| Leading
contenders for US PGA 1999
Listed in predicted order
of finish: ERNIE
ELS Age:
29 Worldwide
wins: 28 Majors:
U.S. Open ('94, '97) 1999
Majors: Masters-T27, US Open-MC, Open-T24 PGA
Championships: 7 Best
finish: T3 Last
year: T21 Backspin:
Two-time U.S. Open champion at a U.S. Open-style course. Hasn't won since Los
Angeles in the middle of February, and hasn't had a top-10 in a major since 1997.
But he's got the game and the patience for Medinah. And after the Woods-Duval
"showdown" on television, he may have the desire to prove golf has more than two
headliners.
TIGER
WOODS Age:
23 Worldwide
wins: 13 Majors:
Masters ('97) 1999
Majors: Masters-T18, US Open-T3, Open-T7 PGA
Championships: 2 Best
finish: T10 Last
year: T10 Backspin:
Playing better than anyone in the world right now. Has won three times in his
last six tournaments, and no worse than a tie for seventh. Along with the talent,
now has control and consistency. Medinah will be his biggest test of the year.
Loves Chicago, and the feeling is mutual.
DAVIS
LOVE III Age:
35 Worldwide
wins: 14 Majors:
PGA Championship ('97) 1999
Majors: Masters-2, US Open-T12, Open-T7 PGA
Championships: 12 Best
finish: 1 Last
year: T7 Backspin:
Has played too well not to have won this year -- 10 finishes in the top 10 to
lock up a Ryder Cup berth. Long and straight off the tee, a must at Medinah. Another
player who should do well in a U.S. Open-type course.
DAVID
DUVAL Age:
27 Worldwide
wins: 11 Majors:
None 1999 Majors:
Masters-T6, US Open-T7, Open-T62 PGA
Championships: 4 Best
finish: T13 Last
year: MC Backspin:
No one has ever held the No. 1 ranking for this long without having a major to
show for it. This may be his best chance for a major, not because it's the last
one. Played Medinah as an 18-year-old in the U.S. Open and tied for 56th. Does
well on courses that put a premium on use of the driver.
STEVE
ELKINGTON Age:
36 Worldwide
wins: 13 Majors:
PGA Championship ('95) 1999
Majors: Masters-T11, US Open-T51, Open-MC PGA
Championships: 11 Best
finish: 1 Last
year: 3 Backspin:
When healthy, one of the best -- especially in the PGA. Won in 1995, finished
third a year later and was third again last year at Sahalee. Great swing, great
discipline and a great chance at Medinah.
JEFF
MAGGERT Age:
35 Worldwide
wins: 4 Majors:
None 1999 Majors:
Masters-MC, US Open-T7, Open-T30 PGA
Championships: 7 Best
finish: 3 Last
year: T44 Backspin:
Finished third in 1995 and 1997, another U.S. Open-style player whose accuracy
and short game should make him a factor this week. On the Ryder Cup bubble at
No. 10. If history is any indication, he'll rise to the occasion.
TOM LEHMAN
Age: 40 Worldwide
wins: 4 Majors:
Open Open ('96) 1999
Majors: Masters-T31, US Open-T28, Open-MC PGA
Championships: 6 Best
finish: T10 Last
year: T29 Backspin:
Hasn't won in more than two years, but has shown twice this year (Bay Hill, Memphis)
that his game is strong. A spot on the Ryder Cup team is contingent on his play
at Medinah. His success in the U.S. Open should serve him well.
VIJAY SINGH
Age: 36 Worldwide
wins: 26 Majors:
PGA Championship ('98) 1999
Majors: Masters-T24, US Open-T3, Open-MC PGA
Championships: 7 Best
finish: 1 Last
year: 1 Backspin:
The international version of Tom Kite -- steady, consistent, hard-working and
usually in contention. A great ball-striker who lives and dies with the putter.
Could become the first back-to-back PGA champion since it went to stroke play
in 1958.
LEE
WESTWOOD Age:
26 Worldwide
wins: 16 Majors:
None 1999 Majors:
Masters-T6, US Open-MC, Open-T18 PGA
Championships: 2 Best
finish: T29 Last
year: MC Backspin:
What shoulder injury? Rising English star has won twice since the Open Open, and
should have an advantage at Medinah with his length and accuracy off the tee.
But a European hasn't won the PGA since Tommy Armour in 1930.
YNE STEWART
Age: 42 Worldwide
wins: 18 Majors:
US Open ('91, '99), PGA Championship ('89) 1999
Majors: Masters-T52, US Open-1, Open-T30 PGA
Championships: 17 Best
finish: 1 Last
year: MC Backspin:
Won his first major championship 10 years ago in Chicago -- the PGA at Kemper
Lakes. Never contended at Carnoustie, understandable after a U.S. Open letdown.
