What's at stake for the biggest names at the PGA Championship?
Winning a major on the PGA Tour is no small feat, and it changes the career of every golfer who claims one. However, there are a select few players that have more than simply a major title on the line at this week's PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club.
Here's what's at stake for the six-biggest names in the field.
Tiger Woods
Major wins: 14
Best PGA Championship finish: Win (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007)
What's at stake? Everything. Tiger winning at Bellerive would send the golf world into a frenzy. Career major number 15 would put him one step closer to Jack Nicklaus' record of 18, give him his first win since 2013, and solidify his spot on the 2018 Ryder Cup team. A win is the next step in Tiger's comeback, and it could open the floodgates for many more.
Jordan Spieth
Major wins: 3
Best PGA Championship finish: 2nd (2015)
What's at stake? The coveted career grand slam. Only five players in post-Masters history have claimed all four major titles: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. A win this week would make Spieth the second youngest to complete the career grand slam, cementing his legacy alongside golf greats at the tender age of 25.
Rory McIlroy
Major wins: 4
Best PGA Championship finish: Win (2012, 2014)
What's at stake? Ending a major drought. It's been nearly four years since McIlroy's last major win. That wouldn't seem like long for most golfers, but considering he racked up his first four major wins over just six years, it's certainly drought territory for McIlroy. Even though it's the less-prestigious PGA Championship, winning at Bellerive would thrust Rory back into the world's best player conversation.
Dustin Johnson
Major wins: 1
Best PGA Championship finish: T5 (2010)
What's at stake? Breaking out of the one-major club. The most dominant golfer in the last decade only owns one major title, which is mind-boggling. Johnson needs to distance himself from the likes of Keegan Bradley, Lucas Glover, and YE Yang to truly be recognized as an all-time great. How sweet would it be if DJ's 20th career win is a PGA Championship title?
Rickie Fowler
Major wins: 0
Best PGA Championship finish: T3 (2014)
What's at stake? Shaking the "best golfer without a major" title. The label is a blessing and a curse. Fowler is a great player and his consistency proves that, but he needs a major win to take the next step. Phil Mickelson owned the label for years before winning the Masters at age 33. It's perhaps unfair to compare Fowler to his successful younger peers, but this is his last crack at winning a major before turning 30 years old.
Justin Thomas
Major wins: 1
Best PGA Championship finish: Win (2017)
What's at stake? Stepping out of Jordan Spieth's shadow. Thomas has a long history of being compared to Spieth, and perhaps a win this week will finally put an end to referring to the 25-year-old as "Jordan's buddy." If Thomas wins at Bellerive, it will be his sixth title since Spieth's last victory, and he will become only the second golfer to win back-to-back PGA Championships in the tournament's stroke-play era.
(Photos Courtesy: Getty Images)