This week sees the last of the four golf major championships being played. The PGA Championship will tee off at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin on Thursday and is Australia’s last chance to capture a major title in 2015.

Traditionally boasting the strongest field of the four majors Australia will be well represented with our top eight players in the Official World Golf Rankings all in the field.

2010 was the last time the PGA Championship was played at Whistling Straits with the Aussie contingent back then turning in some impressive performance including a T5 from Steve Elkington and a T10 from Jason Day on debut.

Turning our attention to 2015 we take a look at the form of our Aussies heading into the fourth Major of the year.

Aussies in the field:
Jason Day, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, John Senden, Steven Bowditch, Matt Jones, Cameron Smith, Geoff Ogilvy, Brett Jones

—–

Jason Day

World Ranking:
5 

Number of tournaments played this year:
15 (PGA Tour)

Best finish this year:
1st Farmers Insurance Open & 1st Canadian Open

Last victory:
26th July 2015 – Canadian Open – PGA TOUR

How he got in the field:
Low 15 scorers and ties in the 2014 PGA Championship

Round 1 tee time:
8.05am (local), 11.05pm (AEST) playing with Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson

Why you should watch him:
After back to back near misses at the last two Grand Slam events Jason Day returns to the site of his major debut for this week’s PGA Championship not only as one of Australia’s best chances but one of the tournament favourites. Day’s first major appearance came at Whistling Straits at the 2010 PGA Championship and he produced what has become a trademark performance in the biggest tournaments, a T10 which has set the tone for his career since. After heartbreak at the US Open at Chambers Bay, where an attack of vertigo saw him collapse in the second round, and the agony of a putt left short at St Andrews’ final hole which cost him a place in the play-off, Day is ready to capitalise on what has been a brilliant year. He proved his resilience with a win at the Canadian Open the week after St Andrews, his second PGA TOUR title of the year, and but for an inexplicably poor run at Firestone’s par-5 16^th hole last week he would have been a contender for a second WGC title.

Adam Scott

World Ranking:
11 

Number of tournaments played this year:
11 (PGA Tour)

Best finish this year:
T4 US Open and WGC – Cadillac Championship

Last victory:
25th May 2014 – Crowne Plaza Invitational – PGA TOUR

How he got in the field:
Winner of The Masters in the last five years

Round 1 tee time:
1.40pm (local), 4.40am (AEST) playing with Henrik Stenson and Brooks Koepka

Why you should watch him:For Adam Scott this week marks the final time he will be able to use the anchored putting stroke in a major and while that likely won’t be at the forefront of his thinking it’s hard to imagine it won’t be on his mind in some way. Unquestionably one of the best ball strikers in the game there is little to worry about in that department and with Steve Williams again on the bag all departments are in order for yet another strong major performance. Since his near miss at the 2012 Open at Lytham Scott has been in the top-5 in five of 12 majors and top-10 in another two. A stirring final round charge at Chambers Bay and a brilliant start to his final round at St Andrews are positive proof he has what it takes to contend at the biggest events and, if he can get off to a good start, will likely be a factor late Sunday.

Marc Leishman

World Ranking:
31 

Number of tournaments played this year:
17 (PGA Tour)

Best finish this year:
Runner-up in a playoff at The Open

Last victory:
24th June 2012 – Travelers Championship – PGA TOUR

How he got in the field:
Players ranked in order from 71st place onwards from the PGA Championship points list until the field is full

Round 1 tee time:
1.50pm (local time), 4.50am (AEST), playing with Kevin Kisner and Ben Polland

Why you should watch him: 
Leishman’s final two rounds at St Andrews are among the best 36 hole performances in major championship history and despite not playing his best at Firestone it would be a surprise were he not to be in the mix come Sunday. A little like Day, Leishman seems to save his best performances for the most important tournaments and also made his PGA Championship debut at this venue in 2010. Rounds of 71-73-72-73 saw him finish T48 that week but the Victorian is a vastly improved player in the five years since and has proved his ability to handle pressure well. He has spoken more than once about the change in attitude brought on by the well documented health scare of wife Audrey which saw him miss the Masters and that calm will be crucial on what can be a brutally difficult golf course this week.

John Senden

World Ranking:
58 

Number of tournaments played this year:
17 (PGA Tour), 1 (Japan Golf Tour), 1 (European Tour)

Best finish this year:
T5 WGC – Cadillac Match Play

Last victory:
16th March 2014 – Valspar Championship – PGA TOUR

How he got in the field:
Ranked inside the top-70 players from the PGA Championship points list as at 3rd August

Round 1 tee time:
1.40pm (local), 4.40am (AEST), playing with Danny Willet and Cameron Tringale 

Why you should watch him: Hailing from Queensland and flying under the radar this week will be John Senden whose 2015 has been less than his best. He comes to Wisconsin off a missed cut at the Quicken Loans tournament, his seventh of the season, but has plenty of incentive to play well with a Presidents Cup spot beckoning. Senden, who has made no secret of his desire to play on the International Team, needs a good week at Whistling Straits to assure himself a spot and that may be just what’s required to turn his form around. Presently 11^th in the standings he can play his way into automatic selection at Whistling Straits and that will no doubt be a big motivation.

