Gut Check for Anthony Kim in AT&T's Final Round

Center stage, albeit not at a major, is there for the taking by Anthony Kim during tomorrow's final round of the AT&T National. Locked at -10 with Tiger Woods, Kim faces either a daunting task or a huge opportunity. The host and the defending champion will be the last to tee off on Sunday. Kim's 68 today made up the two shot deficit he faced at the beginning of today's 3rd round. Woods' rather pedestrian 70 set up the final round pairing with Kim. Woods' ridiculous numbers after having or sharing the 54 lead would ordinarily be intimidating, but I'm not so sure young Kim is aware of just how much. Kim has enough gunslinger mentality to go for every pin, which may not be a bad idea. After all, Kim set a Masters single round record earlier this year by recording 11 birdies. An "on" Kim and a slightly "off" Woods could result in a win that would catapult Kim's confidence and make him a legit Woods' challenger. A win by Woods would make for the unusual trifecta of having won the three player named tournaments in one year, Arnie's, Jack's, and his own.

Before I begin to make this out as a two man match play round, keep in mind that a host of golfers are within four stokes of the leaders. Michael Allen and Cameron Beckman are at -9, just one back. Jim Furyk and Rod Pampling, both of whom play extremely well here, are knotted at -8. Recent US Open champ Lucas Glover sits at -7 and a gaggle of five other players are at -6. Should the leaders falter there's more than enough players willing to take their places.

It stands to be a good one. Salute our nation's magnificent military, stretch your July 4th celebration another day and catch some great golf.



Til' next,

Happy July 4th

Despite reports to the contrary, still the best country on God's green earth.

Tiger Woods Hosts AT &T National - Odds and Picks

Venerable Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD is the locale for this week's Tiger-Fest, the AT&T National. Woods missed playing in his own event last year due to knee surgery. This year he's present and the odds-on favorite to win. This tournament isn't to be confused with his December invitee-only match in California, held typically in December, it's latest permutation being the Chevron World Challenge, a sponsor seeking missile that's rapidly developing the cred to be considered a regular Tour event. No such hype for this week's partakings as the the venue and the association with it's previous life being the Kemper Open guarantees recognition. Congressional's roots hark back to 1924 with a pantheon of famous establishers to include Calvin Coolidge, Warren Harding, Woodrow Wilson, William H. Taft, Harvey S. Firestone, William C. Carnegie, William Randolph Hearst and Walter P. Chrysler. Gee, if you couldn't get a money game going there, why bother? The Tour stop will be played the next two years at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia. Congressional's hosting the US Open in 2011 and evidently can't hold a four day tournament with anyone else teeing it up for a two year window. That's kind of in stark contrast to this year's Open at Bethpage where the last public foursome was finishing their round as the big boys teed it up, or something like that. Congressional will play to 7,255 yards this week and a par of 70 whacks. Anthony Kim defends.

Let's see how our parimutuel pals at Ladbrokes see the outcome.......

	T Woods	2.50
	H Mahan	17.00
	J Furyk	17.00
	Anthony Kim	21.00
	P Casey	21.00
	S O'Hair	26.00
	M Weir	34.00
	R Allenby	34.00
	V Singh	34.00
	L Glover	41.00
	N Watney	41.00
	S Marino	41.00
	B Weekley	51.00
	Bubba Watson	51.00
	D Love III	51.00
	J Senden	51.00
	K J Choi	51.00
	P Goydos	51.00
	R Moore	51.00

Average Golfer is going with a "triple box" of Woods, Casey, and O'Hair, in any order. Bubba Watson will be my dark horse. A number of international players will tee it at the Open de France. They include stalwarts Poulter, Harrington, Westwood, and Cabrera. This week is typically considered an Open Championship tune- up on both sides of the pond.

It shapes up to be a perfect mid-summer golf weekend. Tee it up with your regular foursome, then relax in front of the tube with a beverage and catch some action. Enjoy.


