PGA Championship: Tiger Woods and others to watch at Bethpage Black

The 101st PGA Championship starts on May 16th out in New York at Bethpage Black. Obviously, I’m turning in to watch Tiger Woods. That doesn’t mean he is the only one I will be watching for.

Every time we have a Major, there is going to be a huge focus on Tiger Woods. It’s no different at the PGA Championship this week. I want to watch him, because not only is he chasing Jack Nicklaus, he is the reason I got into golf.

Whenever he is on TV, he captivates more than arguably any athlete in any sport. When he is playing at his best, he cannot be touched. Whether he is ever able to play like that again is a question for another day. The fact that he can play mediocre to pretty good golf and still win a major is a testament to how much he still has in the tank.

He won the Masters this year while leaving a decent amount on the table. This isn’t to say everyone else played incredible, as many of the other top players on the leaderboard did as well.

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Now, we are at a course that Tiger Woods has played well at in the past. Well, at least when there are majors being held there. Even at The Barclay’s in 2012, he started well until an injury cause him to struggle throughout the remainder of the week.

I’m so excited to see how Tiger Woods plays this week. Can he repeat the success that he had during both the 2002 U.S. Open (which he won) as well as the 2009 U.S. Open (which he finished T-6th)? I sure hope so. I’m a Tiger Woods supporter, and i enjoy seeing him succeed.

He isn’t the only golfer that is going to be holding my attention once the PGA Championship tees off. It doesn’t matter if I think some of these players are going to win or not. Most of them I just enjoy watching.

I’ll start with another one of the favorites. Dustin Johnson. He has missed out on a couple majors that he could’ve won, or was heavily favored and thought of to win. Whether it be due to a ridiculous bunker designation (or lack thereof), bad greens (luckily Chambers Bay fixed those), bad footing at a house in Georgia, or his suspension back in 2012 and 2014.

Watching Johnson hit the ball is breathtaking, like the drive he hit down in Mexico earlier this year, driving the green over some trees on a 364! yard par-4.

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Just a monster drive. The way DJ can rip the ball, and use his length to recover from bad shots, or to make a run at any point always makes him enjoyable to watch. Plus, being a tall guy myself, I like seeing tall golfers succeed.

I keep rooting for Tommy Fleetwood. The guy plays incredible at events, but it seems to only be for three of his four rounds. He keeps having a rough round that drops him out of contention. With how difficult the PGA Championship is going to be this year, a rough round could really derail him. Doesn’t mean I wont be rooting for the guy.

As someone who roots for all things University of Washington, anytime C.T. Pan is on, it makes me happy. After receiving his first win this year, he has started to gain a little more notoriety on Tour. He is still quite the long shot to win at 150/1.

One of my favorite names in golf is the next guy on my list. I really enjoy watching Kiradech Aphibarnrat play. Not many people ever win majors, to me, Aphibarnrat just feels like the kinda guy who is going to end up with one or two when all is said and done. In the current game, where guys look like they were picked out of NFL secondaries with their body types, it’s nice to see guys like Aphibarnrat show you don’t have to be a gym rat to succeed.

Tony Finau is just so likable and happy, that I always end up smiling when he is on TV. Not only that, but after the ankle injury at the 2018 Masters, he showed toughness as well. He’s pretty good also, finishing in the top ten in four of the last five majors. Even though he only has one win on his record, I would love to see Finau take the Major win at this weeks PGA Championship.

Lastly, it’s my favorite guy on tour. As someone who has been made fun of throughout his life for doing things in an unorthodox manner, I’ve always enjoyed watching Jim Furyk. I don’t care what people have to say about his swing, but I love it. It’s fantastic, and I just enjoy rooting for outliers. It’s been 16 years since he won his only Major, but I’m going to rooting for him more than anyone else this week.

Besides Tiger Woods. I love me some Tiger Woods golf. I’m going to enjoy every shot I see on TV this week. Good or bad, from people I root for or don’t, it’s going to be a great PGA Championship. It doesn’t matter who you are rooting for or against, we can all enjoy this great event out at Bethpage Black.

Next. Tiger Woods: How the Big Cat can get back to World No. 1. dark

Unless you are rooting against Tiger. Then I don’t like you.

Just kidding…. maybe.

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