Tiger Trumps Toms and Villegas at the Blue Monster

The Blue Monster produces another exciting week of tournament play with the same result in the end.

Woods at DoralThis tournament was shaping up to be an excellent one from the get-go. Tiger Woods led the way after Thursday’s opening round in which he fired a 64 the 65s of Camilo Villegas, Phil Mickelson, David Toms, Rich Beem, Zach Johnson, Scott Verplank, and Mark Wilson. Friday, Woods and Mickelson drew into a tie at -13, and both played together Saturday, with Tiger Woods once again eclipsing Phil by three as he did last year.

For perhaps the first time this year Tiger Woods seemed to be playing with at least his B+ game. He led the field in greens in regulation at 80.6% and missed only two putts within ten feet the whole week. Obviously, this one-two combo made Tiger the man to beat. And that’s exactly what the rest of the field tried to do.

2006 Ford Championship at Doral Preview

Will 2006 bring as much fireworks and ratings as 2005 did? With the top seven players in the world duking it out at The Blue Monster, we can only hope.

Ford Championship at DoralWow, how time flies! Last year’s Ford Championship at Doral made numerous headlines, from the IMG memo, Tiger and Phil going head to head, Tiger setting the 72-hole tournament record with a 24-under par 264 and Tiger regaining his number one position in the World Golf Rankings.

The fans are anticipating another great event and they shouldn’t be disappointed. The event is treated almost major like by the players and fans for the degree of difficulty in the course and the quality of the field. In fact, this is the first stroke-play event this year that we get to see the top seven players in the world in the same field.

Weekend Triplet: Triplett, Ogilvy, and Lee Win Events

Despite a 66-66-65 start, Waldorf can’t get the job done. Meena Lee takes Fields Open. Ogilvy wins WGC Match Play.

Ogilvy: ChampionIf the audience of the 2006 World Golf Championship Accenture Match Play Tournament has learned anything, it’s that match play is ridiculously unpredictable.

Play started Wednesday with a couple of tournament records. Tiger Woods (1) broke the winning differential record with a solid trouncing of Stephen Ames (64). Tiger managed to win every single hole on the front nine before letting up and halving the 10th for a 9&8 victory. Asked his reaction to Stephen Ames’ comment that “Anyone can win in match play… especially where he [Tiger] is hitting it,” Tiger simply responded “9 and 8.” Scott Verplank and Lee Westwood tied a tournament record by playing eight extra holes for a total of 26, an exhausting day that perhaps contributed to both players’ early exits in subsequent rounds.

Chrysler Classic of Tucson Preview

Five of the last six winners have made the Chrysler Classic of Tucson their first wins on the PGA Tour so you won’t hear them complain about stars missing from the field.

Chrysler Classic of TucsonThe PGA Tour makes another stop in my beautiful sunny state with the Chrysler Classic of Tucson. However, the shine will be coming from the sun as most of the PGA Tour and international golf stars are in Carlsbad, California for the Accenture Match Play Championship. With top players like Tiger, Vijay and Phil out of Tucson, it leaves the event ripe for the picking by a player looking to get his first win on the PGA Tour and secure his card. In fact, five of the last six winners in Tucson were first time winners and some guy named Phil Mickelson won his first PGA Tour event in Tucson as an amateur and then went on to win it two more times. So there is still a lot of love for the event or is there?

2006 Nissan Open Preview

Adam Scott wants to defend and win the event officially this year but must face the likes of Tiger, Ernie, Mike and Chad.

Nissan Open LogoPresidents Day weekend is upon and can only mean one thing, the 80th Nissan Open is upon us. While lacking the star power of the AT&T the Nissan Open can still draw a crowd. Unlike last year, the weather should allow for all four rounds to be completed, which should make Tiger happy as he goes for his third win in as many starts. So can the rookies and young guns win an event when Tiger and Ernie are in the field? So far they’ve been able to get it done when facing Phil and Vijay. Let’s take a look at our prospects.

Pebble Beach Pro-Am Preview

Phil Mickelson has a chance to defend another title this week but must fight off many top player and rising rookies to do so.

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmIt’s time again for the stars to shine this week at the 2006 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in beautiful Monterrey, California. The event dates back to 1937 with Bing Crosby hosting the “Crosby Clambake” and brings top pros from the PGA Tour and A-list celebrities together. Over the years the tournament has become wildly popular with fans as the tournament is a much of a show as it is a tournament with stars like George Lopez, Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Romano, Bill Murray and even The Donald. The tournament also allows the long ball hitters to shine and history tells us so since six of the last eight winners have been big hitters. After J.B. Holmes earned his first win at the FBR Open last week, fellow big hitters Bubba Watson and Camilo Villegas are chomping at this bit for their big break.

FBR Open Preview

Can Phil Mickelson become the first back-to-back winner of the FBR Open since Johnny Miller did it back in 1974-75?

FBR OpenSo the 2006 FBR Open is starting in my town this week and I am glad that I’m out of town for it too. I love my home town and I love this event since it’s start as the Phoenix Open however I’m not one for crowds and boy oh boy does this event draw a crowd. Dubbed “The Greatest Show on Grass” people come to the event to have a good time and the PGA Tour players know this well.

Buick Invitational Preview

Tiger Woods is about the show us what 10 years on the tour has taught him as we enter the 2006 Buick Invitational.

buick_invitational_logo.jpgThe 2006 Buick Invitational starts today with defending champion, Tiger Woods making his 2006 season debut and hopefully with as good a start as last year. Tiger won the event after taking the lead from Tom Lehman in the third round in a weather delayed event. Tiger has finished in the top ten in all eight of his Buick Invitational starts, including seven top five finishes and three wins. He will face Phil Mickelson, who will be the only other player in the top five to make the event. Phil knows the course and event well winning back to back in 2000 and 2001 and coming off a T-5 finish at last week’s Bob Hope he looks to be in good form to defend his West Coast Swing title. That’s all great but what we really want to see is a repeat duel between Tiger and Phil like the 2005 Ford Championship at Doral.

This year players will face the North and South course at Torrey Pines Golf Course where the South Course recently underwent a 3.2 million dollar renovation and lengthened to 7,607 yards in anticipation to host the 2008 U.S. Open.

What else will players face in this year’s Buick Invitational?

Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Preview

Justin Leonard is looking to join the list of repeat winners and David Duval is hoping to play a lot better than last year at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Bob Hope Chrysler ClassicThe 2006 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic started today with the first of five rounds. In last year’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic we watched as Justin Leonard, using his new Nike equipment, shot five rounds in the 60s to secure his win over Tim Clark and Joe Ogilvie by three shots. Winners like Stuart Appleby and David Toms (a victor last week) already know the great feeling it is to have secured a win in 2006 and with In and Out Burgers right around the corner we are sure to see Phil Mickelson make his 2006 season debut. This is also the third or nine events in the 2006 West Coast Swing presented by Allianz where currently Stuart Appleby has a 20-point lead over Vijay Singh and David Toms.

The event is also known for attracting top celebrities which gives the tournament an added bonus by watching celebrities and pro mix it up but let’s take a look at the rest of the field and see who Justin Leonard is up against this year.