BRIAN GABRIELLE
PGA
At this week?s FBR Open, take Phil Mickelson (6-1),1/6 unit: You have to take Lefty. He looked terrible for the first two rounds last year and missed the cut.I mean, he was missing everything on the greens and made a mess of some approaches, normally the best partof his game. But he loves the desert and the locals love him. He played well last week, finishing on page one of the leader board?seven shots behind Woods.Tiger?s absence this week gives Mickelson a great chance. Take Rory Sabbatini (12-1), 1/6 unit: You have to take Sabbatini, too. He?s not showing any signs ofsuccumbing to the pressure from many fans and media who think he?s a petulant turd. He?s finished 17, 2and T3 in three tourneys this year. And like Mickelson he usually plays well in Arizona and has fan support(he went to the University of Arizona). Take Justin Leonard (20-1), 1/6 unit: Any talk about players off to hot starts has to include Leonard with his three top-10s in three tournaments. He blew it in Palm Springs but rebounded nicely last week with a fifth place finish in La Jolla. It?s been feast or famine for him in recent years at Scottsdale: since 2004, he?s finished in the top-10 twice and missed the cut twice. Considering that he?s been hot since September of last year, I think we?re going to see the top-10 version and maybe he can eke out a win.
PGA
At this week?s FBR Open, take Phil Mickelson (6-1),1/6 unit: You have to take Lefty. He looked terrible for the first two rounds last year and missed the cut.I mean, he was missing everything on the greens and made a mess of some approaches, normally the best partof his game. But he loves the desert and the locals love him. He played well last week, finishing on page one of the leader board?seven shots behind Woods.Tiger?s absence this week gives Mickelson a great chance. Take Rory Sabbatini (12-1), 1/6 unit: You have to take Sabbatini, too. He?s not showing any signs ofsuccumbing to the pressure from many fans and media who think he?s a petulant turd. He?s finished 17, 2and T3 in three tourneys this year. And like Mickelson he usually plays well in Arizona and has fan support(he went to the University of Arizona). Take Justin Leonard (20-1), 1/6 unit: Any talk about players off to hot starts has to include Leonard with his three top-10s in three tournaments. He blew it in Palm Springs but rebounded nicely last week with a fifth place finish in La Jolla. It?s been feast or famine for him in recent years at Scottsdale: since 2004, he?s finished in the top-10 twice and missed the cut twice. Considering that he?s been hot since September of last year, I think we?re going to see the top-10 version and maybe he can eke out a win.
