THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

MAY 19-22

Despite its name, Southern Hills Country Club, host of the PGA Championship, presents a less physically demanding hurdle than Augusta. Indeed, the meandering Perry Maxwell Championship Course in Tulsa, Oklahoma, might actually tempt Woods—the winner by two shots over Woody Austin when the Wanamaker Trophy was last up for grabs there in 2007—to take a trip down memory lane.

Funded by oil tycoons when it opened in 1936 and upgraded four years ago by Gil Hanse, this classical parkland layout has numerous doglegs shaped by mature deciduous trees, tilted greens and a plethora of drainage creeks. It has certainly stood the test of time thanks to Hanse’s ability to redefine the saucer-shaped bunkers and squeeze an additional 450 yards of length out of what seemed like a distinctly finite plot of land.

Regardless of the elongation, though, it is unlikely that many tee shots will require a driver—a far cry from when the club staged the first of its seven previous majors: the 1958 U.S. Open, won by an exceptionally well-behaved Tommy Bolt by four shots from Gary Player.

The PGA Championship of 1970 was the second major to come calling and right in the thick of things was Arnold Palmer, ending two shots shy of short-game wizard Dave Stockton.

Perhaps the most dramatic major at Southern Hills was the 1977 U.S. Open, not so much for the quality of golf but for the death threat that hung over Hubert Green as he secured a one-shot victory over Lou Graham. After holing out at the 14th, Green was notified by officials they had received a message saying he would be shot when he reached the 15th green. Given the choice to clear the course of fans or return the following day, Green boldly opted to play on, instructing his caddie to keep his distance as they walked up 15. Green gave new meaning to gutsy golf. He parred 15 and birdied 16 to capture his first major.

While the 1982 and 1994 PGAs at Southern Hills were fairly bloodless affairs, won in a canter by Raymond Floyd and Nick Price respectively, the U.S. Open of 2001 will be remembered as a comedy of errors.

Leading by one on the 72nd hole—after Mark Brooks had closed with three putts— Stewart Cink and Retief Goosen, in the final group, compounded the felony. Cink’s doublebogey, including a missed tiddler, dropped him to third while Goosen’s miserable effort from 10ft relegated him into an 18-hole playoff with Brooks. To his credit, the dour South African regrouped the following morning and prevailed in the showdown by two strokes.