Red-hot ... Greg Chalmers in form ahead of Arnold Palmer Invitational. Source: Sam Greenwood / AFP
It might be the year of the Black Snake in Chinese tradition but on the USPGA Tour it?s been the year of the first time winner.
First up it was Russell Henley who won the Sony Open, then John Merrick defeated one of the strongest fields of the year to take out the Northern Trust Open, Michael Thompson downed another quality field to win the Honda Classic and then opposite the WGC Cadillac Championship Scott Brown was victorious at the Puerto Rico Open.
Then last week at the Tampa Bay Championship Kevin Streelman comes up trumps. No doubt with these guys winning it’s only going to add fuel to the others to get on that podium.
Great to see Greg Chalmers post his second top 10 of the season. The “Snake” has been hitting the ball well this year but not having much luck on the greens.
But with a little tweak on the putting green before the Tampa event started and all of a sudden the putts started to drop.
He took 30 putts on day one but for the next three rounds he averaged just 25 and his total of 105 for the tournament ranked him number one in that category for the week. He also ranked first in scrambling which is no great surprise as he is one of the best short game exponents going around.
After 109 weeks as the No.1 player in the world Yani Tseng has made way for the in-form Stacy Lewis.
The 28-year-old from Texas has been the hottest player on the planet since last April posting six victories, three runner-ups and a further 18 top 10’s.
What is amazing about Lewis is that as an 11-year-old she was diagnosed with scoliosis and for the next seven and a half years wore a back brace.
When that treatment didn't straighten out the curvature in her back, she had a steel rod and five screws fused to her backbone. Now that’s determination for you.
On the Champions Tour David Frost claimed his fourth win after defeating Fred Couples by five shots at the Toshiba Classic. The two Aussies that teed it up were Steve Elkington who roared home on Sunday firing a 65 to finish in the top 10 while Peter Senior was five under par the last seven holes to finish equal third.
Also having good weeks on their respective Tours were Queensland’s Scott Hend who finished sixth at the European Tour’s Avantha Masters in India while on the OneAsia Tour Scott Strange finished second with South Australian Nick Cullen a further shot back in third.
This week the PGA Tour heads to Orlando and the Bay Hill Club and Lodge for the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
In 2012, this was where Tiger turned it all around breaking a two and a half year winning drought defeating Graeme McDowell by five shots.
It’s been a terrific start to the season for Woods who has already won the Farmers Insurance Open and the WGC Cadillac event at Doral. Woods will be gunning for his eighth win at Bay Hill and if he is successful would overturn Rory McIlroy as the No.1 player in the world.
Apart from Tiger being the obvious pick to win, I think Graeme McDowell is a big chance as well. He has finished runner up around here twice (2005, 2012) and he is coming off a good result at the WGC Cadillac event a fortnight ago.
It’s great to see Brandt Snedeker return after missing the past five weeks with a rib injury. His start to the season has been unbelievable.
He produced runner-up finishes to both Woods and Mickelson in consecutive weeks before winning the AT&T at Pebble Beach.
2006 Bay Hill Champion Rod Pampling will lead the nine Aussies that are in the field this week. Coming off his best finish an equal fourth in Tampa, Greg Chalmers looks to be the pick of the bunch along with Jason Day who has posted three top 10’s thus far this season.
Some roughies to look out for this week are Brian Harmon, Boo Weekley and Jordan Speith.
Have a great golfing week everyone!
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét