PGA Championship contenders by country of origin

Leishman would love to become the sixth Aussie to win the PGA Championship. He was ninth at the Masters this year but finished out of the top 40 in each of the next two majors. Leishman played well at the Bridgestone leading up to this event, so he should have some momentum.

Mickelson's "dad" dancing while dodging range balls commercial was entertaining and highly successful with viewers. What's not successful has been Lefty's recent play in majors. He has one top-five finish in his last 10 majors, and his best this year is a tie for 24th at the Open Championship. Will things get better at Bellerive?

Simpson is an intriguing option after winning The Players Championship in May and placing within the top 20 at each of the three previous majors in 2018, highlighted by a tie for 10th at the U.S. Open. He also shot an impressive 65 during the second round of the recent Bridgestone. 

No Swede has ever won the PGA Championship, but Noren's enjoyed enough international success to perhaps contend at Bellerive. He won a European event this year and tied for 17th at the Open Championship last month.

While the Englishman continues his quest for that first major title, Casey's stretch of three consecutive seasons with a top-10 finish at a major is in jeopardy of ending. Casey won the Valspar in March and was second at the Travelers but also tied for 51st at the Open Championship, so it's uncertain what to expect from him at the PGA.

The South Carolina native is coming off a career-best tie for second at the Open Championship last month. As with the 2018 Open, Kisner led outright or held a share of the lead through the first three rounds at last year's PGA Championship. He then shot a Sunday 74 that resulted in tie for seventh. Expect Kisner to make noise again at some point outside St. Louis. 

Three wins this season makes Watson somebody to watch, even though his track record at majors not called the Masters isn't great. In the last eight years, Watson has won the Masters twice and tied for fifth, but he has no top 10s in the other three major tournaments during that span.

The most established Swedish golfer in the field, Stenson won the Open Championship two years ago and tied for fifth at the Masters and sixth at the U.S. Open. He also has two thirds and a tie for seventh over the last five PGA Championships. However, Stenson has been dealing with an elbow issue that could hinder his chances at Bellerive.

One of the top drivers on the PGA Tour, Finau seems poised to win his first major title soon based on how well he's played at the previous three in 2018. Finau, who was born in Salt Lake City, tied for 10th at the Masters, was fifth at the U.S. Open after holding a share of the 54-hole lead and finished in a tie for ninth at Carnoustie. Can't beat that trend.

It's unfair to call Zach the forgotten Johnson with Dustin's recent success. However, the Iowa-born Johnson shared the 36-hole lead at Carnoustie last month before finishing in a tie for 17th. He's won two majors and manages the golf course well, which should come in handy at Bellerive.

It might be a case of unfinished business at the PGA Championship for Matsuyama, who will try to become the first Japanese-born golfer to win the event. A year ago at Quail Hollow, Matsuyama shot a second-round 64 to share the 36-hole lead. He was tied for second following the third round before finishing in a tie for fifth.

With two top sixes in majors (U.S. Open and Open Championship) already this year, Schauffele has the game to play well on the biggest stages in golf. That should continue at Bellerive, where Schauffele has the discipline to handle everything the old-style course can throw at a golfer.

The reigning Masters champion is paired in the traditional PGA Championship grouping with fellow 2018 major winners Brooks Koepka and Francesco Molinari. Reed, who was fourth at the U.S. Open, tied for second at least year's PGA. He played three of his four rounds under 70, but that second-round 73 proved costly.  

An Englishman with a bright future, Fleetwood tied for third — one shot off the lead — after two rounds at Carnoustie but ended up finishing tied for 12th. That effort came after he carded a 63 in the final round at Shinnecock to claim sole possession of second place at the U.S. Open.

After claiming his initial major victory last month at the Open Championship, Molinari takes aim at becoming the first Italian to win at the PGA Championship. That almost was the case last year at Quail Hollow where Molinari shot a second-round 64 and a 67 on Sunday to finish tied for second, two shots back. 

Fowler is still chasing that elusive first major title, so not only does he need to master the physical part of the game, but perhaps the mental one even more. He was second at the Masters, then tied for 20th and 28th at the U.S. Open and Open Championships, respectively. A final-round 67 helped Fowler finish in a tie for fifth last year at Quail Hollow.

With Sergio Garcia not a major threat at the moment, Rahm is carrying the flag for Spain. Rahm obviously has the talent to contend in the big events (fourth at the Masters this year), but there is reason for concern after he missed the cut at both the U.S. Open and the Open Championship.

When Day won the 2015 PGA Championship in record fashion, he became the first Australian to win the event since Steve Elkington had his way at Riviera Country Club in 1995. The other Australians to win the PGA are Wayne Grady (1990), David Graham (1979) and Jim Ferrier (1947).

The Kentucky native looks to become the first player to win back-to-back PGA Championships since Tiger Woods did it in 2006-07. Thomas missed the cut at the Open Championship but put in a strong performance at the Bridgestone, so the idea of a repeat here is certainly attainable.

Following some early success this season and a strong showing at the Open Championship, Woods is back in the spotlight. But has his game fully returned to the point where he can win a fifth PGA Championship? That's what the golf world is waiting to see — and it'll be watching. Just like old times.

The two-time defending U.S. Open champion is a big hitter who could thrive if he keeps it straight at Bellerive. Koepka's tie for 39th at the Open Championship last month ended a stretch in which he finished tied for 13th or better in seven consecutive majors he entered. Koepka has blossomed into a competitor who knows how to handle big-time situations.

The question isn't whether Rose has a chance to contend at another major, because he usually does, but if the Englishman will be fit enough to remain in the field. Rose withdrew from the Bridgestone because of back spasms, but reports suggest he will give it a go at Bellerive. He tied for 12th at the Masters, 10th at the U.S. Open and second at Carnoustie this year.

With victories in 2012 and again in '14, McIlroy joins Gary Player, Nick Price and Vijay Singh as the only international golfers to win multiple PGA Championships. He's the only one from Northern Ireland to win the event, and if his putter is working he has a good chance of doing it again.

Spieth's quest for that career grand slam will be a hot topic at Bellerive, so it will be interesting to see if he allows that to even be a mental issue. We don't think so, as Spieth finished in the top 10 at the Masters and at Carnoustie — after missing the cut at the U.S Open. The Texan will be ready.

The world's No. 1-ranked golfer remains in search of his second major title, and he's come close in 2018. Johnson held a share of or the outright lead through the first three rounds at the U.S. Open before finishing third. He didn't make the cut at the Open Championship and wasn't much of a threat at the Bridgestone. Still, Johnson expects to be a factor at the PGA if the focus is there.