GOLF: The PGA Championship

Here's to a happy 2 month anniversary to The One To Watch. I really enjoy scribing these posts that enable me to act like the amateur sportswriter I never got to be. I confess, the commitment to a daily post does get a little tiresome. Yet the hardest part is actually having to blog via a dial-up connection that tends to turn 10 minutes of work into 30. But I'm still kicking. And I remain motivated by the forthcoming start of football season, as well as the long-awaited baseball playoffs. After that, who knows? Perhaps a face life will be in order for TOTW, especially with a newborn on the way.

Today's one to watch is the 1st round of the PGA Championship from Medina, Illinois. It's another long course. Experts predict scores lower than the brutal US Open but the greens will play tougher than the recent scoring-friendly British Open. Despite TNT choosing not to televise live morning play, I'm looking forward to the all-star threesome putting together the winners of the 2006 majors for the first 36 holes of play: Tiger Woods, Geoff Ogilve, and Phil Mickelson.

As fun as the rivalry between Tiger and Phil has become, these guys rarely play together in major tournaments. Fate hasn't given us that kind of drama yet. Wouldn't it be something if these two posted the top scores after both days 2 and 3 and could play together all weekend long? TV ratings would only be exceeded by the size of the galleries following the duo. Otherwise, I also expect veteran Ernie Els to play well after his 3rd place finish in the British Open. And American Jim Furyk has had an awesome year that deserves to see the fan favorite win a major.

My pick: Phil Mickelson. Phil will be motivated to make good after collapsing on the 72nd hole of the US Open. If Tiger is at the top of his game, everyone will have trouble keeping pace. However, Woods has had an up-and-down year so far and perhaps he's again due for a down.

Speaking of which, if Tiger does disappoint, I'm sure hottie Sweedish wife Elin Nordegren will find a way to lift his spirits.