The year was 1982.
Craig Stadler won the Masters, Tom Watson doubled-up, winning the U.S. and British Opens and Raymond Floyd captured the PGA Championship.
That was the last year that American players won all four major championships.
Write it down, there may be a quiz later.
Going into the final major of the 2015 season — The PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, Americans have won three straight. Jordan Spieth took the Masters and U.S. Open and missed by a shot at a playoff with Zach Johnson, who prevailed in the British.
It has been 33 long years but the Yanks could sweep again.
Five years ago Martin Kaymer beat Bubba Watson in a playoff to win the PGA on this same layout. This year, there are many, many worthy challengers.
Here’s how it stacks up:
The Favorites:
Jordan Spieth: How can you not believe that Jordan Spieth could hoist the Wanamaker Trophy come Sunday? He won the first two then lost out in the St. Andrews playoff by a measly shot. He comes off a final round 66 at the WGC Bridgestone and made this assessment of the state of his game coming to Kohler: “I feel like I’m playing at a level that I came off of at the John Deere.” VegasInsider.com has him at 6-1, the favorite, we couldn’t agree more.
Rory McIlroy: After blowing out his left ankle prior to the Open Championship, McIlroy rehabbed hard and is 100 percent. He’s been on site since Saturday and will have spent plenty of time reacquainting himself with Whistling Straits. He missed the playoff by a mere shot back in 2010 and how much better is he five years later?
Though VegasInsider has him 12-1, we have him right there with Spieth at 6-1.
One day these two young stars will go head-to-head in the last group at a major.
Could it be this week?
Strong Contenders:
Jason Day: Now that his health issues are a thing of the past, he’s ready to break through. Perfect golf course for him. In fact, any course is perfect for him with his length and talent. Only drawback may be his inability to hit those finesse shots. He’s pretty much full-bore with every iron he hits. If his putter gets hot, he could end the All-American streak on Sunday.
Vegas has him at 12-1.
Dustin Johnson: Ah, the man with the million dollar golf game and the two-dollar mind. If every week was a talent contest, he’d never lose. He found an incredible way to lose the PGA back in 2010 when he grounded his club in one of those scruffy, off-the-fairway sans deposits. No worries this year. His infamous spot on 18 is now covered by a corporate stand and viewing area. Still, he’s 15-1 and has plenty of firepower. But does he have the mental game to make it home on Sunday?
Bubba Watson: Tell us which Bubba shows up this week and we’ll tell you his chances. But that’s the deal with this cat, you never know which Bubba will play — good Bubba or lousy-attitude Bubba? Still, he made a Sunday run at Firestone and should have some good momentum coming here and like McIlroy, Bubba’s a helluva lot better now than he was five years ago with two Green Jackets to prove it. Vegas has him at 20-1.
Zach Johnson: Vegas doesn’t respect the British Open champ, putting him at 60-1. But perhaps they forgot that he, like McIlroy, was a shot out of the playoff with Watson and Kaymer back in 2010. This is a ball-striking, position golf challenge and that’s his cup of tea.
Justin Rose: Sir Nick Faldo was all over his fellow Brit early in the week at Firestone, declaring Rose his total, absolute pick to win the PGA. Yes, Rose shot 63 on Saturday but found himself with a balky putter on Sunday, falling quickly from contention. Yes, his ball-striking is there, always is, but the putter? Vegas likes him at 20-1.
Rickie Fowler: Who doesn’t like Rickie Fowler? Kinda like nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee. Fowler is a huge fan favorite and he’s been a bit up-and-down in the majors this year to say the least. He tees it up this week at a 25-1 shot.
Lesser Contenders:
Shane Lowry: Good pals with Rory McIlroy. Shane has a lot of talent, won the Irish Open as an amateur and broke through on the PGA Tour with his victory at Firestone on Sunday. He was solid and admitted he “was nervous” over the final five holes but he came through like a true champion. May have a better shot than the 50-1 odds that Vegas gives him.
Adam Scott: Can’t understand why he’s in the 20-1 group. Scott has disappointed all year in the majors and may be having impending separation anxiety from that long putter he uses. As of January 1, 2016, it will be history and he’s going to have to find some other way to putt.
Tiger Woods: They’ve got him at 30-1. Has no one been watching this guy play in the last two majors? Sure, he’s had some decent scores on some easier courses but his wild tee shots will get him in trouble this week.
Phil Mickelson: He’s 35-1 but the sad fact is that Lefty is so wild off the tee these days he’s going to have a tough time winning anything.
Louis Oosthuizen: Certainly better than his 40-1 odds. Great swing, great course managment. Probably the best guy in this group of lesser contenders.
Dark Horse Contenders:
Brooks Koepka: Love this guy. Big game but still relatively inexperienced when it comes to the majors but don’t be surprised if he shows well in the early going before things heat up over the weekend.
Sergio Garcia: Hope springs eternal for El Nino who simply doesn’t putt well enough to win one of these big ones. He’s 45-1.
Jim Furyk: Gotta give him credit, he’s still one of the most determined players out there. Sad stat is he simply can’t close anymore. Eleven 54-hole leads in the past five years, no wins from that position. He’s 50-1.
Paul Casey: Great talent but just hasn’t put it all together in a major. Having a decent year. He’s 50-1.
Patrick Reed: Has been hiding out lately. Maybe it’s time for him to re-appear. He’s 55-1.
If that’s not enough, you can check over the odds and find your own favorites:
Now how many years has it been since the American swept all the majors?
