The second major of the year gets under way next week as Bethpage State Park’s famed Black Course hosts the US PGA Championship.
Here, Press Association Sport looks at five contenders for the title on Long Island.
Tiger Woods
It’s an incredible privilege to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Considering the recipients, history, and what this means to me and my family, it’s also very humbling. Thank you all for your support and I hope this inspires others to never give up on their dreams. pic.twitter.com/33CJIHwQvz
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 7, 2019
Where else to start than with the 15-time major champion? Woods’ emotional victory in the Masters last month was his first major title in 11 years. A lot of the focus in the immediate aftermath was understandably on the 43-year-old’s comeback following spinal fusion surgery, but the manner of the win was equally important. The final round was a masterclass in how to win a major under pressure – playing safe on the 12th when his rivals found the water, making birdies on the two par-fives on the back nine and then using the slope on the 16th to make another. A closing 70 was nothing special in terms of scoring, but it was precisely what was needed and similar tactics will be required at Bethpage, where Woods was the only player to finish under par in winning the 2002 US Open.
Brooks Koepka
Rory McIlroy
Phil Mickelson
The correct answer is Phil Mickelson. He recorded two of his record six runner-up finishes in U.S. Opens played at Bethpage. In 2002, he finished three strokes behind Tiger Woods. In 2009, he earned a three-way tie for second, two strokes back of Lucas Glover.
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) May 7, 2019
Mickelson could be forgiven for focusing more on the US Open given that he needs to win that event to complete the career grand slam, but his record at Bethpage is superb. The left-hander finished runner-up there in both 2002 and 2009 and was also 13th in The Barclays in 2016. Mickelson has missed the cut in three of his last five events but did win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this season and was also second in the Desert Classic.
Dustin Johnson
