Woods absence keenly felt

The absence of Tiger Woods is going to be far more noticeable at the final major of the year than it was at the Open.

Not since the death of Payne Stewart in an air tragedy in 1999 has a major been staged without its defending champion - although Royal Birkdale came close, of course, when Padraig Harrington was doubtful with a wrist injury.

But for his knee surgery, Woods would have been going for a third successive US PGA victory at Oakland Hills on August 7-10, something not achieved in the event since Walter Hagen won four in a row back in the 1920s.

And when the first round gets under way, the world No.1's no-show will stick out like a sore thumb because the PGA's tradition is to group the winners of the first three majors of the season together.

Miraculously, given the fact that he had only one good leg, Woods captured the US Open before calling a halt to his year and entering hospital.

So Masters champion Trevor Immelman and Open champion Harrington will have somebody else alongside them for the first two days as they try for a feat achieved only by Woods in this decade - more than one major win in the same season.

Oakland Hills is the Detroit course where Europe won the 2004 Ryder Cup by, what for them, was a record nine-point margin.

That week will therefore bring back some happy memories for Sergio Garcia and distinctly unhappy ones for Phil Mickelson.

While he has still to prove he can get over the line first in a major, Garcia was unbeatable against the Americans. Two wins with Luke Donald in the foursomes, one win and a half with Lee Westwood in the fourballs, then a singles victory over Mickelson.

The world No.2, on the other hand, was lambasted for not even practising with his team-mates one day and was unable to deliver the goods when captain Hal Sutton twice paired him and Woods together on the opening day.

The picture of Woods' face when his 'partner' stuck him in trouble on the final hole of their foursomes defeat to Westwood and Darren Clarke was one of the images of the whole match.

How Mickelson would love to depart the scene with a smile and a trophy this time.

Previous champions there include the great Ben Hogan, who in the 1951 US Open won the sixth of his nine majors with a seven-over-par total and famously said: "I'm just glad I brought this course, this monster, to its knees."

The lay-out was 6,927 yards back then. Now it is 7,395 yards, yet still a par 70.

Every other year, of course, the PGA has another agenda - deciding Ryder Cup places.

Once again it is the final qualifying event for the Americans and while Europe's race will have three further weeks to run in Sweden, Holland and Scotland, the major is where the big names still not certain of their places in Nick Faldo's side will look to make sure.

Curiously, one of the favourites for the title is bound to be somebody who did not play in either the US Open or the Open.

Kenny Perry knew he might come in for criticism when he decided not to try to qualify for Torrey Pines and then to turn down his exempt spot for Birkdale.

But the Kentucky golfer