Golf: The Players Championship (Sawgrass)
March 23, 2005
What The Golfinggods Say….
In a lot of ways the Bay Hill Invitational produced more questions
about players form than it answered. I mean the course was playing
tough all week but a number of the world’s best players threw
in a large number into their scorecards then played respectfully
to get back into the front page of the leader board.
Take Retief Goosen for example. A seventy eight in the first round
had him contemplating withdrawing because he was hitting it so bad.
But three rounds later and he is in fourth place and playing better
than most. Ernie Els had three double bogeys on par fives over the
week. That’s right you heard correctly, double bogeys on par
fives for a player that eats them for breakfast! Adam Scott would
also have been in serious contention during the week if it was not
for a nine, Darren Clarke also had a nine but finished in the top
twenty. As a person who likes to have some money on my favorite
players do you ignore the odd bad hole and place faith in their
overall performances this year? I think you must especially with
one of the tour’s most demanding courses being used this week.
Finally a small footnote to the action last week must go to Paul
Casey and Phil Mickelson. Casey broke through in China to capture
his first individual title since the ‘ I hate American’s’
quote. I hope that it is the start of a return to form for this
highly talented player. Also Phil Mickelson may not have played
at Bay Hill Invitational but he was seen practicing there during
the weekend. I wonder what Arnold Palmer thought about that!
And so to this week.
I feel that it is worthy to concentrate on only one tournament
this week as The Players Championship at Sawgrass will be the center
of attention every where around the world. Quite simply this tournament
is known as the fifth major as it is respected above all other normal
tournaments during the year. The prestige is backed up with a stellar
field each year and is played over the same course since nineteen
eighty two.
The TPC at Sawgrass always posses a huge challenge to the players.
The course rewards accuracy from the tee and the fairway with greens
surrounded by either water or penal bunkers or both. The rough is
penal especially this year after above average rainfall and if the
sun comes out this week then the greens will become very dry and
quick. If it is dry this week then Sawgrass will represent a US
Open style challenge.
Of course Sawgrass is known also for one hole in particular, the
par three seventeenth. This island green has proved the undoing
for a number of competitors over the years and when the wind gets
up then it will destroy challenges again this year. Apart from the
12th hole at Augusta, the 17th hole at Sawgrass is the most feared
par three in the world.
Top quality players usually win The Players Championship. Statistics
from the past ten years back this claim up. For example nine out
of the past ten winners were already a winner on the US PGA tour,
a member of the Ryder or President Cup team and had won a Major
or WGC golf tournament. This is a very potent set of statistics
because it proves that only the very best players perform well around
Sawgrass and recent form is crucial.
Another interesting feature about this tournament is that it is
very difficult to win when coming from a long way behind the leaders.
In fact if you fancy having a bet after the first or second rounds
then do not look too far down the leader board to find your winner.
Selections:
Vijay Singh: do not look further than his statistics to
date as he is ranked second in the All Round category, fifth in
Scoring Average and seventh in Green in Regulation. If his putter
was only half supportive over the past two weeks he would have destroyed
both of those field instead of finishing second both times. A local
of Sawgrass Vijah has exceptional knowledge of the course and I
believe Vijah will win this week. I feel he is one of the best bets
of the year!
Zach Johnson: the Nationwide star from 2003 Zach is rapidly
becoming one of the exciting players on tour. His only weakness
is the putter but with Sawgrass demanding solid ball striking I
can see Zach being high on the leader board this week.
Retief Goosen: as I mentioned earlier in this article Retief
shot a seventy eight in the first round of Bay Hill only to cruise
through the field over the next three days and finish fourth. Although
Retief does not have a great record around Sawgrass look for him
to contend this week, as his game is about to boil over!
Padraig Harrington: a winner two weeks ago at the Honda
Padraig is beginning to realize his enormous potential. With second
places finishes in the last two years in this event Sawgrass is
a course that sits comfortably with Padraig. Expect him to contend
this week.
Others to mention: Davis Love, Jim Furyk, Robert Allenby and Steven
Ames.
Until next week – May The Golfinggods Be With You!
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