The Hollow Men
April 30th 2008 21:33
Quail Hollow Contry Club. Sounds spooky. Sounds quaint.
It's the venue for the Wachovia Championship, a relatively new event on the PGA Tour and this week's tour stop in North Carolina.
Quail Hollow has tended to throw up major champions as winners here.
David Toms, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods ... the only exception in five years is Joey Sindelar who snuck through in 2004.
With Woods away injured, it makes sense that a another major winner would be among the favourites.
Any one of Phil Mickelson, Singh, Furyk or Geoff Ogilvy looms as a strong contender on a course that is demanding and is likely to be wet, therefore more demanding.
While it's long, the fact Toms and Furyk have won here doesn't mean the bombers will triumph - it's a course that demands patience which is why guys with major temperaments have usually won here.
Outside the big guns, and that includes last week's winner Adam Scott, the in-form Stewart Cink and the reborn Steve Stricker, look to Masters form as an indicator.
In that case, I'm keen to go wide of the hotshots and look at Nick Watney and Steve Flesch.
Watney is a class player who will win more often and his high finish at Augusta proved that; Flesch has made a comeback of sorts. He's never been a star but he's reliable, with a good putting stroke that deserted for him a while there. With a new putter and a new driver, he's good value on the basis of his Masters form.
Another not to overlook is burly American-Swede Carl Petterson. He lives in North Carolina and has an affinity for the course.
In Europe things are a bit more open for the Spanish Open, held on a course that will be unfamiliar to many players.
If in doubt go for the form players and the locals; Miguel Angel Jiminez and Jose Manuel Lara appeal as Spaniards in the groove while the hot players are Swedes Johan Edfors and Niclas Fasth.
Picks then?
PGA: I've whittled a short list of 10 down to Mickelson, Ogilvy, Flesch, Petterson and Watney
In Europe: Edfors, Fasth, Jiminez and Lara,
It's the venue for the Wachovia Championship, a relatively new event on the PGA Tour and this week's tour stop in North Carolina.
Quail Hollow has tended to throw up major champions as winners here.
David Toms, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods ... the only exception in five years is Joey Sindelar who snuck through in 2004.
With Woods away injured, it makes sense that a another major winner would be among the favourites.
Any one of Phil Mickelson, Singh, Furyk or Geoff Ogilvy looms as a strong contender on a course that is demanding and is likely to be wet, therefore more demanding.
While it's long, the fact Toms and Furyk have won here doesn't mean the bombers will triumph - it's a course that demands patience which is why guys with major temperaments have usually won here.
Outside the big guns, and that includes last week's winner Adam Scott, the in-form Stewart Cink and the reborn Steve Stricker, look to Masters form as an indicator.
In that case, I'm keen to go wide of the hotshots and look at Nick Watney and Steve Flesch.
Watney is a class player who will win more often and his high finish at Augusta proved that; Flesch has made a comeback of sorts. He's never been a star but he's reliable, with a good putting stroke that deserted for him a while there. With a new putter and a new driver, he's good value on the basis of his Masters form.
Another not to overlook is burly American-Swede Carl Petterson. He lives in North Carolina and has an affinity for the course.
In Europe things are a bit more open for the Spanish Open, held on a course that will be unfamiliar to many players.
If in doubt go for the form players and the locals; Miguel Angel Jiminez and Jose Manuel Lara appeal as Spaniards in the groove while the hot players are Swedes Johan Edfors and Niclas Fasth.
Picks then?
PGA: I've whittled a short list of 10 down to Mickelson, Ogilvy, Flesch, Petterson and Watney
In Europe: Edfors, Fasth, Jiminez and Lara,
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