Yet again on the weekend we saw that the most important distance in a professional golfer's game is the distance between his or her ears! The mental side of the professional game simply is the most important facet of their overall game and is the major factor that separates the journey man professionals from Tiger Woods. After standing tall and fighting hard at The Masters, Chris DiMarco was commentating on how the experience will make him a better player 'down the stretch' and winning was not far away. Well I think Chris will be thinking again about those comments after letting a golden opportunity slip at The Zurich Classic.
Cruising along on Sunday with a two stroke lead and no apparent challenges this should have been a relatively easy assignment but Chris began to self destruct on the tenth hole. He began to tug his tee ball left and the doubts began to creep into his mind. Add to that the fact every putt he hit was not done so with conviction and his fate was assured. At the highest level of the game, the mental element to success is crucial and Chris DiMarco still needs to find the key!
Congratulations must go out to Tim Petrovic for his victory at The Zurich Classic, and for this professional the days of Pizza delivery are now well and truly over. Also the play of Tim Driscoll needs to be mentioned as this powerfully built player could just go on from this and compete regularly on the tour.
Finally Ernie Els once again showed us why he is the best 'World Player' going with a thirteen - yes that's right thirteen stroke victory in China. Never once during the four days was he in trouble and his form will be a welcome boost to his game after a disappointing Masters tournament.
And so to this week
The US PGA tour moves to North Carolina for the Wachovia Championship which is played at the impressive Quail Hollow Golf Club. This course has recently been redesigned by Tom Fazio and is widely regarded as a major championship course in the waiting. Typically long at seventy four hundred yards the real asset of this course is the accuracy from the tee required and also the severity of the finishing four holes. In fact so testing is this layout no player is yet to shoot below seventy in all four rounds of this event. A score of Par for the final four holes will make ground on the leader board and the greens are perhaps the most severely sloped outside of Augusta. Quite simply this course is a real test!
Selections:
Mike Weir: slowly regaining his form from two years ago this consistent player will enjoy the test around Quail Hollow. His accuracy from the tee along with his solid short game will see him contend this week.
Vijah/Tiger/Phil: okay so I have grouped three of the 'Big Four' together but to be honest all three will have to improve their driving to contend. Obviously they all have a shot at winning any week but this week if the driver is not straight they may just struggle. However if one of them can get the ball consistently in play then they will go very close. But which one will?
Kirk Triplett: a rather long shot here but Kirk has been playing consistently this year, has two top fifteen places around this track and will hit a lot of fairways. If he can holes his share of putts then he can surprise a few people this week at good odds.
Others to mention: Aarron Oberholser, Tom Lehman and Kenny Perry.
The European tour heads to Italy this week for the Italian Open and this tournament begins the European mainland section of the tour. Played around the Arnold Palmer designed Castello di Tolcinasco course outside of Milan, this course will test the driving accuracy of the players on most holes with thick rough waiting to catch poor shots. Apart from the stern test of driving the course can yield low scores with large, relatively flat greens.
Selections:
Graeme McDowell: the defending champion comes here as the form player with good performances in on the US PGA tour. This event was his first professional win last year and he will be looking to defend his title against a weaker field this week. If he can continue his good scoring here he may be far too good for the rest of the field.
Mark Calcavecchia: playing in his parents home country could inspire the likeable American to victory this week. He is playing well on the US PGA tour and actually leads the Overall Ranking statistics on tour. Has been suffering from a poor back recently but if he is fit he could take some catching this week.
Robert Karlsson: playing very consistent golf this year and can easily figure this week. Still has the tendency to play a terrible hole every round but can also make a lot of birdies. If he can get the occasional bad shot out of his game this week then he will go close.
Others to mention: Anders Hansen, Simon Wakefield and Markus Brier.
Until next week - May The Golfinggods Be With You!
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