Mike Ehrmann/Getty ImagesPhil Mickelson and Steve Stricker prepare to putt during a practice round prior to the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club.CHARLOTTE — Steve Stricker, the U.S. Presidents Cup captain, has found himself in a bit of a quandary as the finish line for team qualifications appears on the horizon.
Phil Mickelson has played for the Yanks in each of the 11 editions of the biennial competition against an International Team comprised of players everywhere in the world outside of Europe. Further, the five-time major champion hasn’t missed a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup competition since 1993. That’s 11 of each competition, a record, of course.
But the left-hander came into the 99th PGA Championship in 17th place in the U.S. points standings, and he didn’t help his cause at Quail Hollow Club, missing the cut at 11-over 153, the second year in a row he has missed consecutive cuts in the majors after falling short in the British Open last month at Royal Birkdale. He als..

Mike Ehrmann/Getty ImagesD.A. Points plays his shot out of the rough on the seventh hole during the second round of the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club.CHARLOTTE — D.A. Points was one stroke off Kevin Kisner’s lead with three holes to play during Friday’s second round of the PGA Championship, a position nobody would have predicted to be the case just two days earlier. Including D.A. Points. And then golf intervened on “The Green Mile”.
An errant tee shot on the 16th hole and a poor decision with his second shot resulted in a double-bogey 6. Between clubs on the par-3 17th, Points choice a soft 7-iron, only to pull it into the water and card another double. A par on 18 stopped the skid, but didn’t make things any easier as he had to sign for a two-over 73 that left him at one-over total and eventually seven back of Kisner
Instead of fuming, however, the 40-year-old three-time PGA Tour winner took it in stride. “I’m not happy about it, but it doesn’t do me any good to get mad ..

Scott Halleran(Photo by Scott Halleran/PGA of America via Getty Images)CHARLOTTE — Golf's “Drive for show, putt for dough” proverb has taken a punch in recent years. Advanced statistics have proven the long ball superior to the short game, and a rundown of the world's top 10 reflects this notion.
But, as we're so often told, majors are a different animal, and — at least with the American majors — what you do on the dance floor still means something. Which partially explains the current plight of Rory McIlroy.
This was supposed to be McIlroy's PGA to lose. Two wins at Quail Hollow with a runner-up to boot. The layout — open, long and wet — is the setup the 28-year-old has historically dominated. Throw in recent top-fives at Birkdale and Firestone, and planets seemed aligned for Rory to raise his third Wanamaker Trophy.
Instead, McIlroy should consider himself fortunate to make the weekend, needing birdies on his 16th and 17th holes to give him some breathing room..