Drawing a Grand Blanc
June 24th 2008 02:33
Well, another week, another winner: tote them up and we’ve had a few this season already.
Sure Stewart Cink was the favourite to win the Traveler’s Championship but golfdelerium not only tipped Cink on top but threw in Heath Slocum for good value, and he obliged by finishing in the top five. We also mentioned Hunter Mahan as a danger and he finished tied for second.
In Europe, we weren’t so flash, although Martin Erlandsson’s tie for sixth was just a shot away from a top-five finish and a collect while Retief Goosen couldn’t quite get going and had to be content with a tie for 13th.
This week, it’s the Buick Open at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Normally the field here would include a certain Tiger Woods – he’s sponsored by Buick, you see – but with Tiger resting thanks to that largely wrecked left leg of his, the field’s more open.
Usually, this event has been won by an experienced player (Brian Bateman’s upset last year was a recent exception). Veterans who like here include Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard and both those guys will be around the money, you’d expect.
Heath Slocum is in hot form but his record at Warwick Hills iffy. Over the past five years he’s missed the cut three times but the times he’s made the cut he’s finished high up; 14th and 8th. He’s currently on a streak of 13 made cuts and has two top 10s in his past two starts. Gamble on a good one.
Brandt Snedeker was tied for ninth at the US Open at his last start; a welcome return to form after his great Masters showing was followed by a dip. He was 10th at his only start at the Buick and this tournament seems tailor-made for him.
I’d consider roughies have been playing well enough recently, and at this course over the years. They are Briny Baird and Lucas Glover. I have serious doubts about Glover’s mental strength, sometimes I think he flags it a bit too easily, but when he’s on song he’s certainly got the game to win.
Baird is one of those players, like Tim Clark, who’s played hundreds of tournaments without winning but this year he’s been more consistent than ever and despite his wonky putting style he hits enough greens in regulation to be a threat.
Chris DiMarco has been finding a semblance of his best form, and when he was at his best he was a contender in this tournament – don’t discount him yet although I might wait another week or two for him to consolidate his recent good finishes.
In five: I’ll go Heath Slocum, Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk, Briny Baird and Lucas Glover.
In Europe, it’s the French Open and I’ve got a hunch England’s Graeme Storm can repeat his win of last year.
He’s been inching back into good touch the past two weeks and it would be no surprise to see a successful defence of his title.
Fellow Englishman David Lynn has been consistent for sometime without quiet threatening to win but he has a good record at the tournament.
Outside that I’m doing all-Dane: Soren Hansen, Anders Hansen and Soren Kjelsen.
The trio have been in good nick around the traps, with Anders Hansen missing a win last week in a playoff against Martin Kaymer, Soren Hansen doing OK at the US Open and Kjeldsen returning a string of top-20s.
They are my five.
Sure Stewart Cink was the favourite to win the Traveler’s Championship but golfdelerium not only tipped Cink on top but threw in Heath Slocum for good value, and he obliged by finishing in the top five. We also mentioned Hunter Mahan as a danger and he finished tied for second.
In Europe, we weren’t so flash, although Martin Erlandsson’s tie for sixth was just a shot away from a top-five finish and a collect while Retief Goosen couldn’t quite get going and had to be content with a tie for 13th.
This week, it’s the Buick Open at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Normally the field here would include a certain Tiger Woods – he’s sponsored by Buick, you see – but with Tiger resting thanks to that largely wrecked left leg of his, the field’s more open.
Usually, this event has been won by an experienced player (Brian Bateman’s upset last year was a recent exception). Veterans who like here include Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard and both those guys will be around the money, you’d expect.
Heath Slocum is in hot form but his record at Warwick Hills iffy. Over the past five years he’s missed the cut three times but the times he’s made the cut he’s finished high up; 14th and 8th. He’s currently on a streak of 13 made cuts and has two top 10s in his past two starts. Gamble on a good one.
Brandt Snedeker was tied for ninth at the US Open at his last start; a welcome return to form after his great Masters showing was followed by a dip. He was 10th at his only start at the Buick and this tournament seems tailor-made for him.
I’d consider roughies have been playing well enough recently, and at this course over the years. They are Briny Baird and Lucas Glover. I have serious doubts about Glover’s mental strength, sometimes I think he flags it a bit too easily, but when he’s on song he’s certainly got the game to win.
Baird is one of those players, like Tim Clark, who’s played hundreds of tournaments without winning but this year he’s been more consistent than ever and despite his wonky putting style he hits enough greens in regulation to be a threat.
Chris DiMarco has been finding a semblance of his best form, and when he was at his best he was a contender in this tournament – don’t discount him yet although I might wait another week or two for him to consolidate his recent good finishes.
In five: I’ll go Heath Slocum, Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk, Briny Baird and Lucas Glover.
In Europe, it’s the French Open and I’ve got a hunch England’s Graeme Storm can repeat his win of last year.
He’s been inching back into good touch the past two weeks and it would be no surprise to see a successful defence of his title.
Fellow Englishman David Lynn has been consistent for sometime without quiet threatening to win but he has a good record at the tournament.
Outside that I’m doing all-Dane: Soren Hansen, Anders Hansen and Soren Kjelsen.
The trio have been in good nick around the traps, with Anders Hansen missing a win last week in a playoff against Martin Kaymer, Soren Hansen doing OK at the US Open and Kjeldsen returning a string of top-20s.
They are my five.
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