AFP/Kohler, Wisconsin

Justin Rose says he’s moving in the right direction—towards the winner’s circle—as he prepares to tee off in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits today.
The 2013 US Open champion was in scintillating form at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational last week, although his putter let him down in the final round of an eventual third-place finish.
“It’s a bit of a consistency thing,” said Rose. “I think my good putting has been pretty good. I just need to find that level of consistency.”
While it was frustrating not to be able to capitalize on his share of the 54-hole lead, the 35-year-old Englishman said his Bridgestone performance—in the wake of his tie for sixth at the British Open and share of fourth at the Quicken Loans National—left him with plenty of confidence.
“I feel like I’m trending in the right direction,” Rose said. “Tied sixth at the Open, tied fourth, tied third—I’m moving towards the winner’s circle so I’m coming into here with a lot of confidence.”
Rose’s history at Whistling Straits—the 7,514-yard, par-72 course on the shores of Lake Michigan—is unspectacular. In two prior PGA Championships here, in 2004 and 2010, Rose missed the cut.
“I don’t remember a lot about 2004 and 2010—I think I’m right in saying there wasn’t a lot to remember,” he said. “In 2010 I had a good season up to that point and won a couple of times during the summer.
“And I think I came in here maybe a little burnt out, sort of trying to readjust to having had such a strong summer and getting a couple of wins under my belt. I felt like I just didn’t quite have that resolve to play well in the year’s last major.”
This year, in contrast, Rose says he feels he’s gaining strength as the season progresses. He kickstarted his 2015 campaign with a tie for second at the Masters and won in New Orleans two weeks later.
That victory came on a course designed by Pete Dye, the architect of Whistling Straits.
“I would say throughout my career I’ve had a bit of trouble with Pete Dye golf courses,” Rose said. “He’s the master of illusion ... his courses take some time getting used to.
“The Zurich Classic this year I won on a Pete Dye golf course and last year I had my best ever Players Championship, which obviously is a Pete Dye golf course. I think I’m getting my head around the challenges that he presents.”
This week, that challenge won’t be one of links golf, Rose said, despite the labeling of Whistling Straits as a “links style” course.
Above all, Rose said, the course lacks the firmness of a sea-breeze blown links. “It’s incredibly lush here at Whistling Straits,” he said. “The only thing that’s linksy is the fact that you see water and there’s some fescue grasses out there.
“But it’s really target golf right now. The ball is not running. The visual is links, but the mindset is target golf.”

Johnson sets sights on third major

Reuters/Kohler, Wisconsin

Zach Johnson acknowledges that long, difficult Whistling Straits is not his favourite PGA Championship venue, but do not rule him out this week.
He tied for third at the Wisconsin course in 2010 and returns on an emotional high as the current holder of the oldest trophy in golf, the Claret Jug.
St. Andrews is not his preferred British Open venue either, but that did not stop Johnson from winning there last month and becoming a dual major champion eight years after claiming a Masters green jacket.
“This isn’t my favorite golf course that we stop at for the PGA Championship, but St. Andrews is not in the top two or three (British Open venues),” Johnson told reporters, emphasizing that he loves all British Open venues, though some more than others.
He also made clear on Tuesday that St. Andrews and Whistling Straits, though both adjacent to water, have little in common.
“This golf course is the furthest thing from links,” the 39-year-old American said. “Outside of maybe the sand traps and the way they look, it’s not a links golf course.
“Links golf is using the land, using trajectory control, running things on the green, using the bounces and the rolls. This course is all aerial. It may look like links, standing from the clubhouse looking down, but it does not play like a true links course.”
Johnson is not a long hitter, but that does not rule him out.
“I feel like I’m a better player than I was five years ago,” he said. “I feel like my technique and fundamentals are probably a bit more polished.”
Johnson said he struck the ball great at Whistling Straits in 2010 but his putter let him down.
“I hit a lot of fairways, which you have to do here, and I hit a lot of greens in regulation,” he said. “I missed a lot of makeable, short putts that week and still had a chance to win coming down the stretch.”
The low-profile Johnson may not be a flashy pick, but it would be foolish to write off his chances of lifting the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday.
He said he was in “shock and awe” after winning the 2007 Masters but felt only “awe” when he triumphed at St. Andrews.
Who knows how he would feel should he win a third major.