I had this play circled as well. But Pgatour.com didn't have him in the field, i guess he is in
KJ Choi -110 over Badds
Basically a fade on Badds after last years abismal effort. KJ like many have mentioned should be ideal here.
Mercedes Championship
- Thread starter abc
- Start date
I had this play circled as well. But Pgatour.com didn't have him in the field, i guess he is in
KJ Choi -110 over Badds
Basically a fade on Badds after last years abismal effort. KJ like many have mentioned should be ideal here.
Chopra -130 over Flesch
Some things never change
Forum Aloha and happy New Year from Maui; but while it may be a new year, some things never change - Vijay is still the last player to leave the practice putting green.
It has been a rather subdued few days in Maui with incessant rain and strong winds, but I'm not complaining. It's still warm and the views are fantastic.
The Ritz Carlton is still being renovated and with only a few rooms open, there is not the same buzz as previous years though the celebrity golf groupies have been arriving as usual for the Wednesday pro am.
Samuel L. Jackson, Alice Cooper et al are in attendance although I didn't see many of them at the bar on New Year's Eve.
I certainly didn't see Zach Johnson, but that was because he was in bed by 10.00 PM!
He said: "I can't stay up much past that now." And the man is only 31 years old.
This is one of my favourite tournaments of the year and not just because I get to go to work in a Hawaiian shirt and flip flops. The Plantation course is outstanding and with a strong trade wind blowing the players will have to be on their toes if they want to win this week.
One man you can always be sure to be ready is Vijay and that is why he always performs so well during this week. The same can't be said for everyone in the field.
Boo Weekley has only 'played' once in the last six weeks and that was with his son in his front yard using some else's clubs.
But hey what do you expect it's hunting season. When asked about getting his clubs out he said; "I ain't even took them out of the gun case - or should I say my bag; I've still got bullets in my head."
That's not the only place he has bullets - he inadvertently left some in his golf bag which made for an interesting time at airport security.
Woody Austin didn't do anything in the off season because it's too cold in Kansas. He said; "I have done nothing. So no preparation." He's just enjoying the week with the family.
Charles Howell has new clubs. Brandt Snedeker has only had three meals in the last eight days and has been very ill.
Steve Flesch has been out here since just after Christmas and while feeling mentally refreshed he still feels a bit rusty.
I found him on the putting green switching between a normal putter and the belly putter. He said; 'I putt better with the short putter from 15-20 feet, but better with long putter at short range. It's difficult to stay steady in these heavy winds with belly putter so I'll probably take out the short one.'
Henrik Stenson arrived on Sunday and had only played nine holes prior to the pro am. Angel Cabrera was in the same position.
Stephen Ames hasn't been able to practice much at home in Canada and his game is a bit rusty according to his caddie.
Things were similar for Steve Stricker who said; 'It's a little hectic over the holiday time to try to get a lot of practice in, especially up there in the snow. I was only able to hit some balls every once in a while.'
Hunter Mahan admitted to taking a lot of time off.
Others are in better shape including Calcavecchia, who has been walking up and down hills to get fit, and Rory Sabbatini, who has been out here for three weeks "practicing as usual".
Daniel Chopra gave me a lift down the first hole after his practice round with Vijay and told me: "This course is right up my ally.'
He is one man I fancy will go well this week as he is fit, in good form, loves Bermuda Greens, having grown up in Asia, and is a good wind player he ticks all the boxes, but I'll leave it to the Wise One to make the big decisions.
Some things never change
Forum Aloha and happy New Year from Maui; but while it may be a new year, some things never change - Vijay is still the last player to leave the practice putting green.
It has been a rather subdued few days in Maui with incessant rain and strong winds, but I'm not complaining. It's still warm and the views are fantastic.
The Ritz Carlton is still being renovated and with only a few rooms open, there is not the same buzz as previous years though the celebrity golf groupies have been arriving as usual for the Wednesday pro am.
Samuel L. Jackson, Alice Cooper et al are in attendance although I didn't see many of them at the bar on New Year's Eve.
I certainly didn't see Zach Johnson, but that was because he was in bed by 10.00 PM!
He said: "I can't stay up much past that now." And the man is only 31 years old.
This is one of my favourite tournaments of the year and not just because I get to go to work in a Hawaiian shirt and flip flops. The Plantation course is outstanding and with a strong trade wind blowing the players will have to be on their toes if they want to win this week.
