Six Australians will compete within the yr’s second main when {the golfing} world’s best take to the Valhalla course in Kentucky.
It’s the fourth time that Valhalla has hosted the most important, and a number of the earlier editions have gone down in historical past as legendary occasions: from Rory McIlroy in 2014, his final main title, to Tiger Woods successful a playoff with a walk-in putt in 2000.
This yr, the Aussie stars can be hoping to make their very own entry into the historical past books – and former Australian professional Paul Gow and 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy are backing the Australians to “make some noise” this weekend.
They ran by means of the hopefuls from down underneath in Fox Sports activities’ Aussies on the PGA Championship preview present.
Day opens up on iconic Masters outfit | 01:29
Jason Day
The 2015 PGA Championship winner hasn’t received a significant since that breakthrough occasion, and endured some ‘darkish instances’ and ongoing accidents within the years that adopted.
However the 36-year-old rediscovered type in 2023 – claiming his first win on tour since 2018 – and is heading into his fifteenth look within the PGA Championship on the again of a really spectacular tied-fourth end at Wells Fargo final weekend. That has seen him leap up 5 locations to nineteenth within the Official World Golf Rating.
It was already his fourth top-10 end in 12 occasions this yr, and he’s solely missed the minimize twice. The 13-time PGA Tour winner, who tied thirtieth on the Masters a month in the past, seems Australia’s finest hope of victory this week.
Paul Gow mentioned: “A whole lot of great things got here out of the Masters there. We watched him good and shut, he was engaged on some stuff underneath (coach) Chris Como underneath stress circumstances and it went very well.”
“His placing and chipping is all the time good. Simply to get that swing in sequence and in the appropriate rhythm he must get, I actually like his velocity in the intervening time … he’s actually enjoying inside himself,” he added.
“I like him this week … you’re going to have to regulate the spin of the ball and I feel Jason will try this.”
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Adam Scott
The 43-year-old is a 14-time winner on the PGA Tour, and he’s again for a whopping twenty fourth try at a PGA Championship crown – having beforehand completed third in 2006 and 2018
He’s had one top-10 end this season from eight occasions.
Geoff Ogilvy mentioned: “I suppose it will be a little bit of a shock (if he received). However he’s such a top quality participant. His motivation stage appears actually excessive. He nonetheless hits the ball extremely nicely.”
Key to Scott’s hopes of claiming a second main crown is his improved placing in current instances, flipping the script on a facet of his recreation that has lengthy been considered as a weak spot. Ogilvy mentioned: “he’s one of many higher putters out on Tour in the intervening time.”
“It’s a protracted course however he hits it lengthy,” Ogilvy added. “If he will get the quick recreation going and maintain that putter going, he can positively get within the combine – and we all know when he will get within the combine he’s good. He’s simply bought to get himself up in there.”
‘Finest I’ve ever seen him swing the membership’ | 00:53
Cameron Smith
The 30-year-old had six PGA Tour wins – together with The Open in 2022 – earlier than he defected to LIV. He’s had three top-10 finishes in LIV in 2024, and impressed on the Masters final month (T6) regardless of some wayward placing.
Gow mentioned: “The Masters, his iron play was pretty much as good as I’ve ever seen. Give this man an opportunity and he’ll begin holing some putts. He’s that good along with his quick recreation.
“Somewhat 65 on the LIV in Singapore places him in good stead, his confidence is excessive.
“If this putter pays consideration in a significant, be careful – he might streak the sphere right here.”
Can Day recreate his 2015 heroics? | 01:30
Min Woo Lee
In 9 occasions this yr, simply as soon as has world quantity 36 Min Woo Lee completed inside the highest 20 – a tie for second on the Cognizant Traditional in early march.
It’s a regarding run, and he wasn’t at his finest on the Masters (T22). However a fired-up crowd might deliver out the most effective within the 25-year-old.
Ogilvy mentioned: “Min Woo can be all jacked up for this one I feel. His recreation, shaping a spherical, it seems like he’ll play nicely for a few of these large ones … He hits the ball lengthy which goes to be required at Valhalla.
“He loves the second, he loves the gang. He completed 18th on this match final yr so he’s bought a little bit little bit of a really feel for doing okay.
“There’s no purpose why Min Woo can’t get proper up there. It’s solely a matter of time till he’s one of many prime two or three gamers on the planet – pretty much as good as his recreation is. And now could be pretty much as good a time as any to get that going.”
McIlroy displays on THAT shot at 10 | 01:07
Cam Davis
The 29-year-old has solely received one PGA Tour occasion, however at 29 he’s nonetheless a participant on the rise – and he impressed on the Masters with a tied-Twelfth end.
Gow mentioned: “The extra majors that Cam Davis performs, the extra snug he’ll turn into. His profession’s been on the rise. A fourth right here within the PGA Championship final yr.
“He’s simply doing all the appropriate issues, he simply takes it inside his stride. He’s bought a wonderful lengthy recreation, it’s simply in regards to the putter. Can the putter listen and the ball go within the gap for him?
“You’ve bought to be lengthy and straight at Valhalla, that’s the place Cam is (strongest). And his iron play, as we’ve seen on the Masters, is outstanding.”
Lucas Herbert
A particular invitation to the PGA Championship is an excellent end result for LIV’s 2024 recruit Lucas Herbert.
“It’s only a nice deal for Lucas,” Ogilvy mentioned of the 28-year-old.
“Lucas might be an underrated participant. He’s an extremely good putter, makes putts from all over the place. He can hit the ball a great distance, and when he’s hitting the ball nicely he’s a tough man to shake. He’s a little bit of a bulldog. If he will get within the combine he’s going to hold round for a very long time.
“He’s constructed for large moments. He’s simply bought to get by means of the beginning, get snug. And if he’s enjoying nicely, he can positively make some noise this week.”