jordan Spieth has an opportunity to create history by becoming the sixth golfer to win all four majors this weekend.
McIlroy has won two tournaments since the Masters with partnering Shane Lowry at Zurich Classic of New Orleans and a fourth Wells Fargo Championship victory. Two of McIlroy’s four wins came at the PGA Championship but his last major victory was 10 years ago. McIlroy’s strength is off the tee as he is currently ranked second in PGA Tour Driving Distance category. McIlroy has played 14 PGA Championships and finished inside the top 10 in both 2022 and 2023 edition. It will be difficult for four-time major champion to focus on his game especially with not been re-elected to PGA Tour policy board and filing divorce from wife Erica Stoll. McIlroy will play day one & two with LIV Tour member Dustin Johnson and 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose.
Lowry has played in 12 PGA Championships and his best finish was a tied fourth at Kiawah Island in 2021. The Offaly native won his first event since 2022 BMW PGA Championship in New Orleans three weeks ago but followed it up with a tied 47th at Quail Hollow. Lowry has been poor on the greens as he is currently ranked 168th in PGA Tour Strokes Gained Putting category and will need an improvement at Valhalla. Lowry is capable of winning a big event as he won 2019 The Open at Royal Portrush. Lowry will play the first two rounds with 2015 PGA Championship winner Jason Day and 2023 DP World Tour Championship victor Nicolai Hojgaard.
Padraig Harrington won 2008 PGA Championship and will play at Valhalla as a past champion. The Dubliner has played in 24 PGA Championships and his best recent finish was a tied fourth at Kiawah Island in 2021. Harrington comes into Valhalla off a tied eight finish at Champions Tour major Regions Tradition. Harrington will play day one & two with Sam Burns and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed.
Scheffler has won four times in 2024 and is looking to win his first major as a father. 2024 Masters champion has been remarkable as he is currently ranked first in PGA Tour Scoring Average, Strokes Gained total, Birdie Average, Strokes Gained Approach the Greens and Greens in Regulation percentage. Koepka has won three PGA Championships, holds the record for lowest 72 hole score in Bellerive and comes into Valhalla off a win at LIV Tour Singapore. Jon Rahm’s best PGA Championship result is a tied fourth in 2018 and hasn’t finished outside the top 10 this year on LIV Tour. in the space of 11 months Ludvig Aberg has won on both PGA Tour, DP World Tour, played in a Ryder Cup, finished runner-up at Augusta and has recovered from a knee injury for Valhalla.
After everything that has happened in golf especially lack of movement between Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund & PGA Tour it would be nice if McIlroy ended his major drought this weekend. Tommy Fleetwood is in great form after finishing tied third in this years Masters and is a great each way bet for Valhalla. It would also be fantastic if both Lowry & Harrington make halfway cut and are in contention going into Sunday’s final round.