The 107th playing of the PGA Championship will transpire next week at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, which is thrilling in itself. So, due to that, this week’s tournament usually played at Quail Hollow, the Wells Fargo, will instead take place at The Philadelphia Cricket Club- Wissahickon Course, a 7,119 par 70 track with bent grass fairways and bent grass greens, which will be stimping at 13. The rough will be up to 2 inches high at the Truist Championship..

This is the Sixth Signature event this season of eight on the PGA Tour and features an elite field of 72 players and is missing only Scottie Scheffler, but showcases Rory, coming off his almost epic collapse then epic victory at Augusta National at the 89th Masters, a hot Justin Thomas, fresh off his victory at the 5th Signature Event, The RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth, who played some really good golf last weekend at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, where he finished 4th shooting 69,67,67,62 for a score of 19 under. The only problem for Jordan and the rest of the field was the great Scheffler shot 61, 63, 66, 63 to finish -31, wow. Quite an exhibition of golf. Scheffler has decided not to compete the week before majors this year. We’ll see how that works out. But Spieth, Rory, Justin and others will, and this is an elevated event that pays $3.6 Million to the winner, $2.16 M to second, $1.36 M to third and great money on down the line. And it’s preparation for the second major of the season, so I like the fact that all these stars are playing. Should be fun.

The Wissahickon Course was designed by iconic architect A.W. Tillinghast in 1922. Tillinghast designed Medinah No.3, where majors are played, the coveted Pine Valley in New Jersey, and The Country Club of Birmingham in 1936. There have been redesigns on all of these courses. Keith Foster did the restoration of the Wissahickon course in 2013. No. 14 is a 122 yard par 3 that is the most tightly bunkered green on the course, so should be an entertaining. No. 15 is a 553 yard, par 5 with plenty of bunkers and mounds. A three-quarter acre complex of bunkers and mounds, Tillinghast’s “Great Hazard” fills up the fairway 335 yards off the tee. The green is the smallest on the course and is well defended up front and on both sides by sand. Birdie is a good possibility. No. 16 is a 215 yard, par 3. It’s a slightly downhill tee shot with a green that is protected up front by a tiny stream. The putting surface, according to Philadelphia Cricket Club Director of Golf Jim Smith Jr. (per PGA Tour.com write up), “Doesn’t offer a flat putt anywhere, least of all inside 5 feet.” No. 17 is a 498 par 4 with a slightly elevated railway line down the entire right side of the hole. It’s a tough obstacle that leads players to subconsciously favor the left side on their drives and approaches. No. 18 is a 517 yard, par 4, with the narrowest landing area on the course thanks to three fairway bunkers that flank the fairway. The entrance to the green is pinched on both sides by sand. So, awesome final five holes. This tournament is going to be pretty electric and will lead up to the 107th PGA Championship, so there should be a lot of electricity amongst the players competing. Thanks to PGA Tour.com for the intel on the course.

Weather

Thursday: 80, partly cloudy, wind W 8 MPH.

Friday: 64 rain, 78%, wind N 10, Nose to the grindstone that day.

Saturday, 72, partly cloudy, wind NW 15.

Sunday 82, partly cloudy, wind NW 8.

TV

Thursday-Friday 1-5 PM CT, Golf Channel

Saturday, 12-2 PM CT GC; 2-5:30 PM CT, CBS

Sunday, 12-2 PM CT, GC; 2-5 PM CT, CBS

ODDS for Key Guys

Rory, 4/1, Career grand slam, life is good for sure. He seems to want more. Dr. Rotella has been a big boost to his mental game.

Collin Morikawa, 14/1, The two time major winner, (2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in SF, and the 2021 Open Championship at Royal St, George’s in England) is becoming a factor again. If he putts well he can always win.

Xander Schauffele, 16/1, getting closer to 2024 form in which he won the 106th PGA at Valhalla and the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Ludvig Aberg, 16/1, Genesis Champion at Torrey- Sig Event.

JT, 18/1, getting in form for the PGA Championship where he won in 2017 at Quail Hollow. He also won the PGA at Southern Hills in 2022.

Patrick Cantlay, 20/1

Viktor Hovland, 28/1

Tommy Fleetwood, 28/1– threatens a lot. Would love to see him get over the top soon as would Excedrin, who had some great camaraderie with him a couple of years ago at Augusta National.

Jordan Spieth, 28/1. Certainly a threat now.

Russell Henley, 30/1. He won the Arnie. He’s awesome.

Hideki Matsuyama, 30/1. Another guy who’s always a threat. Won the first Sig event of the year at The Sentry at Kapalua Maui. Won the 2021 Masters.

Corey Conners, 30/1. The Canadian is definitely ready to break out and win.

Shane Lowry, 35/1. The Irishman gets the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush where he won in 2019.

Daniel Berger, 40/1. Playing well now. Won 4 times on tour with his last at Pebble in 2021, so he’s due and trending well.

Winner

I’m going to take the 44 year old, 65/1, from Johannesburg, South Africa now a resident of London. He played his heart out at Augusta National only to come up short by virtue of an epic approach by Rory to 2 feet on the first playoff hole as Roar claimed his first Green Jacket. I like this guy to be in contention for more majors this year and quite possibly capture one. Give me my man from London. I’m reading a novel by one of my favorite authors David Baldacci titled, Strangers in Time. It takes place in London during WWII and involves a young boy, a young girl and an older man as they try to survive the onslaught of bombings by the heinous German Luftwaffe. Glad we had a lot of heroes and the Grace of God to defeat the Nazis and the Japanese. Great story if you’re interested.

Justin Rose

Darkhorse

Give me the 30 year old from Raleigh, North Carolina, by way of Wofford University, home to Bama Golf and Charles Belgrave Perkins. He finished second to JT in a playoff at the RBC Heritage three weeks ago and won with Ben Griffin at the Zurich Classic in N’Awlins two weeks ago. Give me this guy to be right there at the end and to possibly capture this Signature Event trophy and first place check.

Here’s an epic from a classic back in the day band. This could have led to the invention of shirts and skins!