Table Set For 2010 Masters

Anthony Kim almost handed the Shell Houston Open victory to Vaughn Taylor today. Had he done so,  Taylor, the Augusta native, would have been playing next week on his home court. As it is Taylor will be a spectator at Augusta. Kim's bunker to bunker maneuver on the 18th hole with his second and third shots forced him to win it on the 1st playoff hole. A win's a win though and Kim captured his 3rd career PGA Tour victory.

All of which leads us to the question of favorites for this year's Masters. To this Average Golfer it's really looking like a crapshoot. Woods will be battling ring rust among "who knows?" how many other demons and distractions. Mickelson's play this year has been a roller coaster, to be kind. Ernie Els appears to be the hottest stick, but he'll have to climb the mountain that says he can't get it done in the majors. Steve Stricker has all-around stats and moxy, but isn't really a constant presence in the major golf discussion. Perhaps strangely under the radar we'll find the defending champ, Angel Cabrera. He leads the tour in driving distance, which would put a wedge in his hand on many of Augusta's stupidly long holes. Hey, worked last year. Cabrera seems immune to pressure, a convenient quality to possess in majors.

A young gun? Possible. Villegas, Mahan, McIlroy, the aforementioned Kim, among others, all have the tools to accomplish the mission. Still, there's a mystique about the Masters and experience factor the means it's more likely for Nicklaus to win at 46 than anyone else to win in their twenties. The diabolical greens and course knowledge required to know exactly where to place every shot works against youth. 

Tomorrow we'll show that while the Masters is a great golf exhibition, it's nowhere near the best test of golf. Don't change that channel.






Til' next,

What Els Ernie?

Two consecutive PGA victories qualifies as an adequate warm-up for the Masters. Ernie Els' wins at Doral and Bay Hill this past week have put him on the front burner for a green jacket. What better time to get your prodigious, but often hidden, game in order for the season's first major? Ernie's been saying of late that "he's in a good place". Now he has the scorecards to back it up. The revelation that he has an autistic son and lingering knee surgery recovery have shadowed the Big Easy's career for the past few years. Now at 40, his clock is ticking. Ticking to win majors I would suspect. After two US Open victories relatively early in his career, much was expected. Ernie need not look past Vijay Singh to realize all isn't lost.

I've written before that Ernie has appeared to lack that certian "fire in the belly" needed to close out golf tournaments. Evidently he's made an adjustment. After being pulled off the course at Bay Hill on Sunday, due to weather, Ernie had collapsed a 5 stroke advantage by playing his last two holes in 3 over. With a night to think about choking, he came back on Monday by one-putting three of the last four holes to secure a 2 shot win. Sounds like good Augusta practice to me.

The bookies have laid the early Augusta line. Venerable Ladbrokes has Tiger Woods as a 4-1 favorite with Phil Mickelson at 8-1, followed by Els at 10-1. That's more an indication of the players' favor with the betting populace than their chances of winning. I'm certain the bookmaker's are wary of too much Woods money upsetting the balance and setting the scene for a potential payout bloodbath.

The Shell Houston Open this week is the final Masters tune up. Hard not to root for Fred Couples, isn't it?





Til' next,

Falling Stars at The Honda Classic

Pro golf stars are fading like five dollar beach towels at The Honda Classic at PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. So, either "all these guys are good" or the big boys are a little off their game. I suppose it's a mildly good sign that Honda kept their sponsorship given the current state of the auto industry.

Household name, Y.E. Yang was the leader after today's 2nd round at 68, 65, 133. Yang's roller coaster career has included the highlight of beating Tiger Woods at the HSBC Champions in 2006 and the low light of being disqualified in defending his title in Shanghai for having an incorrect scorecard. A recognizable name, Robert Allenby was one back at 134. The rest of the top of the leader board was filled with journeymen players including Will MacKenzie, 134, Jeff Overton, 134, Ben Crane, 135, David Mathis, 136, etc., etc. With all due respect to Mrs. and Mrs. Klauk, I haven't heard of their son Jeff, who was settled into a six way tie for 7th. 19 year old Rory McIlroy, along with Stewart Cink were bigger names that were within pistol range, five behind Yang.

To find the big names you had to scroll farther down the list. Sergio, 6 back, Rocco, 7 back, Calcavecchia, 8 back, Darren Clarke, 8 back, Davis Love III, 9 back, Woody, 10 back, defender Ernie Els, 10 back, Leonard, 10 back, Lowery, 10 back. Evidently 10 back is a popular spot to make a move on Saturday from.

Missed cuts, (+3), featured Appleby, Faxon, Romero, JB Holmes, Villegas, Snedeker, and Justin Rose.

