Teeing Off

Updates Coming! US Open, Open Championship, and more!

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 27 May 2013 19:20:00 +0000

Hey all! I've been extremely busy and am ready to write again. I hope you are looking forward to the upcoming summer golf schedule! I can't wait. Thanks for waiting and I can't wait to get my first piece out again!

Alex

2013 Tampa Bay Championship presented by Everbank: Preview with Fantasy Golf Picks

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 03:17:00 +0000

Well, the tour moves on this week to Tampa Bay for the Tampa Bay Championship. The tournament returns to Innisbrook Resort and the Copperhead Course, which is comprised of five par threes and four par fives. The par-71 golf course played to nearly a shot under par last year, which was a record for the tournament. But don't expect that to happen again this year.

The field is filled with big names, although a few are missing. Luke Donald returns to defend his title, and Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott are making the trip up the road from Doral to Tampa. Here is my five picks for fantasy golf this week, and the reasons I am selecting them.

1. Sergio Garcia: Garcia is coming off a T-3 at Doral where excellent ballstriking was key for him. the Copperhead Course requires precise shotmaking as well, so look for Garcia to continue his hot play.

2. Jason Dufner: It is about time for Dufner to break out on the PGA Tour this year. He started the year off with top 10s overseas in the Middle East, but a T12 last week at Doral is his best finish on the PGA Tour this year. With his ballstriking ability, though, Copperhead sets up nicely for his game.

3. Matt Kuchar: Last week was an anomaly for Kuchar, where he struggled to get off level par for the week. But with a T12 in 2009 and a T10 last year, Kuchar's game sets up for the Copperhead Course. He should bring in good thoughts even though he had a lackluster Cadillac Championship.

4. Luke Donald: I didn't expect Luke Donald to have such a mediocre start to 2013. I fully expect the 2012 champion of this event will have good thoughts trying to defend his title. I think he will break through and have a solid week, if not another win.

5. Jim Furyk: Furyk would love to prove critics wrong after failing to close out multiple wins in 2012. This course sets up perfectly for the accurate Furyk, who would love to enter the winners circle again.

Dark Horse: Patrick Cantlay

After a win on the Web.com tour and a decent showing in Puerto Rico, Cantlay is teeing it up on the PGA Tour again this week. I expect him to be confident with his game, and the youngster might just go low one of the rounds. Look for him to be around the top of the leaderboard throughout the week.

What's in the Bag: Tiger Woods 2013 WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 05:16:00 +0000

Tiger Woods captured his 2nd PGA Tour title of the year and his 76th overall this weekend at the WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral. Woods used a record number of birdies in the second and third round to catapult himself to an insurmountable lead heading into the final round, where he held of Steve Stricker to win by two strokes. Woods hit the ball solid and putted lights out to win the tournament.

Chris Condon/PGA Tour

Woods put the new Nike Covert Fairway Wood into the bag this week and used it to perfection off the tee and in the fairway to par 5s. Here's what else was in his bag:

Driver: Nike VR Tour 8.5 degree with Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 6X

Fairways: Nike VR Pro Ltd. 15 degree and Nike VrS Covert 19 Degree with Mitsubishi Diamana Blueboard 93 X

Irons: Nike VR Pro Blades: 3-PW with Dynamic Gold X100

Wedges: Nike VR Pro 56 and 60 degrees with Dynamic Gold S400

Putter: Nike Method 001

Ball: Nike One Tour D

Tiger Woods wins 2013 WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 05:12:00 +0000

Entering the final round four strokes ahead, Tiger Woods was almost assured of a victory. 26 previous times has he held a 3 or more stroke lead heading into round 4, and 26 previous times has he won. And during a week of firsts for Tiger, he didn't want to add this one to the list.

Woods started off the week carding his most birdies through 36 and 54 holes in his PGA Tour career. He entered the final round with 24 birdies on the card, and added two quick ones on the front nine. Woods was never really challenged in the final round, holding a five stroke lead through much of the back nine. A late bogey by Woods and a birdie by Steve Stricker cut the lead to three shots, but a conservative final hole gave Woods the win by 2 shots.

With the win, Tiger Woods becomes the first two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year. Woods moves into second place in the FedEx Cup standings and closes the gap between himself and Rory McIlroy for #1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. McIlroy put together solid rounds Saturday and Sunday to move into the top-10.

Stricker fired his fourth round in the 60s to take second place alone at 17-under par, two behind Woods. Finishing in a tie for third and five shots back of Woods were Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, and Graeme McDowell. Keegan Bradley finished solo 7th at 12-under par, and wrapping up the top-10 were McIlroy, Justin Rose, Peter Hanson, and last week's winner Michael Thompson, who finished at 10-under par and tied for 8th.

This win is the 76th career victory for Tiger Woods, and his 17th career WGC event. Woods is now within 6 wins of tying Sam Snead's career PGA Tour win mark. 6 of the 7 times Woods has won multiple events with the WGC Cadillac Championship he has gone on to win a major. We will see him next at one of his favorite events, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, where he has won 7 times. His next event after that will be The Masters.

