Major Power Rankings: PGA Championship Rankings

Major Power Rankings: PGA Championship Rankings

This article is part of our Major Power Rankings series.

Below are our 2014 PGA Championship rankings. This list is geared toward winner-take-all leagues and leagues that reward the lowest aggregate score, but it can serve other leagues as well, no matter the nuances.

1. Rory McIlroy
Note: The clear favorite after dominating the British Open three weeks ago and winning again last week, McIlroy couldn't be playing much better heading into the season's last major.
2. Adam Scott
Note: Master's champ from last year is in his prime right now with 11 top-15 finishes in his last 12 majors.
3. Justin Rose
Note: Playing beautifully the last couple months with two wins; T3 two years ago at PGA Championship.
4. Sergio Garcia
Note: Trending strong with runner-ups at his last two events (British Open, WGC-Bridgestone) and primed to secure his maiden major.
5. Henrik Stenson
Note: Third place at last years PGA Championship and more than capable of competing at Valhalla this week.
6. Matt Kuchar
Note: Kuchar is a top-10 machine and has won many big tournaments but still seeks a major.
7. Rickie Fowler
Note: With top-5s at each of first three majors, Fowler is bound to break through for his first major soon.
8. Keegan Bradley
Note: Top-5 at WGC-Bridgestone and top-3 in two of his last three PGA Championship starts.
9. Martin Kaymer
Note: 2010 PGA champion is having a great year after winning The Players and the U.S. Open.
10. Jim Furyk
Note: Red hot recently with close calls at the British Open and
Below are our 2014 PGA Championship rankings. This list is geared toward winner-take-all leagues and leagues that reward the lowest aggregate score, but it can serve other leagues as well, no matter the nuances.

1. Rory McIlroy
Note: The clear favorite after dominating the British Open three weeks ago and winning again last week, McIlroy couldn't be playing much better heading into the season's last major.
2. Adam Scott
Note: Master's champ from last year is in his prime right now with 11 top-15 finishes in his last 12 majors.
3. Justin Rose
Note: Playing beautifully the last couple months with two wins; T3 two years ago at PGA Championship.
4. Sergio Garcia
Note: Trending strong with runner-ups at his last two events (British Open, WGC-Bridgestone) and primed to secure his maiden major.
5. Henrik Stenson
Note: Third place at last years PGA Championship and more than capable of competing at Valhalla this week.
6. Matt Kuchar
Note: Kuchar is a top-10 machine and has won many big tournaments but still seeks a major.
7. Rickie Fowler
Note: With top-5s at each of first three majors, Fowler is bound to break through for his first major soon.
8. Keegan Bradley
Note: Top-5 at WGC-Bridgestone and top-3 in two of his last three PGA Championship starts.
9. Martin Kaymer
Note: 2010 PGA champion is having a great year after winning The Players and the U.S. Open.
10. Jim Furyk
Note: Red hot recently with close calls at the British Open and RBC Heritage a week later. Runner-up to Jason Dufner at the PGA last year.
11. Phil Mickelson
Note: Closed with an 8-under 62 at last week's WGC-Bridgestone but has yet to earn a top-10 this season.
12. Tiger Woods
Note: Withdrew last Sunday due to back issues so if he plays and makes it through the week healthy he'll have to really turn his game around quickly.
13. Bubba Watson
Note: Very spotty results at the PGA Championship but did nearly win this championship in 2010 and if he can hit fairways he could easily be in the mix on Sunday.
14. Graeme McDowell
Note: Top-15 in his past two PGA Championships and coming off a solid top-10 at last week's WGC-Bridgestone.
15. Charl Schwartzel
Note: Top-10s recently at both the British Open and WGC-Bridgestone have the South-African trending well going into the PGA Championship.
16. Lee Westwood
Note: Westwood has just two career top-10s at the PGA Championship and has missed the cut at the previous two majors so age appears to be catching up to the 41-year-old.
17. Jordan Spieth
Note: The 20-year old has enjoyed a fantastic season with seven top-10s and a slew of other great finishes so he'll be a player to watch at Valhalla.
