“I know we’ve had the tip of the iceberg in Rory (McIlroy), Graeme (McDowell) and Darren (Clarke) and it’s been unbelievable, but myself and Gareth Maybin have been the only others on The European Tour”.
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Last year’s victor Rory McIlroy and Chris Kirk have withdrawn – both due to injuries – from a field filled with players inside the world’s top-50 ranking. This week, there is plenty of history at the event and on this course, so there is more information available to us as we try to select the possible victor.
Some 73 of the world’s best – comprising the majority of the world’s top 50 and recent tournament winners – are teeing it up this week but the pre-tournament talk has been dominated by two men who won’t be here. He has also played this WGC event 3 times over the past 6 years making the cut in all three tournaments and posting an average finish of 30.0. Eight-time champion Tiger Woods failed to qualify.
As it stands, Donaldson’s ranking will guarantee him only a place in the first FedEx Cup play-off event, The Barclays at Plainfield Country Club, Edison, New Jersey at the end of August. It is nice to play it like that and if the weather is good, it will be very challenging.
Day is aware of his mixed fortunes at Firestone but has a game plan for this week. Stay out of his way this week and he will look to do the same.
“I just feel I am a better player now than I was before, and I feel like what I’ve done since Augusta just makes whatever we’re going through a lot more comfortable”. Day will be in the conversation this week for sure, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him at the top.
In fairness, he was not looking for sympathy, although it would be in short supply from his peers, if Jason Day’s comments are any indication. This is the ideal opportunity to solidify the grandeur and praise that has been following the now 22- year old Texan since his 2nd place finish at the 2014 Masters.
It’s tough to call a previous Masters victor a sleeper pick, but in this talented field Schwartzel falls well outside the Top 25. Rose is in fine form at present, with his tie for fourth in the Quicken Loans on Sunday a fifth top-six finish in his last eight outings in America. I’ve also got a big one next week. Billy Horschel has been quiet, and he might be ready to win again.
If you have access to a cable or satellite subscription – either yours or someone else’s – you can watch the tournament online on the Golf Channel’s Golf Live Extra feature. Whether he’s still the best player in the world is no longer a fact, but a rich subject for debate.
Johnson is hoping to add to a strong season that includes seven top-10 finishes and his last two victories came in World Golf Championships-the 2013 HSBC Champions in China and the Cadillac Championship at Doral in March.
Marc Leishman – He lost a playoff for The Open Championship and he was third on his own in this event last year – the planets are aligning!
At the time he said it, it was 100% true, but after collecting a second major at the U.S. Open and finishing one shot out of the playoff at The Open, Spieth is definitely closer to McIlroy than he was when he made that statement. Just another reason why Fowler is so well-liked out on Tour. I mean, it wasn’t outstanding, but it was some good shots.
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“There are some similarities and there are certainly some differences in comparing when I came back home in 2007 wearing the Green Jacket to returning with the Claret Jug”, he said.
