Preview & outright plays:
The week before a major and a weak field is to be expected, but this event does normally attract more of the game's elite. Buick sponsor Tiger and he has been a regular until this year. Also missing are Vijay Singh and Ernie Els who play here more often than not. It leaves just one player present from the world top-10 - Phil Mickelson. His unusual schedule continues this week.
Despite the presence of the bigger names, this event has a history of producing a surprise winner the week before the PGA. Last year's winner, Rocco Mediate was available at 100/1, the 1999 winner, Tom Pernice, was available at 150/1 and the 1998 winner, Billy Mayfair, was available at 125/1. The headline players have obviously been present in body and not in mind in those last three years!
The course itself is setup rather easy for the players. The fairways are very generous and the Bentgrass greens are larger than the Tour average. All too often been an exercise in target golf. Jim Furyk was a selection last year and managed to have just bogey in the entire event, but he still finished 16th. It hardly seems ideal preparation for Atlanta.
The three selections this week are Hal Sutton, Jeff Sluman and Kenny Perry. Sutton has been sidelined for a month with back problems, but he would not risk further injury to his back with the PGA Championship a week away if he were not sure that he were fit. Sutton is a very deliberate player. The break could possibly be good for his game as well. After winning the Houston Open, he failed to secure another top-10. However, refreshed and coming back to an event in which he has an excellent record, including 3rd last year, he looks good value in a weak field at the available odds.
Jeff Sluman is one of the form players on Tour at the moment. A top-10 finish in Milwaukee, he won the BC Open the week after and then finished 4th in the John Deere Classic. Having rested for a week, he can make a late charge for a Ryder Cup place with another high finish this week and next. He is obviously a fan of the course, he has missed this event just once since 1985, and should feature this week.
Kenny Perry is another form-horse. He finished 11th last week as a selection, having secured three top-10 finishes in the previous four events. With a 16th place finish on his return to this event last year, he looks a good prospect for another top-10 finish and hopefully a place finish as well.
Outright plays:
Hal Sutton to win 25/1 e.w. @
Surrey
Jeff Sluman to win 33/1 e.w. @
Sports.com
Kenny Perry to win 50/1 e.w. @
Sports.com
