Perhaps the Golf over the weekend showed us the difference in mental ability between the very best Golfers in the world and the lesser professionals.
In the Honda Classic Padraig Harrington came from seven shots back after three rounds to win a playoff against Vijah Singh. Harrington gave us all an insight into his mental state when he suggested that he knew could win if he got a good start in the final round and at no stage did he 'back off' from his momentum. The same could also be said about Vijah who finished with a sixty-four to charge into the play off. Compare these confidence levels to some of the chasing pack on Sunday and massive gulfs become apparent. Pat Perez basically choked on three putts under five feet coming down the stretch to miss out on the play off by a stroke. Joe Ogilvie played solid until the play off when his 'goofy smile' suggested that he was having fun just being in the play off and was not really worried about winning it. He subsequently lost on the first hole.
The same situation happened half way round the world as Ernie Els came back from seven shots to win the Qatar Open. Henrik Stenson could feel the heat from Ernie throughout the final round and then proceeded to bogey holes from nowhere. Ernie cruised to a final round of sixty-five and the winner's cheque.
There are hundreds of professional players around the world who have superb ability, however only a handful have the mental toughness to close out tournaments. Last weekend was a brilliant example of this mental void between the best and the rest.
And so to this week.
The USPGA moves to Arnold Palmer's spiritual home for the Bay Hill Invitational at the Bay Hill Golf Club. Played around the Palmer designed course since 1979 it offers a sever challenge to all participants. Reasonably narrow fairways, deep rough and some smallish greens all add up to a real test for players, especially when the wind gets up. In fact only four players have hits four round in the sixties over the past twenty-five years.
Selections;
Tiger Woods: boring as watching paint dry I know but Tiger has won this event four times in a row from 2000. His stroke average for this tournament is a full two shots less than anyone else! Also throw in the fact that he has won twice this year already and you have a very strong favourite indeed.
Retief Goosen: slowly but surely Retief is getting his game into shape. With good displays at the WGC and Honda tournaments he will fancy his chances this year. Perhaps the best player of extremely difficult courses Retief may be looking for the wind to get up this week. If it does then he must contend.
Stewart Cink: one of the big improvers over the last two years Stewart is now one of the most consistent players on tour. With an assured tee to green game it really only revolves around the putter. If it is hot this week, Cink can win.
Others to mention: Sergio Garcia, Jerry Kelly, Pat Perez & Jeff Sluman.
The European Tour once again heads to the other side of the globe to play the TCL Classic at the Yalong Bay Golf Club in China. Played on the Hainan Island this seventy one hundred yard course offers a stern test for all, especially as the afternoon winds are to be expected this week. Smallish greens, tight fairways and very grainy greens will be waiting for the players this week. Although many of the local players are not top 100 players they will have an advantage with the conditions.
Selections:
Colin Montgomerie: it is publicly known that Monty wants to break back into the top fifty in the World Rankings in order to play at Augusta. With a great performance in Dubai two weeks ago his game seems to be very strong right now and he may just have too much focus this week for everyone else.
Paul Casey: after all the abuse he has been getting playing in America this year it is no wonder Casey has decided to play somewhere else this week. Always a powerful player Casey has the game to tear the short par fives apart. If the mental side of his game is clear this week then he will go very close indeed.
Prayad Marksaeng: one of the real stars of the Asian tour Prayad has been performing well in tournaments over the past month. With a familiarity for the conditions this week he is capable of causing an upset. Look for him to contend at a nice price this week.
Others to mention: Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley, Jyoti Randhawa & Simon Yates.
Until next week - May The Golfinggods Be With You!
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