18. Jason Day
Note: Tied for eighth at last year's PGA Championship but recently has struggled with thumb and wrist injuries where he withdrew last week.
19. Hunter Mahan
Note: Has never been inside the top 15 at the PGA Championship but was in two Sunday final pairings last year and has plenty of talent.
20. Zach Johnson
Note: Three top-10s at the PGA the last five years and could surprise if his driving is solid this week.
21. Jason Dufner
Note: Dufner has a strong history at the PGA Championship and defends his title this week but has struggled to find his form since May so he's a bit of a wildcard this year.
22. Luke Donald
Note: Two top-10s and two missed cuts his last seven starts at the PGA and has been below average this season.
23. Brandt Snedeker
Note: Has strangely disappeared after strong campaigns the last two years but recently has two top-25 finishes.
24. Ernie Els
Note: Ernie has struggled at the PGA since his last top-10 in 2009 but the veteran can never be counted out at majors where birdies are hard to come by.
25. Webb Simpson
Note: A bit under the radar but has four top-3 finishes this wraparound season including a win at the Shriners last October.
26. Ian Poulter
Note: Contended and tied for third two years ago at the PGA but hasn't been on many leaderboard recently.
27. Steve Stricker
Note: Missed the Open Championship last month for a second straight year but this time around less hasn't meant more for the veteran playing a limited schedule.
28. Bill Haas
Note: Haas drives the ball very well but has been mediocre in majors in his career.
29. Nick Watney
Note: Played well last week at the Barracuda Championship in a stableford format but has struggled with swing changes this season.
30. Jonas Blixt
Note: Was in second-to-last group on Sunday at last year's PGA and played admirably only to follow it up with a runner-up at the Masters this year.
31. Ryan Moore
Note: Moore has quietly found his form lately with top-15s in his last four starts so he appears primed to finally put himself into contention at a major.
32. Richard Sterne
Note: Has never made a cut at the PGA but is 71st in the OWGR.
33. Angel Cabrera
Note: Won The Greenbrier a few weeks back but tends to run hot and cold so he'll again be a wildcard this week.
34. Matteo Manassero
Note: The young talent is capable of playing well but has yet to show his game for four rounds in a major.
35. Branden Grace
Note: Missed the cut in his first two PGA Championship starts but was T36 at last months British Open.
36. Hideki Matsuyama
Note: Matsuyama won the Memorial this year over Kevin Na and already has two major top-10s in his young career so he could surprise with his steady game.
37. Harris English
Note: Another young player with gobs of talent, English has the tools to win if he can put himself in contention.
38. Patrick Reed
Note: Backdoored a top-5 last week and has three wins in the last year and has plenty of confidence to contend in a major.
39. Marc Leishman
Note: Leishman is trending very well and has stepped up his game in big events so he'll be a sleeper this week with plenty of upside to contend.
40. Billy Horschel
Note: Was T4 at the U.S. Open last year in a breakout rookie season but has played just twice since the U.S. Open this year so he may be a bit rusty.
41. Francesco Molinari
Note: Has consistently made the cut his first five tries at the PGA and just three weeks ago tied for 15th at the British Open.
42. George Coetzee
Note: Missed the cut in his first two PGA Championship starts but was 18th at last months British Open.
43. Thorbjorn Olesen
Note: The young Dane made a name for himself with a top-10 at last year's Masters.
44. David Toms
Note: Toms has a sneaky good PGA Championship record with top-10s in two of the last three years so don't be surprised if the veteran shows up at Valhalla.
45. Thomas Bjorn
Note: The steady veteran continues to surprise at majors given his age but has done little at the PGA since 2005.
46. Padraig Harrington
Note: Will tentatively join Phil & Tiger the first two days but has done little in regards to top finishes since his major run in 2007 & 2008.
47. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano
Note: Has struggled to make cuts at majors this year but was T4 at the RBC Canadian two weeks ago.
48. Miguel Angel Jimenez
Note: The Mechanic contended for the Masters this year and went on a hot streak afterward but missed the other two major cuts so things will no doubt be interesting for the man who exemplifies the word.
49. Stewart Cink
Note: Cink has made plenty of cuts this season but has yet to notch a top-10.
