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The 2004 PGA Championship was contested at Whistling Straits Country Club in Haven, Wisconsin, and was one of the more dramatic majors in recent memory. Vijay Singh entered the final round at 12-under with a one-shot lead over Justin Leonard while numerous players could only hope for a huge number from Singh in order to get back into contention. Singh went out at 3-over while Leonard made the turn at even par to take the lead. Chris DiMarco, the only one of the top six finishers to play under par, was 3-under thru 12 before making bogeys at 15 and 16 and leaving a birdie putt on 18 short to finish at 8-under. Singh bogeyed 15 and wound up finishing at 8-under and could only wait to watch Leonard finish. Leonard was still at 11-under thru 13 before making bogey at 14 and 16. At the 18 th, Singh made par and watched Leonard line up a putt that would give him the win and a berth on the US Ryder Cup team. Leonard’s putt was close but fell off at the end all three players would head to a 3-hole aggregate total playoff. Singh hit two great shots on the first playoff hole to make birdie while Leonard and DiMarco made par. All three players made par on the second hole and Singh tapped in for a routine par to finish at 1-under and win the PGA Championship. DiMarco’s finish moved him onto the Ryder Cup squad but Leonard just missed out and wasn’t given one of the two wild card selections by Captain Hal Sutton.
This year, the 87 th playing of the PGA Championship will take place at the Baltusrol Lower Course in Springfield, New Jersey. The course is a par 70 (34-36) and will play approximately 7,400 yards. The two par-5s on the course are holes 17 and 18 and will be sure to create excitement at the end of each round. The 1993 US Open was held here and John Daly became the first player to hit the 647-yard 17 th in two during regulation play. The 18 th will measure 553 yards and will feature water, large trees, and thick rough as some of the hazards that await the players. Long hitters like Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, and Ernie Els would look to have an advantage on a course like Baltusrol but driving accuracy and great putting will likely decide the outcome on Sunday afternoon.
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