The 2019 PGA Championship Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is the 2019 PGA Championship? Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th of May 2019
Where is the 2019 PGA Championship? Bethpage State Park BK Course, Farmingdale, New York, U.S.
What is the total prize fund of the 2019 PGA Championship? $11 million
What television channel can I watch the 2019 PGA Championship on in the UK? Sky Sports Golf
Where can I stream the 2019 PGA Championship in the UK? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the tournament online via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for the 2019 PGA Championship? https://ems.pgalinks.com/ticketing/index.cfm?sale_id=429&utm_source=pgachampionship_com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=2019_pga&utm_term=ticket_sale&utm_content=Tickets_referral
What is the course yardage at Bethpage State Park (Black Course)? 7,438 yards
What is the par at Bethpage State Park (Black Course)? 70
What is the course information for Bethpage State Park (Black Course)? The Black Course is renowned as one of the most challenging layouts in world golf due to its severe bunkers and elevated greens which puts a premium on long and accurate hitting tee-to-green
What is the predicted weather for the 2019 PGA Championship? Partly cloudy with cooler conditions around 15c expected throughout and low winds through all four days of play
THE HISTORY
Rory McIlroy is the only player to have recorded multiple PGA Championships (2012 & 2014) in the previous ten editions while Whistling Straits is the only course to have hosted multiple championships (2010 & 2015). The switch to May – altered from its traditional hosting as the last major of the season – makes for a different test as weather conditions and course set-up will be abundantly different during this time of year. The average winning margin of 2.2 strokes is relatively high for a major, however due to Bethpage Blacks' notorious difficulty, there could be many players in the mix heading into the back nine on Sunday with so many of the best players in form around a course that demands only the very best all-round game.
Players who have performed well in the PGA Championship in recent years as well as in the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Open and 2012 and 2016 PGA Tour Barclays - all which were played at Bethpage Black - will determine course form.
THE FAVOURITES
Tiger Woods
Woods makes his first start since claiming his 15th major title at last month's Masters. The month-long break will have given him much-needed rest and leave him physically prepared for the demanding Bethpage Black. For Tiger to have won another major after all his injury woes is nothing short of remarkable, so to expect him to win back-to-back seems unrealistic. Nonetheless, he has won and finished T6 around here in both previously held U.S. Opens and is ranked seventh in SG: total, suggesting that there is little wrong with Tiger’s all-round game for him to out-think and out-play the field. Factor in his runner-up finish in the championship last year and the evidence proposes Tiger is truly ready to chase down Jack’s 18 record.
Jason Day
The former world number one and 2015 PGA Champion is starting to show signs of the form that took him to the top. A T5 around Augusta last month suggests his focus is on the main championships and with an average finish of 14th from two starts around Bethpage in the Barclays, course experience will only help. An average finish of ninth since 2014 in this championship further suggests that the PGA set-up the courses that suit his game. Ranked eighth in SG: total shows his all-round game is sharp, and if his approach-the-green game is strong – where he is currently ranked 145th – then he could be difficult to stop.
Brooks Koepka
The big hitting American really does show up for the majors having so nearly claimed his fourth when finishing T2 as last month’s Masters. Impressively, the 2018 champion has not finished worse than T15 in this championship since 2014 with an average finish of eighth. What’s more, he heads to New York having finished fourth in his previous start, meaning his game will be ready to contend once again.
THE OUTSIDERS
Sergio Garcia
The Spaniard heads to New York with back-to-back top five finishes on tour, something he has not achieved in three seasons. The last time he possessed this type of form, he claimed a victory and finished T5 in two majors, suggesting Sergio gains more confidence than most. Although he has performed poorly in this championship in recent years, he does possess phenomenal course form around Bethpage, having finished inside the top ten from his three previous starts there. Ranked 10th in SG: total further highlights why he could be a contender this week, although his short-game will need improve as he currently ranks 165th in SG: around-the-green.
Louis Oosthuizen
The former major winner has finished second or better in all four major championships during his career thus far showing the calibre of player the South African is. Oosthuizen heads to New York with solid form and has been in contention three times this season so will feel he is close. Notably, he has an average finish of 12th from two starts in the Barclays which shows his liking for Bethpage. Ranked third in SG: around-the-green will serve him well this week, but if he is to contend he will need to be sharper with his approach game where is currently ranked 164th.
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