Power rankings: 2015 PGA Championship
The season’s final major is here, and it’s hard to imagine it’s gone by so quickly.
The PGA Championship returns to Whistling Straits for the third time (2004, 2010) with a huge number of players who have a good chance to win the Wanamaker trophy. Jordan Spieth, who is looking to become the third man in history to win three professional majors in a year, leads the field that also features a returning Rory McIlroy.
And who can forget Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson, key figures from five years ago?
Since it’s a major, we’re going to offer our top 10 picks for this week. Enjoy!
1. Jordan Spieth — It’s hard to argue with success. He’s never competed in a major on this course, unlike many other in our top 15. However, his season speaks for itself: four wins, two majors and a shot out of a playoff in the other. Spieth is two shots away from going for the single season Grand Slam this week. He’ll be overpriced, but if he wins, it’ll be almost impossible to argue no pro has ever enjoyed a better majors season.
2. Jason Day — The Aussie cannot get much closer to winning a major. He’s playing great golf on big stages and won at the RBC Canadian Open in a demonstration that major disappointment won’t deter him. He finished T-10 here five years ago.
3. Zach Johnson — The British Open champion just so happened to have played very well at Whistling Straits in 2010, finishing T-3 along with Rory McIlroy. He’s been a machine this year and been in the top six in four of his last six PGA Tour starts.
4. Rickie Fowler — Fowler has been strong in three of his last four worldwide starts, including a win at the Scottish Open, a runner-up effort at the Quicken Loans National and a top-10 finish at Firestone. He has six top-10 finishes in majors. He made he cut here in 2010, but he’s a vastly different player than five years ago.
5. Bubba Watson — Watson was the playoff loser here five years ago, so he had — at least then — an affinity for the course. It has to suit his eye given that he can shape the ball pretty much how he wants. However, he’s been runner-up in his last two starts, both played on tree-lined courses. He’s in good form. We just don’t know if he’ll psych himself out.
6. Rory McIlroy — Under normal circumstances, we’d consider putting McIlroy at No. 1. However, McIlroy has been out of official action since a July 4 soccer injury. So, we’re accounting for a round or two of ring rust before he could get back in the swing of things. Was T-3 here with Zach Johnson in 2010.
7. Justin Rose — Rose said Sunday that he’s playing the best tee-to-green golf in the world of late, and he’s right. He has top-six finishes in four of his last five starts. He’s just having trouble getting the flatstick to cooperate as much as he’d like. Rose has already won on a Dye course this year, in New Orleans, which should help this week.
8. Brooks Koepka — Koepka is back to playing great golf. He’s been in the top 18 in five of his last six PGA Tour starts, including a T-18 at the U.S. Open at T-10 at the U.S. Open. He’s got the model of Martin Kaymer from five years ago.
9. Dustin Johnson — We all know what happened to Dustin Johnson in 2010. But did you know that Johnson has shot 150 or worse on the weekend in his last two starts? Even if Johnson gets off to a good start, we’re worried he’ll melt down on the weekend. Depending on how much you value two or three good rounds, he may be worth a pick.
10. Hideki Matusyama — The Japanese stud has only missed one cut all season and is brilliant from tee to green. However, his putting is lackluster. Hitting greens with precision is a big deal on Dye courses because it opens up hole locations. Perhaps ballstriking can mask Matsuyama’s biggest deficiency.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