The tour moves on to the Tampa Bay Championship presented by Everbank, where Luke Donald will be there to defend his title.

Tiger Woods tied for the lead with 4 others after one round at the WGC Cadillac Championship

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 04:48:00 +0000

Tiger Woods returned this week to a familiar course. Having won at Doral 3 prior times, Woods felt right at home during the first round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship. A putting lesson earlier in the week from Steve Stricker lead Woods to nine birdies en route to an opening round 66. Joining Woods atop the leaderboard are Bubba Watson, Graeme McDowell, Sergio Garcia, and Freddie Jacobson. All players are at 6-under par.

The opening round was extremely conducive to scoring, as the winds were down and the greens extremely receptive. Conditions were perfect for all of the players on the course. Woods started strong, with two early birdies, but gave those right back with two straight bogeys. But he fought back, making seven more birdies with only one bogey in his final 13 holes to finish the round. Garcia and McDowell played together and both fired bogey-free rounds. Jacobson had two eagles on the round, and Watson lead a strong group who finished a combined 16-under par.

One stroke back of the leaders are a group at 5-under par which includes Stricker, Phil Mickelson, and Hunter Mahan.

Paired with Woods today was Rory McIlroy, who struggled yet again to a 1-over par 73. McIlroy is returning to play after a controversial WD last week at the Honda Classic. But he has handled the media scrutiny well for a young player. But that has not translated into his play on the golf course. McIlroy had an eagle at hole 2, but 3 straight bogeys derailed any momentum he might have gained. He will look to get back on track tomorrow and will complete his first 4-round tournament of the year.

Action continues tomorrow on The Golf Channel at 2:00 PM ET.

What's in the Bag: Michael Thompson 2013 Honda Classic

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 04:33:00 +0000

Michael Thompson captured his first career PGA Tour victory this past weekend, beating one of the strongest fields of 2013 at the Honda Classic. Thompson survived a difficult Sunday and bested the field by 2 strokes. With the win, Thompson moved into the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, and qualified for this week's WGC-Cadillac Championship, as well as the Masters.

Photo: Wilfredo Lee

Here's what he used to win:

Driver: Ping i20 (9.5 degree; 45 inches; Grafalloy ProForce Red shaft)

Fairway Wood: Ping G25 3-wood (15 degree; 42.5 inches; Grafalloy ProLaunch Red Fwy-X shaft) and Akira 5-wood (Grafalloy ProLaunch Red Fwy-X shaft)

Irons (3-9): Ping S56 (+1/2 inch; True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts)

Wedges: Ping Tour-S (47 degree; +1/2 inch; True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shaft) and Ping Anser Forged (52 and 58 degree; +1/2 inch; True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts)

Putter: Ping Anser 4

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x (2013)

What's In the Bag: Matt Kuchar 2013 Accenture Match Play Championship

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 04:29:00 +0000

Matt Kuchar captured his first World Golf Championship event a couple weeks ago by winning the Accenture Matchplay Championship. Kuchar defeated Hunter Mahan in the final round, preventing Mahan from winning the event for a second straight year. The win pushed Kuchar into the top-10 in the Official World Golf Ranking and near the top of the FedEx Cup standings.

Getty Images

Here's what Kuchar used to win:

Driver: Bridgestone J40 430 9.5 degree with Accra M4+ 55 shaft

Fairway Wood: PING Anser 14.5 degree with Mitsubishi Diamana Blueboard 73x

Hybrid: PING Anser 20 degree with Fujikura Motore Speeder HB 90x

Irons: Fourteen Golf HI type 3; Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back Black 5-PW Aerotech Steelfiber i95 S-flex

Wedges: Bridgestone J40 Black Oxide 52 and 57 degree True Temper Dynamic Gold S400; Titleist Vokey Design SM4 62 Degree True Temper Dynamic Gold S400

Putter: Bettinardi Signature Model 1

Ball: Bridgestone B330-S

2013 Northern Trust Open Fantasy Picks

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:50:00 +0000

Sorry this is late this week, but here are my 4 picks for fantasy. You probably cannot make more changes in your roster, but if you are keeping track here is who I picked.

Luke Donald: I think Donald should be well-rested and ready to go in 2013. The Northern Trust Open is his opening tournament of the year. Donald has finished in the top-4 twice here in the past 5 years. His ball striking and short game should come in handy around this course.

Keegan Bradley: Bradley lost this tournament last season in a playoff. If he gets his putter going he can win any week with his length off the tee and his iron play. Bradley struggled early today but rallied late to finish with a decent first round score.

Lee Westwood: After adjusting to the time change after playing overseas his first tournament of the year, Westwood should be ready to win on the PGA Tour. He is in top form and had a solid first round.

Graeme McDowell: A surprising choice for myself, McDowell plays very well in California. This is also his 2013 debut.

