2015 PGA Championship Preview: Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson Among Favorites

Will Jordan Spieth win his third major? How is Rory McIlroy’s health? Can Jason Day finally win a major? Who will be the No. 1 golfer in the world after this weekend?

The intriguing storylines for this weekend’s PGA Championship at Whistling Straits Golf Course are plentiful, and so are the contenders for the title.

One of the reasons is the course itself. This is the third time Whistling Straits will host the PGA Championship, and if the first two were any indication, then golf fans will be in for a wild ride this weekend.

Whistling Straits is the site of Dustin Johnson’s bunker debacle back in 2010, which paved the way for Martin Kaymer to beat Bubba Watson in a playoff. The other time the course hosted the year’s final major was in 2004, which Vijay Singh won in a playoff.

One of the biggest stars in golf will make his return to competition this weekend. Rory McIlroy, the current No. 1 golfer in the world, has been sidelined with an ankle injury since July 4, and hasn’t competed in a tournament since the U.S. Open back in June. But he will be part of the field as he looks to defend his PGA Championship victory in 2014 and keep his No. 1 ranking over Jordan Spieth.

And while Johnson, Kaymer and McIlroy are certainly players to watch this weekend, neither cracks our list of the top three contenders to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy.

Here’s a look at who does:

Jason Day
Look, one day this guy is going to win a major. Day is way too good to have never won on golf’s biggest stage before. He has been in contention plenty of times, including at this year’s U.S. Open and British Open. But he always seems to come up just short.

This could finally be the weekend Day’s bad luck runs out. He is on top of his game right now, and there is no reason to think he won’t be in contention Sunday.

Bubba Watson
Watson has never won a major outside of the Masters, but he did come close back in 2010 at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. He made it into the playoff with Kaymer before ultimately coming up just short. This year’s PGA Championship is back at Whistling Straits, and so are Watson’s chances at another major.

Watson is also one of the hottest players on tour right now with back-to-back second place finishes, so look for that string of good tournaments to continue.

Jordan Spieth
Spieth already has had an incredible year. He won the year’s first two majors — the Masters and U.S. Open — and had a chance to gain the third leg of golf’s Grand Slam at the British Open. If Spieth wins the PGA Championship, he will be the third player to win three majors in a single year, joining Ben Hogan (1953) and Tiger Woods (2000).

Spieth has never made the cut at a PGA Championship, but don’t expect that to happen this weekend. He also has been playing well of late, so there’s no reason to bet against golf’s biggest star.