The PGA Championship is always the strongest field in golf. The reason for this is because it is a bigger field than, say, the Masters, and it doesn't include potential amateur qualifiers like the U.S. Open. It is simply a deeper field year after year. The data has been run on this, and the results are pretty conclusive.

According to the PGA of America, in the last 20 years the PGA Championship has notched eight of the top 10 point events (per OWGR rankings) in history.

This year's PGA Championship is especially competitive. Its OWGR strength of field is 923. For reference, The Open Championship two weeks ago had a strength of field of 883. Last week's RBC Canadian Open was 258. Last year's PGA Championship was 902. This week's field is the highest rated field since the OWGR started in 1986, thus making it the strongest field ever recorded using OWGR.

The OWGR explains this strength of field rating.

It's not hard to see why this field is so strong, either. According to PGA of America, 49 of the top 50 in the FedExCup standings are in the PGA Championship. The only player missing is Charles Howell III, who recently had a medical procedure performed.

"Do I feel like I'm playing five or 10 Tigers out there? No. I feel like that would be disrespectful towards Tiger. But the fields are deeper and so many guys have chances to win tournaments," said Rory McIlroy on Tuesday. "I feel like technology has definitely brought fields closer together. Guys are able to hit it out there as long as they need to now, and it's a matter of just doing it when it counts."

This week's field also includes 98 of the top 100-ranked players in the world, according to the Associated Press. Only Jaco Van Zyl (Olympics prep) and Ian Poulter (foot injury) will miss.

"It's about having great past champions, having the strongest field in golf, played at one of the best courses in America, and I think that sums up our week here for the 98th PGA Championship," said PGA of America president Derek Sprague on Wednesday.

So the winner this week will not only get to claim a trophy and a major championship but will get to say that he arguably won the tournament with arguably the toughest field ever.