US PGA: Who has had the best performances in the majors this year? First time winners Mike Weir or Jim Furyk or Ben Curtis?

Watson's Major life has nine lives

Answer: none of the above. In fact, the player who has enjoyed more success than anyone is someone who crosses the generation gap, Tom Watson.

Since he missed the cut in the US Masters, Watson's worst finish in the seven majors he has played was a tied-28th finish in the US Open, which he co-led after the first round. In his last three Champions Tour majors, he has finished second twice and won the British Senior Open . . . and he is now in line to become the first player to compete in nine major championships in one year.

Watson was extended an invitation to play at Oak Hill - his eighth major of the year - and he will complete the historic sequence when he plays in the final major of the Champions Tour, the Tradition, later this month.

Hamilton hoping for the luck of the looper

Can lightning strike twice? Ben Curtis arrived in England before the British Open without a caddie, only to obtain the services of Andy Sutton, the regular bagman for European Tour journeyman Jon Bickerton. As history will recall, he went on to claim the claret jug.

Well, American Todd Hamilton - who competes on the Japan PGA Tour - had to scramble for a caddie because his regular looper couldn't get into the US because of visa problems. Oak Hill member Tom Springer was first on the caddie alternate list and has got Hamilton's bag for the championship.

The Favourites

Woods 5/2: Els 11/1: Love 14/1

But can you smoke?

You could be forgiven for believing that the Americans are resistant to foreign influences, especially when it comes to promoting their major championships. Not so. Next year's US PGA Championship will be played at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, hard by the shores of Lake Michigan. And in launching the championship at a gala party at Oak Hill tomorrow night, the organisers have chosen to do so in . . . a themed Irish pub.

Tailor-made for charity

Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke are among the 45 players who represent TaylorMade and who will use the same special US PGA Championship bag this week.

The manufacturers created the bags and head covers for each of this year's four majors and, once this week's event is over, each player will autograph the bag which will then be auctioned off to benefit the First Tee for Children, a charity which helps disadvantaged children to play golf.

compiled by Philip Reid