Place: Oak Hill Country Club, New York date: May 18-21
Coverage: Live text commentary for all four rounds on the BBC Sport website.Live radio commentary on Saturday 20:00 BST and Sunday 21:00

The second men’s major of the season begins Thursday with the 105th PGA Championship at the iconic Oak Hill Country Club in upstate New York.

Sean Michelle 2003 Oak Hill Champion, The tournament kicks off at 12:00 BST in the opening group – with 156 players aiming to lift the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday.

American Justin Thomas is the defending champion, but the top two players in the world, current Masters champion Jon Rahm and Scotty Scheffler, enter the championship in top form.

There will be no Tiger Woods as he continues from injured ankle,

Here are some key storylines from the 105th PGA Championship.

Battle of the two giants?

Lahm’s victory at Augusta saw him overtake Scheffler as the world’s number one.

The Spaniard has four victories in 11 matches and was runner-up at his most recent Mexico Open, suggesting he is in perfect shape to move closer to winning a career Grand Slam after a breakthrough victory. 2021 US Open.

However, five of the past six Masters champions missed the cut in that year’s PGA Championship.

Another standout star this season is undoubtedly Scheffler, the player who first threw the green jacket over Lahm’s shoulders in April.

The American has repeatedly emphasized his leadership of the game, finishing in the top 12 in each of his past 13 tournaments, including victories at the prestigious Players Championship and the WM Phoenix Open.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is also favored, on the course where he is an honorary member, despite coming to New York hoping to turn his form around.

The world No. 3 won two titles early in the season but missed cuts at The Players Championship and the Masters and was most recently tied for 47th at the Wells Fargo Championship, behind U.S. champion Wyndham Clarke About 19 strokes, he has won this event three times before.

McIlroy has played in 30 majors since he won the last of his four tournaments — the 2014 PGA of America — though he ends up in the front row at all four of the biggest tournaments in 2022. 10.

Jordan Spieth is attempting a career Grand Slam for the seventh time after recovering from a wrist injury, while fellow Americans patrick cantley, Xander Schauffele and Max Homaare both chasing their first majors after having been underwhelming so far this semester.

Two-time PGA Championship winner on Saudi-backed LIV Tour Phil Mickelson and Brooke Koepkatied for second at the Masters, while Patrick Reed A tie for fourth showed that those playing the 54-hole event can still win in the longer format.

Same curriculum, new look

The PGA Championship returns to Oak Hill for the fourth time since Jason Dufner’s 2013 title, having previously hosted three U.S. Opens and the 1995 Ryder Cup.

Some parts of it are barely recognizable, however, and a restoration by course designer Andrew Green, completed in 2019, aimed to bring Donald Ross’ classic creation back to life nearly a century ago.

In addition to extensive work on all greens – rebuilt to modern specifications – hundreds of trees were removed and the course was added some 231 yards.

Significant changes have been made to the front nine, extending the 615-yard par-four par-five by 45 yards, while the original par-three sixth hole has been replaced by a shorter hole that serves as the fifth hole—actually is one of three new holes.

The sixth hole, now about 503 yards, has a slight dogleg on the right, a fairway bunker on the left, and Allen Creek flowing on the right, across the fairway, and down the left.

Fans who remember the closing stages will also notice that the pond on the par-3 15th hole has been filled.

The removal of some tree-lined fairways provides plenty of encouragement for big hitters off the tee, but the changes should also make bunkers more punishing, and the differently shaped greens will allow for some daunting pin positions .

best british

defending us open champion Matt Fitzpatrickwho played with Rahm and Open champion Cameron Smith in the first two rounds, got off to a slow start to the season after a neck injury, but when he got back to his best form Win an RBC Heritage Award last month.

In a field full of quality, Tommy Fleetwood Will will be hoping to finally secure the elusive first major and in the process become the first British champion since Jim Barnes in 1919.

Tyrell Hatton’s Undoubted putting ability could also get him into contention, with the Englishman finishing in the top five in three of his last six starts.

European Ryder Cup captain luke donald After several mainstays in Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia, he may use Oak Hill as a yardstick against future members of the team resign membership DP World Tour.

Scottish Robert McIntyre Will be one of those hoping for a strong showing after overcoming recent back problems, and Justin Rose, who tied for third for best in 2012 and has three straight top-15 finishes in the past three PGA Championships, also May excel at something that promises to be a difficult test.