2013 Northern Trust Open Preview and Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:31:00 +0000

The PGA Tour moves south this week to Riviera Country Club for the 2013 Northern Trust Open. Many top golfers are making their 2013 debut this week at the tournament and the field boasts some of the biggest names in golf. "Hogan's Alley" will once again host a great tournament for the PGA professionals.

TV and Radio Schedule
Thursday, February 7th: 3:00-6:00 PM ET The Golf Channel
Friday, February 8th: 3:00-6:00 PM ET The Golf Channel
Saturday, February 9th: 1:00-2:30 PM ET The Golf Channel; 3:00-6:00 PM ET CBS
Sunday, February 10th: 1:00-2:30 PM ET The Golf Channel; 3:00-6:30 PM ET CBS

Radio: Sirius XM PGA Tour Network:12-6p ET Thur-Sat; 1-7p ET Sun

In the Field
The 2013 Northern Trust Open once again boasts a strong field. Numerous top players in the world are making their 2013 debut, and others are returning to the PGA Tour for another chance at a win.

Players to Watch
Keegan Bradely: Bradley shot a solid final-round last season and made a clutch putt on the final hole to make a playoff at the 2012 Northern Trust Open with Phil Mickelson and Bill Haas. Ultimately, Bradley fell to Haas in the playoff. But his finish last season and solid start to 2013 should give him the confidence to be near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.

Patrick Cantlay: The former UCLA player and top amateur is coming off a top-10 finish at the 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am. Cantlay received a sponsor's exemption into the field here and should have lots of confidence after his finish last week.

Luke Donald: World #3 Donald is making his worldwide debut in 2013. Donald should have the game to compete here, and should have a solid finish after taking a nice break from golf. Donald is looking to gain momentum and capture his first major championship in 2013.

Ernie Els: Els, the 2012 Open Champion, is making his 2013 PGA Tour debut. Els rejuvinated his career last season, so he will be looking to continue the strong play.

Bill Haas: The defending champion Haas will be looking to win for the first time in 2013 and try to jumpstart his season and regain the form that saw him capture the 2011 FedEx Cup.

Sergio Garcia: Garcia is making his PGA Tour debut in 2013 as well.

Other players in the field:
Fred Couples
Jim Furyk
Peter Hanson
Russell Henley
Dustin Johnson
Matt Kuchar
Phil Mickelson
Webb Simpson
Adam Scott
Charl Schwartzel
Lee Westwood
Bubba Watson

The Course
Riviera Country Club is the traditional host of this tournament, which was once known as the Los Angeles Open. Ben Hogan once won 3 tournaments here in 18 months (2 Los Angeles Opens and a US Open). Riviera has also hosted a PGA Championship.

Holes to Watch
#1: An opening par 5, hole 1 gives the players a chance to open up with a solid score, even an eagle. Out of bounds looms on the left and trees on the right, so an accurate drive is essential. Players should be able to take 3 wood and still have a chance at reaching the green in 2.

#6: One of the most iconic par-3s in golf, the sixth hole features a two-tiered green with a bunker in the middle. A well-positioned tee shot will leave a birdie, but a poor shot will leave a strong putt or possibly a chip over the bunker.

#10: Half the field will be opening here on Thursday and Friday. A reachable par 4, Jack Nicklaus refers to this as "the best 10th hole in major championship golf". Players who choose to lay up will have a better shot if they approach from the left side of the fairway to the narrow green.

#18: A blind teeshot to an uphill fairway awaits the players at this signature hole. Players will be shooting up towards the Riviera clubhouse on their second shot and will take a long iron or fairway wood to reach.

Winner
After finally getting a winner correct last week, I will hopefully keep up my streak. With Brandt Snedeker taking a break, a new golfer may emerge as the hottest golfer in the world. Phil Mickelson has won here numerous times, and Dustin Johnson should have a solid week. But I am going to go with Keegan Bradley to win this week. Bradley should have good thoughts after taking second place last year in the playoff and will break through this week.

What's in the Bag: Brandt Snedeker 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 03:16:00 +0000

Brandt Snedeker followed two consecutive runner-up finishes with his first win in 2013 at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California. The win is Snedeker's fifth career PGA Tour win and first since the 2012 Tour Championship. The win moved Snedeker farther ahead in the FedEx Cup standings and vaulted him into 4th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Here's what he used to win:

Shaw/Getty Images

Driver: TaylorMade Burner Superfast TP 9.5 Degrees with Fujikura Motore F1 8.0

Fairway: Tour Edge Exotics CB4 Tour with Mitsubishi Diamana Kai'li

Hybrid: PING Anser 20 Degree with UST Mamiya ProForce VST 100HX

Irons: Bridgestone J40 CB with Aerotech Steelfiber i95

Wedges: Bridgestone J40 52 and 56 degree, Titleist Vokey 60 Degree

Putter: Odyssey White Hot Rossie

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B330

What's in the Bag: Richard Sterne 2013 Joburg Open

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 03:16:00 +0000

Richard Sterne followed up a second-place finish in Dubai with a win in South Africa at the 2013 Joburg Open in Johannesburg. Sterne captured the tournament in record fashion, winning at 27-under par and by seven strokes over the second-place finisher. The win in his home country was the sixth career win for Sterne, and will move him into the top-60 in the Official World Golf Ranking and the top spot in the 2013 Race to Dubai