One man you can always be sure to be ready is Vijay and that is why he always performs so well during this week. The same can't be said for everyone in the field.
Boo Weekley has only 'played' once in the last six weeks and that was with his son in his front yard using some else's clubs.
But hey what do you expect it's hunting season. When asked about getting his clubs out he said; "I ain't even took them out of the gun case - or should I say my bag; I've still got bullets in my head."
That's not the only place he has bullets - he inadvertently left some in his golf bag which made for an interesting time at airport security.
Woody Austin didn't do anything in the off season because it's too cold in Kansas. He said; "I have done nothing. So no preparation." He's just enjoying the week with the family.
Charles Howell has new clubs. Brandt Snedeker has only had three meals in the last eight days and has been very ill.
Steve Flesch has been out here since just after Christmas and while feeling mentally refreshed he still feels a bit rusty.
I found him on the putting green switching between a normal putter and the belly putter. He said; 'I putt better with the short putter from 15-20 feet, but better with long putter at short range. It's difficult to stay steady in these heavy winds with belly putter so I'll probably take out the short one.'
Henrik Stenson arrived on Sunday and had only played nine holes prior to the pro am. Angel Cabrera was in the same position.
Stephen Ames hasn't been able to practice much at home in Canada and his game is a bit rusty according to his caddie.
Things were similar for Steve Stricker who said; 'It's a little hectic over the holiday time to try to get a lot of practice in, especially up there in the snow. I was only able to hit some balls every once in a while.'
Hunter Mahan admitted to taking a lot of time off.
Others are in better shape including Calcavecchia, who has been walking up and down hills to get fit, and Rory Sabbatini, who has been out here for three weeks "practicing as usual".
Daniel Chopra gave me a lift down the first hole after his practice round with Vijay and told me: "This course is right up my ally.'
He is one man I fancy will go well this week as he is fit, in good form, loves Bermuda Greens, having grown up in Asia, and is a good wind player he ticks all the boxes, but I'll leave it to the Wise One to make the big decisions.
- Feb 26, 2001
- 13,593
- 164
- 63
"I know that half of the guys will show up here because they've won and they want to get prepared this week," Singh said Wednesday. "I'm prepared when I come over here. If you look at it that way, I think I've only got half the guys to beat because so many guys are coming from how cold their home is right now. Half of America is under snow, I think. I've seen a few guys coming up to the TPC to warm up before coming over here, guys practicing and getting ready for this event. I'm ready to play and ready to win."
- Feb 26, 2001
- 13,593
- 164
- 63
A couple of first round matchups for me:
Chad Campbell +100 ov Leonard 2 units
Mahan -.5 +110 ov Verplank 1 unit
Chad Campbell +100 ov Leonard 2 units
Mahan -.5 +110 ov Verplank 1 unit
New to this site, not new to posting golf picks and discussion. More about this later.
Weekly to win 33-1 I figured what the hell, he's got as good a chance to win as Singh. Might as well take the longer odds. The hard part is getting to this tournament, not winning it.
Ames over Leonard -111 tie loses.
This is carryover from fall performance, I like Ames game, I am not impressed w/ Leonard for the last couple years.
GL-TJ
Weekly to win 33-1 I figured what the hell, he's got as good a chance to win as Singh. Might as well take the longer odds. The hard part is getting to this tournament, not winning it.
Ames over Leonard -111 tie loses.
This is carryover from fall performance, I like Ames game, I am not impressed w/ Leonard for the last couple years.
GL-TJ
Zach Johnson
Scoring average* all rounds since 2004: 69.78
Scoring average* all rounds since 2004 when daily average wind speed is >15mph: 70.64
K.J. Choi
Scoring average* all rounds since 2004: 69.81
Scoring average* all rounds since 2004 when daily average wind speed is >15mph: 69.53
*these are my 'adjusted' scoring averages, i.e. they are the actual scores corrected for the average score that day (to compensate for differing weather conditions from day-to-day) and for the field quality (to compensate for differing fields each week).
Damn Stan where did you get all of that info.
I would like to see how well guys do living in places like Kansas and Iowa coming over to Hawaii for their first event. Versus guys who have been playing in warm weather states and practicing on Bermuda. Huge Difference.
Nice turnout for week 1.. feels like a major around here:mj07: We'll see who is here for the Mayakoba Golf Classic .
