| Last Week:Brad Faxon carded a 9-under par 61 in the | | | | Chopra (Field 3/1): "1-iron" is rollin' the dice with Daniel |
| final round to force and win a playoff with Tjaart | | | | "Lamb" Chopra again this week. Now is starting to |
| Van Der Walt at the 2005 edition of the Buick | | | | steal "1-iron's" work as it relates to Chopra. Is nothing |
| Championship. Many times in this column, "1-iron" has | | | | sacred? fourth place here last year and went T12 & |
| paid respectful homage to Faxon for his loyalty to | | | | T15 at Buick Open and the International before |
| the history, tradition and rules of the game of golf. | | | | missing two cuts in a row at Reno and the Buick |
| Faxon is a great ambassador for the game, and is | | | | Championships.6. Dean Wilson (Field 3/1): Huh? You |
| someone who is not afraid to speak his mind about | | | | remember when he teed it up with Annika? Me too, |
| controversial issues. This column wants to | | | | but the "1-iron' has kept an eye on his game as well. |
| congratulate Brad Faxon on a job well done in | | | | Two Top 10's in the last four weeks, playing very |
| Hartford.This column would also like to point out the | | | | well.6 Who Can:7. Davis Love III (12/1): Playing |
| stellar play of Tjaart Van Der Walt. Lost in the | | | | awesome the last two weeks he's been in the field. |
| thunder of Faxon's 61 was TJVDW's 64 to put him | | | | T7 at the PGA Championship and T13 at the NEC. |
| into contention as well. It's been a rough 2005 for | | | | Skipped the Deutsche last year, so he'll be coming in |
| TJVDW, but the $464,400 he won in Hartford | | | | a little inexperienced.8. Fred Couples (50/1): Three |
| virtually assures him a PGA Tour card for 2006.A | | | | Top 10's and seven Top 25's this year. Guy looks like |
| minor thumbs down to Wes Short Jr., who was | | | | a million bucks while doing it too. T28 at Firestone is a |
| disqualified for signing for a 3 at No. 8 (he had a 4) | | | | good sign and announced he's out of the World |
| and a 4 at No. 5 (he had a 3). How in the world does | | | | Match Play in favor of the 84 lumber in a couple |
| this happen.....twice.....on the PGA Tour......in 2005? | | | | weeks. Could be a sentimental money pick this |
| "1-iron" has been telling folks to stay away from | | | | week.9. Ryan Palmer (75/1): "Palm Tree" rolls into |
| Shorty for quite some time, and these scorecard | | | | Boston with a 2nd, a 3rd, and five Top 25's this year. |
| shenanigans will do nothing to change his mindset.Also | | | | He's also fresh off a 3rd place finish at the NEC |
| a quick word to the victims of Katrina. "1-iron" would | | | | where he closed with 68-67-69. His game is ripe for |
| like you to know that his thoughts are with you | | | | the pickin this week and at 75/1 he might be worth a |
| during this difficult time. When something like this | | | | shot.10. Hank Kuehne (100/1): The big dog is ready to |
| happens, trivial items like the PGA Tour need to take | | | | eat at the TPC this week. Looked great while |
| their place in the back of the priority line. It will be no | | | | finishing 4th at the International but hasn't played well |
| easy task re-building the gulf cost of the United | | | | all year. Should be ok for 2006, but could use one |
| States, but "1-iron" believes it can be done. Again, | | | | more great tournament to cement his status. T6 at |
| "1-iron's" thoughts are with you - please be well.This | | | | the Deutsche last year, this course is Taylor-Made |
| Week:Tiger Woods laces up the spikes in Boston for | | | | for him.11. Brad Faxon (30/1): Fax can be the first |
| the Deutsche Bank Classic. Vijay Singh is the | | | | player to win in Hartford and Boston in the same |
| defending champion, after holding off Woods and | | | | year. Mark my words, he can do it. He's playing so |
| Adam Scott by three shots last year, however Singh | | | | well and has a renewed sense of confidence. No way |
| won't compete due to back spasms. The TPC of | | | | I bet against him this week. Big props to the Fax |
| Boston is back to yield more low scores, and Singh's | | | | Machine.12. Zach Johnson (25/1): Has begun to |
| 16 under from last year probably won't get the job | | | | salvage a mediocre year with his play as of late. Last |