Here's what he used to win (not sure if 100% accurate, info hard to find):

From europeantour.com

Driver: TaylorMade R11

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Tour

Irons: TaylorMade R9 TP 3-PW

Wedges: TaylorMade xFT 52, 56 degree, Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 60 Degree

Putter: Odyssey White Hot Two Ball Putter

Brandt Snedeker Captures 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 02:53:00 +0000

After runner-up finishes the past two weekends, Brandt Snedeker finally broke through to win on the PGA Tour in 2013. Snedeker coolly played the first three rounds to set himself up with a share of the lead heading into Sunday's final round. The first three rounds were contested on 3 different golf courses with Pebble Beach Golf Links hosting the final round.

Snedeker got off to a hot start, eagling hole #2 and pulling away to five-under par through eight holes. Tied for the lead with Snedeker heading into the final round was rookie James Hahn. Hahn also started strong, but was not able to keep pace with Snedeker.

Snedeker maintained a strong lead throughout the back nine, with Hahn falling off the pace. Chris Kirk rallied to within two-strokes of Snedeker but was unable to mount any more of a charge. Heading into the final hole, Snedeker needed only a bogey to wrap up the tournament. Three solid shots got him on the green and a two-putt par gave him the victory.

But he wasn't done: Snedeker wanted his amateur partner to sink his long par putt to win the Pro-Am portion of the tournament as well. But the putt slipped by and they shared the win with another group.

With the win, Snedeker moves to 4th in the Official World Golf Ranking and further solidifies his top spot in the FedEx Cup standings.

Other Notables:

T9: Patrick Cantlay
T16: Hunter Mahan
T22: Jordan Spieth
T46: Lee Westwood
T60: Phil Mickelson

Richard Sterne wins 2013 Joburg Open

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 18:23:00 +0000

A week after failing to capture the Dubai Desert Classic after leading through 36 holes, South African Richard Sterne returned to his homeland and captured the 2013 Joburg Open by a whopping 7 strokes over fellow countryman Charl Schwartzel.

Sterne was near the top of the leaderboard the entire week, firing four rounds in the 60s to finish at 27-under par for the week. Sterne played about as well as anyone has played in the past year, and will move near the top of the Race to Dubai leaderboard.

Rounding out the top-5 were Felipe Aguilar, George Coetzee, and Ricardo Santos.

The win was Sterne's sixth career European Tour victory. He moves to the top of the Race to Dubai standings. He moves into the top-60 in the Official World Golf Ranking, which will qualify him for the 2013 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. He was outside the top-190 before the Dubai Desert Classic.

His 27-under par is a new record for the Joburg Open, beating Schwartzel's record of 23-under.

The European Tour next travels to the Africa Open.

2013 Joberg Open, 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am and 2013 Allianz Open Coverage

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:54:00 +0000

The European Tour headed to South Africa and Johannesburg this weekend for the 2013 Joburg Open. Trevor Fisher Jr. and Richard Sterne are tied for the lead after 54 holes at 19 under par. The two South Africans are five strokes clear of the rest of the field at 19-under par. After a round on each of the East and West course in the first two rounds, the full field moved to the East course for the remainder of the tournament. Sterne finished second place last week in Dubai and is playing some of the best golf of his career. Fisher Jr. is the 366th ranked player in the world. Four players are tied for third at 14-under par, including George Coetzee and Charl Schwartzel. Former #1 ranked amateur and US Amateur champion Peter Uihlein is in solo 7th place at 13-under par.

The PGA Tour is finishing up its 3rd round in the 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The first three rounds included a round on each of the Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hills, and Monterey Peninsula Golf Courses. Tomorrow's final round will take place at Pebble Beach, where the top-60 players will compete for the win and the top-25 amateur teams will look to take their title as well. Brandt Snedeker played a solid round at Pebble Beach in his third round, taking the lead at 12-under par. James Hahn matched Snedeker at 12-under par with a 66 at Spyglass Hill. Richard H. Lee and Patrick Reed are three strokes back at 9-under, and Retief Goosen is four-back at 8-under par.

The Champions Tour moved to Florida this week for the first full-field event of the year. Rocco Mediate was making his Champions Tour debut and finished the first round 1 back of the lead. More coverage from this tournament later today.

2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am Fantasy Golf Rankings

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:40:00 +0000

PGAtour.com's Fantasy Golf game starts this week with the 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am. The game consists of a roster of four golfers each week, trying to amass the most FedEx Cup points and money. Each golfer can only be picked 10 times per season. Here are my top 7 picks for this week.

1. Dustin Johnson: Johnson has quite a track record here at Pebble Beach. Multiple wins at this track should give Johnson the confidence to become the first 2-time winner on tour this year. Johnson is playing some of his best golf, and there is no choice but to make him your first pick this week.