I would like to see how well guys do living in places like Kansas and Iowa coming over to Hawaii for their first event. Versus guys who have been playing in warm weather states and practicing on Bermuda. Huge Difference.
Just two for me. Thought I shouldn't just piggyback the selections and reasoning already posted, so here are mine:
Calcavecchia -1.05 over Austin 1*
Stenson -1.15 over Cabrera 1*
Good luck to all this season.
Calcavecchia -1.05 over Austin 1*
Stenson -1.15 over Cabrera 1*
Good luck to all this season.
Cheers! I can't believe I managed to be a stranger for almost two months.
I've been doing anything but preparing for the start of a new golf season, so I believe it's encouraging (although I could be wrong) that after a couple of days of poking about this site and that site, I'm coming up with much the same names for the Mercedes as I'm seeing discussed on the forum. Good Luck to Everyone in 1998!
Everything is a prelude to The Masters for as long as I've held a club in my hands. I have no hesitation in making plays on Phil Mickelson(10/1) e.w. at Augusta and (20/1) e.w. in the U.S. Open my opening salvos for the season.
This week I think I'm looking at the following: (1) Be sure to watch or tape many hours of the telecasts to hear the announcers (Rolfing, Faldo, etc.) relay important nuggets on "where the players are at" coming into the new season, and form my own observations as well (i.e., what I saw at Mercedes last year from J.B. Holmes and his atrocious putting routine was sufficient for me to steer clear of him for an entire season, until I saw evidence to the contrary, which never happened); (2) Try to find motivation from the get go, which paid off handsomely last year with wagers on Charles Howell; (3) Kapalua really rewards length, followed by shotmaking skills in ocean breezes and a nice touch for navigating those huge and supposedly far less grainy greens; (4) Appleby won 3 years running after some December competition in Australasia.
Baddeley (still in the tee times), Ames, Singh, Choi, Chopra, Mahan, Byrd, Sabbatini, Watney, Calcavecchia, Campbell, Cabrera and Stenson were the names that worked their way on to my short list . . . As has forever been the case, more often than not I'll be late and later still at pulling the trigger and posting my plays, and contributing INFORMATION and ANGLES as my time permits.
OUTRIGHTS:
Rory Sabbatini(18/1) e.w..
- - Motivation and preparation in evidence. Thrives at holding nothing back from the tee. Feast or famine.
Jonathan Byrd(50/1) e.w.
- - Driving and putting (perhaps) that suits, an appreciation for shotmaking, and proficient with the birdies. A tendency to go well on the same venues at which he's gone well on in the past, which happen to include Kapalua, TPC Sugarloaf and TPC Deere Run, all of which feature substantial changes in elevation while making your way around. A few nagging health problems in the past might have spurred some lofty goals in the off season, which should mean investing necessary preparation into coming out of the box strong in 2008 . . . The most PGA Tour wins (3) by any American player under 30.
Hunter Mahan(25/1) e.w.
- - A transformation in attitude took him all the way to a Captain's selection by Mr. Nicklaus for the President's Cup Team on which to build his Ryder Cup push . . . He gets a pairing with his opponent (Cabrera) from the Match Play semifinal at Wentworth. He will continue to carry a good deal of my cash.
Vijay Singh(+600) Win Only
- - He wants it.
K.J. Choi(16/1) e.w.
- - Not much enthusiasm for this play, but value at this price IF he's on song.
MATCHUPS:
Mahan(+110) over Snedeker (Tournament)
Choi(-120) over Johnson (Tournament)
Byrd(-110) over Austin (Tournament)
ODDS and ENDS:
- - Will edit in a few items after lunch.
GL
I've been doing anything but preparing for the start of a new golf season, so I believe it's encouraging (although I could be wrong) that after a couple of days of poking about this site and that site, I'm coming up with much the same names for the Mercedes as I'm seeing discussed on the forum. Good Luck to Everyone in 1998!
Everything is a prelude to The Masters for as long as I've held a club in my hands. I have no hesitation in making plays on Phil Mickelson(10/1) e.w. at Augusta and (20/1) e.w. in the U.S. Open my opening salvos for the season.
