PGA Championship Preview: Charlie's Top Five to Watch

Bryan and I decided to do things a little differently for the final major of the year, the PGA Championship. We are just picking five players we like not named Tiger because it is more fun that way and then doing our usual tee time draft tomorrow. Enjoy.  

Even though, the PGA Championship has a host of players like Shaun Micheel, Rich Beem and Mark Brooks, it is extremely difficult to predict those no-namers to win the actual tournament. I did pick four guys out of five whom have not won a major yet they are big names in the golf world.  

1.) Brandt Snedeker - It feels like it is his time to win a major. I realize that's a cliche thing to say, but sometimes, everything seems to come together.Brandt has a win under his belt in the last month at the RBC Canadian Open and did well in the Open Championship finishing tied for 11th.  For the year, Snedeker has eight top 10 finishes out of 17 appearances only missing four cuts. With Oak Hill being a par 70, Snedeker being third in Par 4 scoring could play a major factor.

2.) Hunter Mahan - This is the feel good story definitely. CBS wants Mahan near the top of the leaderboard on Saturday and Sunday with the story of his newborn baby; he is probably the only golfer other than Tiger and Phil who could drive rating. Mahan's season is not really impressive minus making 17 out of 20 cuts and his performance in majors this year. Hunter has some nice numbers when it comes to approach shots and will definitely need it this weekend.

3.) Charl Schwartzel - The South African golfer does not have a win this year on the PGA Tour, but Schwartzel is having a strong year. He made 13 of 14 cuts this season, he is fourth in overall scoring and fifth in birdie average. Schwartzel also seems to find a way to get birdies whether it be a Par 3, Par 4 or Par 5 meaning he could go low at Oak Hill. He already has a major and knows what it takes to win one. I would not be surprised if he does it again.

4.) Jason Dufner - Yes he is a SnoTap favorite. Bryan mentioned Dufner's name as a contender multiple times this season and I also have done the same this year and in years past. He would probably admit his 2013 has not been great, but he played well at Bridgestone and maybe that is what gets his ball rolling leading into the FedEx Cup. There are no real mind blowing statistics to point except for his ability to hit GIR's from under 200 yards out and the fact he does well at the PGA Championship as he finished 5th in 2010 and lost in a playoff to Keegan Bradley in 2011.

5.) Bill Haas - He would definitely not be coming out of nowhere to win this major, but at the same time, Haas struggles in majors missing the cut in both the U.S. Open and the Open Championship.  Haas did have his best major finish at the 2011 PGA Championship finishing 12th. The reason I keep Haas here is the statistic I cited with Snedeker, Par 4 scoring. There is a group of four players who are far and away better Par 4 scorers than the rest of the PGA and Haas is one of them. I know he does not do well in majors, but you truly cannot predict majors.