Form Guide: Australians at the US PGA
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 US PGA Championship | Preview | 11 Aug 2010
iseekgolf’s Bruce young looks at the Australians in this week’s PGA Championship field at Whistling Straits and assesses their chances.
Adam Scott
Scott indicated he was nearing his best with a solid 9th place finish last week at the Bridgestone Championship. Importantly for the Queenslander’s chances is that he produced one of his only four top ten major championship finishes in 40 attempts at this venue in 2004. He led the Australians at the recent Open Championship and it would not surprise if he did so again.
Geoff Ogilvy
Ogilvy’s current form is a concern for his many fans. After such a great start to the season in Hawaii when he was placed 9th in the world ranking after his victory on at Kapalua he has slipped to 32nd. There were some positive and encouraging signs last week but it is hard to imagine him contending this week never mind winning.
Michael Sim
Sim battled injury earlier in the year forcing him to withdraw from what would have been his debut at the Masters. He gave an indication last week when third at the Turning Stone Resort Championship that he was back to the sort of form that saw him dominate the Nationwide Tour in 2009 and finish runner up at Torrey Pines early in 2010. At his best he is capable of contending in an event like this.
Jason Day
Jason Day was superb when winning in Dallas. Interestingly Day played only his first major championship at the recent Open Championship, earning a start very late in the piece there. He has not missed a cut since and his 22nd place finish last week in Akron was another solid effort. There is little doubt that day will contend in major championships before too long. It may be that this week is a little too early for that but if he did then few would be surprised.
John Senden
Senden’s recent form gives little hope for more than a made cut. In 21 starts in 2010 he has yet to record a top ten which against this week’s company is not good enough for him to be any sort of chance for contention.
Stuart Appleby
Appleby bounced back with vengeance at the recent Greenbrier Classic with his final round of 59 to win for the first time in four years and announce to the world that he is back. Understandably he was less impressive last week at the Bridgestone but he is one of Australia’s most accomplished players and it would not surprise to see him lead the Australians this week. This will be the 14th time he has played the PGA Championship with a best of 4th at the 2000 event. He was a solid 17th at Whistling Straits in 2004.
Steve Elkington
Elkington won this event 15 years ago and has been inside the top three on three occasions since, including when runner up in 2005. He did not play the event when it was played at Whistling Straits in 2004. Elkington has been making a lot of cuts lately although seldom contending. His 10th place finish last week at the Turning Stone Resort was one of only two top tens this season but he has been more consistent than he has for a while.
Marc Leishman
Leishman earned his way into the event courtesy of his brilliant rookie season in 2009 and although a little inconsistent this season he has done enough to suggest that 2010 was certainly no fluke. He was 16th at his last start at the Greenbrier Classic and earlier in the season was 7th at the AT&T and 7th at Torrey Pines.
Matt Jones
Jones has really developed as a player this year in what is his third season on the PGA Tour. His 7th place at Quail Hollow on a great golf course against a strong field was good but so too was his 5th at the John Deere Classic. He has played only the one Major championship previously that coming in 2009 when he was forced to withdraw after an opening round of 78 at Bethpage. He has earnings over US$1.1 million in 2010 which suggests he is not out of place in this field.
