Hunter Mahan Cruises to Bridgestone Invitational Win

Hunter Mahan shot 66, 64 on the weekend to lock up the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club. Only 25 putts, many of the 10-20 foot variety, contributed to his Sunday 64, -12. Mahan waited near the 18th green to watch Ryan Palmer's eagle attempt from the fairway fall short. Palmer finished two strokes back in solo 2nd at -10. Retief Goosen's closing 65 left him in a tie for 3rd with Bo Van Pelt. Sean O'Hair took fourth alone at -8. Palmer's first hole birdie had given him a brief lead. He followed with a bogey on the 2nd hole. Mahan rattled off five birdies on the front nine and cruised to a clubhouse lead that was never in serious jeopardy. Mahan cemented his Ryder Cup spot and won his second event of the year having previously won in Phoenix. At first glance this morning there appeared to a bevy of players with a chance. Mahan separated himself from the pack and shot down any notion of a playoff. The win should put a little extra wind in his sails heading into this week's PGA Championship. Final Full Field Scores.

Woods Hits Rock Bottom, Mickelson Tries To Follow

Tiger Woods teed off this morning to a less than Woodsian gallery. Makes sense, since you could have gone to your local muni and watched any number of players shoot 77. Woods finished at +18 with Henrik Stenson, +20, to thank for keeping him off the bottom. When asked if he planned on practicing at Whistling Straits for the upcoming PGA, Woods quipped that he was flying there this afternoon and would have time to play 18 and still catch the leaders finish at Firestone. True. With the world #1 ranking in his sights Phil Mickelson took the gas pipe enroute to a final round 78. Had Woods and Mickelson played best ball for the Bridgestone final round they'd have shot 70, middle of the pack. Ernie Els' round four 76 beat them both. Ladbrokes has Woods and Mickelson as 8:1 co-favorites for the PGA. That says tons more about the betting public than the state of either player's games.

Til' next,

Goosen Leads, Woods Disappears, Westwood WDs at Bridgestone Invitational

Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood both had a chance to supplant Tiger Woods as the world #1 at this week's Bridgestone Invitational. Woods has more than done his part to give up the title. Westwood spit the bit with a WD due to a nagging torn calf muscle. The injury will keep him out of the PGA Championship and threaten his Ryder Cup placement. Woods' calf muscles seemed fine, but his 2nd round 72 was the nagger that will keep him out of a run for the championship and place his #1 status in serious peril. 6 over par and 13 behind the leader forces Woods to treat the final two rounds as a practice opportunity or a shot at some locker room skins money.

Retief Goosen is your 2nd round leader at -7. 51 putts through the first two rounds will do that for you. Contrast that to 58 putts for Woods and it just proves Average Golfer's continual admonition that putting wins tournaments. Mickelson and Justin Leonard share 2nd, one stroke back. Peter Hanson, Bo Van Pelt, and 1st round leader Bubba Watson share 3rd at -5. Fully 22 players are within 5 shots of the lead making this a wide open event heading into the weekend. Full Field 2nd Round Scores.

Keep an eye on Rory McIlroy, at 4 back, who more than held his own playing with Mickelson for the 1st two rounds. A lesser playing partner might ignite the young Irishman who has shown the ability to go low in big events. Miguel Angel Jimenez at 3 behind is a man to be watched as well. Should make for good weekend drama. Hit the narrow fairways and make putts and the keys to the kingdom are yours.







Til' next,

Tiger Woods Hacks His Way Through 1st Round at Bridgestone

There's no cut at this week's WGC event, the Bridgestone Invitational. That's good news for Tiger Woods. The troubled linkster, with a tenuous grip on the #1 world ranking, stumbled to an opening round 74, placing him T70 in the field of 81 golfers. On a course and in an event he virtually owned, Woods couldn't muster even a lick of mojo and I'd have to say there wasn't a single highlight to his round. He spent so much time in the woods you'd have to have been planted in a deer stand to claim spotting him. Five fairways hit, 61% GIR, and 32 putts led to his 74 on a Firestone Country Club course with soft greens that was ripe for the taking. Woods' off course life changes have clearly affected his play. Understandable of course to us humans, but confounding I'm certain to Woods.

