HAVEN, Wis. -- There's always a twinge of sadness for me knowing the next major is so far away. But it won't change how the final grades are handed out. As a student you have to accept your overall performance. If you tried your best it will be accounted for; if you gave up, quit or mailed it in, that too will be noticed.
The final grade given to each player will be for overall performance, with the heaviest part of the grade being put on the final round. Each grade is based on the individual and should not be judged against other players (some of you struggle with that concept). Did you enjoy the year's final major? Even if you didn't, you can enjoy the year's final grades.
Grade: A
World ranking: No. 1
Score: 71-67-65-68 (-17)
It took a record score to beat him. It was not a perfect day for the new No. 1 in the world. Bad swings on the fourth and ninth holes both resulted in bogeys. However, he made six birdies as he tried to chase down the leader. Spieth has absolutely zero reason to hang his head.
Grade: B-
World ranking: No. 2
Score: 71-71-68-69 (-9)
A final-round 69 gave Rory four under-par rounds for the tournament, with two of them in the 60s. That is something good to build on. He scrambled successfully 12 of 21 times when missing the greens, which proves his short game has fully recovered from the injury time off.
Grade: A+
World ranking: No. 3
Score: 68-67-66-67 (-20)
As the self-admitted "non-writer" on the team, I struggle to put into words the performance Day just gave us. He overcame the demons of losing majors, being born in poverty, and rising to "the new chosen one" moniker all in one round. His emotion over getting those monkeys off his back Sunday afternoon put a lump in my throat. After the final putt dropped, Day cried on his 3-year-old son's shoulder. Where are the tissues?
Grade: B
World ranking: No. 4
Score: 72-71-70-68 (-7)
A final-round 68 that included four bogeys? I better not catch anyone talking about Bubba mailing it in, or giving up on courses he doesn't like anymore. What should be impressive in the final round was that Watson missed only two greens. I expect Bubba to now start contending in majors not named the Masters.
Grade: B-
World ranking: No. 5
Score: 69-67-68-70 (-14)
Rose had three double-bogeys on the week. Take those away, and he's in contention. If Rose did so much wrong out there, why does he have a good grade? The answer is on the leaderboard. Through all those mistakes, he ended up alone in fourth place. Isn't that what a major champion should be able to do? Darn right.
Grade: C+
World ranking: No. 6
Score: 73-70-69-72 (-4)
Coming into this event with bad feelings about the venue, Furyk found a way to shoot three rounds under par or even. Imagine what he could have done with a good attitude. For a guy who hits it as straight as Furyk does, it is a bit disconcerting that he had 12 bogeys in the tournament. As the "elder statesman" on the tour, he has to be an example to the youngsters of how well you can play into the later years of your career.
Grade: B+
World ranking: No. 7
Score: 66-73-68-69 (-12)
If not for the bogey on the 17th hole, I seriously considered giving Johnson an A-grade. How in the world does the guy who has the reputation for quitting on the course shoot 69 after starting with a quadruple-bogey on the first hole? It's because he's grown that much since the last major in St. Andrews. Johnson made 11 birdies and two eagles over the weekend. The two eagles were on the back nine on Sunday. His major is coming.
Grade: C-
World ranking: No. 8
Score: 73-70-70-71 (-4)
Sunday was Fowler's worst driving day of the week, and by hitting only 11 greens, he had to lean hard on his putter. Fowler ended up having to do that for much of the week as well. Hence the minus grade. Poor ballstriking for this Butch Harmon pupil during a major is not good for either student or coach.
Grade: C
World ranking: No. 9
Score: 76-66-70-71 (-5)
Stenson dug himself an impossible hole on Thursday, played 10 shots better on Friday, then seemed to have no gas left in the tank for the weekend. Sunday's round of 71 in excellent conditions was almost ho-hum except for the eagle on the 11th. Overall, a middle-of-the-pack grade for a middle-of-the-pack performance is exactly what Stenson deserves.
Grade: D
World ranking: No. 10
Score: 72-71-75-70 (E)
Garcia never broke 70 for the week. The grade is a passing one, but not one you want to show people. While Sergio had only one horrific day on the course (Saturday), for the week nothing was very impressive for a player ranked this high in the world. He's a much better ball striker than he showed this week.
Grade: B+
World ranking: 17
Score: 73-69-67-66 (-13)
What a comeback! Starting the event with six bogeys on Thursday, Koepka made three total for the rest of the weekend. Two bogeys on Sunday's back nine were costly financially, but his overall play will make him a serious contender in the next couple of years.
PGA of America
Grade: A-
World ranking: N/A
Score: N/A
Coming back to Whistling Straits is a pain. It's not an easy course to get to, and after what happened with Dustin Johnson the last time we were here, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a bad taste in my mouth. But this year's PGA Championship had everything you could hope for in a major: an extremely tough scoring day, an extremely easy scoring day, a big storm, a new No. 1 in the world, and a first-time major champion who cries even better than Bubba Watson. You get the minus for the one-hour-plus commute to work every day, but an A for setting the course up nearly perfectly.