Five par 4s of 460 yards or more, including two that exceed 500. Three par 3s over 210 yards. An outward nine that measures 3,556 yards but which a player must complete in two-under fours if he is to match par. Only two par fives on the whole course which, together, average a whopping 602 yards. 7,392 yards in total – the fourth-longest course in the history of the PGA Championship, and the longest par 70 ever at a major. Fairways 25 yards wide in places and thick, bluegrass rough which, when the first group takes the course today, should be strong and dense enough to suspend a small dog four inches off the ground.

For everyone bar a select few, those are some very scary numbers.

Rest assured, Baltusrol, 25 miles west of Manhattan, is in no mood to be wedged into submission this week. Okay, the fairways and greens won’t be left to burn as they might if the USGA were in town – the place will look PGA green rather than USGA brown – and the putting surfaces should be kept soft enough to accommodate most iron shots. But there’s no question the PGA of America is pulling out the stops to elevate the status of its premier event by providing as stern a challenge as most players could hope to meet.

Ever since Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus first identified golf’s four modern professional majors back in the 1960s, the PGA Championship has been universally regarded as the runt of the litter. That’s perhaps a testimony to the strength of the Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship rather than the result of some weakness on the part of the PGA. Nevertheless, few would argue it is still the least anticipated of the big four.

Its perceived shortcomings have been well documented; the 1958 switch from matchplay to strokeplay undoubtedly cost the tournament some of its color. A handful of quirky venues throughout its history haven’t done its reputation any favors. Its place in the calendar, stuck on the end of a long summer shortly after the two biggest tournaments in the game, surely doesn’t help. And the PGA’s stubborn refusal to discontinue the policy of including a group of club pros, who earn their day in the sun by finishing in the top 25 at the PGA Club Professional Championship, weakens what is otherwise a superb field.

But regardless of its reputation, the PGA deserves its place among the majors for several reasons, not least of which is an uncommonly strong list of entrants. Every year since 1991, in fact, the PGA Championship has boasted more top-100 ranked golfers than any other tournament, and 97 of the top 100 will be there this year. Injuries, like that which Ernie Els sustained in a boating accident two weeks ago, are the only reason the world’s best don’t show up looking to add a coat of gloss to their season.

Then there’s the championship’s history. This will be the 87th edition of an event about which the legendary Byron Nelson once said, “Having won it twice [in 1940 and 1945], I can speak with some authority about the prestige this crown brings to the man lucky enough to hold it.”

Besides Nelson, numerous other greats of the game appear on the mammoth Wanamaker trophy, a gift from department-store magnate Rodman Wanamaker. Hagen’s there five times, Sarazen three. Hogan captured two Wanamakers, Snead went one better. Gary Player, Ray Floyd, Lee Trevino, Tiger Woods, and defending champion Vijay Singh all have two. Nicklaus, who captured his 17th major with his victory at Oak Hill in 1980, won five.

But as well as the numerous multiple-major winners that have prevailed at the PGA, the tournament has seen its share of unexpected champions, all of whom have contributed to its reputation as being the journeyman friendly major. In the last 20 years Bob Tway (1986), Jeff Sluman (1988), Wayne Grady (1990), Mark Brooks (1996), Rich Beem (2002), and Shaun Micheel (2003) have all upset the form book and added a major to what might be described as unspectacular resumes.

It’s unlikely, though, that someone without a major pedigree will emerge at Baltusrol. Designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1922, remodeled by Robert Trent Jones in 1952, and altered again in 1992 by Rees Jones, the New Jersey venue has hosted a total of seven U.S. Opens, the last of which saw Lee Janzen hold off a charging Payne Stewart in 1993.

The game has changed a great deal since Janzen, who averaged a mere 257 yards off the tee in 1993, won the first of his two U.S. Opens. Today, big hitters dominate, and with Baltusrol stretched to its very limits, the probability of the winner not coming from the group of players for whom 300 yards is nothing more than a controlled swish seems remote. Michael Campbell’s U.S. Open triumph in June proved the player not consistently smacking the ball 320 yards can still win the game’s top prizes (Campbell is averaging 282 yards this year), but the odds are becoming increasingly stacked in favor of the big guns.

The biggest of those guns needs no introduction. Tiger Woods is currently second in distance with an average poke of 313 yards – largely the result of some equipment changes he made earlier in the year. And his putting seems as strong as ever. His problem, if indeed the winner of two majors this year and ten overall has one, is his accuracy. Tiger is 177th in the accuracy league this year, only five places higher than last year, most of which he spent remodeling his swing and blocking the ball to the right.

But while such inaccuracy would pose problems for most players, Tiger has the strength and control to make light work of major championship rough. At the U.S. Open, Woods ranked 48th in driving accuracy but somehow managed to top the Green in Regulation category, hitting 54 of the 72 greens.

That strength will be a massive advantage this week. While some players will be wary of finding the rough and possibly throttle back off the tee, Tiger should have no worries launching his driver, as the danger for him in missing it is not nearly so acute as it is for others.

Woods took a look at the course ten days ago and described it as “straightforward.” One suspects he meant its challenge was honest rather than easy – but you never know with Tiger. Deep down, he’s got to know a course as long and tough as this plays right into his hands.

Vijay Singh, with his new mallet putter, and Retief Goosen, with his win at last week’s International, should pose the biggest threat to Woods. Phil Mickelson, despite a decent 10th-place finish last weekend, doesn’t seem to be firing on enough cylinders to make a serious bid for a second major, however. But class is permanent, of course, so you’d never rule him out.

Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, and Padraig Harrington are playing well enough to land their first major wins, and among the outsiders I like Geoff Ogilvy, Billy Mayfair, Robert Allenby (currently the best player on tour from 200 yards out), and the Argentinean Angel Cabrera, who definitely has the power to overcome Baltusrol’s length and who now has the confidence to go with his talent, following his win at the BMW Championship on the European Tour.

Really, there are dozens of players capable of winning the PGA championship. Just ask Rich Beem, Shaun Micheel, or Mark Brooks. But, with Tiger looking for his third major of the year, forgive me for thinking second place might be the best they can hope for.

Directions to Baltusrol Golf Club

Baltusrol GC is located on Shunpike Road in Springfield, N.J. From Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, or George Washingon Bridge, follow signs for New Jersey Turnpike South to Newark Airport Exit – Interchange 14. Take Route 78 West 8 miles, watching for right branch-off of Route 24 West. Go to the right and continue on Route 24 to exit marked Springfield, Summit, and Millburn (9.5 Miles from Turnpike). Follow sign to Summit. You will be on Broad Street. Turn left onto Orchard Street. Cross Morris Avenue at light. Continue on Orchard Street (name changes to Shunpike Road) to caution blinker. At blinker, turn right into entrance to club.