2008 Masters Dark Horses

Forget Tiger, Phil, Vijay, Adam Scott and any other front runner picks to win the 2008 Masters. The real science and intrigue is in picking a dark horse to win it all. Besides, there's no money in favorites. Betting on Secretariat won't get you rich. In keeping with that theme here's this average golfer's inside picks from mid pack.........

Steve Lowery- Not afraid to go low. Question is can he do it for four rounds at Augusta.

Fred Couples- Plenty long. If the back hangs in and the putter's working, who knows?

Bubba Watson- Has all the shots, needs the self control.

Aaron Baddeley- Consistent. Mentally tough. Could be there on Sunday.

Sergio- Nope, he's not a favorite. As the putter turns, especially here.

Paul Casey- Strong player, should have more success than he's shown.

Steve Stricker- Sneaky long. Helpful if track is wet. Would have to play to his ranking.

Hunter Mahan- Coming into his own. Played great so far this year.

Nick O'Hern- Needs a dry golf course. Not very long, otherwise great player.

Stephen Ames- Match play vs Tiger aside, plays well in big events. Won the Players Championship.

Woody Austin- Underrated. If he can avoid any blow up holes, he could contend. Another not afraid to shoot for pins.

Mark Calcavecchia- Great competitor. Tons of experience and a great game overall.

Stewart Cink- Possible. Plenty of length. Needs a hot putter. (like everyone here)

Lee Westwood- Newly sculpted physique. Excellent game. What else is there?

J.B. Holmes- Stared down Phil this year. All kinds of length. Nerves and putting.

K.J. Choi- Not really a dark horse. Loves the course. Very steady, especially the putter.

If anyone's in enough of a sporting mood to reach for their wallet, here's a link to Ladbrokes, the British betting house, with current player odds.

Tomorrow I'll have the 2008 Masters winner for you.

Til' next,


*Correction from yesterday's post. Camilo Villegas IS entered in this year's tournament. And no, he won't win.

The Masters........Best or Worst Major Championship?

Now it's beginning to feel like golf. Half of the snow is gone in my yard and darned if it didn't hit the fifty degree mark today. We'll be playing here in another month or two. All's well. Oh, did I mention, it's Masters week?

Here's the pitch for the Masters being the best major. It's the first one of the year and reignites the golf fires after a cold hiatus. It has tradition coming out the ying-yang. The course is spectacularly beautiful. The flowers, the conditions, the ponds and bridges. The wickedly fast, perfect greens. The lack of knee deep rough that doesn't penalize a player for being two feet off the fairway. Watching the Masters is almost like when Dorothy lands on Oz in her battered house, opens the door and the movie switches from black and white to color. The first time I watched the movie I thought I was having a flash back. The broadcast is even wonderful. The lack of commercials, the music, the lack of Johnny Miller. The history of the place. Bobby Jones, Hogan, Arnie, Nicklaus, Sarazen, Martha Burke. The stories and remembrances of individual great shots is unparalleled. The fact that it's held in the same spot for all those years creates a tradition that's unmatched. I do love the Masters for all those reasons and more. It's the emerald jewel in the Major's crown. Period.

Here's why it's the worst golf tournament of the four majors. The field stinks. 94 men will tee it up on Thursday morning. The 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines will field 156. The 2008 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale starts 156. The PGA Championship at Oakland Hills will be about the same. The Players Championship has the largest purse, $9,000,000.00 in 2007. About fifty percent more world class golfers will populate the fields of the other majors.

Out of the 94 players in the Masters field, let's do some searching. Former winners can conceivably play in it for life. Rumor has it that when he retired from playing in the Masters, it was a back room conversation that got Arnie to hang up the spikes. This year we have playing as former champions, Gary Player, Larry Mize, Craig Stadler, Raymond Floyd, Ben Crenshaw, and Fuzzy Zoeller. Does any average golfer think they have a chance? Trip Kuehne and Drew Weaver qualified as amateurs. I think that's a nice tradition as well, but do they have a snowball's chance? Colt Knost passed on his amateur exemption to join the Tour. Think he'd like that call back? Notables not qualified this year.....Carl Pettersson, 61st in the world, Kenny Perry, Camilo Villegas, Rod Pampling, 57th in the world, Lucas Glover, Pat Perez, 60 th in the world, Davis Love III, injury riddled for last year, Colin Montgomerie. Now, would you trade the eight players that are playing with the eight I mentioned that aren't? Thought so.

The Masters is unique. It's the only major that's an invitational field. That and too many other things to mention make it what it is. Watch it for what it is, a beautiful, beloved spectacle. Watch the others to see the best golfers.

Til' next,

Lorena Ochoa es Fantastico !! Seizes Kraft Nabisco.