This week I think I'm looking at the following: (1) Be sure to watch or tape many hours of the telecasts to hear the announcers (Rolfing, Faldo, etc.) relay important nuggets on "where the players are at" coming into the new season, and form my own observations as well (i.e., what I saw at Mercedes last year from J.B. Holmes and his atrocious putting routine was sufficient for me to steer clear of him for an entire season, until I saw evidence to the contrary, which never happened); (2) Try to find motivation from the get go, which paid off handsomely last year with wagers on Charles Howell; (3) Kapalua really rewards length, followed by shotmaking skills in ocean breezes and a nice touch for navigating those huge and supposedly far less grainy greens; (4) Appleby won 3 years running after some December competition in Australasia.
Baddeley (still in the tee times), Ames, Singh, Choi, Chopra, Mahan, Byrd, Sabbatini, Watney, Calcavecchia, Campbell, Cabrera and Stenson were the names that worked their way on to my short list . . . As has forever been the case, more often than not I'll be late and later still at pulling the trigger and posting my plays, and contributing INFORMATION and ANGLES as my time permits.
OUTRIGHTS:
Rory Sabbatini(18/1) e.w..
- - Motivation and preparation in evidence. Thrives at holding nothing back from the tee. Feast or famine.
Jonathan Byrd(50/1) e.w.
- - Driving and putting (perhaps) that suits, an appreciation for shotmaking, and proficient with the birdies. A tendency to go well on the same venues at which he's gone well on in the past, which happen to include Kapalua, TPC Sugarloaf and TPC Deere Run, all of which feature substantial changes in elevation while making your way around. A few nagging health problems in the past might have spurred some lofty goals in the off season, which should mean investing necessary preparation into coming out of the box strong in 2008 . . . The most PGA Tour wins (3) by any American player under 30.
Hunter Mahan(25/1) e.w.
- - A transformation in attitude took him all the way to a Captain's selection by Mr. Nicklaus for the President's Cup Team on which to build his Ryder Cup push . . . He gets a pairing with his opponent (Cabrera) from the Match Play semifinal at Wentworth. He will continue to carry a good deal of my cash.
Vijay Singh(+600) Win Only
- - He wants it.
K.J. Choi(16/1) e.w.
- - Not much enthusiasm for this play, but value at this price IF he's on song.
MATCHUPS:
Mahan(+110) over Snedeker (Tournament)
Choi(-120) over Johnson (Tournament)
Byrd(-110) over Austin (Tournament)
ODDS and ENDS:
- - Will edit in a few items after lunch.
GL
Last edited:
Excellent stuff Lost. :mj06: I think the biggest lock of the year is Tiger at Torrey Pines. I am interested to see how Woody responds to that fairy tale year. Also looking forward to the Sony. Last year we had guys like Boo and Brandt come out of no where early.
Adding Furyk +550 for two units as I'm not too confident in Ames's form and Byrds ability to win. Furyk has won here before , has a home here, is used to winning, major champion etc etc. Was worried about his neck but he played just fine at the Target and should be mentally fresh playing in just one tournament since the Tour Championship. I like him even more in tough weather. His goal this year is to get more wins, he only won once last year! +550 is no value at all but I want to start the season with a win and Furyk is the pick...Also why is everyone all over Vijay? He played like garbage the entire second half of the season and has gone through some swing changes that he's still not comfortable with them. He's also pretty old. Even though he works harder than any one else, his age is a factor. He's done.
Tough words on Vijay.
I don't think hes done. I think he realized he played too many events in the past. He was going through a divorce last year. His swing changes started taking place at the Fed Ex cup. He looked fine imo at the target.. I think he will be ready to go.
I don't think hes done. I think he realized he played too many events in the past. He was going through a divorce last year. His swing changes started taking place at the Fed Ex cup. He looked fine imo at the target.. I think he will be ready to go.
I tried to pick it up here--
http://www.tour-tips.com/fpdb/mensweather.asp
--and have never got it to load--will be interesting to see how it compares with my weather data over the years--I do hate to see the bookies having it at their fingertips now--but maybe they will be lazy
Impressive start by Ames to come out and birdie the first 2 holes of the pga season.. Also kind of awkward to start the event playing by yourself
Ames obviously is perfect for the wet conditions, and bermuda greens.. also played great to end the year. his caddy comments scared me off. Maybe one day he will put together a consistent season
By the way .. excellent job by the pga tour upgrading their website :00x9
Ames obviously is perfect for the wet conditions, and bermuda greens.. also played great to end the year. his caddy comments scared me off. Maybe one day he will put together a consistent season
By the way .. excellent job by the pga tour upgrading their website :00x9