Bubba Watson's maiden appearance in this tourney didn't faze him in the least as his 64 led the way after round 1. Kenny Perry, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, and US Open champ Graeme McDowell all generously shared 2nd place at -4. Mickelson's playing partner, Rory McIlroy, turned in a respectable 68. Antony Kim struggled to a +5, 75 on his return from injury. Camilo Villegas, on the other hand, had no such excuse for his 75.

The weather calls for dry and sunny for the next two days, so expect more runout from Firestone's tilted fairways and a generally tougher time scoring for the boys. I like the event, but find the venue rather boring as it seems to be long, straight par 4 after long, straight, par 4. Age and history doesn't necessarily gain a golf course instant status.

Good start. I'll watch tomorrow to see if Bubba can keep it going and if Woods can somehow find the remnants of what used to be his game.






Til' next,

Larry the Cable Guy - Golfer

Who hasn't been in this predicament?  Now I don't care who you are, that's funny.

I think he's sporting the Boo Weekley Signature Collection.













Til' next,

Oosty Cruises, Casey Crumbles at 2010 Open Championship

If it was a fight they'd have stopped it on the 12th hole. Paul Casey's triple bogey and Louis Oosthuizen's birdie resulted in a four shot swing and left just the formality of Oosthuizen completing the final holes and securing the 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews. Yes indeed, the gold medal champion golfer of the year he was. Dissecting fairways, hitting greens, and nailing putts has always been a formula for success, especially at majors, and Louis performed the task at hand admirably for 4 days. The 200:1 longshot at the tournament's start glued together rounds of 65, 67, 69, and 71 to finish at -16, seven better than runner-up Lee Westwood. Casey's final round 75 plunged him to 3rd behind compatriot Westwood and tied with Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson. Young McIlroy would have won the thing had it been based on best three rounds. His windy 80 on Friday cost him much of a shot and to his credit he rallied from that disaster to post 69, 68 on the weekend. Final Full Field Scores.

The best American finishers were Sean O'Hair and Nick Watney in a tie for 7th place at -6. Tiger Woods, 23rd, and Phil Mickelson, 48th, looked like senior players yielding to the youth movement. Both were trounced by Korean Jin Jeong, the low amateur and winner of the Silver Medal. Mickelson couldn't keep his ball on the property at the course with the widest fairways on the planet. Some are over 100 yards wide. Woods made a much ballyhooed putter switch for the event and found he couldn't putt with that one as well. He'd have done just as well with a shovel. This weekend raised many questions about the upcoming Ryder Cup to be held on Euro soil. One has to question the US' chances.

Oosthuizen was a deserving winner having survived the elements and the obstacles the Old Course  had in defense of her honor. The size of his victory was testament to his ability to hit fairways in spite of the wind and be as long or longer than the others as well. Quite a spectacle and enormous fun to watch. Every Open Championship should be held at St. Andrews. Now it will be interesting to see if young Oosthuizen is a one hit wonder like Lawrie, Hamilton, and Crane, (all of whom missed the cut this week), or will his name appear on leaderboards to come? Worth watching.






Til' next,

The 2010 Open Championship - Odds and Expert Picks

Dust the cobwebs from your wallets, Open Championship time is upon us. Iconic St. Andrews is the site, a stellar field contends for the oldest of golf's crown jewels. Once again we'll link Ladbrokes' odds and insightful commentary to assist you in turning a profit on this year's Open.

No fewer than 15 previous champions will compete with odds ranging from 6:1 for Tiger Woods to 1000:1 for Sir Nick Faldo. Of note for Woods is his decision to switch putters this week, moving to Nike after his long affair with a Cameron Titleist Newport II. Woods claims longish putts on slower greens this week necessitated the change. As typical of St. Andrews the weather will determine the week's scores. The course is noticeably more lush than one would expect. A lack of wind will render the old girl defenseless due to it's Walmart  parking lot sized fairways. Any hint of solid wind however will force players to hit shots they usually don't need leading all sorts of unpredictable results and a higher entertainment factor for us watching at home.

Which leads us to what we came for, an expert look at player's chances. This Average Golfer believes that St. Andrews rewards experience. Local knowledge, particularly regarding the insanely large greens, goes a long way toward crowning a champ.  Some putts this week might better be served with a wedge shot. From 30 yards most players have more experience with a wedge than rolling a 100 ft.+ putt. Enough jabber, here's what we came for....