Starting the day with a one stroke lead, Lorena Ochoa birdied her first two holes to say to the field, "Not today". She had the only bogey free round and captured her 2nd career major by winning the 2008 Kraft Nabisco Championship. Her five under 67 left her at 277 for the championship, five strokes clear of Annika Sorenstam and Suzann Petersen. The only race was for 2nd place on down. Bowing to tradition, Ochoa leaped into Poppy's Pond setting a new world women's long jump record in the process. That tradition was started 20 years ago by Amy Alcott, winner of three Kraft Nabiscos, formerly Dinah Shores. Alcott touchingly made this her last Kraft Nabisco.

I wish there was more to say, but it legitimately was all Ochoa. This marks her third win in four starts in 2008. She's money. She's so far ahead of the field it's difficult finding a contender. Perhaps Annika, who was terribly ill in the third round, but rallied with a closing 68 today. Nevertheless, had they started today even, Ochoa would have bested her with her 67. Neither defending champion Morgan Pressel, nor any other American threatened to finish in the top ten. If she keeps this up Tiger will be calling her for advice.

SHELL HOUSTON OPEN

Johnson Wagner punched his own ticket to the Masters by holding off Chad Campbell and Geoff Ogilvy for a two shot victory in the Shell Houston Open. His 71 today left him at -16 for the week. In what appears to be a Masters tune up, Fred Couples carded a velvety 66 to finish three back. Billy Mayfair tied Couples finish with a 66 of his own. Being Shell's tournament, Wagner was given the choice between his share of the 5.6 million dollar purse or 100 barrels of crude. He wisely took the oil.

Next week is Masters week. Stay with this average golfer for a look at the Masters you won't find anywhere else.

Til' next,

Ochoa Has Finish Line in Sight at Kraft Nabisco Championship

Though not at her best, Lorena Ochoa leads the 2008 Kraft Nabisco Championship heading into the final round. Her one under 71 today was enough for a one shot lead over Hee-Won Han. Hee-Wan's two under 70 left her a stroke ahead the trifecta of Maria Hjorth, Seon Hwa Lee, and the only American with a chance, Cristie Kerr. Kerr penciled a spectacular 66 today to lift herself back in contention. Ochoa again inexplicably missed a number of putts inside of ten feet and sprayed a few drives. Thanks to that, it's a filly race on Sunday. Annika had a difficult day. She had been sick all night and displayed symptoms during the round. She laid down in the shade when possible, and was bending over in extreme discomfort. Still, she's at -2 for the tournament and has a chance. She displayed the kind of guts and fortitude that makes her the champion she is. Do you think John Daly would have finished under those circumstances? Heck, he's DQ or WD when he's feeling great.
I can't wait to see the finale tomorrow.

SHELL HOUSTON OPEN

Yawn. Johnson Wagner still leads at -15. Chad Campbell, Texas native, -14. Tied for 3rd, Bob " Blast from the past" Estes and Charley Hoffman at -12. Wake me when it's over. 5 days til' the Masters.

Average golfer observation of the day..... While watching the Kraft Nabisco on ESPN 2, I was more than annoyed by the sports scores crawler on the bottom of the screen and the tournament leaders complete with distracting stat info dominating the top of the screen. I found it beyond aggravating. Then I said to myself, "Self, isn't ESPN going to be covering the first two rounds of the Masters?" Yup, that and the virgin coverage of the par three contest on Wednesday.
If I have to suffer through that garbage on my screen for the Masters I'm going to drive to Bristol, CT, find the person(s) responsible and threaten them within an inch of their life. Unless of course they're bigger than me.

Til' next,

Ochoa, Young Lead at Tightly Bunched Kraft Nabisco.

It's anyone's tournament to be had at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Lorena Ochoa shares the lead after a 2nd round 71 to stand at -5 overall. Tied with her is Heather Young, -2 today, -5 overall. Ochoa's putter was a little wobbly, especially on the front nine where she missed crucial putts inside of ten feet. Still, it's a testament to her whole game to have an off day putting and still be under par. Ochoa's strength is off the tee. She was routinely out driving Morgan Pressel by thirty yards. That's a two club advantage for the next shot. If you're wondering where the little squirt gets her power watch her backswing. At the top she's waaaaaaay past parallel, ala Daly. Coming down she has the fastest hip rotation by far, perhaps on any tour. That's how at 5'6", weighing about a hundred and nuthin', you can hit a golf ball 290 yds.

Heather Young survived a glitch on the back nine, consecutive bogey, double bogey, to scratch out a tie for the lead with Ochoa. Maria Hjorth, (go ahead, you pronounce it), and Mi Hyun Kim, (one of 19 Kim sisters on tour), were tied for second at -4. Hee Won Han, Annika, and first round leader Karen Stupples were tied at -3 for the tourney. Give Stupples credit. At one point in her round she was back to even par. The wheels had left the wagon. She climbed back in though and is still in position to win the thing.

