Mark Humphrey/Associated Press
The first of golf’s four significant championships is determined to happen this week, with the PGA Championship foundation on Thursday at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.
Golfers had to adjust when COVID-19 forced the suspension of the 2020 season and the cancellation of The Players Championship in March.
However the PGA used to be amongst the main to get things lend a hand up and running, foundation with the Charles Schwab Self-discipline in June. Now, significant championship season is here.
Who’re one of the most most tip gamers to quiz at TPC Harding Park? Here is a more in-depth seek for at a pair top contenders in the field, besides a pair of likely sleeper picks.
Match Files
Where: TPC Harding Park
Dates: Aug. 6-9
TV Coverage: ESPN, CBS, ESPN+ (streaming) PGAChampionship.com (streaming)
Top Contenders
Brooks Koepka
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It could perhaps perhaps well perhaps peaceable come as no shock Koepka is starting up to kick things into high gear ahead of the main significant. He lives for the sizable ones.
The 2019 PGA Championship winner performed in a tie for 2nd at the WGC FedEx-St. Jude Invitational final weekend and may well well head into this week feeling extra assured about his sport.
All in all, this has been a wretched season for Koepka. He has already neglected three cuts and ranks 63rd on tour by formulation of strokes obtained. At the identical time, Koepka persistently appears to play his finest on the finest of phases.
The 30-year-outdated tied a PGA Championship file by firing a 63 in the gap round final year, and he adopted that with a round of 65 on Friday. Now not even a final-round 74 may well well perhaps lend a hand him from taking pictures his 2nd consecutive Wanamaker Trophy.
Koepka is also having a strong 2020, nevertheless there may well be no motive to not regard him as one of many favorites as the defending champion and a guy who positioned fourth or better in every of ultimate year’s majors.
Mark Humphrey/Associated Press
While Koepka extinct the St. Jude Invitational to get lend a hand heading in the correct direction, Thomas stayed hot by inserting on for a three-shot victory.
The select used to be Thomas’ third on the year, and he now ranks No. 1 both in the First price World Golf Rating besides the FedEx Cup standings. Admire Koepka, Thomas has additionally neglected his part of cuts. However he appears to fill it rolling at the beautiful time.
Unlike Koepka, Thomas is scoring in all areas. He ranks first in strokes obtained in formulation and strokes obtained from tee to inexperienced. The University of Alabama product additionally leads the Tour in entire strokes obtained.
Thomas will likely be having a seek for for his 2nd Wanamaker after taking pictures the PGA Championship in 2017, and he heads to TPC Harding Park at the tip of his sport. In actuality, it would not be a shock to glimpse Thomas and Koepka in the final pairing on Sunday.
Top Sleepers
Max Homa
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Why not fill some religion in a California shrimp one?
Homa has quietly had a good 2020 season to this level. The Burbank native has a pair of top-10s and had been on an especially just correct poke ahead of the suspension of play in March. Homa has struggled a shrimp bit since, as he neglected the reduce again in four of his first five tournaments after the resumption of play.
However, it would not be a shock to glimpse him string collectively some just correct rounds at TPC Harding Park. Homa burst from the gate in the main round of both the 3M Birth and St. Jude Invitational, and he is undoubtedly in a position to going low.
Homa ranks 45th in strokes obtained off the tee and 53rd in strokes obtained in formulation. If he can tidy things up throughout the greens and roll some putts in, the SoCal shrimp one is also one to quiz this weekend.
Abraham Ancer
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Ancer appears due to damage thru one of this verbalize day.
The 29-year-outdated has been shut to notching his first Tour victory on a pair of times, with a pair of runner-up finishes coming at the American Explain occasion besides at the RBC Heritage. Ancer additionally cracked the tip 15 in two of this final three starts.
What Ancer lacks in dimension, he makes up for in steadiness. The Mexican ranks 42nd in driving accuracy and 26th in strokes obtained in formulation. Which potential, he ranks 12th in scoring common.
Ancer put on a ball-inserting hospital at some level of the RBC Heritage, seemingly taking goal at every and each pin and giving himself a series of just correct birdie opportunities.
Admire Homa, the difference is also Ancer’s skill to roll the rock. He ranks staunch 156th inserting from 15 to 20 toes and can likely fill to make putts in that vary in uncover to plot his first select and significant championship.
All stats obtained through PGATour.com, unless in any other case well-known.
