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Gary Woodland

Woodland finished third last week at the Sony Open in Honolulu and shot 70-65-65-67, 13 under par. Jimmy Walker ran away from the field winning at -23, nine shots clear of second place finisher Scott Piercy. But Walker is not in the field this week, so I like a guy who can hit it a ton, is accurate with his driver and his irons, and is a very good putter. Woodland finished T-38 here last year, but shot 65-68 on the final two days. He lost in playoff to Jhonattan Vegas here in the Bob Hope Classic  in 2011 and won the Transitions Championship in 2011 and the Reno-Tahoe Open in 2013. He’s trending well. So I like the 30-year old Midwesterner from Topeka, Kansas to take home the Humana title this year.

Tiger out of action with a missing front tooth. Wasn’t going to play this week any way. Expected to play in the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Az next week. Same city as the Super Bowl that will be played on that Sunday, Feb. 1. The final round will finish just before the game kicks off. Should be a classic with the Seahawks vs Deflate-Gate.

If it’s not one thing it’s another in the soap opera titled Eldrick Woods. Honestly, I think he got in on the short end of a fight, or Elin hit him with a broom handle.

Woodland is the pick this week.

Golf Channel will provide coverage, from 3-7 PM ET/ 2-6 PM CT all four days. Weather looks sunny, mid 70’s today and tomorrow, high 70’s Saturday and Sunday. Wind not a factor except for Saturday when it’s out of the Northwest at 12 MPH. There’s a lot of water on the course and beautiful mountain scenery. No.9 is the hardest hole on the course–the Palmer Private Course, which the players will play Sunday. They’ll also play Nicklaus Private and La Quinta CC first three days with a cut after Day 3. Nine is a 461 yard, par four which requires extreme accuracy off the tee. There are bunkers on the right and water guarding the left side. The best drive is right-central which gives the player the best shot at a long iron to a large, rolling green. Par is a very good score on nine. No. 18 is a par 5 543 yards. It’s a gamble for a go-for. There is sand and water that come into play when you go for it and the green is challenging for putting. David Duval went for it from 215 yards and sank his eagle putt here for a 59 back in 1999.

******Looks like Woodland dropped out. One of my friends who reads the blog picked Patrick Reed and Dufner as a dark horse, so I’ll go with him. Reed a good pick. ****

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