Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Taylor Guoch, Terrell Hutton and Louis Oustoizen will be among the highlights reviewed in Tuesday’s draw.
To put some perspective on how long it has been since Southern Hills was last hosted, when the PGA of America descended here in 2007, it was another two months before Dustin Johnson made his PGA TOUR debut and the only Kim in the field was Anthony, then A PGA TOUR rookie and not far in time and space from his college grounds at the University of Oklahoma.
The DJ went on to score 24 runs, including two majors, and there are four Kims in the field this week, including Joohyung. Also known as Tom, he is the youngest eligible player of the year at just 19 years old. He was five years old during the 2007 PGA. (Insert your “scared” emoji here.)
Of the 156 players on the field in the PGA Championship – all participants are professionals; He’s the only non-amateur – 17 were in the Southern Hills for the 2007 PGA. Woods passed with the best memory of all – his thirteenth victory in a major – but remember how irrelevant the tested course is this week.
Southern Hills is still a stock 70, but a restoration in 2019 reintroduced wider walkways, a unique structure for each hideout and green without the thick roughness around its perimeter. At 7,365 yards, he’s 234 yards longer than his previous turn, but technological advances in equipment and how golfers use measured data act as equalizers.
Curriculums from the Bermuda Corridors are aimed at pentagrams averaging just over 5,000 square feet. In the context of target size and basic agronomy, it matches up with Colonial Country Club, the site of next week’s Charles Schwab challenge, so it’s not an uncommon combination.
The streams that ran through the property have also been restored, and only three holes of water in play have been somewhat spared. As it should be with every course worth these bills, mentoring requires patience, course management, and a dash of tournaments as the course allows. Appearing at the top of the leaderboard will require precision from the tee to the green and touching around the greens. The secret to laying decks will lift the long game into the weekend.
While the 90-degree heat and prevailing winds from the south will greet players on Thursday, there’s no chance of a repeat of 2007. That week, daytime maximum temperatures hit 100 degrees with heat indicators soaring, so the overheating warning was . Valid all the time.
This week, a system will pass later on Friday, and it could bring rain and possibly severe weather. However, much of the cooler air on Saturday will drop as high as the 1960s thanks to the strong breeze circulating from the north. Sunday’s conditions are expected to be so pleasant that the Chamber of Commerce may blush. The winds are also expected to subside by then, but in these parts, don’t hold your breath.
The champion will be exempted for life in the tournament. He will also be booked into the next five editions of the other three majors, and his membership in the PGA TOUR will be extended until 2026-27 if he is not already there.
Rob Bolton’s schedule
Rob Bolton of PGATOUR.com summarizes and previews each tournament from many perspectives. Look for his following contributions as scheduled.
Monday: Strength ratings
Tuesday*: Choose ‘Em Preview, Sleepers, Draws and Fade
Saturday: medical accessories
SundayQualifiers, Cabinet reshuffle, Junior standings
* – Rob is a member of the PGATOUR.COM Expert Selection Committee for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.