Donald Trump bought the Blue Monster two years ago and had designer Gil Hanse redesign it last year. The new and improved Blue Monster is now called Trump National and it’s a bear. The top 50 players in the world descend on Doral this weekend in Miami at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship. Tiger Woods will be there to defend his title– he’s won four times at Doral– but Woods is having back spasms. His attempt in the offseason to “reorganize my body” isn’t working out that swiftly. I don’t like his chances. Sean Foley, his swing coach, does not seem to be working out that well for him. He seems pretty mechanical rather than free-swinging, loose. Butch Harmon was Woods’ best bet, but Woods fired him several years ago. Then he fired Hank Haney with whom he had won multiple majors. Sean Foley does not seem to be the answer for Woods. And the competition has caught up, and in quite a few cases, has surpassed him. There’s not this fear of Eldrick like  there has been in the past. He’s gotten better on the course as far as his demeanor–as long as he doesn’t let his language fly again in front of eight year old boys– but he’s not getting it done. What bothers me is that if he shoots one 65, like he did last Saturday at the Honda, he’s “back in the hunt” according to ESPN, the Golf Channel and SI.com. Are you kiddin me? He was seven shots back. These national media outlets have no objectivity when it comes to him. They are like total suck-ups to him. They want him to do well for ratings or whatever there motivation is. I don’t know why that is. He’s been a non-story all year. His game is not interesting right now. Rory, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Zach Johnson, Russell Henley, Jimmy Walker and some others are the story. Not Tiger. So the national media needs to get over their obsession with  the guy because he’s not gettin it done.
Anyway, Rory had a good shot to close the deal last week at the Honda and just gagged, shooting a 74 on Sunday. Russell Henley, the Georgia Dawg alum, made the putts when he needed to. Russell seems like a great kid. A friend of mine told me that he talked to an agent who is a friend of his, and the agent said that this is an era of one major winners we are now in. I’m not sure about that. There are some elite guys like Rory, Scott, Justin Rose, Day and even Phil and others who could get it done multiple times. Will Woods win a major this year and get to 15, inching closer to Jack’s record of 18? I’m not seeing it right now. I’m not sure at this rate if he can win a regular event this season. He’s won four times at Augusta, so that’s possible. The U.S. is at Pinehurst No.2, the British is at Royal Liverpool golf  club and the PGA Championship is at Valhalla in Louisville, Ky. where he won over Bob May in a playoff at the  2000 PGA Championship. So there are opportunities. But right now, I’m not seeing the game that can win majors. Plus, the competition is fierce. Phil is still a factor. Ernie might capture another British.  Young guys like Day, Spieth, Henley and Harris English are right there. There’s Rory, Adam, Justin Rose, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar Brandt Snedeker (if he can get it together) who can all get it done in a major. So it’s not a given for Woods to win even another major. He’s not playing well and the competition has caught up, and in several cases, gotten ahead of him.

This Florida leg is fun to watch and the majors are going to be epic.

Here’s a look at this week’s Cadillac Championship at Doral, the Blue Monster. Highly challenging test for golf’s top 50 players in the world and some others who met the qualifications to play in this elite event.

The World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship

Course: Trump National (“The Donald” carries a four handicap, but I’ve heard he may bend a few rules on the links to :”save” some strokes; wouldn’t doubt it), The Blue Monster at Doral, Miami, Florida

Yardage/Par: 7,481 yards, Par 72

Defending champion: Eldrick Woods

Purse $9,000,000; winners share: $1.5 million

Fed Ex points 550

Fed Ex leaders: 1. Jimmy Walker: 1,830 points (has won three times this year, wow!), 2. Dustin Johnson: 1,206 (won HSBC World Golf Championship in November in Shanghi) 3. Harris English: 1,116 (the Georgia Dawg won in Mexico in November), 4. Chris Kirk, 1,017 (won the McGladrey Classic in November), 5. Bubba 982 (won the Northern Trust Open at Riviera CC in LA).

TV this week/weekend: Thursday-Friday: Golf Channel 1-6 PM ET/12-5 CT; Saturday: Golf Channel: Noon-2 PM ET/11AM-1 CT; NBC: 2-6 PM ET/1-5 CT; Sunday: Golf Channel: 1-3 PM ET/12-2 CT; NBC: 3-7 PM ET/ 2-6 CT.

Weather: Strong storms predicted today; Friday: 82 Partly cloudy, wind 16 MPH; Saturday: 77 Partly cloudy, wind 9 MPH; Sunday: 80 Partly cloudy, wind 7 MPH.

