For the second week in a row a winner has gone wire to wire on the US PGA tour. Perhaps the hardest way to win a tournament is by leading from the start but Justin Leonard did just that in winning the Fedex Championship, but had to survive a little scare during the last round. Being eight strokes ahead would be a Sunday stroll for any professional golfer, but not if you cannot find the greens and the putter goes cold. This is what happened to Justin and with David Toms taking only twenty-one putts in his final round of sixty-three he limped into the clubhouse with a one-stroke victory. Justin Leonard, like Kenny Perry the week before have the game to contend around tough golf courses and both could now be live outsiders for the US Open in three weeks time.
On the European tour Angel Cabrera won the BMW Championship at Wentworth. Angel has for many years been the European tour's equivalent of Phil Mickelson in that he can shoot low, make a ton of birdies and have the odd mental error along the way. In fact Angel has the talent to win three times a year on tour but has managed only two wins so far. His length was used to great effect around the tight layout of Wentworth and he destroyed the par fives to beat Paul McGinley by two strokes.
And so to this week
The US PGA plays host to Jack's tournament this week with the running of The Memorial at Muirfield Village golf course in Ohio. Named after one of Jack's favourite Scottish courses this 7,265 yard course was designed and influenced by Jack to represent a golfing challenge incorporating all the tests of links golf. Although it is not situated on the coast, this course has deep pot bunkering and severely sloping greens that provide a stern overall challenge. One small weakness in the layout is the width of fairway, which is generous and provides the longer hitters with an advantage. It should also be noted that this tournament does not have many surprise winners.
Selections:
Adam Scott: he has both the length and the ball striking ability to be very competitive around this course. He has been working hard on his game with Butch Harmon, especially his short game and I think he may contend this week at nice odds.
Chad Campbell: he may not have had a top ten for three months but have patience with this guy because it is his putting that is the only thing missing from his game. He is close to leading the ball striking categories on tour and from tee to green his game is as good as anyone. However the putter is cold at the moment but if that changes then look for the Texan to challenge.
Vijah Singh: about as exciting a tip as watching paint dry but this course requires a player to hit it long and have a good short game and putting stroke. I do not know anyone else who does it better at the moment. Will contend again!
Others to mention: Aaron Baddeley, Geoff Ogilvy and Billy Mayfair.
The European tour takes a step into Wales this week for the Celtic Manor Wales Open, played around the resort course just outside of Newport. This venue will play host to the 2010 Ryder Cup. The Robert Trent Jones designed course is understandably difficult with a number of fairways sloping in many directions, causing difficult stances and ball flights. The warm weather predicted this week would also dry out the fairways and greens, which will make anything under par a very good score.
Selections:
David Howell: okay so the guy has lost two playoffs in three weeks but he is without a doubt the most consistent player on the European tour at the moment. If he can just find the key to a win it may very well be this week. A worthy favourite.
Simon Khan: a vastly improved player who has been placed in the top in three of his last five events. With the field this week not as strong as previous weeks I think he could be a good each way bet at nice odds.
Colin Montgomerie: he has received an enormous amount of bad publicity over a rules violation in Thailand in the past two weeks and it seemed to have affected him mentally at Wentworth. If he can put this aside then he has the game and the history to compete in this event. With a top fifty world-ranking place still in his sights I feel he will be very keen to win this week.
Others to mention: Soren Hanson, Richard Sterne and Stephen Dodd.
Until next week - May The Golfinggods Be With You!
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