Articles in
May 9, 2012

7 who can win at The Players Championship

It’s been wide open in the four majors the last couple of years because there is no longer a dominant player, just a lot of outstanding ones who all want this championship, considered by the players as the fifth major.
The famous 17th, the island hole, will play a major role in determining the winner of the Players as will the difficult par-4 dogleg left 18th. The 17th measures 137 yards, but depending on the wind could play closer to 115, or, if it’s in your face, 145. It’s a nerve-wrenching hole. The players are churning inside on Saturday and Sunday when they make it to the 17th. It’s anywhere from a pitching wedge to an 8-iron and club selection is critical. Your swing is critical, too, as you must control your nerves and put a solid swing on it, or you’re wet. The 16th is a 507-yard par five and very birdieable or even lends to a possible eagle. The players come from the 16th with momentum, but then they face the island hole and its consequences for being too long, being too short going left or going right. This hole is  what creates champions or  buries a potential champion.

The 18th calls for an extremely accurate drive to the right center of the fairway. A shot aimed in the center of the fairway with a slight cut is called for. Anything missed left is in the water that runs parallel all the way down the fairway. The green is guarded well by bunkers and makes the second shot very challenging. This is an awesome tourney, so much fun, and intensely competitive for the players, because they really want this championship. First place is $1.7 m and there are 600 Fed Ex points at stake. The course is a par 72 and plays 7,215 yards.

Golf Channel will cover Thursday’s and Friday’s rounds from 1-7 PM ET, 12-6 PM CT. On Saturday, Golf Channel televises from 12-2 PM  ET/11am-1 PM CT.  NBC picks it up Saturday from 2-7 ET/1-6 CT. Sunday it’s Golf Channel from 12-2 ET/ 11-1 CT then NBC from 2-7 ET/1-6 CT. Johnny Miller will provide his always entertaining and colorful analysis. The players will get the wrath of Miller for mental miscues. It’s very entertaining.

Here are seven guys who can win this tournament, even though there are quite a few more. I will make an attempt to pick the ultimate winner, though golf is the toughest sport to predict of them all, particularly since Tiger Woods is no longer dominating. There are just so many exceptional players.

1.Jason Dufner: Been playing superior golf in the last year and won at New Orleans two weeks ago. Long with a good putter. Looks like he’s learned a lot from the PGA last year and he just got married. He’s riding on cloud nine.

2.Luuuke Donald: He’s always in it these days. Just a steady player and the best putter in the game along with Brandt Snedeker. Won already this year at the Transitions. Like Luke’s chances.

3. Rory McIlroy: His length is flat out phenomenal. The swing is phenomenal. Got it all. Would be a shame if this young guy can’t win five  to 10 majors. That is no easy task, very difficult in fact, but his talent and potential are unlimited. He just turned 23 last Friday. He’ll be ready for this.

4. Rickie Fowler: Got to put him in there after last week’s scintillating victory at Quail Hollow. There have been a lot of expectations over the last three years for him to become an elite player and he may have ascended to that level with his victory last week. Will be hot this week. Long, nice putter. Believes he can win. That’d the key.

5.Keegan Bradley: Has all the shots and a strong mental game. Very good putter with his long stick. Extremely long off the tee. Really like his mentality on the golf course. He can handle the pressure.

6.Hunter Mahan: He’s ready to ascend to greater heights. Having an awesome year leading the Fed Ex Standings with victories at the WGC Match Play in late February and the Shell Houston Open at the end of March/early April. Got it all: driving, iron game, putting. Ready to win a major. This could be the one.

7. Nick Watney: He’s been so close. He’s won on the tour. Pretty strong mentally though he does get frustrated at times. Got the complete arsenal though: long off the tee with a solid iron game and a good putter. Could see him breaking through.

Others who have a shot:

Matt Kuchar: Great player; could make the step up to the next level.

Brandt Snedeker: Hasn’t played in three weeks, but an explosive player when he gets going. Can put a lot of birdies together. Can make a mistake though that can cost him a tournament.

Graeme McDowell: Exceptional player with the 2010 U.S. Open on his resume. Looks pretty good under pressure though kind of folded with Tiger on Sunday at the Arnie Invitational. Very solid though.

Lee Westwood: Why not? He’s always in the hunt in majors it seems like. Can’t seem to get over the top in the elite events. Maybe he’ll break through here.

Adam Scott: Won here in 2004, so certainly in the conversation. Has all the tools and Stevie on his bag, so he’s in there.

