This course does not seem to have a lot of blind shots, that is, shots where you cannot see the flag. However, there are many other problems as mentioned above. Many of the greens function as upside down bowls, with the 3rd green giving little breathing space in this regard even though there are no bunkers in the surrounding area. But sand plays its part almost everywhere. Hitting the green on the par three 8th will be a tough ask with its small landing area encompassed by a drop off into the sand. The majority of the 10th fairway and green is also bordered by sand and beach grass. The 238 yard par three 14th mirrors these qualities and could well prove to be the toughest hole on the course if the wind, as predicted, blows hard.
But challenging the 14th for the label as "toughest hole" could well be the very next hole, the monster par four which measures 497 yards. Water all along the right side from tee to green could prove a major challenge.
The par threes are massive. All four are above the 180 yard mark with two being over 225 yards. Some will be hitting woods into these greens if the wind comes into their faces.
I am glad that this tournament will contain a par 3, 4 and 5 in the last 3 holes. A 5-3-4 finish is just what I love to see as it asks golfers to do the lot. This finish will be one of the best in recent memory. Do you have the guts and confidence to make an eagle to tie the lead? Can you handle the narrow approach to the 17th which is the toughest 17th hole I have seen in a while? How will you manage to overcome the 501 yard 18th and avoid the trap to the left?
Well enough on the course, let's talk about the contenders. Arguably the two best players to have never won a major will be playing together during the first two rounds - Adam Scott my man Sergio Garcia. It would be risky to give Sergio any chance due to his recent run of form, including a missed cut at the British Open, a tournament that is usually to his liking. Cannot see Adam winning as it might be too soon since his collapse at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
Tiger Woods has really been struggling with his putter of late and also his wedge game from 120 yards in. He simply isn't leaving his approaches close enough to the hole for genuine birdie chances and had some awkward-looking three putts at Bridgestone last week. But to be fair, he found some form with the short stick during his last 2 rounds at Bridgestone and now looks in good shape. Tiger also managed to handle himself well at the British Open in windy conditions, putt average, and still finish in the top 10. I'm sure he will handle the wind this week, but I'm not positive he can win unless he putts like he know he can. Remember, Tiger does not enjoy winless streaks and has just had consecutive top 10s for the first time in three years.
Apart from his dramatic collapse last week with a double bogey on the 72nd hole, Jim Furyk has been in great form of late. The 2010 Fed Ex Cup champion finished in the top 5 at the US Open back in June, where he also managed to collapse on the last hole, hooking a 100 yard wedge into a bunker.
Jason Dufner (multiple winner this year), Louis Oosthuizen (runner up at the Masters and top 10 finisher at Bridgestone), Luke Donald (a consistent last outing and current world number 1) American Matt Kuchar, and Rory McIlroy also make my contenders cut. Could this finally be Luke Donald's chance to silence all his critics and win his first major?
Overall there will be 156 players making their way to Kiawah, with all of the world's top 100 taking part. It shapes up as the most exciting major this year, for me anyway. I just hope that the winner actually wins it, rather than being witness to another choke which has happened in the last two majors and frequently throughout this year on the professional golf circuit.
No comments:
Post a Comment