The sport’s greatest head to Rochester this week for the PGA Championship.

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Verify in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most well liked matters within the sport, and be part of the dialog by tweeting us @golf_com. This week, we talk about PGA Championship storylines, expectations for LIV golfers, Jason Day’s comeback and extra.

1. Main No. 2 has arrived, because the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Nation Membership in Pittsford, N.Y., kicks off on Thursday. Jon Rahm is searching for his second straight main, Jordan Spieth nonetheless wants a win right here to finish the profession grand slam, and Tiger Woods gained’t be among the many discipline teeing it up. Identify the very best storyline you may’t wait to see unfold, plus one other under-the-radar one.

Revamped Oak Hill Nation Membership takes heart stage at 2023 PGA Championship
By:

Josh Sens

Josh Sens, Senior Author (@joshsens): I’m curious to see which model of Rory McIlroy exhibits up. The addled, uncertain-looking Rory from Augusta, or the bouncy world-beater we all know he could be. He was taking part in so nicely heading into the Masters this yr. However that poor exhibiting appeared to throw him for sufficient of a loop that he skipped the subsequent designated occasion and has been quiet since. Whether or not he can return to kind is one thing price watching. 

Dylan Dethier, senior author (@dylan_dethier): That’s a very good one, Josh. I’ll stick to the plain — I’m intrigued to see how the highest LIV guys fare towards the very best gamers from the remainder of the world. LIV had a dream leaderboard at its Tulsa occasion over the weekend, with Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson battling for the highest spot and Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau not far behind. On paper, they’d make sense for Oak Hill. How ‘bout in actuality?

For under-the-radar storylines I assume I’m intrigued within the course setup; Kerry Haigh has earned practically common reward for his PGA setups the previous few years. How excessive will they dial the issue at Oak Hill?

James Colgan, information and options editor (@jamescolgan26): Finest storyline? How about the very best participant alive with an actual probability to go back-to-back within the first two majors of 2023? Most underrated story: Brooks Koepka with a post-Augusta head filled with steam.

2. LIV Golf had a powerful exhibiting on the Masters, with three gamers within the high six. Do you count on to see a greater or worse exhibiting from LIV opponents at Oak Hill?

‘Sooner or later, burning it doesn’t really feel superb’: PGA boss slams LIV Golf 
By:

Nick Piastowski

Sens: It might be powerful to high their exhibiting on the Masters and I wouldn’t count on it. Greater than perhaps any course, Augusta lends itself to repeat patterns, and the LIV guys who did so nicely in April — Phil, Reed, Koepka, Smith— all had nice observe information there, with video games that match. I count on Oak Hill to be extra of a wild card, and fewer favorable to likes of Phil and Smith. However it wouldn’t be a shock if a LIV participant gained. A couple of shekels on DJ or Koepka wouldn’t be a loopy guess. 

Dethier: On a proportion foundation there shall be fewer LIV guys on the PGA; 18 of the 88 Masters contestants had been LIV golfers vs. 17 of 156 on the PGA. So yeah, I feel it’s logical to count on a barely worse exhibiting than three within the high 5. However there are a couple of LIV guys who appear to be good suits to contend; Koepka looks like the plain contender, Johnson appears to be rounding into kind, Smith and Joaquin Niemann have loads of recreation. It’ll be enjoyable to see how all of them stack up.

Colgan: Agreed, DD — a worse efficiency is as a lot a mathematical chance as it’s a performance-based one. Additionally honest to level out that Oak Hill represents a barely totally different problem for LIV’s contingent than Augusta Nationwide, the place a lot of the LIV discipline has been touring yearly for the final decade. If there’s a LIV competitiveness dropoff (I’m skeptical), it’d stand to purpose it will hit right here as a substitute of at Augusta.

3. A type of LIV gamers, Phil Mickelson, tied for second on the Masters and is taking part in in his first PGA Championship since he gained in 2021. Mickelson then determined to skip final yr’s title protection throughout a prolonged keep away from the sport. With no Tiger within the discipline, is Mickelson the sphere’s most enthralling entry? 

Be careful, world. Phil Mickelson is feeling himself once more
By:

Alan Bastable

Sens: Provided that we’re giving factors for provocative tweets. Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler are taking part in riveting golf nowadays. And one in all them nonetheless has an opportunity on the grand slam this yr. They rank 1 and a pair of as most compelling in my eyes. 

