CNN
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Together with his household having grown by one final week, new father Scottie Scheffler will look to do the identical for his ever-expanding trophy cupboard on the 106th PGA Championship on Thursday.
The world No. 1 is the overwhelming favourite for the second main of the season at Valhalla Golf Membership in Louisville, Kentucky, as golf’s dominant pressure seeks to go back-to-back following his complete Masters triumph final month.
In-form Rory McIlroy will fancy his possibilities at halting Scheffler’s seemingly relentless cost, whereas reigning champion Brooks Koepka is looking a fourth Wanamaker Trophy that would go away him only one behind the all-time report shared by Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus.
Jordan Spieth is bidding to hitch an much more unique membership. Victory come Sunday would see the American grow to be simply the sixth participant to have accomplished the profession grand slam of all 4 majors within the trendy period.
Tiger Woods is amongst that legendary group and can be hoping to construct on a history-making Masters outing that noticed him make the lower at Augusta Nationwide for the twenty fourth consecutive time.
Viewers within the US can comply with the opening two rounds on ESPN from 11 a.m. ET. The broadcaster may even present the weekend’s motion from 10 a.m. earlier than protection switches to CBS from 1 p.m.
Sky Sports activities Golf heads up protection within the UK, with followers in a position to tune in from 1 p.m. BST on Thursday and Friday, then from 2 p.m. for the closing weekend rounds.
For extra info on methods to watch, test The PGA Championship web site right here.
In case you can high Scheffler’s 2024 to this point, you should be having an unbelievable 12 months.
The 27-year-old seems to be borderline unstoppable in the intervening time, as victory on the RBC Heritage – only one week on from easing into his second inexperienced jacket at Augusta – made it 4 wins in 5 begins.
But his biggest prize was nonetheless to come back. Scheffler subsequently stepped away from aggressive motion to be with spouse Meredith, who final week gave start to the couple’s first little one, Bennett.
“I’m glad it was her going by way of it and never me as a result of I don’t know if I might have carried out it. It was fairly nuts,” Scheffler instructed reporters Thursday.
“Extraordinarily happy with her, and the look on her face proper after start, she was simply glowing, so happy with herself and so excited to have our little boy.
“Sitting at residence with the lady I dated in highschool with our little one after which the Inexperienced Jacket sitting within the closet is a fairly insane feeling, and I simply wished to be as grateful as attainable,” he added.
Regardless of the lack of sleep and new duties – diaper altering chief amongst them – Scheffler dismissed any considerations of a scarcity of preparation for his pursuit of a 3rd profession main, although there can be some disruption to navigate this week.
Assuming he makes the lower, his ordinary caddie Ted Scott won’t be on the bag for Saturday’s third spherical as he attends his daughter’s highschool commencement. Longtime pal and PGA Tour chaplain Brad Payne will deputize within the legendary bagman’s absence.
“Teddy goes residence Friday evening, coming again Saturday night after the commencement … I’m certain they’ll perform a little celebration afterward,” Scheffler mentioned.
“That’s one thing we talked about from the start of our relationship – household all the time comes first, and it’s the identical factor for me as it’s for my caddie. It was a fairly straightforward determination.”
There are few who can relate to Scheffler’s actual circumstances, however Woods most undoubtedly can.
Woods was world No. 1 and a 14-time main winner when his son Charlie – now forging his personal path within the recreation – was born. Fifteen years on, he shared his finest recommendation for balancing parenting and the PGA Tour.
“Get some sleep,” Woods mentioned with a smile on Thursday.
“All of us who’ve had youngsters, these are some powerful years and forward of them. Attempt to get some relaxation as a lot as you presumably can.
“He’s the No. 1 participant on the planet, and having an amazing, steady household life at house is vital to having an amazing life out right here on Tour.”
Teeing up at his 23rd PGA Championship, Woods is chasing a record-equaling fifth win on the match.
The 48-year-old stays adamant that – regardless of his well-documented harm woes – he’s able to profitable a sixteenth main and has earlier at Valhalla, having lifted his second Wanamaker Trophy there in 2000 following a playoff victory over compatriot Bob Could.
Regardless of a disappointing end, his history-making efficiency at a notoriously hilly Augusta final month proved Woods might nonetheless deal with the bodily rigors of the sport regardless of sporadic occasion appearances.
“My physique’s okay. It’s what it’s,” Woods added Thursday.
“I want my recreation was a little bit bit sharper. Once more, I don’t have plenty of aggressive reps, so I’m having to depend on my apply periods and getting stuff carried out both at residence or right here on-site.
“It is a massive golf course and in case you get within the tough right here, issues might get a little bit bit sore, but when I drive it properly and do the issues I must do and what I did 24 years in the past, hopefully it really works.”
World No. 2 McIlroy arrives in excellent kind after storming to a second straight victory on the Wells Fargo Championship final week.
The Northern Irishman is seeking to finish a 10-year watch for his fifth main victory, having not received since besting Phil Mickelson by one stroke to seal his second PGA Championship at Valhalla in 2014.
McIlroy missed his newest alternative to attain the profession grand slam on the Masters final month, which means Spieth can beat him to it with a victory this week. Solely Woods, Nicklaus, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Gary Participant have ever achieved the feat.
“It’s very cool, however I’d take any and all and as many majors as attainable no matter the place they arrive,” Spieth, who received his final main in 2017, mentioned Thursday.
“It’s simply sort of a cool factor in case you’re in a position to maintain all 4. There’s not many individuals within the recreation which have carried out that and you’ve got a possibility to do issues which are very distinctive within the recreation of golf, that’s what variety stands the check of time afterwards.”
Regardless of the Texan’s main pedigree, the world No. 24 has struggled to search out his finest type of late, lacking the lower in 4 of his 12 PGA Tour begins this 12 months, together with at The Masters.
Defending champion Koepka additionally struggled at Augusta, ending 45th, tied with fellow LIV Golf star and typical main contender Jon Rahm.
