Golf’s main merrygoround, which now sees the video games best prizes up for grabs as soon as a month throughout a wonderful stretch from April to July, has stopped in New York, with the US PGA Championship teeing off at present.
The world’s greatest gamers had headed to Augusta just a few weeks in the past with all of the speak about how Rory McIlroy was in nice form to finish a profession Grand Slam, the sport now had an enormous three in him, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler and that LIV gamers would wrestle as soon as they performed a ‘correct’ event once more.
How issues have modified. Ideas of McIlroy ending his eight-year main drought have been dampened after his missed reduce on the Masters and by the subdued Northern Irishman himself.
Rahm is in such nice type the massive three is edging in direction of an enormous one. And after some spectacular play at Augusta, it seems the Saudi-backed LIV boys can nonetheless play a bit.
Purple-hot Rahm
The Spaniard arrives at Oak Hill because the favorite. Rahm’s Augusta triumph marked his fourth win of the season and in his final PGA Tour begin he was runner-up on the Mexico Open.
There are hardly any flaws in Rahm’s sport and the world No.1, whose greatest end at a US PGA Championship got here in 2018 when he was joint fourth, has discovered a approach to put himself in rivalry nearly in all places he performs.
Extra: Metro newspaper
At Augusta, Rahm trailed Brooks Koepka by two pictures coming into the ultimate spherical and wanted 4 holes to shut the hole, pulled forward two holes later and by no means relinquished the lead.
LIV and kicking
Identical to on the Masters, there shall be 18 LIV Golf members within the area at Oak Hill the place they’ll as soon as once more look to show critics incorrect following a largely spectacular displaying at Augusta final month.
Twice PGA Championship winners Phil Mickelson and Koepka, who completed joint-second on the Masters, headline a gaggle from the Saudi-backed circuit that features Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed.
Given LIV Golf options 54-hole occasions with 48 gamers, no cuts and paydays for all, critics questioned whether or not its members might be aggressive on the largest levels. They’ve largely confirmed to date this isn’t an issue.
Spieth chases Slam
Jordan Spieth, who withdrew from final week’s AT&T Byron Nelson citing a left wrist damage, hopes to tee it up at Oak Hill and make his seventh try at finishing the profession Grand Slam.
Within the yr’s first main Spieth made a final-round cost up the Masters leaderboard however a bogey on the final dashed his possibilities as he went on to complete fourth.
Doubting Thomas
Justin Thomas missed the reduce on the Masters and can now hope a return to the event the place he has gained his two majors will carry a return to type.
The American triumphed finally yr’s US PGA when he carded a 67 to beat a seven-shot deficit within the ultimate spherical at Southern Hills earlier than rising because the winner in a three-hole combination play-off.
However in 11 PGA Tour begins this season, Thomas has solely managed two top-tens.
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