TULSA, Okla. -- When Perry Maxwell's creation, Southern Hills Country Club, opened in 1936, he intended that the layout be the best straightforward, no-nonsense challenge in golf. And, as the year's strongest field prepares to open the 89th PGA Championship in steamy Tulsa, they will find Maxwell's legacy remains intact.

This week, oven-like temperatures will test the fitness of an international field that features 64 players representing 22 countries. The PGA Championship, which makes a record fourth visit to Southern Hills, currently features 98 of the world's top 100 ranked players. If those same 98 remain intact Thursday, Southern Hills would match the 2002 PGA Championship record for the most world-ranked competitors in history.

Defending Champion Tiger Woods, who has been shutout so far this season in major championships, arrives on site with his No. 1 world ranking, plus four victories this year including an eight-stroke rout last week in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.

"I made some nice strides last week," said Woods, "headed in the right direction and I really look forward to this week."

Woods last won a PGA Championship to avert a year's major shutout in 1999, and is seeking a 13th overall career major. Woods referred to history when he said that he is not surprised that the year's previous three majors have gone to first-time winners. Since 1994, the PGA Championship has featured the most top-100 world-ranked players of any major championship.

"Each and every year, this is the deepest field we play in all year," said Woods. "Generally, it's 98, 97 of the top-100 or so that are here. On top of that, Kerry [Haigh, PGA Managing Director of Tournaments & Marketing] does a great job of setting up the golf course and making it fair. He makes it very difficult, but he makes it fair. I think that lends itself to more guys being in contention, and more guys at the top of the board, which makes for good theater."

Woods finished tied for 12th when Southern Hills hosted its last major, the 2001 U.S. Open.

"Actually, it's interesting," he said. "The fairways this week are narrower than they were for the Open, but the rough is not as deep. The greens, all 18, are the same speed. So, that's nice. But overall, I think the golf course is very similar, except for I think some of the landing areas have been pinched in just a touch. The rough is still penal, because if you get the ball in there, as I said, it's marginal whether you can get it to the green or not; and if you can get to the green, you can't control it."

The 89th PGA Championship's 156-player field includes 29 major champions who have combined for 49 total titles. And, there are 30 Europeans making their bid to end the longest victory drought in a major. The last European PGA Champion was Scotland's Tommy Armour, who triumphed in 1930.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who captured the British Open two weeks ago, is one of the European's bright hopes to end that major drought.

"I think there are a lot of good European players, good, young players, and having been familiar with my game and seeing me go on, I think there are a number of players that will have added belief, it's quite possible," said Harrtington of a possible Euro breakthrough. "I believe we're in a better place now than we were going into the Open having a chance to win a major championship. I would say, if the floodgates open up over the next couple of years, I'm going to take the credit for it."

Masters Champion Zach Johnson and U.S. Open Champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina are proof of the depth of today's professional field. Johnson said the hype about first-time major champions is overblown.

"The bottom line is everybody's good," Johnson said. "It doesn't matter if it's a Tour event or a major. I mean any one of the guys can win. It doesn't surprise me. It surprises obviously, sometimes the media, and certainly the fans. Some of the names they haven't heard of, or aren't household names like myself at the Masters. But this game, there's so much parity involved and the talent, it's not that suprising."

Cabrera conquered rugged Oakmont Country Club to win the U.S. Open in June. Now, he's facing a new challenge – to become the first Argentinean to win a second major title.

"Being a foreigner, it always makes it tougher," said Cabrera, through an interpreter. "It's always a challenge to be part of the PGA Tour and trying to keep up with the greatest players in the world."

Woods, whose 12 career majors include PGA Championships in 1999, 2000 and last year, will be joined by 11 past Champions. They are: Rich Beem (2002), Mark Brooks (1996), John Daly (1991), Steve Elkington (1995), Davis Love III (1997), Shaun Micheel (2003), Phil Mickelson (2005), Vijay Singh (1998, 2004), Jeff Sluman (1988), David Toms (2001) and Bob Tway (1986).

The major champion roster at Southern Hills will feature:

Rick Beem (2002 PGA Championship)
Mark Brooks (1996 PGA Championship)
Angel Cabrera (2007 U.S. Open)
Mark Calcavecchia (1989 British Open)
Michael Campbell (2005 U.S. Open)
Ben Curtis (2003 British Open)
John Daly (1991 PGA Championship, 1995 British Open)
Steve Elkington (1995 PGA Championship)
Ernie Els (1994, '97 U.S. Open, 2002 British Open)
Jim Furyk (2003 U.S. Open)
Retief Goosen (2001, '04 U.S. Open)
Todd Hamilton (2004 British Open)
Padraig Harrington (2007 British Open)
Zach Johnson (2007 Masters)
Tom Lehman (1996 British Open)
Justin Leonard (1997 British Open)
Davis Love III (1997 PGA Championship)
Shaun Micheel (2003 PGA Championship)
Phil Mickelson (2004, '06 Masters, 2005 PGA Championship)
Geoff Ogilvy (2006 U.S. Open)
Jose Maria Olazabal (1994, '99 Masters)
Corey Pavin (1995 U.S. Open)
Vijay Singh (1998, 2004 PGA Championship, 2000 Masters)
Jeff Sluman (1988 PGA Championship)
David Toms (2001 PGA Championship)
Bob Tway (1986 PGA Championship)
Mike Weir (2003 Masters)
Tiger Woods (1997, 2001, '02, '05 Masters, 2000, '02 U.S. Open, 2000, '05, '06 British Open, 1999, 2000, '06 PGA Championship)

The PGA Championship is one of four premier golf events conducted by The PGA of America. Others include the Ryder Cup, the Senior PGA Championship and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, which brings together the winners of golf's four major championships. Since 1916, golf's best professionals have been competing for the PGA Championship's coveted Wanamaker Trophy.

The PGA of America is the world's largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Today's PGA Golf Professional is the public's link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.