Five Players To Look Out For At The 101st PGA Championships

BETHPAGE, United States- Five Players to Watch at the 101st PGA Championship, which begins Thursday at Bethpage Black:

- Tiger Woods -

The 43-year-old American completed one of the greatest comebacks in sports history after an epic sex scandal and agonizing back pain by winning the Masters last month for his 15th major title. He hadn't won a major since the 2008 US Open. Sixth-ranked Woods won the 2002 US Open at Bethpage Black and if he wins here again this week he would match the record 82 career US PGA wins of Sam Snead. He'd also be the 10th-oldest major winner in history. Only five golfers have won the first two majors of the year since the start of the Masters -- Ben Hogan (1951), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972), Tiger Woods (2002) and Jordan Spieth (2015).

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- Brooks Koepka -

Two-time reigning US Open winner Koepka tries to defend another major title this week at Bethpage. The 29-year-old American held off Woods down the stretch last year at the PGA Championship at Bellerive but settled for a runner-up spot to Woods at the Masters. Third-ranked Koepka could become the first golfer to hold back-to-back titles at two majors at once, aided by the PGA move from August to May this year.

- Rory McIlroy -

The four-time major winner from Northern Ireland has twice hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy but hasn't won a major title since the 2014 PGA. This year, he already has a Players Championship victory and seven other top-10 showings but his worst result was a share of 21st at the Masters in his bid to complete a career Grand Slam. The world number four will be playing his first major since turning 30 earlier this month.

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- Francesco Molinari -

The reigning British Open champion from Italy was in the hunt at the Masters before stumbles on Sunday's back nine cost him the green jacket. The 36-year-old from Turin was a 2017 PGA runner-up and shared sixth last year. His third at the Masters was a third consecutive top-six major finish. Seventh-ranked Molinari won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March at Bay Hill for his first title since last July at Carnoustie.

- Jordan Spieth -

The three-time major winner has struggled this season but can complete a career Grand Slam with a victory at Bethpage. He captured the 2015 Masters and US Open and 2017 British Open but has not won anywhere since his most recent major triumph at Royal Birkdale. The 25-year-old American has yet to crack the top 20 this year, his best showing a share of 21st at the Masters, and has slumped to 39th in the world rankings.