Embrace The Sea

Welcome back PGA – it’s that time of year again where golf sneaks up on you right in the heart of the NFL playoffs. Obviously January gets a little nuts for yours truly, as trying to put in the due diligence on football while getting a grasp on the start to golf season at the same time takes an effort. However, once we get rolling you better be on board as TDD hit matchup picks at a 61% clip last season. And we’re off.

• Bill Haas (-105) vs. Woodland –  Both these guys are long, but Haas is a much better putter and went low here last year. Woodland will be around for sure, but I’ll take the FedEx Cup champ as a dog here.
• Aaron Baddeley (-145) vs. Bradley – Badds played well in the “offseason” and I’ll take that over a first timer at Kapalua. A darkhorse to win.
• Rory Sabbatini (-125) vs. Ben Crane – Just for fun, have to make a pick in this matchup (see here, or actually here, if you want to know why). Ben Crane is hilarious, but the jerk South African has won all over the world and has two P2 finishes at this event.
• *Added pick* Scott Piercy (-115) vs. Mark Wilson – I’d take just about anyone against Wilson at this track, so might as well grab an even matchup with a guy who goes long.

Round Two

Apologies for missing out on last week’s Irene (simply “The Whore” in these parts) shorterned Barclays, but TDD is back for the second round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs [insert token reference to Jim Mora here]. TPC Boston should be in great shape and rollin’ right as the tour rides up the Eastern seaboard for the Deutsche Bank Championship. Remember – 1st round begins Friday.

• Jim Furyk (+115) vs. Watson – Furyk needs to play well to advance and has been recently (somewhat). Bubba? Straight ass.
• Camilo Villegas (-125) vs. Harrington – Hombre Araña es en fuego (and has done it before in the playoffs). Paddy, not so much.
• Bill Haas (-115) vs. Van Pelt – Haas has a good track record here and has come back to form lately.
• Geoff Ogilvy (+150) vs. Toms – A guy with his record at TPC Boston shouldn’t be anywhere close to this big of an underdog to guy coming off an MC.

Off-the-radar picks for the week: Geoff Ogilvy, Scott Piercy, Gary Woodland

Rubber City Monster

A stacked field heads to Akron for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club. The South Course, affectionately known as The Monster, hosts the event and requires  consistent total driving and the ability to hit greens from anywhere.  I’m looking at a lot of dogs this week, and putting my 10-1 record over the past two tournaments on the line. Here are the picks:

• Lee Westwood (-115) vs. Donald – Westwood dominates this place, and Donald has struggled mightily to hit greens recently.
• Bill Haas (-115) vs. Choi – Haas has ALL of the stats this week. Great iron player from all distances and 14th on tour in total driving.
• Gary Woodland (-105) vs. Watson – Woodland is playing lights out, hits great long irons, and drives the golf ball just as well as Bubba.
• Adam Scott (-105) vs. Garcia – The Aussie now has Stevie Williams on the bag full time, and that will definitely help out at Firestone. Oh, and Scott had a T9 here last year, is playing well, and ranks 17th in total driving.
• Bo Van Pelt (even) vs. Garcia – Mini upset special of the week. Not trying to pick on El Nino who could contend, but Van Pelt is one of the best drivers of the golf ball on tour and is has top 15s in each of his last six tournaments on American soil.
• Hunter Mahan (+140) vs. Donald – Super upset special of the week (and probably the whole season). Mahan’s track record here is great (three straight top 10s including the win last year), and even though is form isn’t outstanding coming in he sets up much better than Donald.

Gambling oddity of the week: Tiger Woods is 14:1 to win, but his finishing position bet is o/u 30.5…

Blue Monster

*UPDATE: Watney = WIN*

The world’s best golfers invade Miami this week for the second WGC event of this season, this time at Doral to take on the famed TPC Blue Monster.  Here are TDD’s picks of the tournament:

• Martin Kaymer | 10:1 – Four worldwide wins in the past six months, a 3rd place finish here in last season, and he’s not the odds on favorite.  Thanks “El Tigre”.  Did I mention he’s #1 in the world?
  
• Nick Watney | 20:1 – I think Watney, McDowell, and Kuchar will all be neck and neck this week, and but here’s my pick of the three… [Winning. Finally.]
• Bill Haas | 30:1 – Playing extremely well, and even with a deep field he will contend.  T6 here last year.

Bob Hope Classic

If you watch a game, it’s fun. If you play it, it’s recreation. If you work at it, it’s golf.

– Bob Hope

The tour stops at the tweeter friendly Bob Hope Classic this week, which has an unorthodox five rounds of play opening on Wednesday and rotating through four different layouts. Here are a few quick picks, again on the basis of odds “value”:

• Matt Kuchar | 9:1 – Starting off the season with back-to-back top 10s, and had  T2 here last season. Not too strong of a field to go against.
• Bill Haas | 18:1 – Defending champ and coming off a T8 two weeks ago.
• Charley Hoffman | 33:1 – Previous winner here, and playing career golf at the end of ’10. Can make birdies in bunches.
• Alex Prugh | 50:1 – T5 here last year and plays well on the left coast, also closed out ’10 with some strong finishes.

In gossip news, apparently DJ isn’t taking it to Ms. Gulbis as previously reported.

Also for those that haven’t seen, Ben Crane is actually a funny dude. Apparently he hangs out with Bubba Watson, so he must be cool. Check this gem out: