GolfPlayerMania

The World Series.  The Super Bowl.  The Masters.  The PGA Championship.  These are just a few of sports’ greatest tournaments of all time.  These events are where legends are born, where good players become great and where dreams are fulfilled or shattered all in an instant.

The PGA Championship is one of four major U.S. tournaments for golf.  Perhaps the greatest run of success at the PGA Championship belonged to Jack Nicklaus, who won four PGA titles and finished in the top four nine times in a span of 13 years.  Tiger Woods most recently became the first player to win back-back PGA Championship since the 1930s, but Nicklaus’ streak is the most impressive.

The 2008 PGA Championship was a thrilling event, with Padraig Harrington coming from behind on the final day to outlast Sergio Garcia.  This tournament was notable for the absence of the world’s best, Tiger Woods, who was out with reconstructive knee surgery.  Harrington fired a 72-hole score of 277, winning tournament by 1 stroke.

The 2009 Championship is being held at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota from August 13-16.  This golf course held the 2002 PGA Championship and will host the Ryder Cup in 2016.  The length of the course from the Championship tees is 7,674 yards.  One of the most challenging holes on the course is #16, which has to be played over Hazeltine Lake.  Golf professional Johnny Miller is noted as saying this hole was “probably the hardest par four I ever played.”

There are three main prizes up for grabs at the PGA Championship; the Wanamaker Trophy, cash and Fedex cup points.  The total prize pool for the 2008 Championship was $7.5 million dollars with first place receiving $1.35 million.  For 2009 the prize pool will be higher, along with the prize for winning the tournament. 

The Fedex cup standings will be altered with this tournament as well due to the awarding of points based on placement in the final results.  Steve Stricker leads the FedEx cup standings heading into this tournament, but other golfers such as Tiger Woods, Kenny Perry and Zach Johnson are within striking distance.  Who will win this year?  Will Tiger continue to cement his legacy?  Will there be another thriller finish similar to last year?  Time will only tell in short order, as the tournament begins on August 13.