The second major of the year is set to get underway in just a matter of days as the PGA Championship returns to Valhalla for the first time since 2014.
The Louisville venue was the scene of Rory McIlroy’s last major victory, and the Northern Irishman is peaking at the right time as he looks to land major number five.
All eyes will once again be on Scottie Scheffler as he looks to seal his third major and fifth win in six tournament outings.
A further storyline centres around the LIV Golf contingent. Greg Norman will be desperate for one of his breakaway league stars to threaten the top of the leaderboard. Brooks Koepka, Joaquin Niemann and Jon Rahm feel like the most likely LIV stars to compete.
Another outcome is an older head rolling back the years at Valhalla, and here, The Golfing Gazette has taken a look at three players over the age of 35 who could be in contention come Sunday afternoon.
1. Jason Day
Jason Day is currently tied for second at the Wells Fargo Championship after shooting an impressive four-under 67 on Friday.
The Aussie has endured a mixed 2024, having missed two cuts at the Farmers Insurance and the Texas Children’s Open.
However, a T30 at the Masters shouldn’t be sniffed at. If he can land another top-five finish at Quail Hollow, a challenging course by Day’s admission, there’s every chance of the Aussie threatening at a similar layout at Valhalla.
2. Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson stunned the golfing world in 2021 when he won the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course.
The LIV Golf veteran finished T43 at this year’s Masters. But it’s essential to recognise just how tough Augusta National was playing; Scheffler’s winning total was abnormal, considering the conditions.
Mickelson’s highest finish in the 2024 LIV Golf season came in Jeddah, where he placed ninth.
His form, right now, isn’t great – but ruling the six-time major champion out at Valhalla would be foolish. Mickelson, clearly, has the pedigree and could be fueled by a recent feud over the number of major championship invites handed out to LIV Golf stars.
A fired-up Phil could be a daunting prospect, particularly on a track where he’s contended previously.
3. Dustin Johnson
2020 Masters champion Dustin Johnson could be well-suited to Valhalla. The 7500-yard course will favour the longer hitters, and the 39-year-old is more than capable of launching the ball beyond 320 yards.
Furthermore, the two-time major winner has produced some fine moments during the 2024 LIV Golf season.
His victory in Las Vegas has been followed up by a seventh place finish in Singapore.
It also feels like Johnson may have unfinished business in the majors. A player of his calibre should have landed more than two by this point in his career. A third title at Valhalla could well be on the cards if he can use his distance to his advantage.
READ MORE: The ten longest hitters set to compete at Valhalla for the PGA Championship
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