Field in focus: 2021 PGA Championship

For many the PGA Championship is the weakest of the four majors, but I have another opinion. For me it is the most unpopular, but not the weakest in terms of golf and this year's field proves it. On Thursday on the tee at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina we will see 99 of the top 100 players in the Official World Golf Ranking! At the 2021 PGA Championship we will see 35 major champions who have won a combined 56 major championships.

Who are the favorites?

Rory McIlroy

The four-time major champion and two-time PGA Championship winner Rory McIlroy arrives at Kiawah Island as the big favorite to lift The Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday. He is full of confidence after two weeks ago claimed the title at the Wells Fargo Championship. McIlroy hasn't won a major since the 2014 PGA Championship, but he has good memories from the Kiawah Island. When the PGA Championship was played at the Ocean Course for the first time in 2012 McIlroy was in total control and won by 8! shots.

Jon Rahm

The Spaniard missed the cut and finished T34 in his last two starts, but he is always a threat in majors. Rahm has six top 10 finishes from 17 appearances in the Big-Four tournaments. He leads the Tour with most top 10's this season and it is a question of time he breaks through at a major.

Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas won his lone major at the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club and since then he claimed nine more PGA Tour titles. Most recently he won in mid March at The Players. Thomas is second at Strokes Gained Approach the Green and 10th at Strokes Gained Around-the-Green which is vital for windy place as Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

Form-horse

Garrick Higgo

Тhe young South African is playing terrific golf and he is one of the hottest golfers on the planet at the moment. Higgo is T4-1-T8-1 in his last four starts and as a result climbed to 51st in the world which makes him the third best ranked South African after Louis Oosthuizen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout. The South African leads European Tour's Putting - Strokes Gained ranking which is crucial for the Ocean Course. Kiawah Island will be a totally different experience for Higgo, who will be making his major debut this week, but we have already seen players to win the PGA Championship in their first major appearance.

Viktor Hovland

World number 11 Viktor Hovland has been a regular contender on the PGA Tour since he became pro back in 2019. In his last 13 starts on the PGA Tour he has a win and seven other top 10 finishes. The Norwegian is T3-T3 in his last two starts. If his putter is on fire this week I wouldn't be surprised to see him leaving the 18th green with The Wanamaker Trophy.

Jordan Spieth

What a story it would be if Jordan Spieth join an elite group and become the sixth player in history with a career Grand Slam. From eight appearances at the PGA Championship the American has two top 3's, including a runner-up finish in 2015. Spieth was struggling in the last couple of years, but it seems this is already in the past and he is ready to win again. In his last nine starts on the PGA Tour Spieth has won once and posted six other top 10's including a T3 at The Masters.

Wildcard

Sam Horsfield

Sam Horsfield is from the new generation English golfers, who has one of the most beautiful swings in modern golf. This week Horsfield will make his 4th major appearance and his first at the PGA Championship. He is yet to make the cut in any of the premium four events. According to the stats he is the best Tee-to-Green player on the European Tour which might be a huge advantage this week. Horsfield is in pretty good form and posted three top 10's in his last six starts.

Ian Poulter

Many think that Poulter's best days are in the past. The last time the Englishman was a contender in a major was at the 2015 Masters where he finished tied for 6th. In my opinion it is still early to sigh off the European Ryder Cup hero. He showed some fire earlier this season when he won the his group after beating Rory McIlroy, Cameron Smith and Lanto Griffin. Moreover Poulter like tough conditions and he knows the course pretty well. In 2012 he shared third place, finishing at four under par.

Wyndham Clark

We talk about wind and tough greens, but what about the distance. This week the players will play on the longest course ever to host a major. And there are no many golfers who can hit it longer than Wyndham Clark. The American, who will play his second major sits 4th on the PGA Tour driving distance ranking and ninth at SG: around the green.

Full field for the 2021 PGA Championship here