What The Golfinggods Say….

 

I am sure I am not the only Golf fan who had a little grin of satifisfaction after watching the last round of the MCI Heritage tournament. Both Peter Lonard and Darren Clarke played the school yard equivalent of ‘hot potato’ with the tournament title throwing stroke after stroke away coming down the stretch. Clarke is the first player since 1984 to hold a six shot lead after thirty six holes and not win, and for all of us watching it was nice to see professionals ‘loose the plot’ on Sunday. 

 

Perhaps Darren Clarke, being such an admirer of fashion these days, did not like the loud Tartan jacket presented to the winner and decided to play the final eleven holes in nine over par! That said I think Peter Lonard was having second thoughts about that Jacket as well as his closing round seventy five is the highest by a tournament winner for over five years.

 

If you think about the ups and downs of the last round it could make you giddy as the lead changed seven times in the space of nine holes. Dizzy? I know I was and perhaps Darren Clarke was as well as he proceeded to gift the victory to Lonard with a hooked eight iron into the seaweed on the last hole. The tournament was over and a lot of soul searching required for the likeable Ulsterman.

 

A footnote to this tournament must be a huge congratulation to the Harbour Town designers and ground staff. This Golf course proves that length is not always required to set a stern test to the worlds best golfers. Simply have smaller greens, tighter fairways and a course layout that requires precise course management all the way around. An example to all other courses on tour!

 

And so to this week.

 

The focus this week is on the European Tour with the  Johnny Walker Classic being played at the Pine Valley Golf Resort in Beijing, China. The sponsors have definitely opened their wallets by enticing five of the top ten players in the world along with many of the best European players. Considering that the Jack Nicklaus designed course is yet to host a tournament and that it is primarily used as a Resort style course the scoring this week is expected to be low. With wide fairways and large greens this week may turn into a putting contest however the greens will be incredibly grainy and the conditions can be variable which may favour the local players.

 

Selections:

 

Luke Donald: quite simply the most improved player on the planet in the last twelve months with one of the best swings seen in a generation. Is playing well almost every week on courses that are new to him so this week should not hold any fears for him. If his Masters form continues he must go very close this week.

 

Retief Goosen: has had a strange start to 2005 with only patchy form but still many top ten results. He admitted that his ball striking is not quite right but he still finished tied for third at The Masters. Retief is no stranger to winning around the world and it seems only time before his ‘A Game’ comes through. If it does this week then he will win!

 

Miguel Angel Jiminez: perhaps the best ‘regular’ European tour player at the moment this classy Spaniard simply loves playing in Asia. With three wins there already in his career he must be looking forward to this week indeed. His ball striking remains great this year but the putter has gone cold over the last month. If the putter warms up then he will be in contention this week.

 

Others to mention: Thaworn Wiratchant, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson and Colin Montgomerie.

 

The US PGA tour heads to the Long Horn state this week with the Shell Houston Open being played at the Redstone Golf Club in Houston, Texas. They say everything is bigger in Texas and the designers of this course definitely wanted to show that with a golf course measuring over 7,500 yards! With smallish greens and no par five under five hundred and sixty yards this course is all about power, power and more power. If you do not hit the ball long of the tee then you may just struggle around this monster. Add to this the fact that the wind and rain is expected this week in Houston you may find the winning score this year very high indeed. Because local conditions can be such a factor in this event it is not surprising that players linked to Texas have done very well over the years.

 

Selections:

 

Fred Couples: the winner here in 2003 the evergreen Couples is playing consistent golf this year and has the length of the tee to be a factor again this year. Two things need to happen for Couples this week to contend though – his back must hold up and his putting must be solid. If he can achieve these two things then look for a good showing from him this week.

 

Vijah Singh: an obvious selection in this depleted field. Has bundles of length from the tee and as the defending champion knows he can win around this course. Vijah’s ball striking this year is as good as ever but the flat stick has simply not behaved. If he can get the putter working this week then no one may be able to catch him.

 

Chad Campbell: this Texas born and bred player will feel at home this week as he played a lot of his amateur career in Texas and around this course. A good wind player he may just want it to blow this week. If it does and he brings his ‘A Game’ then he must contend.

 

Other selections: Cameron Beckman, Geoff Ogilvy, Greg Owen and Mark Calcavecchia.

 

Until next week – May The Golfinggods Be With You!

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