2. Brandt Snedeker: Snedeker has been the most consistent player on tour this year. He is currently leading the FedEx Cup standings, and has yet to win. But that doesn't mean he hasn't played well. He has just caught players in dominating weeks (Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines, Phil Mickelson at TPC Scottsdale, to name a few). This may be the week Snedeker breaks through for his first win in 2013.

3. Phil Mickelson: If you would have asked me a few weeks ago, Mickelson would be no where near the top of my list. Indifferent play at the Humana Challenge and at Torrey Pines made it look like Phil would struggle in 2013. But a dominating performance with a new driver in the bag at the Waste Management Phoenix Open will give Mickelson the confidence to defend his title at the AT&T.

4. Padraig Harrington: Harrington debuted in 2013 last week on the PGA Tour and had a solid tournament. A few more putts here or there could have turned a top-10 finish into a top-2 or 3. Harrington should have a good finish here as well, as his iron play looks as sharp as ever.

5. Hunter Mahan: Mahan has had top-20 finishes in the last two tournaments, and will look to jumpstart his 2013 season. Mahan should be great here and should finish right near the top.

6. Steve Marino: Yeah, kind of a weird pick here, but Marino used to be one of the most solid players on tour before injuries derailed his last two seasons. Marino seems to be back at full strength, so he should have a solid finish here.

7. Russell Henley: Henley had a couple indifferent tournaments since winning at the Sony Open. But the way this kid plays should see him continue to move up in the world rankings and continue to finish high on the leaderboards. Pick him if you don't want to use one of your Big Guns for this tournament.

Here are my 4 picks for this week:

Dustin Johnson
Phil Mickelson
Padraig Harrington
Hunter Mahan

Let's see how it goes! Let me know what your picks are!

2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am Predictions: Sleeper Picks

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:35:00 +0000

Here are my five sleeper picks for this week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am. If you are in a fantasy golf league, these will be five players who should make your roster late in the selections.

1. Tim Clark: The South African is back to full strength after injuries derailed most of his past 2 seasons. Clark should be able to attack the course with his sharp iron play, as distance is not a key factor at Pebble Beach or the other courses in the rotation.

2. Harris English: English is coming off strong starts, but tough finishes in his last 3 tour events. English finished T9 in Hawaii at the Sony Open. He should begin to gain more consistency over the weekend and have stronger finishes as he gains more experience.

3. Steve Marino: Another player who is fighting back this season after injury, Marino scored a top-15 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open. He was once thought of as the best player to never have won on tour, so his game is there. He looks to be playing better and better so he may be a strong pick for your fantasy team this week.

4. Cameron Tringale: It will be soon enough that Tringale breaks out and shows off the talent he has. He is still young and has plenty of career ahead of him, but he should start to finish high on many leaderboards. Look for him to play solidly this week.

5. Retief Goosen: The two-time US Open Champion will look to start his season strong. He has played solidly here in the past, so he would love to capture another win for his career.

2013 Joberg Open Preview and Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:15:00 +0000

The European Tour moves on to South Africa this week for the 2013 Joburg Open. Branden Grace returns to the site of the start of his dream 2012 season. The event features a weaker field than the Desert Swing events in the Middle East, but still should provide a great viewing experience for fans.

In the Field
The majority of the field is comprised of golfers from South Africa, who will be competing on home soil trying to win an event in their native land. Branden Grace once again will be in the field and will try to capture the win for a second straight year.

Players to Watch:
Branden Grace: The young South African hopes to defend his title at the Joburg Open. He has some solid play in the Middle East, but a return to his homeland should spark him to elevate the level of his game.

Peter Uihlein: The young American will hope to jumpstart his professional career here. He has struggled since turning pro, but his game is still there. All it will take is for one good week and Uihlein will start to gain confidence on the pro tours.

Tom Lewis: The youngster who dazzled the crowd in the 2009 Open Championship will look to have another strong season. Lewis captured a title on the European Tour in 2012, so he will look to continue to elevate his game.

Richard Sterne: The South African lead last week's Dubai Desert Classic after two rounds, only to get blitzed on the weekend by the eventual winner. He will look to avenge his second place finish with a win in his home country.

Kristoffer Broberg: After a so-so start to 2013, the young Swede will look to win his first career European Tour event after 3 wins last season on the Challenge Tour.

The Course
The Joburg Open is played at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club. The course opened in 1929, and was redesigned in 1998. Two courses at the club will be used for the tournament, featuring the 7592 yard East Course and the 7237 yard West Course. The club will provide a stern challenge to all players.

Winner
It is impossible to pick against Branden Grace in this event. Grace is the top-ranked player in the field, won the tournament last season, and will look to win again in 2013. He will win by a couple shots this week.

2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am Preview and Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:32:00 +0000

The 2013 PGA Tour season moves back to the Pacific Coast this week to famed Pebble Beach for the 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am. The tournament features 3 of the best courses in the world, in the Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and the Monterey Peninsula Shore Course. Each course measures in at less than 6900 yards, but ocean vistas and spectacular views await the players at each hole.