Steven Bowditch

World Ranking:
60 

Number of tournaments played this year:
24 (PGA Tour)

Best finish this year:
1st AT&T Byron Nelson

Last victory:
31st May 2015 – AT&T Byron Nelson – PGA TOUR

How he got in the field:
Winning the AT&T Byron Nelson

Round 1 tee time:
12.40pm (local time), 3.40Am (AEST), playing with Rafa Caberra-Bello and Daniel Berger

Why you should watch him: Steven Bowditch has a goal this week and that is to climb into the top-50 in the Official World Golf Rankings. Now a two time PGA TOUR winner Bowditch is playing some of the best and most consistent golf of his life and spoke this week of his aim is to tee up with the best in the world week in and week out. Whistling Straits will be Bowditch’s fifth major and he comes into the week off some good play at Firestone last week, a Saturday 7-under-par 63 the highlight. His length will be an asset at a course which favoured the bombers last time around and if his putter holds up a good finish is likely.

Matt Jones

World Ranking:
75 

Number of tournaments played this year:
18 (PGA Tour)

Best finish this year:
3rd Arnold Palmer Invitational (PGA Tour), T3 St Jude Classic (PGA Tour) 

Last victory:
6 April 2014 – Shell Houston Open – PGA TOUR

How he got in the field:
Ranked inside the top-70 players from the PGA Championship points list as at 3rd August

Round 1 tee time:
8.35am (local time), 11.35pm (AEST), playing with Brian Cairns and Matt Every

Why you should watch him:Matt Jones has steadily improved each and every year on the PGA TOUR and after his first victory last year has been at the pointy end of several tournaments. Not as consistently good in 2015 as he was last year the Sydney-sider is still in the top half of the FedEx Cup standings and has two third place finishes this season. A missed cut last start at the Canadian Open wasn’t ideal preparation but having his brother tee up this week also will be a motivator which could lift his game. Jones missed the cut at Whistling Straits in 2010 but is a different player five years on and if he can produce his best form will have a chance on Sunday.

Cameron Smith

World Ranking:
104 

Number of tournaments played this year:
2 (PGA Tour of Australasia), 8 (PGA TOUR)

Best finish this year:
Runner-up Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship (PGA Tour of Australasia), 4th at the US Open on debut

Last victory:
Yet to have a Professional victory

How he got in the field:
Special invite from the PGA of America

Round 1 tee time:
1pm (local time), 4am (AEST), playing with Hiroshi Iwata and Shawn Stefani

Why you should watch him: 
Cameron Smith plays his second major this week after of a staggeringly good performance at his first, the US Open in June. Little known outside Australia at the time Smith surprised most when he finished fourth at Chambers Bay, not the least because of his amazing three-wood second to the last which led to an eagle. After the predictable post tournament attention after such a performance Smith has slipped back under the radar but those who follow the game closely will like his chances this week. At every level of the game the 21-year-old has proved himself up to the task and while he is yet to win as a Professional has all the tools required to play at the top level. When Smith won the Australian Amateur in 2013 he came from five down against long hitting Geoff Drakeford at his opponent’s home course of Commonwealth to eventually win 3&2. That tenacity has also been obvious in his still fledgling Professional career, Smith finishing 2014 on the Asian Tour with six consecutive top-10 results. The only thing working against Smith this week is a lack of tournament golf since the US Open but he will no doubt be lifted by the occasion and if he produces his best could be a factor.

Geoff Ogilvy

World Ranking:
106 

Number of tournaments played this year:
14 (PGA Tour)

Best finish this year:
T7 Wells Fargo Championship

Last victory:
3rd August 2014 – Barracuda Championship – PGA TOUR

How he got in the field:
Ranked inside the top-70 players from the PGA Championship points list as at 3rd August

Round 1 tee time:
7.35am (local time), 10.35pm (AEST), playing with Justin Rose and Brandt Snedeker

Why you should watch him: For Geoff Ogilvy 2015 has been an unusual year after he broke a slump at the end of 2014 with an unexpected PGA TOUR win but hasn’t quite gone on with the job. Nine years on from his US Open victory it is the majors which seem to bring out the best in his game and at both Chambers Bay and St Andrews this year he got off to strong starts before giving back shots cheaply with a run of poor holes. A balky putter in recent years has been problematic but Ogilvy still putts well in streaks and if he has one of those runs this week he can easily handle everything else that comes with being at the top of a major leader board. A good first two rounds will be key for the Victorian and if he can make it to the weekend in decent shape could well go on with the job.

Brett Jones

World Ranking:
N/A

Number of tournaments played this year:
Has not played an event this year, he is the Club Professional at Due Process Stables Golf Course in Colts Neck New Jersey

How he got in the field:
Finishing tied 5th in the PGA Professional National Championship

Round 1 tee time:
12.10pm (local time), 3.10am (AEST), playing with Chris Wood and Graham DeLaet

Why you should watch him: 
Brett, the brother of Matt Jones is also in the field after qualifying as a Club Professional. The elder Jones will be somewhat out of his comfort zone at this level and a made cut would be considered a successful week under the circumstances.

Related Links

Page / 2015 PGA Championship