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…

Country Roads, Take Me Home

After rolling out a flawless 6-0 performance in Canada for all you degenerates out there, braleigh is getting back… to the place… [continue singing].  The Old White TPC has been lengthened, tightened, and altered since last year’s edition and probably won’t yield a 59 this time around. Players will need to drive the ball long and keep it between the trees, and hit a lot of greens as well. Here are my picks for the Greenbrier Classic:

• Brendon de Jonge (-115) vs. Kirk – BdJ finished 3rd here last year and is playing well. Kirk is coming off his first win and has the stats for this event, but you never know how a younger player will respond.
• Spencer Levin (-115) vs. Haas – Levin is straight killin’ it. Haas will contend, but his recent form isn’t nearly as great.
• Gary Woodland (-125) vs. Senden – Woodland is a long ball-striker and can go low.
• Kyle Stanley (-125) vs. Bradley – The Clemson Tiger drives it well, hits a lot of greens, and makes a lot of birdies. Sign me up.
• Webb  Simpson | Under 25.5 – The MC last time around does scare me, but Webber’s current form is unmatched and his recent stats say he’ll be a player. Raleighwood say what.