The "feel great" story is undoubtedly Erik Compton. His pair of 69s put the double heart transplant recipient, with the last being in 2008, at within five shots of the leader. 2nd place "feel good" story was Tadd Fujikawa, 18 year old Hawaiian, whose 20 foot birdie on his final hole put him one shot within the cut line, 9 shots off the pace. Fujikawa had the dubious distinction of finishing dead last through two rounds of this tournament last year.

Stay tuned to see if a relative no-name breaks from the pack, earns a two year tour exemption, and places his name on your watch list.



Til' next,

McIlroy the New Story at Accenture Match Play.

With Tiger Woods' comeback relegated to yesterday's news and top seeds dropping like Newton's apple, 19 year old Irishman Rory McIlroy's march through the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship field is as fresh as a prom date. Just off his victory in a to be unnamed Mideast tournament, (Average Golfer policy), young Rory is blasting through his more experienced brethren like it's his birthright. Today's victim was yesterday's Tiger-slayer Tim Clark. Rory dispatched him 4 and 3 in convincing fashion. He had 5 birdies in his abbreviated 15 holes and was 4 up through six. Next up, previous champ Geoff Ogilvy, who doused the previously red hot Camilo Villegas, 2 and 1. Villegas made a hint of a comeback after being down three after 13. Bogeys by Villegas on the 16th and 17th however brought his rally to a sputtering stop. That sets up tomorrow's most interesting tangle. The experienced former champ Ogilvy and the upstart McIlroy.

ROUND #4 MATCHUPS AND PICKS.

Stewart Cink vs Ernie Els - Cink just survives. Won't survive Els.
Rory McIlroy vs Geoff Ogilvy - Oh, what the hell, Rory.
Justin Leonard vs Ross Fisher - Fisher showed he can play. Leonard wins.
Paul Casey vs Sean O'Hair - O'Hair impresses. Casey wins this one.


Tune in early tomorrow morning as the quarterfinal matches begin at 10:00 AM, EST on the Golf Channel. NBC picks up the semifinals at 2:00 PM EST.

Average Golfer was a pitiful 3 for 8 with yesterday's picks. Sincere apologies to anyone that was foolish enough to place credence in my picks. My sympathy for anyone that's crazy enough to bet on match play.



Til' next,

'09 Sony Open Preview - Average Golfer Boycotts U.A.E. Events

The PGA island hops this week to Oahu for the Sony Open. Waialae Country Club is the host in Honolulu, Hawaii. KJ Choi is the defender. He'll have to contend with the likes of last week's winner Geoff Ogilvy, Zach Johnson, and the resurgent Ernie Els. 26 of last weeks 33 starters are playing this week. Notable exceptions include Anthony Kim and Vijay Singh. Hometown hero Yadd Fujikawa is in the field after shooting a Monday qualifying 68. One player not here that has been a regular is Michelle Wie. Ms Wie chose not to play, therefore removing herself from the list of potential sponsor's exemptions. A wise move I'd say as she plans to increase her stock on the LPGA Tour.

Last week and this are like day and night regarding the golf course. Last week's Plantation Course was long, downhill, and wide as a mall parking lot. At 7,068 yards it places a premium on accuracy, evidenced by the fact that in last year's tourney only a tad over 50% of the fairways were hit. There are only two par fives, one on each nine, to further protect par. Els is the only two time winner having captured the event in 2003, 2004. Previous winners include David Toms, Brad Faxon, Paul Azinger, and Jeff Sluman. Those names are enough to prove this as a shot maker's course.

Tune in tomorrow for a glimpse of abundant sunshine and bone warming temps. Based on where I am, (seems like Siberia), it will be a refreshing change.

Average Golfer To Boycott Golf Tournaments in the U.A.E.

It's peeing in the wind, but this Average Golfer can longer support the idea of golf tournaments being held in countries that treat women like it's the Middle Ages, have Draconian laws with no regard for human rights, and abuse foreign workers to build their palaces and international attractions. Covering or mentioning these events is supporting the idea that the hallowed game of golf can be used to gain prestige and tenure in the international community. It's a version of "Pay no attention to my left hand, it's not doing anything." That concept and the nations that harbor it won't be promoted on the site. For more specifics I refer you to an earlier Average Golfer post.

I'll preempt the naysayers that will undoubtedly point out that we don't live in a perfect country and have our own skeletons in the closet. Yes, that's true to a degree, but women can vote, alcohol can be consumed by people other than tourists, an African-American man can become president, and homosexuality isn't regarded as "impossible to exist". Please call me wrong, I'm just scratching the surface here. On another front, I considered boycotting Tiger Woods due to his involvement with golf course development in Dubai. I don't write this to make money, so I'd certainly survive with or without Mr. Woods. Upon further review, in this global economy, I would have had to boycott virtually every aspect of professional golf using much less than six degrees of separation. Rightly or wrongly, I chose to make my stand on the direct connection route. I elected this week to pontificate due to the location of the European Tour event.


Til' next,