PGA Championship
When the PGA Championship returns to Oakland Hills Aug. 7-10, fans will understand why Ben Hogan called the course The Monster. The layout is a horror for many reasons. Its greens are among the three toughest in the world; the severity of its lumps, bumps and contours are matched only by Oakmont and Augusta National.Approaching 7,400 yards with a par of 70, its murderous length is compounded by rough that is unusually dense. Many of its holes dogleg to the right, so it's not suited for players who hit the ball from right to left.When Steve Jones, who hits a big draw, won the 1996 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills, it was a major upset given his ball flight.The finish at Oakland Hills is brutal. The green at the par-4 16th hole is shallow and fronted by a lake. The uphill, 238-yard 17th is almost as long as a par 3 gets, and the par-4 18th, a dogleg-right, gives players a sidehill lie with the ball below their feet.This Donald Ross course (renovated by Robert Trent Jones and Rees Jones) will be a difficult test. I see one of the elite players shooting around even par to win.