Capelle On Golf

PGA Championship Coverage

Tiger Woods is the favorite for Player of the Year, but he could still lose out to one of a handful of players should these candidates close their seasons with a flourish.

Despite his great play, Woods has competed in only six PGA Tour events over 21 weeks, which hardly makes a year. This and the fact that he’s already won it 9 of 11 seasons makes this as good a year as any to “pass it along” to another worthy competitor.

And yes, Woods would have undoubtedly added some Ws and top fives to his resume, but the award can’t be based on what might have happened. This means his competitors have about 12-20+ PGA Tour starts to exceed what Woods accomplished in a half dozen.

Woods owns four wins (one a major) and a second at the Masters. To be a serious contender, a player needs to win two majors or win one major and at least three wins plus a few strong finishes.

Tiger Woods
Buick Invitational – W
WGC – Accenture – W
Arnold Palmer - W
WGC – CA – 5
Masters – 2
US Open - W

Padraig Harrington
A win at the PGA would enable him to join Woods and Nick Price as the only players of the Modern Era to sweep the Open and the PGA. Harrington has another tour win and several top fives, so this could be enough. If he wins the PGA and one other tour event, he deserves to win Player of the Year.

Northern Trust – 3t
Zurich Classic – 4t
Masters – 5t
US Open – 36t
Stanford St. Jude – 4t
British Open – W
PGA – W

Trevor Immelman
Immelman would join Jack Nicklaus as the only player to win the Masters and the PGA in the Modern Era – the First and Last Sweep. He only has one other notable finish, so he’ll have to win at least one other event (in addition to the PGA) to be a serious candidate.

Masters – W
Stanford St. Jude – 2t
US Open – 65t
British Open – 19t

Phil Mickelson
Mickelson’s season doesn’t feel like anything special thanks to his play in the majors. However, he did manage a 5t at the Masters and was in the top 20 in the other two. He’s won two tour events and lost a playoff in another. So, though his season is not so great, it could become a whole lot better in a hurry with a win at the PGA. That and one other title and a case could be made for Phil’s first Player of the Year. If his form holds, he will play in five more events (counting the WGC).

Buick Invit. – 6t
FBR – 2 (lost playoff)
Northern Trust – W
Masters – 5t
Crowne Plaza – W
US Open – 18t
British Open – 19t

Sergio Garcia
Garcia got off to a horrible start, then began to build his case for POY with a win at THE PLAYERS. His other top four came at the Stanford St. Jude. He hasn’t done much in the majors so he’s overdue. To be voted POY he’s got to win the PGA and at least one other tournament, but probably two more. That means two or three out of five or six starts. THE PLAYERs and PGA is a nice combo that’s only been won by Hal Sutton (1983).

Players and PGA – a nice double
Masters - MC
THE PLAYERS – W
Stanford St. Jude – 4t
US Open – 18t
British Open – 51t

Anthony Kim
Kim’s got two wins, a second, and a decent finish at the British Open despite his late round collapse. Winning the PGA and one other event would make him a solid contender.

Verizon Heritage – 2t
Wachovia Championship – W
US Open – 26t
AT&T National – W
British Open – 7t

Richard Karlsson – Honorable Mention
Since the award is for PGA Tour player of the year, European Tour player Karlsson, who has been amazingly consistent in 2008 has no chance. Still, a win at the PGA would cap off a Top 10 Slam, making him the only player this year to accomplish this incredibly difficult feat. POY would only come if he were to win the PGA and three other events.