PGA shaping up as much different from previous 4 in Tulsa

TULSA, Okla. — Inside the clubhouse at Southern Hills is a sign that proudly signals its heritage with the phrase, “First to Five.” No other course has hosted the PGA Championship as many times.

This PGA Championship already feels so different from the previous four.

Think back to a year ago. What would the odds have been that Tiger Woods, three months after a car crash mangled his right right leg and ankle, would be at Southern Hills; and Phil Mickelson, fresh off becoming golf ’s oldest major champion, would decline to defend his title?

And on the first official day of practice, when Woods played the back nine and Bryson DeChambeau contemplated an early return from wrist surgery, the Saudifunded golf league sent out applications for its first LIV Golf Invitational series that threatens to disrupt the sport. Strange times, indeed. “It’s a bizarre situation, that’s for sure,” Viktor Hovland said. “It’s not often the defending major champion doesn’t come back to defend. … I think we all would have liked to have Phil here and tee it up and see how he would have done. The way he won it last year was pretty spectacular. It’s just a weird situation.”

Mickelson chose to extend his three-month hiatus from golf following his comments that he recruited top players to pay lawyers to write the operating agreement of the rival league. He said he didn’t care if it succeeded as long as it gave him leverage to make changes on the PGA Tour, and accused the PGA Tour of “obnoxious greed” while he played the Saudi International.

Woods arrived on Sunday to play the front nine at Southern Hills — he won the PGA Championship the last time it was here in 2007 — and reported he is much stronger than during his remarkable return at the Masters.