US PGA Championship

Preview: US PGA Championship

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 06 August 2013

Sports Mole looks ahead to the final Major of the year - the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill, New York.

The final Major of the golfing calendar is just two days away and Sports Mole has looked over the course and contenders for what is sure to be a gripping four days at Oak Hill.

Tiger Woods in a practice round for the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill on August 5, 2013 © Getty Images

The Course

Name: Oak Hill Country Club, Rochester, New York
Distance: 7,163 yards
Par: 70
Tee times: Click here
Signature hole: 13th, Par five. One of five holes where water comes into play, the 594-yard beast requires accuracy off the tee if you want to reach it in two. Those who go for the jugular have to shoot over the hazard to a well-bunkered green.
Info: The only club to host the US Amateur, US Open, PGA Championship, Senior US Open, Senior PGA Championship and Ryder Cup, Oak Hill is a textbook PGA course that rewards those who pull off risky shots but punishes those who don't. Narrow fairways lined by thick rough will make the field think twice about pulling the driver out of the bag on many holes. It's 10 years since the PGA Championship was last there. Back in 2003, Shaun Micheel won his only Major by two shots, finishing the tournament on four-under. This year it's a mightily strong lineup in Rochester, as 99 of the world's top 100 turn out. South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, ranked 16, is the only member of the top 100 not present because of back and neck problems.

Last year's winner: Rory McIlroy (-13), won by a record eight strokes for his second career Major.

Six Contenders

Tiger Woods gestures after holing a putt at Firestone CC on August 2, 2013

Tiger Woods - What? You were expecting us to tell you how, despite being heavy favourite, Woods isn't going to end the longest run without a Major in his career? Nope. You can't discount the world number one, no matter how much money the bookies have made on him letting punters down for the last five years. He goes into this tournament on the back of a scorching win at Firestone and this is perhaps his best chance to end the wait for a 15th Major crown.

Odds: 4/1

Adam Scott - Scott broke his Major duck at The Masters earlier this year and he's third-favourite for the US PGA title this week. If the Aussie's putter ticks, then he'll be hard to stop as his true ball-striking is up there with the best in the game. Currently behind Woods, Phil Mickelson, McIlroy and Justin Rose in the world rankings, a win could take him into the top three.

Odds: 18/1

Sweden's Henrik Stenson practicing at the US PGA Championship on August 5, 2013

Henrik Stenson - Discounting Woods, Sweden's Stenson is arguably the golfer in form at the moment. He has been the top European at the Scottish Open, British Open and last week's event at Firestone. He hasn't come outside of the top three in those tournaments and also ranks sixth on the PGA Tour in fairways hit and second in greens in regulation.

Odds: 25/1

Keegan Bradley tees off at the second hole on November 29, 2012

Keegan Bradley - The winner in 2011, Bradley was a distant joint-second alongside Stenson at last week's WGC-Bridgestone - a tournament he won last year. He heads to Oak Hill with five top-four finishes this season but no victory on Tour in 2013. If Bradley can keep it straight, his length off the tee could be a big advantage.

Odds: 35/1

Luke Donald reacts after his birdie on the 13th hole during the second round of the US Open on June 14, 2013

Luke Donald - One man who lacks a few yards off the tee is England's Donald. A player often labelled as one of the greatest to never win a Major, Donald's share of ninth place at Firestone last week sees him head to Oak Hill in a bit of form. The hugely successful year of 2011 seems a long time ago for the 35-year-old, who has dipped to ninth in the world rankings. If his putter is feeling it, Donald's accuracy off the tee should be a platform for a good finish.

Odds: 40/1

Miguel Angel Jimenez - Crowd-favourite Jimenez seems surprisingly long with the bookies considering his recent form on both sides of the Atlantic. He led the Open at Muirfield last month and seems at home on American soil as he tied for third place in the WGC last weekend. Whether the Spaniard can last it with the younger guys over four days is the problem, but at 150/1 we think he's worth a punt.

Odds: 150/1

Sports Mole says: Scott to win his second Major of 2013. There is such a spotlight on Tiger to end his wait for a Major that we're tipping the Aussie, working with Woods's former caddie Steve Williams, to be victorious at Oak Hill.