PGA Championship Preview: Jordan Rules

The week leading up to the Masters, it was Dustin Johnson's world and everyone was just living in it. The only question was how many wins could he pile up this season. One slip down the stairs later and suddenly the narrative of the 2017 season changed completely. Four days later, Sergio Garcia found that elusive major win and became the talk of the golfing world.

A couple months later, Brooks Koepka continued the first-time-winner streak and we were left to wonder if greatness still existed on the PGA Tour. Jordan Spieth put that question to bed a month later at the Open Championship ... for now. But as we've learned the last few years, the narrative can change pretty quickly.

The reason I bring all this up is four months ago it was a given that DJ would be the player of the year; with one major to go and the FedEx Cup still remaining, that race is wide open now. Well, not quite wide open, but what once looked like a one horse race now has at least a few entries. DJ has three wins and no majors, Spieth has two wins and one major, but Garcia and Koepka are still alive as well, as a second major would be about all it takes to win this thing.

The narrative is about to change, we just don't know in which direction. Come Sunday we could be back in DJ's world or we might be comparing Spieth to the greats again. That's the beauty, though, with so many exciting storylines — it's almost like we can't lose.

This week: PGA Championship - Quail Hollow - Charlotte, N.C.

Last Year: Jimmy Walker shot a final-round 67 on his way to a one-stroke victory over Jason Day.

PLAYERS TO CONSIDER

Jordan Spieth

It's funny what one big win can do for the perception of someone. Spieth was not the favorite heading into the first three majors of the season, but after his win at the Open Championship, he's once again the favorite. Spieth's favorite status has everything to do with his current game, though as he's only played Quail Hollow once and finished T32.

Rory McIlroy

There's a lot to like about McIlroy this week as he's returning to a course where he's had a lot of success. McIlroy has six top-10s and two wins in just six starts at Quail Hollow, but those results won't translate exactly as the course will be set up a little differently. That said, McIlroy has played well the last couple months, so everything appears to be lined up.

Rickie Fowler

Fowler appears to be the leading candidate to pick up his first major this week. Fowler has some positive history on this course as he won the Wells Fargo Championship in 2012. He also finished fourth at that event in 2016, so he obviously has a fondness for this course. Fowler has performed well at some big events this season, but he's yet to get over the hump. That could change this week.

Charley Hoffman

It seems like we've had more unexpected wins this season than in any other in that guys who had poor track records at events or were in bad form, somehow shoved all of that aside and played well. That's what I'm hoping for from Hoffman as he has played well neither at Quail Hollow nor the PGA Championship. But he's played this season and I think he can overcome his history at this event and this course.

Phil Mickelson

Mickelson has been a non-factor at the majors this season, but that could change this week as he's played this course very well. Mickelson has never missed the cut at the Wells Fargo Championship and has nine top-10s in 13 starts. His form is not great entering this week, but he still has plenty of game.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Tommy Fleetwood

Fleetwood was a popular pick at the Open Championship, and that didn't work out. It seems like he's always a popular, "under the radar" guy, but he rarely lives up to expectations. That likely will be the case this week again as he's 0-for-2 in cuts made at the PGA Championship and has no history at Quail Hollow.

Henrik Stenson

Stenson has had an awful season, and although he showed signs of getting back on track at the Open Championship, he has a lot to overcome this week. Stenson's track record at Quail Hollow is a lot to overlook as he's missed the cut four of six times at the Wells Fargo Championship and has never finished better than T58.

Jimmy Walker

Walker surprised everyone when he won the PGA Championship last year, but he's struggled to back up that win this season, mainly due to health reasons. He played well early last week at the Bridgestone, but ended the week with a 74-72.

Chris Wood

Wood seems destined to be that guy who is always in the top 50 in the world rankings but never succeeds anywhere but the European Tour. Wood has no history at Quail Hollow and his PGA Championship track record is terrible. There's no reason to think he'll suddenly figure out how to play well in the states this week.

Shane Lowry

Lowry has been a popular sleeper pick at the majors the last couple years, but he hasn't had much success during that time. Lowry missed the cut in his only start at Quail Hollow and has never finished higher than T46 in five starts at the PGA Championship.

ONE AND DONE GOLFER

Last week: Adam Scott (T13) - $123,500; Season - $6,976,278

This week: Jordan Spieth - I've managed to save Spieth all season and I'm hoping that pays off this week. I'm banking on his physical and more importantly, his mental game this week as he doesn't have a ton of experience on this course, while many of his fellow golfers have plenty.

YAHOO PICKS

Points: 3,950
Rank: 22,407

This Week:

Group A: Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler

Group B: Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Charley Hoffman, Phil Mickelson

Group C: Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia

SURVIVOR PICK

Last week: N/A - N/A; Streak - 6

This week: Jordan Spieth - While you could certainly look for guys who have made a lot of cuts at the Wells Fargo Championship, there's more to it this week because you have to factor in major conditions. In that case, no one is better suited to play well at a major now than Spieth.