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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A brief look at the 96th PGA Championship, which starts Thursday (all times EDT):
Site: Valhalla Golf Club.
Length: 7,458 yards.
Par: 35-36_71.
Field: 156 players (136 tour pros, 20 club pros).
Prize money: $10 million.
Winner's share: $1.8 million.
Defending champion: Jason Dufner.
Tracking Tiger: Three days after Tiger Woods withdrew from the final round at Firestone, he arrived at Valhalla and pronounced himself fit to play. Woods said his trainer adjusted a joint that was pinching a different nerve from the one that led to back surgery. He said he was pain-free.
The favorite: Rory McIlroy, coming off wins at the British Open and a World Golf Championship, was the overwhelming favorite.
The chaser: Rickie Fowler is the only player with top-5 finishes in every major this year — tie for fifth at the Masters and runner-up at the U.S. Open and British Open.
Key statistic: For the first time in 31 years, the first three majors were won by three players who already were major champions.
Noteworthy: Shaun Micheel is the only player in the last 15 years to make the PGA Championship his first victory of the season.
Quoteworthy: "Hit it well and make every putt." — Tiger Woods on what it will take for him to win.
Key tee times: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington — 8:35 a.m. Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy — 1:45 p.m.
Television: Thursday, TNT, 1-7 p.m.
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