Sony Open, what names to watch?

How do you feel about the Sony Open, being the first full field of the year, is it a big event for you or just a minor warm up for what is to come?

For me the first full field of the year is an exciting time because we get to see the Nationwide exempt guys AND the Q-school guys tee it up for the first time, and find out if there is a star in the making. Also get a read on which pros are ready to shine, who has switched sponsors . . . just a lot input and a way to get into the new golf season.

Here are some of those I'll be watching and why.

Bubba Watson: Will he tame this course a second time and get his first win?
Cris Stroud: Q-school feel good story, does he have the right stuff for the tour?
David Toms: Is his game ready to win back to back?
George McNeil: Q-school medalist, can he play with the big boys?
John Mallinger: Another Q-schooler I followed from round 1, steady game.
John Daly: Can he bounce back or will he continue to implode, and can he outdrive Bubba?
Will MacKenzie: Is this guy for real, how will he do in back to back events?
Anthony Kim: The hot shot out of Q-school expected by many to have great success on tour, won over 300K last year on 3 tournaments.
Michelle Wei: . . . will try to make the cut again . . . won't make it.
J.B.Holmes: Can he overpower the course and win?
VJ Singh: Is he as good as he looks this year?
Jim Rutledge: 47yr old rookie on tour . . . first tourament, what a story

Who are some of the players you will be watching and why?

Practice round today, ONE MORE DAY to the real start of the 2007 season. The Mercedes is only a warm up, this one is open to everyone. I can't wait to see Bubba Watson drive those doglegs, it's a big hitters course if you take the risks.

And next week the Bob Hope . . . season is HERE!!!

How psyched are you for the 2007 season, it's going to be the best ever!

I hope no one in our Salary Cup pays any attention to this... I don't want to lose my 4th place slot!

For all of you in the Fantasy, here's who I'd definitely pick:

1. Rich Barcelo
2. Chris Stroud
3. Dicky Pride
4. Steve Wheatcroft
5. Tom Johnson

And at only 75K per player, you'll have money left over! What a steal...

MWA HA HA HA!!!!!

Jim Furyk - Because he is Jim Furyk and I think he is due this week.
I too will be very intered in Bubba Watson and JB Holmes. I would love to see those 2 in the same group. What a show.

I am also anxious to see if MacKenzie can string together 2 weeks of great golf. He is already one of my favorites to watch this year. I hope he can sustain it.

I also would like to see Vijay paired up with Wie. Just from some of Vijay's past comments about women playing with the men, I think that would be hilarious. I don't think Michelle can play on his level on her best day and he on his worst though, but I still think it would be funny.

Those are mostly guys who made it through Q-school so it will be interesting to see how they do, but the Q-school final courses (PGA West Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament)were as tough or tougher than the Sony Open course and they did great there. I heard Waialea is the 15th most difficult course on the Tour . . . surprising because didn't Toms shoot a 61 and Sabbitini a 62 . . . seems like it can be had.

If I had to pick one it would be Chris Stroud, Barcelo is a player too, but who knows if they will struggle on the Tour? Must be gut wrenching for them, they have a lot to prove.

Some others to watch for pure entertainment:
Will MacKenzie (Again) he's got the game and if he's putting he'll light it up.
Anthony Kim, Tadd Fujikawa (local), Parker McLachlin (also local), and big hitting JB Holmes, of course.

OH OH YES! THE SEASON IS BACK

i have waited over 2 and a half months to watch bubba watson in action again! this is my favourite tournament of the whole year and i will be on tourcast tomorrow after work to watch him. Really hope Bubba rips those doglegs apart with his **mammoth** drives and gets a really good finish.

also rooting for a suprise from Boo Weekly and Rich Barcelo, both have a good combination of power and accuracy.... i think they will both finish well!

!!!! COME ON BUBBA !!!!

I got to meet and talk with Bubba at last years ATT, very good guy, this may be his year. Followed Barcelo around at Q- school finals this year, tall with an easy swing, he's a player to watch, looks like a Pro!

Sony open this year is going to be a BLAST! Daly, Bubba, VJ, Holmes, Wetterich, etc... new clubs, square drivers, all the new stuff will be on display, what a rush . . . less than a day away now, everyone wants to make a good impression in this tournament. Most pundits say VJ will make it 2 in a row, i think someone else will go real low.

wow i bet that was amazing. i wish i could meet and talk to him, he does seem a great guy and someone to look up to for the up and coming young players, my sister managed to get me a signed autograph of him with certificate of autheticity for christmas, i couldnt believe it, just that one thing made my day soo soo special, she knew he was my favourite player but i never thought she would get me something like that

Wie will finish last again like she did at the 84.

Id put my money on Vijay and Will Mckenzie to have another good showing.

like it or not everyone will be watching to see if Michelle Wie can make the cut, and yes it will become the Wie show unless she shoots 82 tomorrow.

cant wait untill the Hope though

Temps will be 80 for all 4 days, winds 10-15mph . . . not bad, a few scattered showers for Sunday, all in all great conditions.

Here are the pairings and tee times . . . http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r006/tee-times.html

Coles, Gavin: Marino, Stephen: Wie, Michelle
hmmm . . . Gavin and Stephen's time to share the spotlight

Singh, Vijay: Pavin, Corey: Wetterich, Brett
this is a good pairing, Wetterich is a loooonnng hitter as is VJ and Pavin is . . . well . . . not so long.

Davis Love III, Tim Herron, Tom Lehman, . . . solid pairing

Here is the full info on the course, history and hole by hole description
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r006/course.html

I don't think you'll ever see VJ AND WIE PAIRED IN THE THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS

I actually think Vijay will do well. Will he win? Good chance.

I also think David Toms will do well. You can always count on the winner from the same tourney last year to do well if they're already doing well this year. (Toms came in 7th-ish at the Mercedes).

J.B. Holmes is on fire and he was last year at the tourney, so I'm also thinking he'll do well enough.

Wie will finish like she always finishes - missing the cut.

They're off and running!!!
The full Tour is underway . . . whoooooweeee

I feel like playing today, but it's freezing, wish I was in HAWAII

Toms switched from Ping to Tayor Made, has an adjustment to make.

Wouldn't it be awesome if VJ wins a few in a row going into the Buick with Tiger and his 6 in a row . . . that would set up nicely as an attention getter.

LEADERBOARD: http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/...006/index.html
uh ohhh . . . J. B. Holmes 4 over after 5 . . . train wreck . . . now 5 over after 7
Wei . . . 2 over after 3, not a good start,
Bubba Watson looking good today, early start equals less wind which helps.
Q-schoolers McNeil and Kim and Nationwide Snedeker off to good starts.

COME ON BUBBA!!! hes in the lead at the moment after 5 holes!!!

She's 4 over through 5 holes, in a tie for next to last. Only half the field has teed off. She's dug a pretty big hole already.

ouch, back-to-back 6's to fall to dead last at +6. through 6 holes.