Predictions for the 92nd PGA Championship | Thebigtip

The golfing world travels to Whistling Straits for the final major of the year, the 92nd PGA Championship.

The links course has more of a European feel than your traditional US course, which may not suit the majority of Americans in the field.  Tiger Woods is coming off his worst tour event since he turned professional, and world number 2 Phil Mickelson has just been diagnosed with diabetes.

Both these stories, combined with Ryder Cup selection have taken the focus of the final major.  This could open the door for yet another little known golfer to join the major winners list.

The Australians have been solid this year on the tour, without being great, and if it wasn’t for Stuart Appleby’s tournament winning 59 recently many would say it was another year ‘what could have been' for our golfers.

There will be a strong contingent of nine golfers from down under, here’s how I think they will fare.

Stuart Appleby (World Ranking 93, Winner $101, Leading Australian $7) – Apart from his amazing 59 a few weeks ago, Stuart has not has the greatest few years on the tour.  Unfortunately I see this continuing.
Prediction: Miss Cut

Jason Day (WR66, W$161, LA$10) – Tipped to be the next big thing in Australian golf, golf coaches have praised his swing and Jason is having the best year of his short career winning the Byron Nelson Championship.
Prediction: 10-20

Steve Elkington (WR300, W$201, LA$11 ) - The evergreen champion has two top 10 finishes to his name this year, but hasn’t found his form that won him the 10 times on the PGA Tour. I can’t see the links conditions helping his quest for the title.
Prediction: Miss Cut

Matt Jones  (WR159, W$201, LA$13) Playing the most consistent golf of his career, Matt has again established himself on the PGA tour.  Five top 10 finishes and earnings over $1million this year might give him the belief coming into this major. 
Prediction: 20-40

Marc Leishman (WR95, W$201, LA$15) It might go two ways for Marc, I think either he will be the leading Australian, or miss the cut.  The big hitting Victorian has been finding some good form lately and if the wind gets up in Whistling Straits Marc could be in for a busy weekend. 
Prediction: 10-20

Geoff Ogilvy (WR32, W$81, LA$5.50) Winning the traditional season opener in Hawaii it looked like Geoff was going to have another standout year.  Unfortunately this has been the only bright spot of a very disappointing year for the major winner.
Prediction: 40-60

Adam Scott (WR43, W$41, LA$3.75) The golden boy of Australian golf has been keeping up his profile not for his golf, rather his on/off again relationship with tennis glamour girl Ana Ivanovic.  Having won the Texas open this year shows what Adam is capable of.  His result will be dependent on his putter.
Prediction: Miss Cut

John Senden (WR105 W$201 LA$13) The quiet achiever of Australian golf over the past few seasons better be prepared to make some noise between now and the end of the year.  2010 has not been his greatest by any stretch, but I can see the PGA Championships a turning point for the well liked golfer. 
Prediction: 30-50

Michael Sim  (WR62 W$201 LA$10) Yet another young golfer with a great future ahead of him, Michael needs to gain a good result at this major.  Sitting at 100th in the FedEx standings a great end to the season will lock in his tour card for next year. 
Prediction: Miss Cut

I don’t think an Australian can win at Whistling Straits this week, but I also don’t think an American will win.  My tip this week is that Paul Casey ($41) will be adding the PGA Championship to his trophy cabinet, amongst plenty of headlines surrounding usual suspects Woods and Mickelson.

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