No. 1 Watch: PGA Championship

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Aug. 8, 2011
By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM

You want subplots? We've got subplots.

While the field is chasing the Wanamaker Trophy this week at Atlanta Athletic Club, the top spot in the FedExCup standings is also going to be on the line. A number of players with past successes in the PGA Championship, at this course, or in this state are in position to move ahead in the season-long points race.

No. 10 David Toms, who won his lone major at Atlanta Athletic Club in 2001, is in position to move atop the standings with a repeat this week. No. 5 Phil Mickelson, who was a runner-up in 2001 will also be vying to take over the No. 1 spot in the standings.

K.J. Choi (No. 4) made his PGA Championship debut that year and entered the weekend in the top 10 on the leaderboard before fading to a tie for 29th. He returns a decade later with nine more PGA starts and four top 25s under his belt.

The young guns have reason to be confident, as well. Sixth-ranked Bubba Watson nearly holed a bunker shot to extend a playoff with Martin Kaymer a year ago before taking second place at Whistling Straits. No. 12 Jason Day, who tied for fourth in Akron last week, has two runner-up finishes in majors this year alone. He is bound to break through sooner than later. The same can be said for Matt Kuchar (No. 11), the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket who has finished inside the top 30 in six of the last seven majors after rebuilding his golf swing.

No. 7 Mark Wilson has made just one career cut in a major -- this year's British Open -- but with two 2011 victories, can be confident in his chances. Fresh faces Gary Woodland (No. 8) and Webb Simpson (No. 9) may be small in major experience but big in 2011 successes with 12 top 10s, three runner-ups and a victory between them.

What about the guys near the top? Nick Watney held the 54-hole lead in this event last year before a final-round 81 derailed any hopes of major glory at Whistling Straits. He is being closely pursued by Steve Stricker, whose best career finish at a major came when he was a runner-up to Vijay Singh at the 1998 PGA Championship.

No. 3 Luke Donald also had his best chance at a major thus far in the PGA. He was in the final pairing with Tiger Woods in 2006, but posted a final-round 74 and settled for a share of third.

One of these players will be sitting atop the FedExCup standings with just one week remaining before the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup kick off. Just who it will be is anyone's guess. Below is a breakdown of their past performances at the PGA Championship.

Potential No. 1s and their past performances at the PGA Championship
  FedExCup
points
Points back Starts Cuts
made
Wins Top 10s Top 25s Last
appearance
1. Nick Watney 1,844 --- 3 1 0 0 1 T18, 2010
2. Steve Stricker 1,803 41 13 8 0 2 5 T18, 2010
3. Luke Donald 1,765 79 7 6 0 1 3 MC, 2010
4. K.J. Choi 1,572 272 10 8 0 2 4 T39, 2010
5. Phil Mickelson 1,552 292 18 17 1 8 11 T12, 2010
6. Bubba Watson 1,535 309 4 2 0 1 1 P2, 2010
7. Mark Wilson 1,419 425 2 0 0 0 0 MC, 2009
8. Gary Woodland 1,404 440 0 --- --- --- --- N/A
9. Webb Simpson 1,361 483 0 --- --- --- --- N/A
10. David Toms 1,361 483 14 10 1 2 5 T33, 2010
11. Matt Kuchar 1,358 486 3 1 0 1 1 T10, 2010
12. Jason Day 1,308 536 1 1 0 1 1 T10, 2010
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