Valhalla hosts second Major with pride

The 106th US PGA Championship gets underway at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky tomorrow giving golf fans around the world a chance to see the best players in the world compete in the second Major of the season (16-19 May).  And looking at the start sheet, the defending champion Brooks Koepka (USA), is really keen to add a sixth Major to his collection.  Indeed, his third US PGA title victory last year was incredible.  And, unbelievably, he is only one of twenty players to have ever won five Majors.

 

Among Koepka’s biggest contenders this week is the Official World Number One player of Scottie Scheffler.  The American snatched his second Major title a few weeks ago when he won his second US Masters at Augusta National before dashing home to the arrival of his first child.

 

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is placed at number two in the world.  He is keen to win another Major just as Americans Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark.

 

Thirty-year old Clark won his first Major last year with a surprise victory over the ‘big boys’ at the Los Angeles Country Club.  Clark beat McIlroy into second spot in the US Open by one tiny stroke.  That’s golf!

 

Start times at Valhalla

 

American Michael Block had the time of his life in last year’s US PGA Championship after holing his tee-shot at the 15th hole to climb to a share of 15th position on 1-over par to be invited back to this year’s championship at Valhalla Golf Club.  The PGA Club Professional of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club tees-off in the first flight tomorrow at 07.15 with fellow-American Shaun Micheel and England’s Luke Donald.

 

Thirty-four year old Koepka shot rounds of 72, 66, 66 and 67 at Oak Hill Country Club in New York in 2023 to finish two strokes ahead of Viktor Hovland (Norway) and Scottie Scheffler (USA).  Who will be in contention this year?  Well, Brooks Koepka tees-off at 08.37 at Valhalla GC on Thursday with fellow-Americans Max Homa and Jordan Spieth.  And although Koepka stands at number 37 on the Official World Golf Ranking, who knows what will happen at Valhalla – anything is possible!  The big question is can Broeks Koepka seize the enormous Wanamaker Trophy for a fourth time?  All I can say is, please tune-in over the next four days and enjoy all the excitement at first-hand of the US PGA Championship.  It will be absolutely thrilling!

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  Brooks Koepka was absolutely delighted at Oak Hill GC in 2023 when he won his third US PGA Championship.