It’s a major championship week. The 2024 PGA Championship will be contested at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. The 156-player field features six Canadians, looking to bring the Wanamaker trophy home to the Great White North. All six players have made at least one start at the PGA Championship, but none of them have been able to finish in the top 10 at the tournament. Here is a look at all six players and how they are trending heading into the event.
Corey Conners
PGA Championship appearance: Sixth
Best result: T12
Last five finishes: T13, T11, T44, T38, T25
A year ago, Corey Conners was one of the 36-hole leaders at the PGA Championship and started the final round one shot back of Brooks Koepka’s lead. Conners ultimately finished T12 at Oak Hill after struggling to a final-round 75, but it was his best result at the event and best major finish outside of the Masters, where he has three top 10s.
It has been a good, not great, year for Conners so far in 2024. He has six top-25 finishes, he hasn’t missed a cut and he currently sits in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings. However, he has no top 10s and has yet to seriously contend at an event. Valhalla is expected to play long and emphasize accuracy both off the tee and from the fairway. The latter certainly plays into Conners’ hands as he is one of the most precise players on the circuit. He ranks 25th in strokes gained off the tee and third in approach. Last year, he proved he could hang at a big ballpark. He could do so again.
Adam Hadwin
PGA Championship appearance: Eighth
Best result: T29
Last five finishes: T52, 10, T42, T53, T5
It’s a home game of sorts for Adam Hadwin this week. The University of Louisville alumnus returns to the Bluegrass State hoping a trip back to his old stomping grounds can lead to a good week. Hadwin has made the cut at the last five PGA Championships but is still in search of his first top-20 finish at the event.
Hadwin has posted four top 10s this year and is 41st in the FedEx Cup standings. However, stats-wise, it has been an up-and-down year for the 36-year-old. He ranks outside the top 100 in most strokes gained categories, save for around the green where he is 83rd. Hadwin will have to dial in all parts of his game to contend.
Mackenzie Hughes
PGA Championship appearance: Sixth
Best result: T58
Last five finishes: T6, T41, T39, T13, T3
Coming off a T6 at Quail Hollow last week, Mackenzie Hughes should be feeling good about his game heading into his first major championship start of 2024. The 33-year-old will look to improve his track record at this event. He has teed it up at the PGA Championship five times, making the cut just once.
Hughes has leaned on his world-class short game a lot this season. He ranks ninth in strokes gained around the green and 20th in strokes gained putting. A long golf course that is expected to play even longer due to wet conditions isn’t exactly the best setup for Hughes, but his touch around the greens should help make up for his lack of distance.
Taylor Pendrith
PGA Championship appearance: Second
Best result: T29
Last five finishes: T10, 1, T11, T11, CUT
The latest Canadian to win on the PGA Tour, Pendrith is playing the best golf of his career. With four top 10s in a row, including his win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson a few weeks ago, the 32-year-old looks primed to improve on his career-best T29 finish at a major.
The longest hitter of the Canadian contingent, Pendrith’s game sets up very well for Valhalla. He is ninth on tour in driving distance and 20th in driving efficiency. On top of that, Pendrith has been rolling the rock well on the greens and is currently ninth on the circuit in strokes gained putting. This could be the weekend Pendrith is in the mix at a major championship.
Adam Svensson
PGA Championship appearance: second
Best result: T40
Last five finishes: T47, T44, T51, T57, T49
It has been a struggle this year for Adam Svensson. The 30-year-old has one top-20 finish, which came at The Genesis Invitational three months ago. The numbers tell a similar story. Out of 187 qualified players, he ranks 143rd in total strokes gained this year.
He made his PGA Championship debut last year, ending the tournament in a tie for 40th, which is his best result in a major championship. He is still getting used to playing in these big-time events and with his year not going according to plan, making the cut would be a good way to gain momentum leading into the RBC Canadian Open.
Nick Taylor
PGA Championship appearance: fourth
Best result: T68
Last five finishes: T43, 10, T49, CUT, T64
The reigning RBC Canadian Open champion has been quiet of late. After picking up a win at the WM Phoenix Open in February, Taylor has posted just one top 10 since then, which came at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event alongside Hadwin. The things that have been working for Taylor this season have been his iron game and his putting. He ranks 42nd in strokes gained approach and 32nd in strokes gained putting.
Despite having four PGA Tour wins, Taylor has yet to post a top 10 at a major championship. His best finish came at the 2020 Masters where he tied for 29th. Since then, he has missed the cut in his last five major starts, which includes the Masters earlier this year. If he is able to get into contention, Taylor has proven he can rise to the occasion and trade shots with the world’s best.
