Find Me A 100 Winner: Shaun Micheel

Find Me A 100 Winner / Paul Krishnamurty / 07 July 2009 / Leave a Comment

The 2003 USPGA winner is trading at [250.0] to win the John Deere Classic but don't be too surprised if that comes in, he was a [1000.0] shot before that one and only major victory after all.

This week's selection is one of golf's forgotten men, a player almost exclusively known for being arguably the unlikeliest major winner in history. If Shaun Micheel were to win this week's John Deere Open, it wouldn't compare on the richter scale of golfing earthquakes to his [1000.0] triumph in the 2003 PGA Championship. Nevertheless, at odds of [250.0], it would still stun layers.

With the exemptions gained on that amazing day at Oak Hill running out, the 40-year-old has shown signs of life in recent weeks. During May, Micheel registered three respectable top-25 finishes, one in elite company at Quail Hollow, as well as the European and Texas Opens. All three were against fields with greater strength in depth than this week's line-up, which is shorn of several players headed for Scotland to either play Loch Lomond or prepare for the Open.

Now, obviously he would still need to improve on those respectable finishes to win, hence the enormous odds. Then again, it would be in keeping with the traditions of this tournament, in which Micheel did finish fifth on his first visit in 2000. The first three winners of this title this century were similarly enormous shocks, and while the more recent champions were fairly obvious by comparison, very few if any tournaments can boast so many rank outsiders filling the places, year after year.