Truth is anyone can win this thing. That's why it's the "must see" golf telecast of the week. Stay tuned.

SHELL HOUSTON, (6 DAYS TIL' THE MASTERS), OPEN

Ho Hum. Johnson Wagner still leads, -12. Matt Goggin and Charley Hoffman are in 2nd, -9. Adam Scott doesn't lead any more. Phil, T11. Davis Love III, T25. Feel bad for Davis. He'll miss the Masters and break his consecutive majors string. John Daly, WD, as predicted yesterday. Returned his empties for plane ticket home.

Til' next,

Stupples Leads, Ochoa 1 Back at Kraft Nabisco - Scott, Wagner Tied at Shell Houston Open

Brit Karen Stupples, -5, 67, leads the Kraft Nabisco Championship after Round #1 today. Who else but Lorena Ochoa lurks at one behind along with Ai Miyazato. There's a two way tie for 3rd between Heather Young and Natalie Gulbis. Mission Hills Country Club is the long time location for the event.

This is the first major championship of the year for the ladies and carries it's own special tradition. The winner ceremoniously leaps into the pond at the 18th hole to culminate her victory. I'd like to see something similar on the P.G.A. Tour. Won't hold my breath though. I reckon Woody Austin is as close as we'll get.

Notables finishing include Annika, Morgan Pressel, and Paula Creamer all in at -1. I have no favorites here, but in the interest of a riveting telecast, let's hope Lorena doesn't win by ten strokes.

SHELL HOUSTON OPEN

Adam Scott and Johnson Wagner lead the Shell Houston Open with a pair of spectacular 63s or nine under par. The closest pursuers are Steve Stricker at -6 and a foursome at -5 to include Briny "The Hat" Baird, Steve Elkington, Geoff Ogilvy, and Dean Wilson. All four have played well of late with Ogilvy winning at Doral.

The players think of this event as a Masters tune up. Tournament officials have gone out of their way to mimic the set up at Augusta National. 1st cut only for the rough and bikini waxed greens have attracted a number of players specifically for that reason. The suits at Augusta National can't fire me for the comment, unlike Gary McCord.

Luminaries' scores include Phil Mickelson at even par and Jose Maria Olazabal at -3. I gotta figure Phil's a little ticked with his round since he's definitely using this as a Masters prelude. Olazabal's score is noteworthy because he's coming off a long hiatus due to rheumatism. He loves Augusta National and should always be considered a contender there.

Is it just me, or should the winner's share in a tournament sponsored by an oil company be a bazillion dollars?

Average Golfer's proof that the end of the world is upon us. John Daly's 78, T133, 15 shots out of the lead. And people are still offering him exemptions. What are the odds for tomorrow on a JD WD?

Til' next,

Ochoa Wins Kraft Nabisco Championship, Field Withdraws En Masse.

Citing the futility involved in beating Lorena Ochoa in a four day event, the remaining 110 players qualified for the 2008 Kraft Nabisco Championship withdrew after a closed ballot vote. The vote was 109-1, with the dissenter being a long time Kraft endorser. The unnamed Kraft golfer had offered to play Ochoa heads up if she agreed to giving her two strokes per side. Another prominent player said she'd come to the conclusion that Ochoa was just too darned good and playing with her was no fun at all. After getting wind of the offer, L.P.G.A. officials acted swiftly to squash any tournament outside of their rules. One L.P.G.A. official was suspended for placing a sizable wager on Ochoa after hearing of the two stroke offer. Ochoa then offered, in an effort to save the event, to play a match against herself. By playing two balls simultaneously, marked Ball A and Ball B, she could keep separate scores and a winner could be determined.

Tournament officials face more than one conundrum with this unprecedented news. First, where to put the nearly 25,000 spectators that showed up for the event. Acting swiftly, the front nine at Mission Hills Country Club was turned into a tent city. The only concern was for the lack of porta potties. The back nine has been reserved for players wishing to practice for upcoming events they won't be playing in. Second, was the problem of what to do with the tons of Kraft Nabisco products shipped in for the event. There was over two tons of Ritz crackers and Velveeta alone. Fortunately, with a shelf life of 10-12 years, there's plenty of time to solve the dilemma. At the trophy ceremony Ochoa was her usual gracious self. She credited her parents, the immigrant course workers, and the 110 other players who made this victory possible. She said she's looking forward to the rest of the season and what a relief it will be to not have to lug her clubs through airports.

The remaining players clamored for Ochoa's schedule to find tournaments they could play in. That of course ruled out the majors and any other prominent tournament. The dates in Buzzard's Breath, Wyoming, and Puking Mule, Texas are getting the most interest.

So, there you have it. Unprecedented in golf history. A full field withdrawal.

!LOOF LIRPA

Til' next,