| done this year. The course is playing at just over | | | | four weeks have gone T2 at Buick Open, T17 at |
| 7,400 yards, however there are plenty of birdie | | | | PGA Championship, T9 at NEC, and T42 at Buick |
| opportunities on both sides. "1-iron" looks for a | | | | Championship. He's playing well and should carry it into |
| winning score of 20 under to come out on | | | | Boston.6 Who Won't:13. Charles Howell III (40/1): |
| top.Whenever you have Woods in the field, it's a | | | | Why? Why is he still out there grinding away when |
| doozie - but throw in Couples, Johnson, O'hair, | | | | his game needs serious fixing? The crazy thing is that |
| Immelman, Love III and Chopra - then it's an | | | | he's missed three of his last five cuts, but when he |
| absolute party. Because of the time of year (think | | | | plays well (Solo 5th at the International, T15 at PGA), |
| pigskin and gridiron), "1-iron" believes that the PGA | | | | he plays well. He may turn it on, but "1-iron" doesn't |
| Tour needs to have its stars in the field every week | | | | see it this week.14. Mark Brooks (Field 3/1): Ugly year. |
| to keep up. If the Tour can't produce Woods, Singh, | | | | Has only made eight of 18 cuts and has withdrawn |
| Mickelson, etc every week during this time of year, | | | | twice. Finish of T10 at Byron Nelson has been the |
| then it's pointless for the networks to try and draw | | | | only bright spot. This won't be a good week, |
| ratings against the likes of College Football and the | | | | especially when paired with Woods and Franco the |
| NFL. Face it, people aren't going to watch Frank | | | | first two days.15. Harrison Frazar (Field 3/1): "Where |
| Lickliter II in a playoff against John Rollins if Coach | | | | have you gone, Harrison Fra-aa-zar?" He's made 15 of |
| Frank Solich and the Ohio Bobcats are on ESPN2. It | | | | 25 cuts but only has $325,000 to show for it. His |
| just isn't going to happen. In all seriousness, it's great | | | | spot in 2006 is in serious jeopardy. His scoring |
| that we have a good field this week - but we need | | | | average ranks 133rd on Tour, and that's a big |
| it every week.18 Shots -- Deutsche Bank Classic | | | | problem. This probably won't be the place to fix |
| Odds and Picks6 Who Will:1. Tiger Woods (3/2): Five | | | | things.16. David Hearn (Field 3/1): This young man |
| Wins, 11 Top 10's, 15 Top 25's, two Majors (Masters | | | | from Canada qualified for the Tour through Q-school |
| and British), leads the money list......Check Please. T2 | | | | in 2005. It looks like he'll have to do it again. 8/16 |
| last year at this event.2. Tim Petrovic (75/1): Winner | | | | missed cuts and only $145,000 in official money. 155th |
| at Zurich. Hails from the Boston Area. T6 at the | | | | in putting gives him a great deal to work on.17. Jason |
| International and played three solid rounds at the | | | | Gore (100/1): The lovable big-man from Van Nuys |
| Buick last week. Keep an eye out for the Homer.3. | | | | makes his 2nd membership start on the PGA Tour |
| Trevor Immelman (60/1): T5 at the Masters with | | | | this week after a T73 at the Buick Championships. |
| Woods in the field. T15 at the British with Woods in | | | | He's still getting settled into his new fame and he |
| the field. T17 at PGA Championship with Woods in | | | | surely won't be in this spot for long!18. Wes Short Jr. |
| the field. T19 at NEC with Woods....you know the drill. | | | | (Field 3/1): Got DQ'd for two incorrect holes last |
| If Woods' is in the field, keep an eye on Trevor. | | | | week - how does he top it this week? In "1-iron's" |
| Little guy with a big game.4. Sean O'Hair (40/1): | | | | doghouse - big time!Doc's Sports Recent Articles: |
| Comin' to Boston HOT! What a splash this young man | | | | 2005 Big Ten Preview |
| has made on the game this year. The young | | | | US Open odds |
| 23-year-old who was released from his father's | | | | NFL rookiesDoc's Sports Handicapping Service |
| "contract" has made 19 of 23 cuts and won the | | | | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been |
| Greater Milwaukee Open. Up next could be the | | | | recognized as one of the leaders and most trusted |
| beginning of a big rivalry with Tiger Woods.5. Daniel | | | | names in sports handicapping information. |