US PGA Championship

Th Aug 12 - 2:00 pm EST (TNT)
Fr Aug 13 - 2:00 pm EST (TNT)
Sa Aug 14 - 2:00 pm EST (CBS)
Su Aug 15 - 2:00 pm EST (CBS)
The final Major of the season is being played at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, a brand new course designed along the lines of a classic British links course, being located on the shores of the wind swept Lake Michigan. At over 7,500 yards it is also the longest course in Major championship history, and if the wind blows a score over par, maybe well over par, is almost certainly expected to win the tournament. In fact, a 'Winning Score' of 290 (2 over par) and over is favourite at 7/4 here at bet365. For the winner a case can be made for a whole number of players including Tiger Woods, who looked near to peaking again in his last event, and Phil Mickelson, who has successfully geared his season around the Majors (1st, 2nd and 3rd this season). Ernie Els and Vijay Singh will have their supporters too, but they could all be bigger prices in our In-Running market, so the value could lie elsewhere?

There is a strong contingent of Australians in with a chance this week, and the boys from down under may well be inspired to lift their games further by compatriot Rod Pampling's win in Colorado on Sunday. Adam Scott has already won twice in the States this year, and his superb long-iron play could be the key on a course with three par fours over 500 yards. He does lack 'links' form, however, and at the prices the chances of fellow Aussie Stuart Appleby are just preferred. Having reached an Open play-off back in 2002, and with a good effort in last year's Australian Open on the similarly styled Moonah Links course, he looks ideally suited to cope with the rigours of Whistling Straits. He also fits the profile of previous USPGA winners - a player in his thirties winning his first Major having won on the regular Tour - while his record in this event has been most consistent - 23-17-16-4 in the last four years!

The stats are strongly against a European win this week, with none having won this Major since the event became a strokeplay event back in 1958. In fact the last time a European won a major of any description was back in 1999, when Paul Lawrie took the Open Championship. However, the European contingent will take heart from the links layout of this course, and the likes of Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington must have a great shout on a course that will demand shotmaking flair and a great touch around the greens, just their sort of game. Another European player with strong credentials this week is Alex Cejka, who gave European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer a timely reminder of his talents with a superb second place in the International on Sunday. Cejka was also top European in last year's US PGA, so August would seem to be