Golf: Bay Hill Invitational
March 17, 2005
What The Golfinggods Say….
Perhaps the Golf over the weekend showed us the difference in mental
ability between the very best Golfers in the world and the lesser
professionals.
In the Honda Classic Padraig Harrington came from seven shots back
after three rounds to win a playoff against Vijah Singh. Harrington
gave us all an insight into his mental state when he suggested that
he knew could win if he got a good start in the final round and
at no stage did he ‘back off’ from his momentum. The
same could also be said about Vijah who finished with a sixty-four
to charge into the play off. Compare these confidence levels to
some of the chasing pack on Sunday and massive gulfs become apparent.
Pat Perez basically choked on three putts under five feet coming
down the stretch to miss out on the play off by a stroke. Joe Ogilvie
played solid until the play off when his ‘goofy smile’
suggested that he was having fun just being in the play off and
was not really worried about winning it. He subsequently lost on
the first hole.
The same situation happened half way round the world as Ernie Els
came back from seven shots to win the Qatar Open. Henrik Stenson
could feel the heat from Ernie throughout the final round and then
proceeded to bogey holes from nowhere. Ernie cruised to a final
round of sixty-five and the winner’s cheque.
There are hundreds of professional players around the world who
have superb ability, however only a handful have the mental toughness
to close out tournaments. Last weekend was a brilliant example of
this mental void between the best and the rest.
And so to this week.
The USPGA moves to Arnold Palmer’s spiritual home for the
Bay Hill Invitational at the Bay Hill Golf Club. Played around the
Palmer designed course since 1979 it offers a sever challenge to
all participants. Reasonably narrow fairways, deep rough and some
smallish greens all add up to a real test for players, especially
when the wind gets up. In fact only four players have hits four
round in the sixties over the past twenty-five years.
Selections;
Tiger Woods: boring as watching paint dry I know but Tiger has
won this event four times in a row from 2000. His stroke average
for this tournament is a full two shots less than anyone else! Also
throw in the fact that he has won twice this year already and you
have a very strong favorite indeed.
Retief Goosen: slowly but surely Retief is getting his game into
shape. With good displays at the WGC and Honda tournaments he will
fancy his chances this year. Perhaps the best player of extremely
difficult courses Retief may be looking for the wind to get up this
week. If it does then he must contend.
Stewart Cink: one of the big improvers over the last two years
Stewart is now one of the most consistent players on tour. With
an assured tee to green game it really only revolves around the
putter. If it is hot this week, Cink can win.
Others to mention: Sergio Garcia, Jerry Kelly, Pat Perez &
Jeff Sluman.
The European Tour once again heads to the other side of the globe
to play the TCL Classic at the Yalong Bay Golf Club in China. Played
on the Hainan Island this seventy one hundred yard course offers
a stern test for all, especially as the afternoon winds are to be
expected this week. Smallish greens, tight fairways and very grainy
greens will be waiting for the players this week. Although many
of the local players are not top 100 players they will have an advantage
with the conditions.
Selections:
Colin Montgomerie: it is publicly known that Monty wants to break
back into the top fifty in the World Rankings in order to play at
Augusta. With a great performance in Dubai two weeks ago his game
seems to be very strong right now and he may just have too much
focus this week for everyone else.
Paul Casey: after all the abuse he has been getting playing in
America this year it is no wonder Casey has decided to play somewhere
else this week. Always a powerful player Casey has the game to tear
the short par fives apart. If the mental side of his game is clear
this week then he will go very close indeed.
Prayad Marksaeng: one of the real stars of the Asian tour Prayad
has been performing well in tournaments over the past month. With
a familiarity for the conditions this week he is capable of causing
an upset. Look for him to contend at a nice price this week.
Others to mention: Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley, Jyoti Randhawa
& Simon Yates.
Until next week – May The Golfinggods Be With You!
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