TV and Radio Schedule
Thursday, February 7th: 3:00-6:00 PM ET The Golf Channel
Friday, February 8th: 3:00-6:00 PM ET The Golf Channel
Saturday, February 9th: 1:00-2:30 PM ET The Golf Channel; 3:00-6:00 PM ET CBS
Sunday, February 10th: 1:00-2:30 PM ET The Golf Channel; 3:00-6:00 PM ET CBS

Radio: Sirius XM PGA Tour Network:12-6p ET Thur-Sat; 1-7p ET Sun

In the Field
Another one of the big draws on the PGA Tour, the AT&T once again does not disappoint in its field. Numerous top players will make their way to Pebble Beach to play on one of the favorite courses in the world.

Players to Watch
Phil Mickelson: The defending champion returns to Pebble Beach off one of his best performances in years. A dominating win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open will propel Mickelson to the top of the leaderboard once again this year at the AT&T. Mickelson fired a final-round 62 en route to the victory here last year.

Dustin Johnson: A perennial favorite at Pebble Beach, Johnson will be looking to become the first 2 time winner on the PGA Tour this season. After a solid win at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Johnson has not played his best golf in subsequent tournaments. But a return to the site of some of his PGA Tour victories should give him momentum this week.

Jim Furyk: Furyk makes his 2013 PGA Tour debut this week at the AT&T Pebble Beach National pro-am. A solid, yet disappointing 2012 season is now behind him, so Furyk will look to get a win in 2013. Hopefully his putting woes are solved and he will not blow any more leads on Sunday.

Hunter Mahan: Mahan had another solid week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, but will look to get his first top-10 finish in 2013. Mahan would love to earn a few victories and wrap up a spot on the 2013 Presidents Cup team to avoid another snub via captain's pick.

Padraig Harrington: The three-time major champion seems to be coming around with his game. Harrington finished T9 last week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in his 2013 PGA Tour debut. His ball striking and swing seemed to be back to the level it was during his dominant stretch in 2007 and 2008.

Webb Simpson: The 2012 US Open champion will look to jumpstart his 2013 season, which has been lackluster so far. He would love to get off to a fast start and get an early win in 2013.

Brandt Snedeker: One can only come so close so many times before finally getting the win. Snedeker has finished in the top 10 in each of his starts on tour this year, competing for the win each time. If one or two more putts fall for the PGA Tour's best putter, he should be unstoppable this week at Pebble Beach.

Lee Westwood: Finally taking up full PGA Tour status, Westwood is playing in his first tour event in 2013. He finished in the top 10 in Dubai last week, so if he adjusts to the time difference, he should have a solid finish here.

The Course
Pebble Beach is one of the best known golf courses in the world. Playing in at under 6900 yards, it uses more than length to challenge the players. Tour players also enjoy playing at Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula Shore Course

Holes to Watch
Pebble Beach boasts many of the most recognizable holes in the game of golf.

Hole 6: One of the best par-5s in the game, Hole 6 boasts a downhill tee shot to a narrow fairway, followed by a huge uphill shot to a blind green. Players who hit a driver will be able to reach the green here in two and have a shot at eagle.

Hole 7: The shortest hole in major championship history, Hole 7 can play with anything from a wedge to a five iron depending on the wind. It may be one of the top-3 recognizable par-3 holes in the world.

Hole 8: A dual-fairwayed hole, the 8th hole features a blind tee shot to a narrow fairway. Players will be hitting iron or fairway metal to reach the landing area. The second shot is one of the most scenic shots in golf. Players will be firing at a small green over a cliff and water.

Hole 14: The longest par-5 on the course is rarely reachable in two by any players. A layup will give the players a solid chance at hitting the shot close and give them a chance for birdie.

Hole 18: One of the best finishing holes in golf, hole 18 is a reachable par 5 in which the tee shot plays over the ocean. Players who find the fairway will be able to easily reach the green in two and have an eagle opportunity, but the water brings high numbers in to play.

Winner
I have to go with Brandt Snedeker this week. He has shown the ability to close down the stretch in seasons past, but has run into players dominating the field each week he has played. This week, I forsee Snedeker trouncing the field and winning for the first time in 2013. Snedeker has blossomed into one of the best players in the world, and will move up in the world ranking after this week. Mickelson and Dustin Johnson will be right near the top as well.

What's in the Bag: Phil Mickelson 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 02:00:00 +0000

Phil Mickelson won his 41st career PGA Tour event this week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. An opening round 60 propelled Mickelson to tie the lowest 72-hole score in tournament history. Mickelson moves to 3rd place in the FedEx Cup standings and will return to the top-10 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Mickelson will return to Pebble Beach next week to defend his title at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

From PGAtour.com/Getty Images

Here's what Phil used to win:

Driver: Callaway Razr Fit Xtreme 8.5 Degree

Fairway: Big Bertha Diablo 15 degree

Hybrid: Callaway Prototype Hybrid (driving iron)

Irons: Callaway Razr X Muscleback irons

Wedges: Callaway Jaws Chrome: 52, 56, 60 degree

Putter: Odyssey White Hot XG Blade Putter.