50. Charley Hoffman
Note: Hoffman has five top-10s this season and has earned himself a spot in this weeks major but has never been inside the top-25 at a major.
51. Tim Clark
Note: Fresh off a win at the RBC Canadian Open, Clark is in good form but may struggle with the longer Valhalla course.
52. K.J. Choi
Note: Choi has made the cut the last five years at the PGA but hasn't seriously contended since 2006.
53. Brendon Todd
Note: Has been lights out since winning the HP Byron Nelson but still a bit new to major championships.
54. Ryan Palmer
55. Kevin Streelman
Note: Won the Travelers with seven straight birdies to finish and was T12 at last year's PGA.
56. Scott Stallings
57. Jamie Donaldson
Note: The European Tour mainstay was runner-up at Doral earlier this year and was T7 two years ago at the PGA.
58. J. B. Holmes
Note: Won at Quail Hollow this year and playing in his home state this week.
59. John Senden
Note: Plays a solid tee-to-green game but his biggest challenge will be the tough putting surfaces of Valhalla.
60. Edoardo Molinari
Note: Played admirably to post a top-10 at the British Open last month and will look to build on his best major finish at the seasons final major.
61. Freddie Jacobson
62. Victor Dubuisson
Note: The young Frenchman was runner-up at the WGC-Matchplay and has plenty of upside to contend.
63. Graham Delaet
Note: The Canadian has missed four cuts in five major starts but is playing solidly lately and is talented enough to put his name on a major leaderboard at some point.
64. Vijay Singh
Note: At 51 Vijay is all but over the hill and hasn't truly contended in a major since 2006.
65. Gary Woodland
Note: Woodland is plenty long and has started to post some decent major finishes but don't expect him to be in the mix Sunday.
66. Jimmy Walker
Note: The FedEx cup leader is enjoying and blistering hot season so expect solid play.
67. Louis Oosthuizen
Note: Oosthuizen has struggled to find his game recently but he is a major champion who could turn it around quickly.
68. Thongchai Jaidee
69. Rafael Cabrera-Bello
Note: Cabrera-Bello won the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic in a star-studded field but has yet to translate his game into major results.
70. Boo Weekley
Note: Weekley has just one top-10 finish this season and has battled a balky putter.
71. Shane Lowry
Note: Lowry tied for ninth last month at the British Open but has yet to post inside the top-50 in an American major.
72. Kiradech Aphibarnrat
Note: Aphibarnrat's only made cut in a major came last season with a T25 at the PGA so we'll see if he can make it cut number two this week.
73. Joost Luiten
Note: Won twice on the European Tour last year and has his sights set on breaking the top-20 at a major for the first time.
74. Seung-Yul Noh
Note: Won the Zurich Classic this year but has fallen off the radar since.
75. Brooks Koepka
Note: Tied for fourth at the U.S. Open this year and has the talent to shine if he can put himself in the mix.
76. Mikko Ilonen
Note: Won the Irish Open earlier this year but has yet to contend at a major.
77. Paul Casey
78. Y.E. Yang
Note: Won the PGA back in 2009 but has done little at the tournament since.
79. Roberto Castro
Note: Tied for 12th at the PGA last year but 2014 has been a tough year from a results standpoint.
80. Scott Piercy
Note: Was top-5 at the PGA just a year ago and comes in again this year in decent form with a T25 at the recent RBC Canadian Open.
81. Stephen Gallacher
82. Matt Every
Note: Earned his maiden victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational but has yet to contend in a major.
83. Kevin Chappell
84. Brendon de Jonge
Note: The Zimbabwe native has surprisingly been solid at the PGA with four made cuts and his best finish a T26 in 2011.
85. Davis Love III
Note: Love has played reasonably well in the last few months and still can hit a long drive but at 50 his chances are slim.
86. Kevin Na
Note:
87. Ryo Ishikawa
Note: Has made his last two cuts at the PGA and at 22 has plenty of majors ahead of him.
88. Bernd Wiesberger
89. Darren Clarke
90. David Hearn
91. Rory Sabbatini
Note: The South African has only contended once in a major (2007 Masters) and has a less than ideal record at the PGA.
