2006 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW EXTRAVAGANZA

This preview is not going to be as extravagant as the previous ones (and I blame that on Kris visiting from France), but it will have to do. The PGA Championship is upon us once again (man, it was a quick year), and here are a few notes:

Course: Medinah C.C. #3
Location: Medinah, IL
Yardage/Par: 7,561/36-36-72
Par 3s/4s/5s: 4/10/4
Greens/Fairways: Bent grass
Purse: $6,500,000
Defending Champion: Phil Mickelson

Jeepers, that's a long course, the longest ever for a major tournament. Back in 1999, it was "only" 7,401.

NOTABLE GROUPS (1st/2nd rounds, EDT):

8:50a.m./1:55p.m.: Retief GOOSEN, SOUTH AFRICA/Chad CAMPBELL, Lewisville, Texas/David DUVAL, Denver, Colo.

9:30a.m./2:35p.m.: Phil MICKELSON, Rancho Santa Gay, Calif./Geoff OGILVY, AUSTRALIA/Tiger WOODS, Windermere, Fla.

As previously reported, this is going to be a traveling circus, in which the players will have NOTHING to talk about. This is one of those rare times I'm glad I won't be in the gallery.

2:15p.m./9:10a.m.: Sergio GARCIA, SPAIN/Fred COUPLES, Silverleaf, Ariz./Ernie ELS, SOUTH AFRICA

This is a great trio obviously overshadowed by the Tiger And Phil Show (With Special Guest Geoff Ogilvy). Medinah is where Sergio, back during the 1999 PGA, made that great approach shot from the base of a tree on the 16th, and fruitily scissor-kicked his way into the highlight reels. Because of Sergio, that tree is about to die, and as a result of that bad karma, Los Pantalones Feos will not win his first major this weekend. So there. Not that I'm a tree hugger or anything.

2:35p.m./9:30a.m.: John DALY, Dardanelle, Ark./Jeff SLUMAN, Hinsdale, Ill./Vijay SINGH, FIJI
Sluman's been playing well, Veeger hasn't, and Daly is smoking more than ever. I don't think these guys have anything to talk about either.

DARK HORSES: Lucas Glover, Jerry Kelly. Also, Brett Wetterich, who is in the Top 10 Ryder Cup standings, and I haven't seen him swing a club. You may have noticed something: there are no freaking Europeans in my picks. That's because they always disappoint me in the end. This should get them ready for their Ryder Cup spanking!

MY PICK: Tiger Woods. Well, duh. He's scary focused right now, and I can't pick against him.

LIVE LEADERBOARD

TV TIMES
THURS 8/17: TNT 2-8 p.m. ET
FRI 8/18: TNT 2-8 p.m. ET
SAT 8/19: TNT 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
SAT 8/19: CBS 2-7 p.m.
SUN 8/20: TNT 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
SUN 8/20: CBS 2-7 p.m. ET

(Yes, it will be in HD on both TNT-HD and CBS. Woo hoo!)