Did you hear what Tiger Woods said at his press conference the other day? When asked if it was one of the more important PGA Championships of his career and what it meant for the rest of his season, Woods said quote, “I’m just trying to get my game better for years to come.”
What?!
And there it is. The sound of defeat. I think I just heard a thud. The man who, at one time, was on pace to become the greatest golfer of all-time, has effectively raised the white flag. Woods is playing in his 6th event in the last 11 weeks and just his 10th of 2015, and he’s also heading toward No. 300 in the world like a car rolling downhill with no brakes.
But while Woods’ career is quickly being relegated to nothing, there are several guys in the field at Whistling Straits this week who are serious contenders to raise the Wanamaker Trophy. Jordan Spieth seems to have a lost a bit of steam, and I don’t trust Bubba Watson right now. The guy is way too hard on himself. I like Jason Day to win his first major championship on Sunday, and here’s why:
I’ve Got a Feeling
The guys sure feels like he’s due doesn’t he? Day could have won the U.S. Open had it not been for a bout of vertigo and probably should have made it into the three-man playoff at the Open Championship if not for committing the cardinal sin of leaving a must-make birdie putt short (never up, never in!).
Where It All Began
Whistling Straits is where it all started for Day. In his first major championship appearance here back in 2010, Day finished tied for 10th, and he has eight Top 10s in the 19 majors he’s played since. What’s more, Day’s record on Pete Dye-designed courses is fantastic: 4th at TPC Louisiana, 6th at TPC Sawgrass, 18th at TPC River Highlands, and 9th at Harbour Town.
Number Crunching
I always say, the numbers never lie. Day ranks in the single-digits in several statistical categories on pgatour.com including 3rd in Driving Distance (314 yards), 7th in Total Strokes Gained (1.316), 2nd in Birdie Average (4.56), 8th in Scoring Average (69.819), and 2nd in All-Around Ranking (262). He’s also 2nd in Putting Average (1.720), and 5th in Scrambling (65.52%).
If 15 events played so far in 2015, Day has two wins, a 3rd place finish, seven Top 10s, ten Top 25s, and the guy’s only missed two cuts.
No one hits it longer and higher than Day, and if nothing else, I think I just like the way it rhymes. Jason Day will win the PGA.