Team A-Game Dominating at Kiawah

Is it too early to gloat about picking Vijay Singh as one of my five pre-tourney favorites at the PGA Championship? I think not.

On Friday, Singh posted a 3-under-par 69 that looked better and better as scores went higher and higher on Kiawah Island's brutal, wind-raked Ocean Course. By day's end, Singh's was the only round in the 60s on a day when two golfers, both club pros, failed to break 90. The average score was 78.11.

Vijay's tied for the lead at 4-under with Tiger Woods, another of my picks (admittedly, not exactly a wild card). I've also got Graeme McDowell (T11 at even par) and Louis Oosthuizen (T56 at +5). My No. 1 choice, Matt Kuchar, is gone with the wind after an 82 -- crushing my preseason prediction of a major victory for Kooch this year.

Can Vijay pull it off? Sure he can. But I don't think he will. Tiger's putting brilliantly and if he sharpens up his irons just a touch, that long-awaited 15th major is in the bag.

Enjoy the weekend.

A-Game All-Stars in Good Shape At PGA

So how did Team A-Game do on day one of the PGA Championship? Well, I'm a pretty happy captain.

Leading the charge is Graeme McDowell, tied for sixth with a 4-under-par 68 (2 behind leader Carl Pettersson). Then come Tiger Woods (T14, 69), Louis Oosthuizen (T25, 70) and Vijay Singh (T32, 71). Matt Kuchar (T45, 72) -- my pre-tourney favorite -- brings up the rear, but he's far from out of it with three rounds remaining.

A big storm blew across Kiawah Island's Ocean Course in the wee small hours this morning, and today's forecast is for occasional storms and more wind. Hopefully we'll see somewhat less benign conditions than yesterday.

Kuchar, Woods Lead Pre-PGA Picks

Without further delay, my picks for the 2012 PGA Championship, now just hours away at Kiawah Island's rain-soaked Ocean Course:

1. Matt Kuchar -- Sticking with my prediction of a major for Kooch this year. It helps that he lives, plays and practices just down the coast at Sea Island.
2. Tiger Woods -- He'll need a minimum of two good putting rounds and better wedge play, but otherwise he's clicking on all cylinders.
3. Graeme McDowell -- Contended in the last two majors, and the closer he gets to the sea, the better he plays. You can't much closer than Kiawah.
4. Louis Oosthuizen -- A fine player in fine form. What's not to like?
5. Vijay Singh -- Call it a hunch, based on solid recent play and a previous PGA win on a similar Pete Dye course (2004, Whistling Straits). I'm not a big Vijay fan, but it would be cool to see a 49-year-old win a major.

Open Championship: Tiger vs. Guy Who Won a Ham

The Open Championship gets underway in less than 24 hours at Royal Lytham & St. Anne's, which sounds more like a brand of English tea than a golf course. But I digress.

My 5 faves to win:

Tiger Woods: It's time
Padraig Harrington: Back on form
Ernie Els: Slow-ish greens will help
Matt Kuchar: Because I picked him to win a major this year
Martin Kaymer: Looking more like his 2010 self

And because the Open never fails to produce a leader or two from out of left field, my picks to fill that role:

Sandy Lyle: Better than you realize at age 53
David Duval: Won here in 2001, type who thrives on good vibes
Elliott Saltman: Because I need an excuse to link to this

Enjoy!