When it comes to Major championships, it’s the one that more individual Australians have won than any other.
The 2019 US PGA Championship at Bethpage State Park’s Black course at New York is the 101st hosting of what has been traditionally golf’s final Major but returns to the month of May for the first time in 70 years.
Two years earlier, Jim Ferrier became the first Australian Major champion when he won at Plum Hollow Country Club in Detroit in 1947 when the tournament was still conducted in the matchplay format.
Forty years ago, also in the state of Michigan, David Graham added his name to the Wanamaker Trophy at Oakland Hills Country Club and then Wayne Grady (1990) and Steve Elkington (1995) won in relatively quick succession at Shoal Creek Country Club and Riviera Country Club, respectively.
We had to wait 20 years for another Aussie winner of the PGA Championship when Jason Day broke through at Whistling Straits for his maiden Major and then last year we rode the emotional roller-coaster of Adam Scott’s third-place finish at Bellerive Country Club.
The venue for the 2019 PGA Championship is one of golf’s most feared, yet Bethpage Black has proven to be a course where Aussies have excelled in the past.
When America’s toughest public course hosted the US Open for the first time in 2002, Robert Allenby was tied for fifth heading into the final round while in 2009 Michael Sim, playing the final round with Tiger Woods, was our best finisher in a tie for 18th.
Day and Scott were both top-five finishers when the US PGA Tour last played a tournament at Bethpage in 2016, with Day tied for 24th in 2012 courtesy of a five-under 66 in the final round.
Joining PGA Tour regulars Day, Scott, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith in the field this week are 15-time Japan Golf Tour winner Brendan Jones, world No.94 Lucas Herbert and US-based PGA of America professionals Stuart Deane and Craig Hocknull.
The Kiwis have two representatives in the field at Bethpage with Danny Lee and Ryan Fox both seeking to become their country’s third male Major champion and first to win the US PGA Championship.
Jason Day
World ranking: 14
Best finish in 2019: T-4, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (PGA Tour)
Best finish at the PGA Championship: 1st, Whistling Straits (2015)
Best finish in a Major: 1st, 2015 US PGA Championship
Best finish at Bethpage Black: T-4, The Barclays (2016)
How he qualified: Former PGA champion
Marc Leishman
World ranking: 23
Best finish in 2019: T-3, Sony Open (PGA Tour)
Best finish at the PGA Championship: T-12, Oak Hill Country Club (2013)
Best finish in a Major: T-2, 2015 Open Championship
Best finish at Bethpage Black: MC, 2012 and 2016 Barclays
How he qualified: Top 70 leaders in official money standings from the 2018 Players Championship to the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship
Adam Scott
World ranking: 27
Best finish in 2019: 2nd, Farmers Insurance Open (PGA Tour)
Best finish in the PGA Championship: T-3, Medinah Country Club (2006), 3rd, Bellerive Country Club (2018)
Best finish in a Major: 1st, 2013 Masters
Best finish at Bethpage Black: T-4, The Barclays (2016)
How he qualified: Top 15 and ties at the 2018 PGA Championship
Cameron Smith
World ranking: 29
Best finish in 2019: T-6, WGC–Mexico Championship
Best finish in the PGA Championship: T-25, Whistling Straits (2015)
Best finish in a Major: T-4, 2015 US Open
Best finish at Bethpage Black: First appearance
How he qualified: Top 70 leaders in official money standings from the 2018 Players Championship to the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship
Ryan Fox
World ranking: 84
Best finish in 2019: 1st, ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth (Australasian/European Tour)
Best finish in the PGA Championship: T-27, Bellerive Country Club (2018)
Best finish in a Major: T-27, 2018 PGA Championship
Best finish at Bethpage Black: First appearance
How he qualified: PGA of America invitation
Lucas Herbert
World ranking: 94
Best finish in 2019: T-7, Omega Dubai Desert Classic (European Tour)
Best finish in the PGA Championship: First appearance
Best finish in a Major: T-51, 2018 Open Championship
Best finish at Bethpage Black: First appearance
How he qualified: PGA of America invitation
Brendan Jones
World ranking: 101
Best finish in 2019: 1st, Token Homemate Cup (Japan Golf Tour)
Best finish in the PGA Championship: T-24, Hazeltine National Golf Club (2009)
Best finish in a Major: T-24, 2009 PGA Championship
Best finish at Bethpage Black: First appearance
How he qualified: PGA of America invitation
Danny Lee
World ranking: 119
Best finish in 2019: T-7, Valero Texas Open (PGA Tour)
Best finish in the PGA Championship: T-43, Whistling Straits (2015)
Best finish in a Major: T-17, 2016 Masters
Best finish at Bethpage Black: MC, The Barclays (2016)
How he qualified: Top 70 leaders in official money standings from the 2018 Players Championship to the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship
Stuart Deane
World ranking: 2,057
Best finish in 2019: MC, AT&T Byron Nelson (PGA Tour)
Best finish in the PGA Championship: MC, Valhalla Golf Club (2014) and Quail Hollow Club (2017)
Best finish in a Major: MC, 2014 and 2017 PGA Championships
Best finish at Bethpage Black: First appearance
How he qualified: 20 low scorers in the 2019 PGA of America Professional Championship
Craig Hocknull
World ranking: 2,057
Best finish in 2019: No official starts
Best finish in the PGA Championship: MC, Bellerive Country Club (2018)
Best finish in a Major, MC, 2018 PGA Championship
Best finish at Bethpage Black: First appearance
How he qualified: 20 low scorers in the 2019 PGA of America Professional Championship