Key holes:

No.1

Now a 578 par 5 after being a par four in the original design. The green has been moved back 70 yards. Trees to the right along with a bunker. Players will have to decide if they want to go for this green in two or and risk going in the trap in front of the green about 50 yards away from the front of the green. There are two bunkers on the left by the green and water on the right. Tricky hole here. Pin locations can make it really tough especially a back right.

N0. 6: Par 4, 430

The drive on this hole needs to be a cut off the fairway bunker. There is the a pretty long bunker on the left and two smaller ones on the right. Driving accuracy is at a premium. The second shot will have to be worked right to left (draw) to reach the green which is angled away from the players. There’s sand on both sides of the green. A back left corner pin will be very challenging. This course is tough!

No.1o, 608 yards, par 5

Now this is a serious golf hole. There’s a lake  that looks like it extends 350-75 yards on the left side of the hole that the players are going to have to carry to get in the fairway. There is some bunkering on the right. An accurate cut is at a premium here. This looks like a layup for most. A player’s  third shot will encounter trees on the right and four bunkers surrounding the green On your second shot, you’re going to have to keep from drawing it or it’s going to go in the water. Green is medium sized. Birdies will be good scores here. There may be some guys like Bubba and Dustin Johnson, the bombers, who will go for it in two, but it’ll be a high risk shot. Most players will play it safe and make it a three shot hole and play for birdie.

Holes 15-18

Highly challenging final four holes that will lead to terrific theater on Sunday. 15 is a 153 yard par 3 with a peninsula green that has water to the side and back. There’s also a sand trap on the right that could cause problems. No.16 is a driveable 340 yard par four, but there is danger in trying to drive it. There’s plenty of lake on the left side along with sand all around the green, although getting in the sand may not be a bad idea for these guys who can mostly play out of the sand very well. But the water is very close to the green. Any mishit and you’re wet. The green is shaped like a kidney. Challenging with a high risk/reward here. No.17 is a 430 yard par four and looks to be a good opportunity for a birdie which could be clutch late on Sunday. The drive is pretty straight forward, but the key is hitting a left to right drive and to get it in the fairway,m there is sand on the left and sand and some tree problems on the right. The green is surrounded by three pretty long bunkers but looks attainable. A birdie here would be a nice way to enter the difficult 18th on Sunday for the leader or co-leaders.

No.18

One of the few holes that wasn’t changed. It’s an epic par 4, 473 yards. Water runs down the left side from virtually the tee to the green. A hooked shot and you’re in the drink. There are trees on the right. Talk about the need for accuracy off the tee. This hole demands it. It seems like every player hits it right and into the rough and has some possible tree problems because they DO NOT want to go left. The second shot requires extreme accuracy as you’re dealing with the water in front of and to the left of the green, traps to the right and the grandstand behind the green. This shot will really test the players’ nerves on Sunday. A par here is a good score. This whole is a beast and gave the Blue Monster its name. This is a monster hole in difficulty.

The picks:

1. Harris English:

Leads the tour in top 10 finishes. A fine player at age 24. The future is ultra bright for the young player from Valdosta, Georgia. Some good high school football played in Valdosta. Got some pretty good golf there too.

2. Adam Scott:

Adam won twice  in Australia last fall winning the Australian PGA and the Australian Masters. For some reason, I feel like Australian courses are similar to Florida courses. Adam had an awesome season last year winning at Augusta and the Barclays in the FedEx playoffs. He finished tied 3rd here last year shooting a 64.

3. Webb Simpson:

Webb is second on the tour in strokes gained putting and seventh in scrambling. Those stats will serve him well this week. Won last October in Vegas and is a 2012 U.S. Open champion, so he’s pretty good under pressure.

4. Zach Johnson:

Leads the tour in driving accuracy percentage which is huge on the Blue Monster. Putts well when he’s got it going and has a good short game overall. Zach could be right there on Sunday.

5. Billy Horschel:

Great competitor. High intensity, energy guy. Won the Zurich Classic N’awlins last year and has been in the hunt some this season. Nice player overall and a gritty competitor.

The winner:

Adam Scott

Adam is playing lights out golf and won the Players back in 2004, which is a while ago, but I like his ability to play these high intensity courses with the biggest names in golf in the field. After his win at Augusta last year, I’m a believer in the 33 year old Australian under pressure. Like Adam to conquer ” The Donald” this week.