Some weeks the working class golfers get their reward with victories on both the US and European tours. Last week was one of those times.
Kenny Perry, whose swing at resembles a Lumberjack's chopping technique showed once again why he can win on courses where fairways hit and greens in regulation are the key. His performance around Colonial was nothing short of phenomenal and victory by seven shots was simply a just reward for a master class all week. In this sort of form he could be a likely outsider for the US Open next month especially with the emphasis on hitting the tight Pinehurst fairways and narrow greens. He could surprise a number of people next month.
On the European tour Steven Dodd won the Irish Open with a impressively patient display of golf throughout the four days, in conditions that were at times almost unplayable. His ability to remains calm under terrible conditions and to continue to make birdies was impressive and perhaps this underrated player can now start to contend for bigger prizes.
Unfortunately for David Howell though the European tour is currently a 'good walk spoilt' with consecutive losses in playoffs. Last week he lost to Thomas Bjorn and this week it was Steven Dodd. He must be wondering what he has to do to win his first tournament since 1999. One answer could be to hit more fairways as he only could manage four in the last round in Ireland. His time is due shortly though in this kind of form.
And so to this week
The BMW PGA is the event of the week and is the biggest tournament on the European tour outside The Open. Played around the tour's headquarters, Wentworth this historic tournament has been flag bearer for the tour for over thirty years. The West Course at Wentworth is used for this tournament and will give the players a stern test with tight tree lined fairways and smallish greens. Initial reports from the course indicate that the rough is extreme this year so any balls of line will be punished severely. However good scoring is possible and the closing holes can offer some birdies with two reachable par fives.
Selections:
Lee Westwood: a winner around this course already Lee looks to be getting his game together nicely for the summer. With a good showing in Ireland he will be looking towards the PGA with confidence and I feel he is ready this week to go close.
Luke Donald: a course that should suit the talented Englishman with its emphasis on good ball striking and putting. If he can become suited to the slower European greens then I feel he must go very close this week.
Peter Lonard: a winner this year on the US PGA Lonard is enjoying a year to remember. He has always been a fantastic player tee to green but the flat stick does not always behave. That said he has gone back to the short stick after years with the long putter and it seems to have helped. If the putter behaves he will contend this week.
Others to mention: Ernie Els, Nick O'Hern and Angel Cabrera.
The US tour stays in the South this week with a visit to Memphis Tennessee for the Fedex St Jude Classic. Played around the TPC at Southwind. Perhaps not the most rated tournament of the year with a number of top-flight players missing however it does provide a good opportunity for a young player to shine. The course is similar to most TPC courses in that it will be long, test your iron play and usually the best putter goes very close to winning.
Selections:
Kirk Triplett: one of the tours straightest hitters with his strength in ball striking and finding greens. His weakness is the putter however the greens at Southwind are not the most severe and this could help him. If he can just hold some putts this week he must go close.
Kenny Perry: is history going to repeat itself? In 2003 Perry destroyed the field at Colonial like he has just done and then went on to win at the Fedex. Well he is playing well and the field is not the strongest. Therefore history may just be about to repeat. He must go close again.
Tim Clark: the South African is playing the most consistent golf of his career and with a fantastic short game complimented by good ball striking he will feel he can win this week. He has all the ingredients to win this week and it will be no surprise if he does.
Others to mention: Jerry Kelly, David Toms and Bo Van Pelt.
Until next week - May The Golfinggods Be With You!
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