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Facts and figures about the PGA Championship
Event: 84th PGA Championship.
Dates: Aug. 15-18.
Site: Hazeltine National Golf Club
Length: 7,360.
Par: 36-36-72.
Format: 72 holes, stroke play.
Playoff, if neccesary: Three holes, stroke play.
Purse: TBA the week of the championship ($5.2 million in 2001).
Prize: Wanamaker Trophy.
Field: 131 touring professional, 25 club professionals.
Defending champion: David Toms.
Last year: David Toms set the PGA Championship scoring record
with a 265, although his first major championship victory is best
remembered for two shots - a 5-wood from 243 yards for an ace on
No. 15 in the third round, and a wedge from 88 yards on the 18th
hole in the final round that set up a gutsy par. Leading by one
stroke over Phil Mickelson, Toms decided to lay up on the final
hole instead of hitting a 5-wood from 210 yards over the water. He
hit his wedge in to 12 feet and made the par putt for a one-stroke
victory.
The course: Hazeltine was the idea of former U.S. Golf
Association president Totton P. Heffelfinger. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened for play in 1962. It held its first major eight years later and was roundly criticized, particularly by 1970 U.S. Open runner-up Dave Hill. It was modified by Rees Jones.
Past majors at Hazeltine: 1970 U.S. Open (Tony Jacklin), 1991 U.S. Open (Payne Stewart).
No Euros: A European-born player has not the PGA Championship since Tommy Armour beat Gene Sarazen in 1930 in the finals of match play.
Notable: Eleven of the last 14 winners of the PGA Championship had never won a major.
Quotable: "You always want to end the year on a good note - every one of us. It's the last major, and you don't get another shot until next year." - Tiger Woods.