Til' next,

The Downhill Lie, By: Carl Hiaasen

Average Golfer Book Review

Face it, if you're reading this you're an average golfer. No tour card, no college scholarship, no single digit handicap. The Downhill Lie, A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport, by Carl Hiaasen speaks to that inner voice in us that fools us into thinking that we can get better at this bloody sport. Hiaasen's explicitly documented journey of his return to the game after a long hiatus is crowded with forehead slapping passages and dark golf humor. Hiaasen merely has the chops to state what the rest of us hackers are afraid to admit. His laugh-out-loud funny style is the bonus that keeps us reading as if to prevent us from acting on our impulse to do the sensible thing, quit the confounding game. In that sense we have hope provided by the author. Yes hope, the misery that loves company flavor.

Hiaasen's return to golf is probably more prevalent than you'd imagine. I played as a young adult, but stored the clubs away during my child raising years. The game is particularly time consuming. Throw the five hour round in together with some range and practice time and you can shoot a rather large hole in your work week. Fortunately the author seems to have the luxury of schedule in his pursuit to be the best he can be.

The book is filled with so many hilarious poignant thoughts that I hesitate to reveal them here. It's too good a read to spoil with snippets. Still, I'll tantalize you with a couple. Day 98, "I phone my wife to tell her that I birdied one of those nasty par-3s that always gives me fits. She congratulates me enthusiastically, but later confesses that she has no idea what a birdie is." Day 126, "I shoot 51 on the front side, which is the same score that Jack Nicklaus shot on the first nine holes he ever played. He was, however, only ten years old at the time."

Follow Carl, lesson by lesson, session by session, round by round, on his addiction to improve at the most baffling of pursuits. You'll imagine yourself exactly in his position time after time between the covers of his journal. That, my friend, is interactive reading.


The Downhill Lie, By: Carl Hiaasen, Vintage Books. Available on Amazon.com, www.carlhiaasen.com

National Bestseller, Now in paperback.

*** Average Golfer Giveaway !! ***

The publisher has graciously provided me with two additional copies of The Downhill Lie, suitable for giving away. Email me at juniorshep@gmail.com with your choice to win this week's Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands and I'll mail copies to the 1st two closest picks in the order of finish and the earliest received. I'll return an email to the winners to obtain their mailing address on 06/29. Enter early!


Til' next,

109th US Open - It's Lucas Glover.

In the muck and mire that will define this year's US Open, South Carolinian Lucas Glover was the last man standing. His birdie on the par four 16th hole, his lone birdie of the day, broke a tie for the lead and separated him from a pack including tournament stories Phil Mickelson and David Duval. Two final pars left Glover at -4, two clear of Mickelson, Duval, and 3rd round leader Ricky Barnes. It was the second career victory for the soft spoken Glover. Mickelson endured more Open angst as he gathered his record 5th second place finish. Duval just missed the exclamation point on a Lazerus-like resurgence from the depths of career yips. Barnes just plain fell apart, reverting to an awkward swing that sprayed balls all over the Bethpage State Park. Brit Ross Fisher landed in solo fifth at -1. Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson, and Soren Hansen were roped together in 6th place at even par for the event. Final Full Field Scores.

The crowd was jacked when Phil eagled the 13th hole hole, but bogeys on 15 and 17 ended his charge. As expected the fans were Phil fans urging him on until the end. In light of his wife Amy's cancer Phil showed remarkable heart and determination. Keep in mind this is high praise from Average Golfer, not an avowed Phil fan. Duval, in an astounding career comeback, lifted his own ranking by demonstrating great resolve. A triple on the par three 3rd hole could have effectively buried his chances, but he he exuded moxie with his finish that included three consecutive birds on 14, 15, and 16. His cruel lip-out bogey from four feet on 17 ended his rise. Had that putt dropped it may have placed a little more pressure on Glover's final two holes. As it was though, Glover neatly hit the 17th green and calmly and wisely hit 6 iron off 18 tee to ensure his victory.

Open Epilogue

All in all the weather was the dominating theme in this year's national championship. Between the mud balls, odd starts and stops of play, and the unusual Monday finish that wasn't playoff induced, this Open didn't have anywhere near a normal feel to it. Regardless, I'm certain the trophy feels perfectly fine in Lucas Glover's hands tonight. The luck of the draw, weather, difficult conditions are all a part of a sport played outside. I'm not sure I'd enjoy a golf dome if they had one. It all boils down to "Some days you're the dog, some the hydrant." Today Lucas Glover is the dog.



Til' next,