Tuesday, May 16, 2006

What a difference a little bit of confidence can make. Both the US and
European tours produced winners last week that have benefited from the
intangible element that is confidence. Johan Edfors wins for the second time
this year at the British Masters and Brett Wetterich wins the Byron Nelson
Championship. Both players have started the 2006 season well with improved
consistency and results. Brett Wetterich has toned down his aggressive
nature and is now finding fairways and greens and Edfors has just recaptured
the potential he showed as an amateur. Both players sneaked under the radar
a little last week but if you backed either you must be smiling - both were
150/1!

Ian Woosnam must be a little worried with the Ryder Cup only a few months
away. The form of players like Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn, Paul Casey
(collapsed last week), Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie and Padraig
Harringon is not where either he or the players would want it. In fact a
number of expected players will need to find form quickly to qualify at all.

The US tour this week moves to Fort Worth, Texas for the Bank of America
tournament, played at the Colonial Country Club. The Colonial layout will
offer a very tough test with smallish greens and tight fairways. A good ball
striker will win this event and the boomers only have two par fives to sink
their teeth into.

Selections:

Lucas Glover: one of the best young American players and a real contender
this week. His form over the past two months has been very good without
winning and it is only a matter of time before he wins again. I think eh
will be hard to beat this week.

Mike Weir: this 'lefty' is playing solid but not spectacularly this year.
However poor putting and poor scrambling form have caused this. That said,
his form around the greens has started to improve over the past month and I
expect him to contend around a course that will suit his game.

Fred Couples: I know he blew his chance at the Masters with a dodgy putter
but they are the fastest greens in the world. Fred has a good record at
Colonial and I expect it to continue. A good each way option.

Others to mention: Nick O'Hern, Ben Crane & Chris DiMarco.

The European tour heads across the Irish Sea to Carlton House in Ireland for
the Nissan Irish Open. Played on a resort course the Carlton House course
will still offer a good test of golf across its 7350-yard layout. With the
short game being tested this week on greens that are quick and severe in
their sloping it will be important to possess good iron play. Poor driving
will leave poor angles into tough greens.

Selections:

Ian Poulter: been playing on the US tour this year and his game is starting
to come together after some poor early performances. He is aggressive and
streaky with his putting but I feel he is primed to perform well this week.

Padraig Harrington: sticking with him again as the Irishman is starting to
play himself into some form with solid result on the US tour. He will love
the grinding qualities required around this course and I expect him to go
very close.

Graeme Storm: a good player in the making his game lacks a little
consistency but he has been in form recently. I expect him to play well
around this course at large odds.

Other to suggest: Johan Edfors, Charl Schwartzel & Niclas Fasth.

Until next week - May The Golfinggods Be With You!