Appleby has plan to stop Woods

Stuart Appleby has an idea how to beat prohibitive favourite Tiger Woods for the US PGA Championship title.

"What do I have to shoot to win this week?...Tiger Woods," quipped Appleby as he bantered with Orlando neighbour Woods on the practice putting green at Valhalla today.

Appleby is quite close to Woods, and shared a ride home with the great man and David Duval after last month's British Open at St Andrews.

The private jet, which a rich friend sent across the Atlantic to ferry the trio home, took off just three hours after Woods had made history by becoming the youngest player to complete the modern Grand Slam.

It would be safe to assume there were wild celebrations on board, right?

Well, not exactly, according to Appleby, who claims it was a pretty quiet flight where sleep was the main order of business.

"He's used to winning tournaments," Appleby said. "I just had to remind him it was a major.

"I picked up the trophy in a steel box and that was about it. He didn't even open it to show us. We didn't even drink out of the (claret) jug. He's not much of a party animal. It was pretty boring."

Appleby, Greg Norman and perhaps Robert Allenby are the Australians most likely to contend for victory on Sunday.

After missing the cut eight majors in a row, Appleby ended the drought with a tie for 11th at the British Open, and followed it up with a third placing at the International two weeks ago.

He may not be quite ready to win a major, but don't be surprised if he comes close.

Norman, meanwhile, is brimming with confidence now that he is healthy again after hip surgery seven weeks ago.

"I haven't felt this comfortable and relaxed in a long time," he said during a 45-minute press conference.

It would do wonders for Norman's place in history if he could add an American major to his two British Opens, but at the age of 45 time is running short.

Stuart Appleby on the driving range yesterday. Allsport.

Perhaps the hardest thing for Norman to do, mentally, is not to put too much pressure on himself. After all, when you're 35 it's relatively easy to be relaxed in the knowledge you'll probably have plenty of other chances. It's not quite as easy at 45.

Speaking of prime years, 29-year-old Allenby should be approaching them. He is having a career year, having won twice on the American Tour, but there's a big difference between winning the Houston or Western Open and winning a major.

The majors are a totally different beast and Allenby's record is quite patchy – just one top-10 in 15 appearances.

He's certainly got the game to win one, but it will probably be another year or two before he is a serious threat.

The other Australians in the field are Craig Parry, Greg Chalmers, Peter O'Malley and Wayne Grady.

Parry is having his worst season ever on the American Tour, but he claims that his form has not been reflected in his scores.

"I've missed five cuts, all by one shot," he lamented. "You're not playing poorly when you miss a cut by a shot. The statistics don't reflect the way I've played."

Chalmers, meanwhile, has been in good form lately, but this is just his third major and it's a little too much to expect him to contend.

"Everyone here's got the niggling thought at the back of their mind that they could have the week of their life and win," said Chalmers, refusing to rule out the possibility, however remote.

O'Malley and Grady have no chance of winning.

O'Malley, rock solid tee to green, is simply a woeful putter, while Grady's best days are long behind him, even if he has shown improvement lately.

As for the likely winner, among those with the ability to challenge Woods are Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love, Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood.

But the simple fact is that Woods will win if he plays at his very best, because his best is better than anyone else's.

Even though he has a chance to become the first player since Ben Hogan to win three majors in one year, he is suppressing the thought.

"I am not here trying to duplicate what Hogan did in '53," Woods said. "I feel pretty good about my game (but) I really don't think there is such a thing as perfection, because we are human.

"It is going to be a long week. The course is very difficult and the (hot and humid weather) is going to be sapping a lot of energy."

If there's one major this year that's likely to throw up a relatively obscure winner, this is it.

Four years ago at Valhalla, Mark Brooks beat Kenny Perry in a play-off.

Therefore, don't be surprised if someone if someone such as Jim Furyk, Loren Roberts or Jeff Maggert pops up and wins.

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