Medinah Country Club is the final stop in what has been a difficult set of courses for majors this year.

In June, there was the usual U.S. Open grumbling. Only one player, Payne Stewart broke par. That was hardly unusual for the national championship, but Pinehurst No. 2's convex putting surfaces were like nothing the world's elite players had ever seen before.

John Daly, who made the cut but finished last at 29-over, said the USGA had ruined the course. A week later, one player said that Daly only said what many didn't have the guts to publicly echo: The way it was set up, Pinehurst bordered on impossible.

A month later, the British Open at "Carnasty" produced the highest winning score at a major since the 1974 U. S. Open, the infamous "Massacre at Winged Foot." Said Tom Lehman, who only barely missed the cut at 14-over: "And we thought Pinehurst was hard. Pinehurst was a pitch and putt compared to this place."

So now we arrive at the final act in this golfing obstacle course only to find a PGA which will be played on the second longest track in major championship history. The only course longer than Medinah's 7,401 yards was the altitude-emboldened Columbine Country Club in Littleton, Colo., which played at 7,436 for the 1967 PGA.

Who should win? You've got me. My predictions are right just about every five years or so. And since I picked Payne Stewart to win the U.S. Open, I figure to get my credibility back sometime early next millenium.

I do know this. Ten of the last 11 PGA champions had not previously won a major, which means absolutely nothing. If Duval or Furyk or Mickelson wins, it's less about their credentials coming in than their state of mind and state of game once they've arrived.

As far as recent history is concerned, if one of those guys should win -- and maybe add Steve Stricker and Colin Montgomerie to the list -- it's more a coincidence and less a trend.

A major is a major, so this PGA will carry its own weight, but Medinah won't be the only topic of discussion this week. The PGA of America also conducts the Ryder Cup, which this September will be held at The Country Club. There has been a good deal of discussion recently about whether or not the players should be paid for the biennial competition between teams from the U.S. and Europe.

David Duval, Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara and others (including Jack Nicklaus) say yes, or at least the players should have some say in what happens to be an enormous money maker for the PGA. As it stands now, each American receives a $5,000 stipend for the week.

According to a report in the current issue of Golf Digest, this year's Ryder Cup will generate $63 million in total revenue for the PGA, and after expenses leave upwards of $23 million in profit -- $6 million for The Country Club and more than $17 million for the PGA.

One other issue swirling around the PGA and likely to rear its head at Medinah is that of site selection. As this millenium ends and a new one begins all around the world, across many cultures, societies, and disciplines special events will be planned. Golf is no different.

Next year's majors will be held at Augusta National (as usual), Pebble Beach, St. Andrews and Valhalla. You tell me which one doesn't belong.

The PGA of America owns The Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., and so the organization stands to make a tidy sum at the 2000 Championship.

Valhalla is a nice course. Among those who chase the world's best golfers wherever they may roam, I'm in the minority. I like it. But it doesn't belong in league with the other three venues for majors in the year 2000.

There should be lots to talk about next week. Jean Van de Velde, the Frenchman who just about gave away the British Open, will be in the field along with the guy who who won it. What's his name? Paul Lawrie.