92. Brendan Steele
Note: Was T19 in the 2011 PGA but hasn't made a cut in a major since then.
93. Chris Kirk
94. Jason Kokrak
95. Erik Compton
Note: The heart transplant recipient tied for second at the U.S. Open but has lost his form since.
96. Pablo Larrazabal
97. Charles Howell III
Note: Despite his many top-10s in other events, Howell has been absent from major leaderboards his entire career.
98. Chris Stroud
99. Matt Jones
Note: Won the Shell Houston before the Masters this year but has been mediocre since.
100. Pat Perez
101. Scott Brown
102. Marc Warren
103. Ben Martin
Note: Tied for 26th at the British Open last month and has contended a couple times this season but may have a tough time putting together four solid rounds.
104. Kevin Stadler
105. Danny Willett
106. Jason Bohn
107. Kenny Perry
Note: No one in the field has logged more rounds at Valhalla than Perry and he'll be a hometown favorite at 54 years of age. Lost the playoff in the 1996 PGA at Valhalla.
108. Steven Bowditch
109. Jerry Kelly
Note: Took Dustin Johnson's spot in the tournament after his leave of absence was announced so Kelly will look to make the most of it.
110. Lahiri Anirban
111. Alexander Levy
112. Will Mackenzie
113. Chris Wood
Note: Outside of two top-5s at the British Open Wood has failed to place well in majors and is not likely to resurface anytime soon.
114. George McNeill
115. Colin Montgomerie
Note: The outspoken Scot is a legend in Europe but will likely not add to that legend this week.
116. Brian Harman
Note: Won the John Deere Classic a few weeks back and followed it up with a T26 at the British Open.
117. Koumei Oda
118. Brian Stuard
119. Daniel Summerhays
120. Hideto Tanihara
Note: The Japanese sensation stormed onto the scene with a top-5 at the 2006 British Open but hasn't played in a major since 2008.
121. Cameron Tringale
122. Fabrizio Zanotti
123. Ben Crane
Note: Won the FedEx St. Jude in peek-a-boo fashion but has fallen back to mediocrity in recent weeks.
124. Tommy Fleetwood
125. Chesson Hadley
126. Russell Henley
Note: Henley won a 4-man playoff at the Honda Classic this year and will look to make his first cut at the PGA this week.
127. Robert Karlsson
Note: The Swede tied for fourth at the 2011 PGA and was T12 at the British Open last month so he appears to be in good form.
128. Hyung-Sung Kim
Note: The South Korean will look to make his first cut at this week's PGA Championship.
129. Ross Fisher
130. Shaun Micheel
Note: Former PGA champion is in the field but more a pretender than a contender this week.
131. Russell Knox
132. John Daly
Note: The two-time major champ is still a fan favorite despite his poor results the past decade.
133. Tom Watson
Note: The Ryder Cup captain will play alongside Sergio Garcia and Steve Stricker but will likely not be able to keep up with the length of Valhalla.
134. Mark Brooks
Note: The 1996 PGA champion at Valhalla, Brooks returns to the memories of his one and only major championship this week.
135. Rich Beem
Note: The one-hit wonder who took down Tiger in the 2002 PGA returns to the tournament that changed his life.
136. Johan  Kok (CP)
137. Aaron  Krueger (CP)
138. Steve  Schneiter (CP)
139. Jerry  Smith (CP)
140. Bob  Sowards (CP)
141. Eric  Williamson (CP)
142. Jamie  Broce (CP)
143. Rob  Corcoran (CP)
144. Stuart  Deane (CP)
145. Frank  Esposito (CP)
146. Ryan  Helminen (CP)
147. David  Hronek (CP)
148. Michael  Block (CP)
149. David  McNabb (CP)
150. Jim  McGovern (CP)
151. Brian  Norman (CP)
152. Rod  Perry (CP)
153. Matt  Pesta (CP)
154. David  Tentis (CP)
155. Dustin  Volk (CP)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Riek
Michael is the 2016 FSWA Golf Writer of the Year winner. He is a former collegiate golfer with a passion for analytics and strategy.
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