KARZMER: Mickelson, Day picked to contend in last major


It’s hard to believe, but the PGA Tour’s final major of the year, The PGA Championship, will be played this week.

The tour returns to Pete Dye’s diabolical masterpiece on the edge of Lake Michigan — Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisc.

So far this year, I’ve embarrassed myself with incorrect picks at the U.S. Open and the British Open. Today, I’m going for “Glory’s last shot” with some predictions for the year’s final major.

Phil Mickelson — I feel like his whole year comes down to majors. He’s played OK in the first three. I think he’s going to step it up a level this week. I can’t point to any specific reasons why, but I think he’ll be in contention this weekend.

Finish: Top 10.

Rory McIlroy — The defending champion and world number one is still questionable for the event. I think he’ll be in the field, but I think the time off hurts him. He’ll still make the cut, but won’t be a factor.

Finish: Top 60.

Jordan Spieth — The young phenom almost completed the first three legs of the Grand Slam last month at St. Andrews. Had he won, this tournament would have taken on a whole new level. But a missed putt on 17 and poor par on 18 kept him one shot short. I think he’s deflated for this “could have been major.” Finish: Top 60.

Dustin Johnson — I’ve jinxed the poor guy twice already. He’s got a sour taste in his mouth from this year’s U.S. Open and from the last time the PGA Championship was held at Whistling Straits. I think the sourness remains until Augusta 2016. I think he’ll be in contention but fade at the end.

Finish: Top 20.

Tiger Woods — Nope. Enough said.

Bubba Watson — He lost in a playoff here five years ago. I can’t figure his game out from a swing standpoint, but he seems to consistently play well on courses he likes. I think Whistling is one of those courses. I wouldn’t be surprised if he won, but I’m going to go with a close loss at the end.

Finish: Top 5.

Other Contenders: I love Adam Scott’s game and swing. Hideki Matsuyama is going to win one of thee at some point, I’m just not sure Whistling is his kind of course. Sergio Garcia still hits it as good as anyone. Henrik Stenson’s ball striking is unreal, but he hasn’t been in contention a lot lately.

But my final two picks are:

Second Place: Jason Day. He’s been close so many times he looked like he was going to cry at St. Andrews after missing the playoff by one. He came back and won in Canada last month. I think he’s there again but ends up just short. Final Pick: Second.

Winner: Rickie Fowler.

Ever since the U.S. Open debacle, he has been on point. He won the Scottish Open the week before the British. He won The Players Championship earlier in the year. He’s been close in majors for the last two years. And for some reason, I think he’s ready to take the next step.

As always, please remember that I have yet to get one of these right. So use these picks for entertainment purposes only.

Jonah Karzmer is a former golf professional who writes a Sunday golf column for The Vindicator. In his spare time he sells commercial insurance and loves getting feedback on his weekly columns via email at Jonah@thekarzmerinsurance.com

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