Callaway Razr Fit Xtreme Driver

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:52:00 +0000

Phil Mickelson might just be seeing a raise from Callaway after his win in Phoenix at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Mickelson switched drivers to Callaway's new 2013 Razr Fit Xtreme driver, dropped the name of the driver multiple times in interviews, and promptly went out to have his best driving week in years. Mickelson was able to switch to a conventional lofted driver due to the extremely low spin produced by the Razr Fit Xtreme.

The Razr Fit Extreme features Callaway's Variable Face Technology and Hyperbolic Face Technology to enhance the stress distribution across the club's face and increases the efficiency of energy transfer to the ball. It also makes for a larger, more consistent sweetspot and increased ball speed across the face.

From Callaway Golf

The center of gravity of the club is optimized for launch and spin conditions that a good player would enjoy. The Moment of inertia is also higher, leading to less twisting of the clubface on off-center hits and more consistent flight throughout.

The Razr Fit Xtreme is the second driver from Callaway to utilize adjustable technology. The OptiFit hosel allows for open, neutral, or closed face angle at address, while the OptiFit weights, at 13 and 1 gram, allow the player to set his driver to draw or neutral bias. The higher lofts have more draw bias than the lower lofts.

The driver comes in 8.5, 9.5, and 10.5 degree lofts and is 440cc, which is 20cc less than last year's Razr Fit. It features 2 tour-grade shaft offerings, in the Aldila Trinity and the Matrix 7M3 Black Tie.

The driver was released on January 18th and has a retail price of $399.

Phil Mickelson wins 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 22:39:00 +0000

From the first tee shot on Thursday, Phil Mickelson has had his A game in Scottsdale. With an opening round 60, Mickelson has lead wire-to-wire and finished the week with his 41st career PGA Tour victory. A final-round 67 propelled Mickelson to a 3-stroke victory over Brandt Snedeker, who rallied early but fell back late with a 6-under par 65, just did not have enough to make up the 6-shot deficit.

Finishing 5-strokes back of Mickelson was Scott Piercy, who fired a final-round 61 to match his career low on the PGA Tour. Ryan Moore fired a final-round 65 to finish solo 4th.

Mickelson started the final round with a six-stroke lead over Snedeker, but the lead was cut to 4 by hole 3. At the turn, Snedeker had drawn within 3 shots with a bogey-free 31. Mickelson fired a one-under 34 on the front nine. The lead was maintained at three strokes for much of the front nine, and Snedeker never could claw his way closer. Heading into hole 18, Mickelson remained 3 strokes ahead of Snedeker.

With the win, Mickelson moves to 3rd in the FedEx Cup Rankings. Snedeker's second place finish propelled him to the top of the FedEx Cup ranking, though he has yet to win on tour this year. Mickelson will move back into the top-10 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Snedeker will remain within the top-10 as well.

Other Notable Scores:
Ryan Palmer: Solo 5th, -19
Bill Haas: T6: -18
Padraig Harrington: T9: -17
Ben Crane: T11 -16
Bubba Watson: Solo 15: -15
Hunter Mahan: T16: -14
Brian Gay: T24: -13
Keegan Bradley: T24 -13
Kyle Stanley: 72 E

What's in the Bag: Stephen Gallacher 2013 Omega Dubai Desert Classic

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 16:37:00 +0000

Stephen Gallacher of Scotland claimed his second career European Tour victory and first since the 2004 season this weekend in Dubai at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Gallacher claimed a 3-stroke victory over Richard Sterne with the help of five eagles throughout the week. With the win, Gallacher moved into 6th place in the Race to Dubai, and moves into the top-60 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

From Europeantour.com

Here's what he used to win:

Driver: TaylorMade R1

Fairway: TaylorMade Rocketballz Tour Fairway

Irons: TaylorMade Tour Preffered Forged MB 3-PW

Wedges: TaylorMade xFT TP and Callaway X Forged Wedge

Putter: Scotty Cameron Select

Ball: TaylorMade Penta TP5

Steven Gallacher wins 2013 Omega Dubai Desert Classic

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Steven Gallacher claimed his 2nd career European Tour victory this weekend at the Dubai Desert Classic. The 38 year old Scot eagled the 16th hole to take control of the tournament and finished three strokes ahead of Richard Sterne of South Africa.

Sterne started out strong on Sunday, erasing Gallacher's lead within the first two holes of the final round. Gallacher three-putted the first hole before bogeying number two as well. Sterne, however, birdied number two to move into a tie for the lead. Sterne had held the lead after 18 and 36 holes. The pair shared the lead and traded the lead back and forth throughout most of the final round.

Approaching the 16th hole, Sterne had come off a three-putt which gave Gallacher a one-stroke lead. Gallacher hit his approach first and holed out from the fairway for eagle. A little flustered, Sterne three-putted again and pretty much wrapped the tournament for Gallacher. The eagle was the fifth of the week for Gallacher.