 

The winner of the 2012 Players Championship will be:

Hunter Mahan

 

Arkansas 2012

Aside from his personal transgressions, Bobby Petrino did build an arsenal at Arkansas and left a full cupboard, particularly offensively, for interim (if that’s what they call him) coach John L. Smith. Tyler Wilson is primed for an All-American, and even possible Heisman Trophy year. Wilson, who threw for 3,638 yards last year with 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions, looks like he’s going to pick up where he left off and then some. In the spring game, Wilson was 31-for-41 for 467 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Granted, he was playing against his second team defense, and the Hogs are not known for their defense, but he was right on the money with most of his passes.
He lost his two leading receivers from last year, Jarius Wright and Joe Adams, but Cobi Hamilton, who caught 34 passes for 542 yards and four touchdowns last year, is back. Hamilton caught 11 passes for 156 yards in the spring game and looked every bit as good as Wright and Adams. They’ve got other weapons. Tight end Chris Gragg is one of them. He caught nine balls for 130 yards in the spring game with two TDs including a 60-yarder which was a beautiful catch and run by Gragg off a pass from Wilson. Gragg is going to be All-SEC maybe All-American. He’s that good. He’s a converted wide receiver who has nice size (6’3″, 236) and tremendous athletic ability. Marquel Wade is another weapon. He caught six passes for 136 yards and one 48-yard TD. He looks like he can fill Adams’ role at slot receiver. He’s a guy who can go the distance on a short pass. Julian Horton is another talented receiver. He caught four passes for 48 yards in the spring game. He’s another good target. Keante Minor, Javontee Herndon and Maudrecus Humphrey are three others who can get it done on the perimeter.

The running game looks outstanding as well. Knile Davis is back. He only had one carry in the spring game, but he ran a 4.33 40 prior to the spring, so his speed is definitely back. He was a major force in 2010 running  for 1,300 yards. He’s coming back from a broken ankle suffered prior to last season. He looks ready to go. Two other backs who will play major roles are Ronnie Wingo, Jr. and Dennis Johnson. Wingo ran for 88 yards in the spring game and Johnson 73. Wingo has that burstability; the ability to break the long one. Johnson is a power back with good speed. The running game is well stocked. The offensive line looked solid. They’ll be opening a lot of holes for Davis and company, and giving Wilson plenty of time to throw. Senior tackle Jason Peacock (6’4″, 305) is the leader of the group.

Another key component to the offense is offensive coordinator Paul Petrino, Bobby’s brother who has that same attacking, quick striking style that his brother had. He can also pound you with his running game and possession passing. The offense is exceptional.

Defense has always been  the question mark for the Hogs, and has probably kept them from winning an SEC title under Petrino. But they have been building up the talent and look better on defense. They have a first year defensive coordinator in Paul Haynes, who brings an aggressive, attacking style to the defense. Like some of the linebackers, particularly Tenarius Wright (6’2″,252) and Robert Atiga (6’3″, 240). Safety Ross Rasner (6’0″, 212) can lay the wood. Aggressive player who seems to be always around the ball.  They have good players in the secondary in corners Tervin Mitchell (6’0″,192) and Darius Winston (6’0″,191). Don’t know if this kid will be a starter, but Kaelon Kelleybrew, a cornerback, was all over the field in the spring game and had a nice int.

Do the Hogs have enough defense this year? They’re competent enough defensively to win a lot of ball games because that offense is so good. Didn’t know if Arkansas could beat Alabama and LSU this year, even at home. But after watching them in the spring game, they have a very good shot, if Wilson and the offensive skill players stay healthy.

The schedule is very favorable with Alabama at Fayetteville on Sept. 15 and LSU coming to Fayetteville on Nov.23, the Friday after Thanksgiving. The Hogs have to travel to A&M (Sept. 29) and Auburn (Oct.6) in consecutive weeks, and they have to go to South Carolina (Nov.10) and State (Nov. 17). But there is a lot to like about this team. This could be the year of the Hogs. They are explosive and so talented offensively and while not dominant on defense, they have about 10 or 15 good players. If their defense can hold their own and  they stay healthy, the Razorbacks have a chance to be very special: play in Atlanta and play for it all.

Latest & Greatest

Fresh Tweets:

Vanderbilt women’s tennis player Astra Sharma 1 on 1. https://t.co/D0WS0rVnqG @VandyMeg @mmhamlett @Vandywtennis @ManOfVandy @SkipPrince
May 18, 2017, 2:34 PM

Topics:
Archives

Join My newsletter

I'll send you a brief email each time I post a new piece.