ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Defending champion Rich Beem heads the field for the PGA Championship at the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.
It is the last of golf's annual four major tournaments this year. The event, which has seen a number of marquee players withdraw in the past few weeks, begins Thursday morning.
Much pre-tournament rhetoric has been about the fact that world No. 1 Tiger Woods enters the event having not won a major tournament this year.
Following knee surgery last fall, he has been fending off comments about being in a slump this year after winning 38 tournaments in his career, including eight majors. He has won four times this year.
"It's hard to say it's been a bad year," Woods said at a news conference. "Everyone's been on me for how bad I've played this year. Christ, I've won four times."
The strong field includes Davis Love III, who was very impressive last weekend in winning The International, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, U.S. Open winner, Jim Furyk, Mike Weir, and Kenny Perry.
Players who have withdrawn are Nick Faldo, Nick Price, Ian Woosnam, Larry Nelson, and Paul Lawrie.