Tough conditions fit him as nicely as knickers.
COLIN
MONTGOMERIE Age:
36 Worldwide
wins: 22 Majors:
None 1999 Majors:
Masters-T11, US Open-T15, Open-T15 PGA
Championships: 7 Best
finish: 2 Last
year: 44 Backspin:
Good news for Europe's best: Tight fairways will make him think he's at a U.S.
Open, where he traditionally does well. Bad news: Temperatures could reach triple
digits, and the Scotsman tends to wilt in the heat.
GREG
NORMAN Age:
44 Worldwide
wins: 74 Majors:
Open Open ('86, '93) 1999
Majors: Masters-T3, US Open-MC, Open-6 PGA
Championships: 17 Best
finish: 2 Last
year: DNP Backspin:
Who knows which Norman will show up? The one who nearly won the Masters and could
have won the Open Open, or the one who missed the cut at Pinehurst? Has the whole
package, including a short game that never gets enough credit. And has proven
that he still has the ability to get into contention at majors.
NICK PRICE
Age: 42 Worldwide
wins: 39 Majors:
PGA Championship ('91, '94), Open Open ('94) 1999
Majors: Masters-T6, US Open-T23, Open-T37 PGA
Championships: 15 Best
finish: 1 Last
year: T4 Backspin:
Disappointing year without winning, and hasn't done much since the Masters. One
of the best from tee to green, but putting has been too streaky. Medinah a good
fit for him to become only the third player with at least three PGAs.
JUSTIN LEONARD
Age: 27
Worldwide wins: 4
Majors: Open
Open ('97) 1999
Majors: Masters-T18, US Open-T15, Open-T2 PGA
Championships: 4 Best
finish: 2 Last
year: MC Backspin:
Hasn't won since The Players Championship in 1998, but appears to be rounding
into form. Wasted opportunity in the Open Open playoff and probably secured Ryder
Cup spot with play in Hartford. Runner-up the last time a PGA resembled a U.S.
Open, at Winged Foot in 1997.
PHIL
MICKELSON Age:
29 Worldwide
wins: 14 Majors:
None 1999 Majors:
Masters-T6, US Open-2, Open-MC PGA
Championships: 6 Best
finish: 3 Last
year: T34 Backspin:
Playing about as much golf as Tom Watson right now because of recent birth of
daughter. Close call at Pinehurst, where he could get away with a loose drive.
Not an automatic to play in the Ryder Cup and may need a good week to keep his
position.
HAL
SUTTON Age:
41 Worldwide
wins: 10 Majors:
PGA Championship ('83) 1999
Majors: Masters-MC, US Open-T7, Open-T10 PGA
Championships: 17 Best
finish: 1 Last
year: T18 Backspin:
Hard to believe it's been 16 years since he stared down Jack Nicklaus to win the
PGA at Riviera. Hasn't won this year, but still playing like he was in his 20s.
Second to Duval in total driving and greens in regulation.
FRED
COUPLES Age:
39 Worldwide
wins: 19 Majors:
Masters ('92) 1999
Majors: Masters-T27, US Open-MC, Open-DNP PGA
Championships: 17 Best
finish: 2 Last
year: T13 Backspin:
Only thing missing from his majors record this year is a WD. Hasn't played since
late June, but his kind of a talent makes him a threat any time, anywhere. A good
week will prove to Ben Crenshaw that he's a logical choice as a captain's pick
for the Ryder Cup.
STEVE
STRICKER Age:
32 Worldwide
wins: 4 Majors:
None 1999 Majors:
Masters-T38, US Open-5, Open-MC PGA
Championships: 4 Best
finish: 2 Last
year: 2 Backspin:
Talented, well-rounded but still underappreciated -- that will only change by
winning his first major. Not terribly long, but a good putter and finds a way
to get into the hunt. Tied going into the last round at Sahalee, swing left him
but he still gave Singh all he could handle.
CARLOS
FRANCO Age:
34 Worldwide
wins: 7 Majors:
None 1999 Majors:
Masters-T6, US Open-T34, Open-MC PGA
Championships: 2 Best
finish: T40 Last
year: T40 Backspin:
Long, fluid, powerful swing. Has won more on PGA Tour this year than Mickelson,
Love, Els and Leonard -- combined. If he can keep it in the short grass, he could
be a factor on the weekend.
JOSE
MARIA OLAZABAL Age:
33 Worldwide
wins: 22 Majors:
Masters ('94, 99) 1999
Majors: Masters-1, US Open-WD, Open-MC PGA
Championships: 10 Best
finish: T7 Last
year: MC Backspin:
Make sure hotel walls have padding. By the time Olazabal can rely on the best
short-game in golf, he may need it to save bogey or worse. Success at Medinah
starts on the tee box, and the fairways will look even tighter to Olazabal.
AP | 
