Flashback: Relive the previous PGA Championships in Kohler
Last Updated: 13/08/15 4:16pm
Two play-off victories, a maiden major winner, bunker drama for Dustin Johnson and a year to remember for Vijay Singh. We look back at the two previous PGA Championships held at Whistling Straits.
2010 proved to be quite a year for Martin Kaymer. The German was voted as the European Tour’s Golfer of the Year, finished tied-eighth at the US Open, which he'd go on to win four years later, and recorded his best display to date at the Open by ending the week tied-seventh.
Yet as he followed Johnson down the 18th, he may have been forgiven for thinking his chances of clinching a first major title would be quashed by the American.
Johnson strolled onto the final green with a seven-foot par putt to win the Wanamaker trophy – or so it seemed.
After watching his effort creep past the hole, Johnson tapped in for a share of the lead and what we thought would secure a place in a play-off. However, due to confusing bunker regulations, the then 26-year-old was hit with a two-shot penalty, turning his final-round 71 into a 73.
“I don’t know if I can describe it,” Johnson said. “It never once crossed my mind I was in a sand trap. The only worse thing that could have happened was if I had made that putt on the last.”
In his absence, the play-off was to be contested by Kaymer and Bubba Watson. Trailing by a single stroke, Kaymer sunk a steely putt from 15 feet for birdie on the par-three 17th.
The German’s nerve was coupled with Watson’s self-destructiveness, who chipped into the water before carding a bogey-five to concede the title.
For Kaymer, the feat of his achievement was clear: "I just won my first major. I've got goose bumps just talking about it."
The tournament was also one to remember for a fledgling Rory McIlroy who, at 21, was aiming to become the second youngest winner since 20-year-old Gene Sarazen in 1922.
In the end, McIlroy finished in tied-third, but his performance proved he had the credentials to become a future major winner, which he achieved by clinching the US Open ten months later.
Singh prevails in play-off
The PGA Championship was held at Whistling Straits for the first time in 2004 and for Singh the 86th edition proved to be the highlight of a remarkable year.
The Fijian won nine times throughout 2004 and ended Tiger Woods’ five-year reign at the top of the world rankings a couple of weeks after his victory in Wisconsin, his third and final major title.
Nobody though would have foreseen a three-way play-off tussle with Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard, with Singh’s four-over-par 76 marking the worst winning round at a major since Reg Whitcombe's at the 1938 Open.
Holding a one-shot lead heading to the final tee of a three-hole play-off, neither American even finished the hole as Singh slid in for par and to complete the narrowest of victories.
"Justin was so unlucky and it is sad to see somebody win it the way I did," Singh acknowledged. "I didn't think I played badly, but my putter fell asleep on me. I played really well in the play-off, though."
Thankfully, Singh was able to recognise the height of his achievements when, at 41, he became the oldest player to win consecutive money titles.
"This is the biggest accomplishment in my career. This makes my year."
