2022 PGA Championship: Top 10 Power Rankings at Southern Hills
The second men’s major championship of the year is upon us.
The 104th PGA Championship comes to Southern Hills Country Club May 19-22. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, venue is hosting for the fifth time and first since 2007.
The Perry Maxwell design opened in 1936 and quickly gained notoriety. It hosted the 1946 U.S. Women’s Amateur, 1958 U.S. Junior Championship, and 1958 U.S. Open before its run of PGA Championships beginning in 1970.
As it states in the name, the course is known for its rolling Oklahoma hills that can make club selection tricky, especially in the traditionally gusty winds.
Speaking of, the weather forecast looks to be dry, windy, and warm. Gusts of 10-20 miles per hour or more are expected all four tournament days.
Southern Hills measures 7,556 yards and plays to a par 70. The rough doesn’t expect to be terribly long, but precision off the tee still helps to avoid occasional tree line or flier lies out of the Bermuda.
The Maxwell greens are undulating and expect to play plenty firm and fast.
The winning score in 2007 was 8-under when Tiger Woods won by two.
The course has evolved since then, having undergone a Gil Hanse restoration in recent years that restored Southern Hills closer to its original design with more short grass, less tree line, and more historically accurate green complexes.
Southern Hills expects to provide a thorough test of golf.
I don’t think it favors one specific skill set, but you can’t fake it around here.
Firm conditions could help out the shorter hitters this week gain ground on the bombers.
There are a lot of headlines this week. No Phil to defend his title. Tiger giving it another go in a major. Scottie Scheffler looking to gain the second leg of the Grand Slam.
The PGA Championship is known to provide some surprise winners. With the depth of talent in the game, I could see it happening.
But a lot of alphas have been winning lately, and I’m here to bring you the top 10 best bets to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy by the end of the weekend: