Rory McIlroy didn’t back down from being considered the favorite at this week’s PGA Championship.
When asked if there might be a repeat of his play at Congressional, where McIlroy won the U.S. Open earlier this year, he said:
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I’m playing very well.”
McIlory said he drove the ball solidly in last week’s sixth-place finish at the Bridgestone Invitational. Driving will be a premium this week on the 7,467-yard, par-70 Highlands Course. Though the rough isn’t thick, the fast greens mean players must make crisp contact to keep balls on the greens to have a chance at birdie.
“I felt I got a really good practice round in yesterday,” he said. “As long as I can hole a few putts this week, I feel as if I’m in with a good chance.”
Champions dinner
Defending champion Martin Kaymer said he served a typical Christmas dinner from his native Germany at Tuesday’s champions dinner: goose with red cabbage.
As gifts he gave to the men, which he said included 17 past PGA champions and other PGA officials, a Swiss Army knife — “I always wanted to have as a kid, but I never got one” — and to the women a beauty case. Approximately 70 people received the gifts, which were paid for by the PGA of America.
“It was a very nice night,” Kaymer said. “It was cool to be there.”
Staying green
How was the Highlands Course so green and unblemished when the players arrived earlier this week? Members used mats when they played so that they didn’t take divots out of the fairways or tee boxes, eliminating the chance to make the little scars often seen on courses.
Thomas C. Adderhold, general chairman of the tournament, said they borrowed the idea from St. Andrews in Scotland. Members used the mats, which are similar to ones used at driving ranges, July 5-17. On last day, a divot-filling party was held to fill in any leftover holes in the ground. During the week, someone was assigned to fill in ball marks left on the greens. Carts were prohibited after the Fourth of July.
After the party, only the pros who came to practice for the Championship were allowed to play.
The result is a course that the players are still raving about.
“I mean, it’s ... just unreal,” Tiger Woods said.
Howell back
Changing equipment has helped put Charles Howell III on the verge of a career-best season in earnings. Now, he just needs to win his first major.
During the offseason, the Augusta native decided to switch from Bridgestone to Mizuno irons and a Titleist ball, which he hadn’t played since college at Oklahoma State.
“I looked at all my stuff at the end of last year and wanted to go to the best equipment of everything,” he said. “I had always played what I felt was really good in college with that product. I wanted to get back to it and see how things would go.”
He made one more change earlier this season, switching to a belly putter. He’s 40th on Tour in total putting, a slight dip from his 21st ranking in 2010, but ahead of his 2009 (109th) and 2008 (138th) rankings.
Howell is close to $1.8 million in earnings this season with five top-10 finishes. He is a few good results away from reaching the career-high $2.8 million mark he hit in 2007. Since then, he hasn’t earned more than $1,804,460 in a season or finished higher than 32nd in the FedEx Cup standings. He currently ranks 27th.
“This game, I know we all like to get out there and be comfortable, but there comes a point when you have to see the results to get confidence,” he said. “So, that’s good for me. It’s nice to see results and get some positive feedback.”
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