So will Tiger salvage his year with a vintage performance at the season's final major? Don't count on it. Golfweek's staff gives its PGA Championship picks:
JEFF RUDE
Winner: Retief Goosen. Tied with Matt Kuchar for most top-10 finishes this year. In form. Knows how to win majors.
Sleeper: Jeff Overton. Young player who is rising fast, he could win the PGA. He keeps developing and probably needs to scale back his emotions a bit. Remarkably, since the Masters he has three seconds and two thirds on the PGA Tour, plus a T-11 at the British Open.
SEAN MARTIN
Winner: Retief Goosen. Goes about his business quietly, which is why you may not have noticed he’s having an incredibly consistent season. He tied for third at Firestone.
Sleeper: Louis Oosthuizen. The Champion Golfer of the Year has lived up to that title since winning at St. Andrews, posting top 10s at the Scandinavian Masters and last week at Firestone.
ALEX MICELI
Winner: Phil Mickelson. What am I thinking after that final round at Bridgestone? I’m thinking his game is pretty close. I’m not sure who might play better this week.
Sleeper: Justin Leonard. It seems that Leonard’s game is coming into form at the right time. He has had success at the Straits in the past.
JEFF BABINEAU
Winner: Ernie Els. Played well here in 2004 and still licking wounds after missing the cut at the Open Championship.
Sleeper: Justin Leonard. Like the way he’s striking the ball, now he needs a big week with the putter. Certainly has the experience and grit to make a Sunday run.
JIM McCABE
Winner: Hunter Mahan. After a scratchy stretch of play, he’s seemingly righted the ship in a positive way. With top 10s in three of the past seven majors, it’s apparent he is knocking on the door, so here’s a hunch he kicks it in at Whistling Straits.
Sleeper: Rickie Fowler. So long as he sits so low in the Sagarin rankings (95th at last glance), he’s a worthy long shot. What he did at the British Open, opening with 79 before storming into a share of 14th, was impressive and speaks volume for the talent at work here.
