First off, please be advised that this edition of Grant Me This has been officially designated a "Major Column." The final decision to render it so, like all the preliminary adjudications, came down to a number of key and complex determinants, which can be summarily described thusly: "Cuz I said so."
I took my lead from some of golf's governing bodies, who at various points through the years have stamped such labels on this tournament or that with the same meticulous consideration Harry and Lloyd used to keep track of how much money they'd borrowed out of Mary's briefcase. Tours are standing outside the Hotel Danbury in their ski goggles and furry boots gratuitously papering a parade of tournament directors with "Major" status, "There you go. There you go. There you go."
I'm not sure which is Dumb and which is Dumber: that a tour would suddenly prop up a particular tournament as a major championship or that they'd expect us as golf fans to treat those events with any semblance of gravitas. Just since the turn of the century, both the Champions and LPGA Tours have attempted to turn tournaments -- the Senior British Open presented by Aberdeen Asset Management and the Ricoh Women's British Open -- into majors, simply by issuing a press release to that effect. It's worked in name only.
What an exciting time for any PGA Professional, to represent my fellow association members on one of golf's biggest stages. And even more, to do it in my home state, well, I just can't put into words what a thrill that is for me. But since I've been asked to keep a record of my time here at Oakland Hills, I'll give it a good try.
After rocky start, Mickelson 'gladly' accepts even-par 70
Phil Mickelson began his opening round of the final major championship of the year with a hybrid that split the middle of the 10th fairway and left him no shot at the green.
Welcome to Oakland Hills Country Club.
Mickelson, who bogeyed three of the last four holes at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, on Sunday to lose the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational to Vijay Singh, seemed to be picking up where he left off on Thursday in the 90th PGA Championship when he bogeyed his first two holes.
After an opening-round 79, Kenny Perry pulled out of the PGA Championship because of an infection in an eye related to his Lasik surgery. He'll be ready for the Ryder Cup, though.
Karlsson continues torrid play in majors with stellar 68
Sweden's Robert Karlsson, the only player with top-10 finishes in each of the year's first three majors, got off to a blazing start in the fourth Thursday, firing a 68 for a share of the clubhouse lead.
Poulter fumes at length of the par 3s at Oakland Hills
Ian Poulter hit the halfway mark at a respectable 5 over Friday, but was felt like the pars 3s were so long that he had little chance to make birdies. Still, he likes the way he's driving and hitting his irons.
After stumbling to a second-round 74, Padraig Harrington said he just ran out of steam on his back nine. He made the cut, but thinks he was under-prepared to succeed here after winning at Birkdale.
PGA Championship #90 Aug. 07 - 10
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