Slocum, Poulter top picks
July 8th 2008 04:44
A so-close yet so-far last week with the tipping as Sergio Garcia came second to runaway winner Ross Fisher at the European Open and Robert Allenby tied for third behind Anthony Kim at the At&T National with Pat Perez not far back.
As for Mike Weir - the less said the better!
This week I think I’ve got a winner for the John Deere Classic on the US PGA tour.
With a week to go before the British Open a lot of the top players, like Phil Mickelson, are either in Scotland for the Scottish Open, or taking a break.
The obvious favourite is Kenny Perry, who has two wins this year and likes the course at Deere Run.
But I’m going to overlook him in favour of youth as this tournament has, in recent years, thrown up a younger player as the winner.
I really like Heath Slocum although my big fear is whether his 59th place at the Traveller’s Championship a couple of weeks was a blip on the radar or a more serious slide from the good form he’s had for the past three months.
I’m banking on the fact he needed a rest and that he’ll be back fresh and ready to perform well on a course that has been magnificently good to him over the past three years as he’s finished 13th, third and sixth there in 2005-06-07.
Bubba Watson is in great form with two top 10s his past two starts and was 17th here two years ago. The big-hitting lefty hasn’t win yet on tour and the lack of a really brilliant putting stroke has been the reason but maybe he can hit enough greens to make the flatstick less of a burden.
DJ Trahan has had three good years at Deere Run, including a 10th place in 2005 and he’s in good form at the moment.
John Merrick is a recent graduate from Q-school and has been making steady progress on tour. He’s definitely got some game as his tie for 6th as the US Open proves. He backed that up with a tie for 27th behind Kim at Congressional last week.
And Bill Haas, son of the great Jay Haas, has been rattling around the top-20 at his past four tournaments and is definitely good enough to win here. He’s a classy young player who just needs to improve that magical 1% to be a winner.
At the Scottish Open, again I’m going to overlook the likely favourite Mickelson. Dunno why, just feel his game, after a layoff, might need this tournament as a tune up to the British Open.
I’m going for players who have form around Loch Lomond, which suits guys who can make a lot of birdies.
My favourite is Englishman Ian Poulter. This guy often flatters to deceive but he’s in form and has been almost impeccable (without winning) the past three years at Loch Lomond.
Fellow Englishman Simon Dyson has put two good weeks together for the first time in a while and I fancy he could shine here.
Swede Peter Hanson has been moving slowly into form these past three weeks. He’s a great links player and at his best is quite a shotmaker. He seems to like the attacking opportunities this course presents and I think he can succeed.
Denmark’s Soren Hansen can boast some fine form over the past month and while he’s more solid than spectacular he’s featured highly here in the past. Ditto countryman Soren Kjeldsen, who has two top-10s to his name in recent weeks. He might make the odd mistake but certainly knows how to make birdies.
Finally, looking ahead to the British Open - I think Sergio Garcia has this in the bag!! This is the year of Spain; after their football team won Euro 08 and Rafael Nadal won Wimbledon, Sergio can certainly win the Open.
In summary.
John Deere Classic: Heath Slocum, Bubba Watson, DJ Trahan, John Merrick, Bill Haas.
Scottish Open: Ian Poulter, Simon Dyson, Peter Hanson, Soren Hansen, Soren Kjeldsen.
As for Mike Weir - the less said the better!
This week I think I’ve got a winner for the John Deere Classic on the US PGA tour.
With a week to go before the British Open a lot of the top players, like Phil Mickelson, are either in Scotland for the Scottish Open, or taking a break.
The obvious favourite is Kenny Perry, who has two wins this year and likes the course at Deere Run.
But I’m going to overlook him in favour of youth as this tournament has, in recent years, thrown up a younger player as the winner.
I really like Heath Slocum although my big fear is whether his 59th place at the Traveller’s Championship a couple of weeks was a blip on the radar or a more serious slide from the good form he’s had for the past three months.
I’m banking on the fact he needed a rest and that he’ll be back fresh and ready to perform well on a course that has been magnificently good to him over the past three years as he’s finished 13th, third and sixth there in 2005-06-07.
Bubba Watson is in great form with two top 10s his past two starts and was 17th here two years ago. The big-hitting lefty hasn’t win yet on tour and the lack of a really brilliant putting stroke has been the reason but maybe he can hit enough greens to make the flatstick less of a burden.
DJ Trahan has had three good years at Deere Run, including a 10th place in 2005 and he’s in good form at the moment.
John Merrick is a recent graduate from Q-school and has been making steady progress on tour. He’s definitely got some game as his tie for 6th as the US Open proves. He backed that up with a tie for 27th behind Kim at Congressional last week.
And Bill Haas, son of the great Jay Haas, has been rattling around the top-20 at his past four tournaments and is definitely good enough to win here. He’s a classy young player who just needs to improve that magical 1% to be a winner.
At the Scottish Open, again I’m going to overlook the likely favourite Mickelson. Dunno why, just feel his game, after a layoff, might need this tournament as a tune up to the British Open.
I’m going for players who have form around Loch Lomond, which suits guys who can make a lot of birdies.
My favourite is Englishman Ian Poulter. This guy often flatters to deceive but he’s in form and has been almost impeccable (without winning) the past three years at Loch Lomond.
Fellow Englishman Simon Dyson has put two good weeks together for the first time in a while and I fancy he could shine here.
Swede Peter Hanson has been moving slowly into form these past three weeks. He’s a great links player and at his best is quite a shotmaker. He seems to like the attacking opportunities this course presents and I think he can succeed.
Denmark’s Soren Hansen can boast some fine form over the past month and while he’s more solid than spectacular he’s featured highly here in the past. Ditto countryman Soren Kjeldsen, who has two top-10s to his name in recent weeks. He might make the odd mistake but certainly knows how to make birdies.
Finally, looking ahead to the British Open - I think Sergio Garcia has this in the bag!! This is the year of Spain; after their football team won Euro 08 and Rafael Nadal won Wimbledon, Sergio can certainly win the Open.
In summary.
John Deere Classic: Heath Slocum, Bubba Watson, DJ Trahan, John Merrick, Bill Haas.
Scottish Open: Ian Poulter, Simon Dyson, Peter Hanson, Soren Hansen, Soren Kjeldsen.
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