Dethier: We had been already to listen to what Mickelson has to say. Given his outcome on the Masters, his play has earned our consideration, too. The final time Mickelson performed the PGA Championship, in any case, he gained. Solely he and Justin Thomas can say that getting into this week. I’d be shocked to see him in rivalry to equal that outcome at Oak Hill, however I used to be shocked at Augusta, too…

Colgan: Phil is, as per typical, one of the crucial attention-grabbing tales in a really attention-grabbing discipline. However, as per typical, that intrigue solely sticks round so long as the pink scores do. Most attention-grabbing, although? That’s the Rochester Rubbish Plate for me.

4. Rory McIlroy completed within the high 10 in all of 2022’s majors, however he missed the reduce on the Masters. What model of McIlroy will we see at Oak Hill?

‘It sucked’: Rory McIlroy explains fallout from surprising Masters missed reduce
By:

Kevin Cunningham

Sens: I touched on this above. I feel this is without doubt one of the extra attention-grabbing questions heading into the week. My guess is that he’ll shake off the Augusta flu (a psychological affliction for Rory) and that we’ll see the free-swinging, clear-headed McIlroy who has already gained this occasion twice. 

Dethier: I usually have a tendency in direction of optimism on McIlroy simply because he’s been such a continuing on the high of the sport; when issues are going poorly that’s sometimes a blip reasonably than a pattern. The important thing shall be what occurs as soon as issues begin to go sideways. At Augusta and once more at Quail Hole he appeared to get into full tilt mode; one mistake led to a different after which one other. A affected person, assured McIlroy who will get off to a sizzling begin must be a contender.

Colgan: I understand how fickle sizzling streaks could be in professional golf, however Rory was among the finest gamers on earth for 9 months earlier than the Augusta debacle. I really feel prefer it’s extra probably we see that McIlroy than Augusta’s.

5. The final time Oak Hill hosted a significant, Jason Dufner gained the PGA in 2013. The East Course has been up to date since and shall be a barely new search for professionals who’re again once more this yr. What sort of participant ought to excel on a course like this?

Sens: Guys with the final names Rahm and Scheffler, whose video games are suited to any course.

Dethier: Yeah, these guys. I’m excited to go to Oak Hill in particular person this week to see for myself — keep tuned for on-the-ground sights and sounds! — however I’d count on a U.S. Open-style leaderboard. Powerful cookies with full, well-rounded video games. Relentless dudes. No pretenders. For a number of years working, the majors have separated the very best from the not-quite-best. I’d count on that this week, too, and I couldn’t be extra excited to see it shake out.

Colgan: If our first glimpses at tough size and fairway width are any indication, Oak Hill appears to be like constructed for large brutes. Your Koepkas, Rahms, Finaus and Homas — these are the names I count on to see looming.

6. Former World No. 1 Jason Day shot a final-round 62 to win the AT&T Byron Nelson by one, selecting up his thirteenth profession PGA Tour victory however first because the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship (greater than 100 begins in the past). Given his struggles he’s needed to overcome the final a number of years — accidents, swing adjustments and vertigo — how spectacular was it to see him win once more? And are you shocked he did?

With emotional victory, behind a 62, Jason Day snaps five-year winless drought
By:

Nick Piastowski

Sens. Inspiring return to the winner’s circle. However this was not a lot a bolt from the blue because it was a simmer that reached a boil. He’d been heating up. Getting wholesome. Dialing in his swing. Day was at all times an epic expertise so not a whole shock. Simply nice to see it lastly all come collectively. 

Dethier: A couple of years in the past this dude was excited about strolling away from golf. He was taking part in PGA Tour occasions simply to verify ‘em off his sponsor obligation listing. His coronary heart wasn’t in it. However someplace alongside the road he doubled down on getting higher and it’s been spectacular as hell to see his progress. Joyful for him. He needed to fend off a wild leaderboard and hit a wedge shot within the rain at No. 18 that was absolute nails. There’s extra to come back, I’m positive — however I hope he enjoys this one.

Colgan: As I watched JDay pattern cowboy hats on Sunday afternoon in Texas, I discovered myself reflecting on one thing I heard him say on the 2021 Masters: he was on the trail again to World No. 1. On the time, I chuckled it off — he was ranked 58th on the earth and en route to a different MC. Now, at World No. 20, I’m paying consideration.