US PGA Championship / Paul Krishnamurty / 10 August 2009 /

Pod is back but will it be too little to late for the defending champion to retain his title? And can a certain youngster cut out the tactical errors to win his first major? Paul Krishnamurty looks at the five European players most likely to make an impact in Minnesota...

Padraig Harrington

Five year PGA Championship form: 1/42/mc/mc/45

Odds: [25.0]

Until a few days ago, Harrington's chances of defending his PGA title seemed remote at best. Now, after a stellar performance at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, he will surely rate one of the most popular picks for Hazeltine. Never mind Sunday's disastrous finish that handed victory to Tiger; Pod has more than proved himself in the 'bottle' department and had coped well with the pressure until that terrible hole.

The flipside of that argument is that Firestone was his first top-10 since January, and prior to last year's win at Oakland Hills, he'd never achieved much in this major.

Ross Fisher

Five year PGA Championship form: mc/-/-/-/-

Odds: [70.0]

In what is only his second season of regularly competing against the very best, Fisher's record in elite events bodes very well for the future, and perhaps this week. After reaching the WGC-Matchplay semis earlier in the year, Ross has been bang in contention throughout the final days of the last two majors, ruining his chance in the Open at Turnberry with one disastrous quadruple-bogey. The experience gained should prove invaluable.

Henrik Stenson

Five year PGA Championship Form: 4/mc/14/47/-

Odds: [90.0]

At his best, Stenson is capable of winning any tournament, as illustrated by a stunning four-stroke victory at this seasons 'fifth Major' at Sawgrass. Like so many others around the cusp of the world's top-10 though, the Swede struggles to produce that level consistently enough to make the next step forward into the game's elite.

It may be, however, that Stenson has learnt a lesson from Harrington in terms of trying to save his best for the half dozen most important events. In addition to that win at Sawgrass, his recent majors record is pretty impressive, with top-15s in four of the last five, including third in this event last year.

Ian Poulter

Five year PGA Championship form: 31/23/9/47/37

Odds: [100.0]

Poulter has made significant progress since shifting the emphasis of his season from Europe to the States, even if a first PGA Tour title still eludes him. His best efforts in a consistent 2009 season have been second place at Sawgrass and fifth at Quail Hollow; against the two strongest fields seen outside the majors.

Along with another runners-up spot in last year's Open, that suggests he now has the game to win at a tough major venue. Though he's never challenged seriously for the title, his PGA record is better than most Europeans, making all six cuts with three top-20s.

Rory McIroy

Five year PGA Championship Form: -/-/-/-/-

Odds: [100.00]

The great hope of British golf has struggled in recent weeks to justify his lofty reputation. Many fancied McIlroy to sweep all before him after winning his maiden title in February, but while he has continued to display that awesome potential in patches, he hasn't seriously challenged for a title since.

Rory impressed with top-20s on both his Masters and US Open debuts, and is capable of reaching a similar mark in the PGA. However, understandably for one so young, he still makes a lot of tactical errors and that could prove costly around a tough, championship course like Hazeltine.

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