Micheel takes major step

By Iain Carter BBC Sport golf correspondent at Oak Hill

Nobody could have predicted the four winners of this year's majors.

Almost a month on from Ben Curtis' victory at the Open, comes another unheralded and unknown winner in Shaun Micheel.

Micheel's seven-iron on 18 was one of the shots of the year Micheel wins maiden major

That said, there are fundamental differences between Micheel's USPGA triumph and Curtis' win at Sandwich.

Micheel actually went out and won the tournament. He didn't need anybody to hand it to him like Thomas Bjorn gifted the Open to Curtis.

Micheel won after leading from the second round and closed it out with one of the shots of the year - a remarkable seven-iron under the most extreme pressure.

As surprising as the eventual winner was, the 85th USPGA will also be remembered for Tiger Woods' worst performance at a major since turning professional.

Tiger tamed by Oak Hell

His game is clearly out of sorts, especially when it really counts.

Most players would settle for his four tournament wins this year, but he is not most players.

I have no doubt he will come bouncing back very soon, but whether he will be the dominant force he once was is open to question.

But of more significance is the fact that the group of players who were thought to be just behind Woods has failed to take advantage of Tiger's loss of form once more.

Phil Mickelson had a three-shot lead on the second day but fell away badly, Ernie Els was in contention throughout but could not seize the moment, and Vijay Singh crashed out of contention with a terrible final round.

In the past they have been able to hide behind Woods' brilliance. But this year there has been no such excuse for missing out on golf's biggest prizes.

And that must be a worry to them.