97th PGA Championship

Stricker comes out of PGA Championship encouraged (AUDIO)

August 17, 2015 By Bill Scott

Steve Stricker

Madison’s Steve Stricker was met with a standing ovation on Sunday as he walked up the 18th fairway at Whistling Straits for the final time. Wisconsin golf fans showed their appreciation for Stricker, who shot a final-round two-under-par 70 to finish four shots under par at the 97th PGA Championship.

Stricker got off to a good start during his final round on Sunday, climbing to five-under-par through 12 holes. He birdied ten, eleven and twelve but he ran into trouble from there and was unable to regain his momentum.

Stricker heads into the offseason feeling much better about his future and after playing a limited schedule (9 starts this year), he hopes to play in more events next season. Stricker said his next event probably won’t come until December when he’ll likely play in the Shark Shootout in Florida. [Read more…]

Day captures his first Major, wins PGA

August 17, 2015 By Bill Scott

Jason Day – Photo courtesy of PGA Tour/Jamie Squire (Getty Images)

It was just weeks ago that Jason Day collapsed at the U.S. Open because of Vertigo. He had the 54-hole lead for the second straight Major and for the second straight time, couldn’t hold it together.

Sunday at Whistling Straits, Day would enter the final round of the 97th PGA Championship with the 54-hole lead. This time he would hang on and pull away, holding off Jordan Spieth to pull out a 3-shot win. He shot a 5-under par 67 and broke the 72-hole major championship scoring record with a 20-under-par 268. He can no longer be labeled the best golfer without a major.

Day made seven birdies and just two bogeys and was dominant with his driver all day. On the par-5 eleventh hole, Spieth’s drive went 302 yards. When he walked up to his ball, he could see that Day’s drive was another 80 yards up ahead.

“We’ve played a lot of major championship rounds together and that was the best I’ve ever seen him play,” said Spieth. [Read more…]

PGA Championship news

August 11, 2015 By Bill Scott

Ryan Helminen

Practice rounds continue today at Whistling Straits in preparation for the start of the 97th P-G-A Championship on Thursday.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy has declared himself 100-percent, as he gets ready to defend his title.

The World-Number-One has not played competitive golf since the U-S Open in mid-June. In early July, McElroy injured left ankle ligaments while playing soccer with friends.

McIlroy arrived in Haven early, playing a couple of practice rounds over the weekend.

Former Badger Ryan Helminen, who is a teaching pro out of Ridgeway Country Club in Neenah, is in the PGA Field for the second straight year. He missed the cut last year at Valhalla by 1-stroke and vows to play on the weekend this year.

AUDIO: Ryan Helminen on correcting mistakes from last year :21

Helminen gets the honor of taking the first swing of the tournament at 6:45 a.m. Thursday on No. 1 with playing partners Rory Sabbatini and Chesson Hadley.

McIlroy’s appearance at the PGA could be in jeopardy

July 29, 2015 By Bill Scott

Rory McIlroy

It was roughly a month ago that Rory McIlroy showed up at Whistling Straits to promote the upcoming PGA Championship as the defending champion.

McIlroy’s chances of playing in the 97th PGA Championship could be in jeopardy.

McIlroy is recovering from an ankle injury that he suffered while playing soccer with his friends in early July. As Gary D’Amato reported today in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, McIlroy has informed tournament officials that he will not play in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational next week, an event that he won a year ago.

The PGA Championship is scheduled for August 13-16 at Whistling Straits.