PGA Championship players by country of origin

Once again Spieth will shoot to complete a career grand slam. However, the way he's played over the last year or so doesn't lead many to believe he's capable of pulling it off in 2019. Spieth tied for 21st at the Masters last month, so the Dallas native at least has some hope that he can change his fortunes on one of the biggest golf stages this season.

Historically, the PGA Championship has not been kind to Watson. He's missed the cut each of the last two years, and only once has he finished within the top 10 for the tournament. That came with a second in 2010 — his best finish at the event. Maybe the change in months will give the Floridian more energy to contend. 

One of golf's best is still searching for an elusive first major. The Englishman certainly has the game to be in contention at Bethpage, but does he have the ability to hang around and close the deal? Poulter's best finish in the event came in 2012 when he tied for third place. He's been outside the top 20 and missed one cut in five appearances since that placement.

The popular Swede tied for ninth when Bethpage's Black Course hosted the U.S. Open in 2009. The 2016 Open Championship winner, Stenson missed the cut at last year's PGA Championship, but before that he enjoyed five consecutive top 25 finishes. Three of those came inside the top 10, with thirds in 2013 and '14.

The last time the South African played in the PGA Championship, he finished tied for second, in 2017 at Quail Hollow. Winner of the 2010 Open Championship, Oosthuizen has also placed second at the Masters and the U.S. Open, so he knows how to handle a major championship course and is someone to keep an eye on this weekend.

The site of Lefty's disappointing final back nine of the 2009 U.S. Open, those memories from a decade ago on this course might still sting. Though Mickelson has never won America's national championship, he's posted two major victories since then. His only PGA Championship triumph came in 2005, not too far away at Baltusrol.

The North Carolina native has made the cut at the last four PGA Championships, but his best placement during that stretch was a T13 in 2016. However, we like Simpson as a potential darkhorse this weekend because of his tie for fifth at Augusta last month. The 2012 U.S Open champ might not win, but he's capable of making some noise.

There are plenty waiting for the California boy to break out and win a major. He tied for ninth at this year's Masters, so one would think he's getting close. Cantlay has made the cut in his two previous PGA Championship appearances, but this event lends itself to first-timers taking home a major title. Will Cantlay be the next in line?

It will be interesting to see how the Englishman bounces back from a missed cut — and an opening-round 81 — at last month's Masters. Casey also failed to make the cut at the PGA Championship last year after he finished inside the top 13 at the event the previous two seasons. There's usually a lot to like about Casey's game, but the possibility for a third consecutive missed major cut looms large.

Scott is drawing attention to himself this week for his wardrobe (pleated pants?), not his golf game — at the moment. That could change if the 2013 Masters champ gets hot. The Aussie entered the final round of the 2018 PGA Championship in second place, two shots off the lead. He carded a Sunday 67, but that was only good enough for third.

Matsuyama has yet to win a major, but he seems to be in the mix more times than not of late. The Japanese star tied for fourth at the PGA Championship in 2016 and fifth the next season before a T35 in 2018. Matsuyama is another on a list of guys for whom it's only a matter of time before claiming that major title — because he continues to show signs of brilliance.

We're at the point on this list of dealing with the best golfers never to win a major. Kuchar's strong 2019 season makes him a serious contender to erase his name off that board. The problem for Kuchar is that the PGA Championship has been grounds for inconsistency in his game. He placed in the top 10 in 2015 and '17 but missed the cut in '16 and again last year. If we go by that trend, he should be in the hunt this weekend. 

In his last five major starts, Finau has a T10, a fifth, T9 and a tie for fifth — the latter coming at this year's Masters. The only blemish during that stretch is the Utah native's tie for 42nd at the 2018 PGA Championship. That came after a missed cut at the event in 2016 and tie for 44th in '17. With Finau, it's all about finishing the job. Close may no longer be good enough for this young talent.

It's almost not fair to put any more pressure on Fowler than there already is in terms of him capturing that elusive major title. Fowler is one of the best golfers in the world, and at 30, he's hardly over the hill. His time will come. Golf fans must honestly believe that. He tied for ninth at the Masters this year and tied for fifth at the 2017 PGA Championship.

Maybe it's a hunch, but this seems like the year, and perhaps the tournament, that DeChambeau overcomes his early career major woes to win a big one. The meticulous DeChambeau has not placed better than a tie for 15th in his 11 major appearances, and he tied for 29th at this year's Masters. For whatever reason, it just feels like all that's about to change.

Fleetwood is beyond an up-and-coming European star; he's an established contender who should be among the favorites to have a say in the outcome at Bethpage this weekend. The Englishman has not had much success in four starts at the PGA Championship (career-best T35 in 2018), but that's in the past. Expect Fleetwood to be heard from at some point in this one.

In only his third season playing majors, there is a lot to like about Schauffele. For starters, he's placed in the top six in three of the last four majors. His tie for second at the Masters this year was another statement that Schauffele has what it takes to be a major champion. He's made the cut in one of his two PGA Championship starts, but he brings a lot to the Bethpage table this weekend.

The Spaniard is another on the threshold of becoming a major champion. He's played well in 2019, and that tie for ninth at the Masters was a good sign that his game is where it needs to be for the big events. He tied for fourth at the PGA Championship last season, so there's no reason to believe he won't be in the hunt late this weekend.

Day is the 2015 winner of the PGA Championship and is playing well enough to believe he can pick up a second title of the kind this weekend. Before tying for 19th at this event last year, Day posted three consecutive top 10s. The likable Australian also tied for fifth at Augusta last month, so he's worthy of being lumped in with the legitimate favorites this weekend.

We should fully expect the surging Italian to be in the mix at Bethpage this weekend. Molinari won the Open Championship last season then tied for sixth at the PGA Championship and tied for fifth at this year's Masters. Molinari also tied for second at the 2017 PGA Championship. It would be shocking if the best European golfer at the moment is not in contention come this weekend.

Rose is always a favorite for majors because he is considered one of the best golfers in the world. Born in South Africa and based in England, Rose has just one major victory to his name, and he missed the cut at last month's Masters — which should be a bit concerning. His track record at the PGA Championship includes a tie for second last year. There's no certainty he will be in the hunt again this time around, however.

Now 30, McIlroy is practically a grizzled veteran. He's won the PGA Championship twice, in 2012 and then two years later. However, since his most recent victory in the event, the Irish star has failed to crack the top 10 in four appearances. That included a missed cut in 2016 and a tie for 50th last year. We'd like to think that McIlroy is too good to allow his rough stretch at this tournament to linger.

The world No. 1 seems like he's itching to grab another major title. Even with his overall international distinction as the planet's best golfer in terms of rankings, Johnson doesn't seem to be carrying much pressure to win his first major since the 2016 U.S. Open. A tie for second at the Masters is a quality foundation for another strong run this weekend at Bethpage.

Koepka is looking to become the first golfer to repeat as PGA Championship winner since some guy named Woods did it in 2006 and '07. His track record at this event is quite impressive with three top fives over the last four years. Koepka's tie for second at the Masters this year also suggests that he's still at that elite level where he's capable of winning a major every time out.

All eyes are obviously on Tiger. After winning his 15th career major — and first since 2008 — at last month's Masters, Woods is the favorite to make it a 2019 double at Bethpage, the same course on which he won the 2002 U.S. Open. A victory this weekend, and Woods will tie Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus with a record five PGA Championship titles, the most recent of which he won in 2007 at Southern Hills.