The win for Gallacher is his first since the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He moves into 6th place in the Race to Dubai. The win also gains him exemptions into the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, WGC HSBC Champions and the 2014 Volvo Golf Champions. He also will move into the top-60 in the Official World Golf Ranking, closing in on a Masters and WGC Accenture Matchplay birth.

Phil Mickelson fires 60 in first round of Waste Management Phoenix Open

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:42:00 +0000

Phil Mickelson, returning to his college town, seemed to have some home cooking going in Thursday's opening round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Mickelson, who struggled with his driver at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, discovered something earlier this week with a new Razr Fit Extreme driver from Callaway and it paid off.

Mickelson, who attended Arizona State University and won as an amateur in the state of Arizona, opened the tournament with four straight birdies. A few pars followed before three straight birdies to close out his first 9 holes. Mickelson, who began at hole 10, finished the back 9 in 29 shots at -7.

An opening birdie on his front nine saw Mickelson climb to eight-under par through 10, which rose to 11-under par through 16 holes after an excellent iron shot at 7. Mickelson would have two chances at a birdie and a 59. On hole 8, Phil managed to find the green in regulation with a twenty foot putt. The putt was right on line but came up two rolls short.

On hole 9, Mickelson's 18th, a solid drive turned into another twenty footer for birdie. After reading the putt, Mickelson hit what looked to be a solid putt. When the ball was about six feet from the hole, Mickelson raised his club in celebration, as the putt looked like it was center cut. However, a mean stroke of luck saw the ball break right at the end and catch the lip. It looked like it may still fall, but, alas, it did not. Mickelson settled for what had to have been a bittersweet 60.

Mickelson played behind the pro-am group of Bo Van Pelt yesterday and watched Van Pelt fire his own 59. That, along with the new found driving game, gave Mickelson the motivation to go out and shoot low.

Mickelson currently holds a 4-stroke lead over five players, including Brandt Snedeker and Padraig Harrington, who is making his 2013 PGA Tour debut. Nine more players are tied at 6-under par and five back of Mickelson. The tournament continues with the second round tomorrow, where scoring conditions again look like they'll be ideal.

Top 10 Fantasy Golf Picks: 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 04:13:00 +0000

It is not too late to set your Fantasy Golf roster for this week's Waste Management Phoenix Open! Here are my ten best bets to finish high on Sunday's final leaderboard.

1. Rickie Fowler: Coming off a solid final-54 holes in San Diego, Fowler seems to have his game keyed in. Without the 77 in his opening round, he could have challenged Tiger Woods for the win. Fowler came close to winning here in 2010, when a layup on 15 may have cost him the tournament. But he is now a seasoned veteran and should be primed for another win this week.

2. Hunter Mahan: The beneficiary of Fowler's misfortunes in 2010, Mahan is coming off a steady week in San Diego. Mahan should have his game at full strength here, so make sure to pick him high on your fantasy team.

3. Brandt Snedeker: If Snedeker was not chosen in the top 2 picks this week, you've hit the jackpot. His ball striking is much improved over last season, which is making up for his struggles on the greens. But you cannot count on Snedeker missing many more putts over the weekend. He should be right there on Sunday.

4. Jason Dufner: Dufner played the last couple weeks in the Middle East where he bagged a couple top-10 finishes. If jet lag doesn't affect him, he should be right near the top with his premier ball striking.

5. Charles Howell III: After two top-3 finishes, Howell struggled on the weekend at Torrey Pines. But TPC Scottsdale is a shorter course and his accuracy and ball striking should put him near the top again. Its not going to be long until Howell wins again on tour, and it may come this week.

6. Bubba Watson: Watson missed the tourney in San Diego with the flu. But he seems to be back to full health, joking around with Steve Sands and Michael Phelps during the pro-am. You can expect much excitement from Bubba this week, as all the par-5s are reachable in 2 and there are driveable par-4s for him as well.

7. Nick Watney: A fourth place finish was the lowest Watney could have finished this past week at Torrey Pines with the way he was playing. Putts that didn't fall on the Poa Annua greens in San Diego will fall on the pristine greens at TPC Scottsdale and Watney will be right atop the leaderboard come the weekend.

8. Russell Henley: After the way he played in his first two tournaments of the season, you cannot count Henley out. He drives the ball beautifully, which should benefit him greatly here at TPC Scottsdale. Look for him to contend for his second win in his rookie season.

9. Luke Guthrie: After a solid week at Torrey Pines, Guthrie does not want to be left out of the rookie winner's circle. I would not count him out here, as he should have a solid finish again and maybe contend for the win.

10. Martin Kaymer: The German seems to have his game back again, as he had solid finishes in the Middle East. I don't know if Kaymer will be at full strength after the long travel to the US, but he should finish solidly in the top-10.

Wildcard: Boo Weekley: I have to go with Weekley again here, as I picked him to win the tournament. If you need an extra player on your roster, pick him. I just feel his putting will bring him up near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.