What The Golfinggods Say….

 

Every Golf fan around the world will wake up today and think about the last two weeks from Phil Mickelson. Is 2005 going to be the year for Mickelson as 2000 was for Woods? Is the Golfer many believed would not threaten the number one spot actually the favourite to finish there now?

One thing is definite – there are a number of Golf reporters (me included) who will be feeling a little sheepish after lambasting Phil over his change of manufacturer. Why change from a winning combination and why do it before the Ryder Cup? Perhaps the timing could have been better but the results since his 59 at the end of 2004 onwards speak for themselves.

Perhaps what is frightening for many professionals at the moment is the length of victory Phil has achieved in the last two weeks, especially for a guy known for keeping it entertaining to the very end. He has won the last two weeks by a combined nine shots. Going into this year, Mickelson had won his last eight PGA TOUR titles by a combined nine shots! Right now Phil probably can’t wait for Augusta.

A special mention must go to Niclas Fasth and Greg Owen for their performances over the weekend. Fasth has had a terrible 12 months prior to the NZ Open however his ball striking and will to win was back to its best. Hopefully this victory will help him move back to where he belongs in world golf. And finally a special mention to Greg Owen for his gutsy display in the AT&T. To be partnered with Mikelson during the final round in such a famous event could not have been easy. However Greg showed us the game and the mentality to go along way on the US PGA tour.

And so to this week.

The US PGA tour continues on its West Coast Swing this week with the Nissan Open played at the magnificent Riviera Country Club. The prestigious Riviera course demands players to shape shots and to subtly think their way around the golf course. The has been extended slightly over the past three years in order to keep up with technology and is also famous for its sixth green, complete with bunker in the middle of it!

Selections:

Mike Weir: the defending champion and looking to win this event for the third straight time. If a course was set up for Mike Weir this is definitely the one. The subtle contours and the emphasis on shot making rather than ‘gripping and ripping’ are ideal for the Canadian. With a fantastic final round of sixty-seven at the AT&T Mike must come into this tournament with a lot of confidence. He looks certain to contend.

Tiger Woods: his first appearance since his victory at the Buick Invitational, Tiger has seven consecutive top twenty finishes in this event. He will have prepared for the requirements of Riviera and if the consistency of his new swing remains he will go very close again.

Charles Howell III: his game is bubbling away nicely right now and if the putter behaves he could win this week. Currently ranked second in scoring average this year his time is very close indeed.

Others to mention: Kirk Triplett, Fred Couples, Luke Donald & K.J Choi.

The global expansion of the European tour is evident once again this week with the co sanctioned Malaysian Open taking place at the  Saujana Golf & Country Club outside Kuala Lumpar.

As with all Asian golf courses the emphasis is placed firmly on accuracy from the tee and the ability to deal with the unique local conditions. The strong grain on all greens and the oppressive humidity are all factors players must conquer in order to win this week. Because of the unique qualities to win in Asia it should be noted that locals players always have an advantage over foreign professionals. Last years winner, Thongchai Jaidee is testament to this fact and many Asian players see this tournament as a stepping-stone to the complete European Tour experience.

Selections:

W.C Liang: one of Asia’s most underrated players Liang has started 2005 impressively with excellent showings on local tour events over the past three weeks. He will come into this tournament looking to receive invitations to other European Tour events. His ball striking warrants respect and if the putter behaves he can win this week.

Thongchai Jaidee: probably the Asian Tour’s most successful player Jaidee won this event last year and is consistently in contention in this region of the world. Jaidee has the game and the belief to contend again this week.

Miguel Angel Jimenez: out of the European players Miguel has the best recent history in Asia winning events regularly here over the past eighteen months. His accuracy of the tee will be emphasised this week and he must go very close to winning again.

Others to mention: Padraig Harrington, James Kingston, Maarten Lafeber & Henrik Stenson.

Until next week – May The Golfinggods Be With You!

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