Tiger Woods, 6:1 - Why? He's Tiger Woods of course. 5 years ago they would have just handed him the trophy here and forsaken the formality of playing 72. That was then... Could win. Best major shot on this course.

Phil Mickelson, 16:1 - They say his game's not suited to links golf. I say with his length and these wide fairways, Phil could destroy par here. Could win.

Rory McIlroy, 16:1 - Power, precision, links experience. Would be nice to have him in contention on Sunday and see if his nerves hold up. Could win.

Lee Westwood, 20:1 - Finally won on US tour. Seems logical here. Everything lines up. Could win.

Ernie Els, 20:1 - Better year. Still something about his manner that concerns me in the big ones. May be the "Big Too Easy". Possible. Don't see it though.

Padraig Harrington, 25:1 - Spending the year fiddling with his game. Don't make the mistake of counting him out here though. Knows how to put the ball in the hole, which can't be learned from a swing coach. Possible.

Justin Rose, 25:1 - Hottest player in the field. Win would validate all the potential. Definitely could win.

Graeme McDowell, 33:1 - Popular pick coming off  Pebble "links type" victory. Great all around game. I think US Open hangover will get him. Won't win.

Ian Poulter, 33:1 - Hard to argue against. Seems pressure immune. Different type of pressure on Sunday though. Possible, not probable.

Luke Donald, 40:1 - Another Brit on the upswing on relative home turf. Putter and short game could win it for him.

Paul Casey, 40:1 - Not as hot as Donald, Rose, or Westwood. Don't see it this week.

Martin Kaymer, 40:1 - On the cusp of a big win. Lots of Euro experience. Still, don't think so here. Too many Brits to overcome.

Steve Stricker, 40:1 - Has the short game and putting prowess required. Knockdown shots in wind may be suspect. Really a target golfer. Won't win.

Jim Furyk, 50:1 - Has the tools and moxie. Not usually a stalwart on this side of the pond, for whatever reason. Won't win.

Retief Goosen, 50:1 -  Puzzled by Goose. Not reason not to pick him, but hasn't come through lately. Has everything required for this event. I'm leaving him a question mark.

Ross Fisher, 50:1 - Another in the Euro resurgence. Possible, not likely though.

We stopped at 50:1 for space considerations. Regardless, there's a host of other players with a chance and some with take notice odds for the risk takers among you. Examples, Villegas, 80:1, Schwartzel, 80:1, Tim Clark, 80:1, Stenson, Choi, Adam Scott, defender Cink, and Angel Cabrera, all at a lip smacking 100:1.

Survey the field and open your wallets. Then sit back and enjoy Bet early and often.



Average Golfer 2010 Open Championship Picks

1. Justin Rose
2. Padraig Harrington
3. Ian Poulter

Dark Horses

Stenson
Ben Curtis
Jaidee




Til' next,

2010 US Women's Open - Ladies Tackle Oakmont "Beast"

6,584 yards of pure terror. If you think Oakmont is giving in to the ladies for their annual national championship, guess again. The par three 8th hole can play 252 yards. The par five 12th is the longest in women's history at 602 yards. Throw in the church pew bunkers and bathtub greens and par begins to look like a winning score.

The 2010 US Women's Open comes to venerable Oakmont Country Club, Pittsburgh, PA. For history buffs Exhibit A is Julie Inskster, who at 50 years young is returning to the site of her 1992 Open playoff loss to Patty Sheehan. For making history buffs there's newly minted world #1 Cristie Kerr fending off close behind challengers Ai Miyazato, Jiyai Shin, Suzann Pettersen, and Yani Tseng. Don't leave out defending champ Eun-Hee Ji and a host of others in the 156 player field. 2010 US Women's Open Field and Tee Times.

Hot, dry, and fast should be the order of the day, at least for the first two rounds. Hitting fairways will be paramount, but as is almost always the case, making putts will determine the winner. A few years ago I'd have installed Michelle Wie as the heavy prohibitive favorite based on her strength and length. Sideways out of bunkers may be commonplace this week and Wie "had" the chops to hit shots out of trouble that no other woman had any business attempting. Here's hoping for a reemergence for Wie and a US champion.

Although noticeably behind their male brethren, the women will play for a 3.25 million dollar purse with  $585,000 being the winner's share. Sit back and enjoy.







Til' next,