Leading Player Capsules for the 1996 PGA Tournament

A capsule look at the top players in the 1996 PGA listed in the order of predicted finish:

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ERNIE ELS: Best finish in PGA: 3rd last year at Riviera when he dominated the course and the field for three rounds then backed off on Sunday and played conservatively, letting Elkington and Montgomerie sprint past him. Next to Faldo has been the most consistent player in the majors this year with a 12th in the Masters, 5th in the U.S. Open and 2nd in the British Open. Is only 26 but has finished 12th or better in 10 of the 18 majors in which he has played. Won’t spit the bit this time. Gets a PGA to go along with his ’94 U.S. Open title.

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Odds: 15-1.

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NICK FALDO: Best finish in PGA: 2nd in 1992, 3rd in ’93 and 4th in ’88 and ’94. Has been under par in seven of his 12 rounds in major championships this year and every round has been between 67 and 73. Playing as consistently well has he ever has and at age 39 might be at his ball-striking peak. Won the Masters when he was deadly putting from the 4- to 8-foot range. But the putter let him down at the U.S. Open (16th) and the British Open (4th), where he missed four birdie putts of 7-feet or less on the first seven holes of the final round. If he gets confidence in his stroke early he could add a PGA Championship to his three Masters and three British Opens. Next major championship ties him with Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen and Harry Vardon with seven pro titles. Best golfer in the world right now.

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Odds: 18-1.

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FRED COUPLES: Best finish in PGA: 2nd in 1990, 3rd in ’82 and 6th in ’85. Won The Players Championship and has seven other top-seven finishes around the world this year. The best of the Americans when his back is healthy. 2nd on tour this year in greens hit in regulation. 15th in Masters despite first-round 78 and skipped U.S. Open because of back. Seventh in British Open despite 41 on back nine in final round. Could be the right course for him.

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Odds: 20-1.

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NICK PRICE: Best finish in PGA: 1st in 1994 and ’92. Last victory in the U.S. was the 1994 PGA. Then got sidetracked by changing equipment companies and relocating home. Just when that turmoil seemed to be dying down got hit with a sinus infection that will require surgery after Presidents Cup in September. Game has shown signs of life this year with five top-5 finishes. 18th in Masters. Missed U.S. Open because of sinuses. Faded to 45th in British Open after opening with a 68. Could surprise here.

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Odds: 20-1.

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MARK O’MEARA: Best finish in PGA: 6th in 1995, 9th in ’88. Missed the cut in seven of his 13 PGAs. Having a strong year with two first, two seconds and two thirds on tour. First on tour in greens hit in regulation. Steady but not a contender in any major this year: 18th in the Masters, 16th in the U.S. Open, 33rd in British Open. Hits a ton of greens and should do well here. Has the experience (39 years old, 15 years on tour), track record (14 tour victories) and level head to win. That would make it a career year.

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Odds: 25-1.

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GREG NORMAN: Best finish in PGA: 2nd in 1986 and ‘93, 4th in ’81 and ‘94, 5th in ’82. Is this guy made of stone or what? After his collapse at the Masters he came back to finish 10th at the U.S. Open and seventh at the British Open, making him the only player this year to finish in the top-10 in all three majors. His first-round 63 at the Masters was erased by the final-round 78. A brilliant second-round 66 in the U.S. Open was sandwiched between a 73 and a 74. And his final-round 67 at the British Open couldn’t make up for two 71s early on. Can he put together four good rounds? Still has yet to win a major championship on American soil. His name will be on the leaderboard on Sunday.

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Odds: 25-1.

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TOM LEHMAN: Best finish in PGA: 39th in 1994, cut in ’93 and ’95. Has played his 12 rounds in the majors this year 10 under par, finishing 18th at the Masters and a heartbreaking 2nd at the U.S. Open before getting his first major championship at the British Open. Seems to get stronger every time out. Won the British without his best game on Sunday but never cracked under the intense pressure from Faldo, Els and McCumber. The PGA is the only major in which he does not have a top-three finish. Perhaps too much to expect another strong effort from him this year.

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Odds: 25-1.

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COREY PAVIN: Best finish in PGA: 2nd in 1994, 6th in ’85. Eight top-10 finishes this year, including a victory at the Colonial. This course could be to his liking. Accurate iron play and strong up-and-down game will be a real plus. Lack of length off the tee shouldn’t hurt here. Has dealt with the diversions of winning his first major at the U.S. Open last year very well. This is a tough competitor and a game well-suited for this course.

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Odds: 25-1.

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DAVIS LOVE III: Best finish in PGA: 17th in 1989 and has missed last two cuts. Don’t pay much attention to his track record. After never finishing the top-10 in his first 27 major championships he has finished in the top-10 in four of his last seven, including runnerup at the U.S. Open this year. Missed the cut at the British Open, not bouncing back as well as Lehman from the last-hole bogey that cost him a playoff. Has 10 tour victories and at age 32 should be rounding into peak years. Held up under the pressure superbly on the back nine in the U.S. Open until the three-putt on No. 18. Will he ever win a major championship?

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Odds: 30-1.

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COLIN MONTGOMERIE: Best finish in PGA: 2nd in playoff in 1995. You figure out this guy. Won his first tournament of the year in Dubai and followed that with a second-place finish at The Players Championship when he contended until hitting into water on No. 16 on Sunday. Lost 40 pounds in part to improve self esteem and in part to improve stamina in hot, humid weather of U.S. Open and PGA Championship. Lost ’94 U.S. Open in playoff when he shot a 42 on the front nine. Is 33 and has never won in the U.S. or in a major championship.Doubts abound.

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Odds: 35-1.

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PHIL MICKELSON: Best finish in PGA: 3rd in 1994, 6th in ’93 and cut last year. Has been having trouble with the driver this year and it killed him at the U.S. Open, where he finished 94th and hurt at British Open where he was 41st. Spraying the tee ball doesn’t hurt at Augusta, where he finished 3rd in the Masters. And it won’t hurt too much here. Has the strong up-and-down game to make those crucial par saves at Valhalla. Knows how to win. Has eight tour victories at age 26 and three victories, a second and a third this year.

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Odds: 35-1.

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TOM WATSON: Best finish in PGA: 2nd in 1978, 5th in ’93 and six other top-10 finishes. Has won five British Opens, two Masters and a U.S. Open. Needs a PGA to join Nicklaus, Hogan, Sarazen and Player as only winners of all four professional grand slam events. Still strikes the ball well enough to contend but has no confidence in his putting. Victory at Memorial earlier this year was first since 1987. Missed British Open because of a shoulder injury, ending a streak of 87 consecutive majors played. At 46, the same age as Nicklaus when he got his miracle Masters in 1986. Hmmmm.

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Odds: 40-1.

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MARK BROOKS: Best finish in PGA: 15th in 1992, cut five times. Two firsts and a second this year. Cut in the Masters, 16th in the U.S. Open and 5th in the British Open. Not a great track record in the majors with 15 cuts in 29 tries. Not a bad darkhorse.

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Odds: 75-1.

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JOHN DALY: Best finish in PGA: Since winning in 1991 has finished 82nd, 51st and been cut the last two years. Either contends or quits trying. Only has four career victories but one is the PGA and another is the British Open. Best finish since winning the ’95 British Open is 10th in the Kemper. Has been 25th or worse 14 times this year. 29th in the Masters and 27th in the U.S. Open. Was 67th in the British Open when only two players had a higher final round than his 77. Has shot 75 or higher in the final round six times this year, including a 78 at the Masters. You tell me which Daly will show up at Valhalla.

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Odds: 100-1.