PGA Championship is up for grabs without Tiger Woods
GOLF / THE SPIN
Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh are among the group who can make a statement without having to look over their shoulders for Woods.
What's another major without Tiger Woods? It's the PGA Championship, and like the British Open last month, it's an open invitation to take advantage of Woods' absence and step up to the plate.
That's what Padraig Harrington did at Royal Birkdale and now it's somebody else's turn this week at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
You know who they are. Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Ernie Els -- the list keeps going.
If Woods were around, of course he'd be the favorite, but in his absence, the players who should otherwise rule the fairways and greens once again have the opportunity to win a major that doesn't include Woods.
It doesn't happen very often, so why not take advantage?
The clock isn't running on Tiger time right now, it's ticking loud enough for anybody within hearing distance to make a statement. That statement would be this: Since I don't have to worry/think about Woods, my excuse level is down, my opportunity level is up.
If Harrington answered the challenge at the British Open, many are looking to Mickelson, or Singh, to make a move this week at Oakland Hills.
Last week, Mickelson spent three hours practicing on the front nine at Oakland Hills, which is 400 yards longer than the first time he played it in 2004 at the Ryder Cup.
He may be due. Mickelson's last major victory was the 2006 Masters and this year, he was fifth at the Masters, tied for 18th at the U.S. Open and tied for 19th at the British Open.
Mickelson tied Goosen for fourth at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, two shots behind Singh. He said his problem was his putting.
"I'm turning 63s and 64s into 70s. I couldn't get any putts to go in.
"I feel like I'm playing well, I just need to get that final piece of scoring down."
As for Singh, he putted well enough to win, averaging 28.5 putts a round, tied for 31st. But Singh was fifth in driving distance, averaging 316 yards off the tee, tied for 11th in fairways hit and tied for fifth in greens in regulation, so neither distance nor accuracy were a problem.
Singh's 32nd PGA Tour victory means he is now tied for 14th on the career victory list with Horton Smith. His 20 victories since turning 40 (Singh is 45) are the most by any player over 40. Sam Snead had 17.
But it was Singh's first victory this year and he said he is relieved.
