PLAYERS TO WATCH

DUSTIN JOHNSON

Age: 34. Country: United States. World ranking: 1. Worldwide victories: 19. 2018 victories: Sentry Tournament of Championship, FedEx St. Jude Classic, RBC Canadian Open. Majors: US Open (2016). 2018 majors: Masters-T10, US Open-3, British Open-MC. PGA Championship appearances: 8.

Best result: Tie for 5th in 2010 at Whistling Straits after two-shot penalty for grounding his club in a bunker on the 18th hole.

Backspin: He is too good to still have only one major, and that’s due to change.

RICKIE FOWLER

Age: 29. Country: United States World ranking: 9. Worldwide victories: 8. 2018 victories: None. Majors: None.

2018 majors: Masters-2, US Open-T20, British Open-T28. PGA Championship appearances: 8.

Best result: Tie for 3rd in 2014 at Valhalla, where he had a long eagle putt to force a playoff and three-putted for par.

Backspin: This is his last chance to win a major in his 20s. The key is for him to get off to a good start, not only on Thursday but on Sunday if he’s in contention. What has kept Fowler from winning majors is going backward on Sunday and making a charge when it’s too late.

JORDAN SPIETH

Age: 25. Country: United States. World ranking: 8. Worldwide victories: 14. 2018 victories: None. Majors: Masters (2015), US Open (2015), British Open (2017. 2018 majors: Masters-3, US Open-MC, British Open-T9. PGA Championship appearances: 5.

Best result: Runner-up in 2015 at Whistling Straits.

Backspin: This is his second chance to complete the career Grand Slam, and history shows that players with such an opportunity get it done sooner rather than later in the modern configuration of majors. Spieth’s best two events this year were majors, and he lost a share of the 54-hole lead at the British Open. His game would appear to be trending upward after Carnoustie.