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The common thinking is that the week before a major championship, players always fall into three categories:
1. They are using this week to try and simulate the kind of competitiveness they will be facing next week, and are playing their shots accordingly.
2. They are playing in the U.S. Open next week, but lack both the skill and savvy to tailor their game toward a different tournament. These players also usually can’t afford to look even one week ahead.
3. They are just happy to be there.
Competitors from all three walks of life will be at this week’s Barclays Classic. Strangely enough, it’s the players from the first group that tend to have the most success the week before a major.
The biggest difference between world class players and the second tier is how well they know their game. World class players can peak their play for major championships, and that usually means their games are just about as good as they get the week before a major.
Take earlier this season for example. Phil Mickelson (+912) ran away with the Bellsouth Classic and then won The Masters the following week. Last season, Mickelson, Sergio Garcia (+2397), and Retief Goosen (+2054) were among the players who won the week before a major.
They’re just three players among six of the world’s top 10 competing this week at the 6,839-yard Westchester Country Club. Defending champion Padraig Harrington is also in the field and is listed at +2581.
Jim Furyk (-119) vs. Vijay Singh (+109) – Singh (tournament matchup)
Singh should never be dogged against anyone other than Tiger Woods, Mickelson, and maybe, maybe Goosen. He may be past the days of challenging for the world’s No. 1, but Singh still has seven top 10’s in 13 starts this season his 69.85 scoring average ranks eighth on tour.
He’s also not one to be counted out at Westchester. Singh has finished in the top 10 six times in 13 starts at the Barclays (formerly Buick) Classic, and his average finish of 25th is actually better than Furyk’s.
Furyk finished second at Westchester last season, but has finished in the top 10 there just four times in 12 starts. His average finish is 39th.
Fred Couples (-114) vs. Justin Leonard (+104) – Leonard (tournament matchup)
Getting Leonard at plus money is always a strong play. It’s an even better proposition at such a short venue. With an average drive of just 280.9 yards, 159th on tour, Leonard is going to make his money with precision wedge play and touch around the greens.
He finished T-7 at Westchester last year in his first appearance there since 2001 when he finished T-56. In three career appearances at the Barclays Classic, Leonard has an average finished of 28th.
Luke Donald (-130) vs. David Howell (+120) – Howell (tournament matchup)
Howell’s third round scoring average (75.8) is terrifying, but despite that stat, his average finish this season is 24th, and his overall scoring average is 71.7.
Howell plays most of his golf on the European Tour, where his third round scoring average (69.25) is actually better than his tour-best 69.77 scoring average. Expect the 10th-ranked player in the world to overcome his third round shortfalls as he gains more experience on the U.S. tour.
Pick to win:
Garcia has won the week before the U.S. Open each of the last two years, but his T-18 at The Memorial last week was his best finish since January, and at just +2397, that’s not much value for a struggling player.
Instead, look for Mike Weir (+7070) to take home his first title in more than two years. The left-hander has enjoyed a quiet resurgence this season after a disappointing 2005. He ranks 31st on the money list and has made the cut in his last 10 starts.
Weir is another player whom the short course will greatly benefit. He ranks 169th on tour in driving distance (277.5), but sixth on tour in putting (1.724).
He’s also a guy who knows a thing or two about preparing for major championships, winning the 2003 Masters and finishing in the top 10 in six other majors.
1. They are using this week to try and simulate the kind of competitiveness they will be facing next week, and are playing their shots accordingly.
2. They are playing in the U.S. Open next week, but lack both the skill and savvy to tailor their game toward a different tournament. These players also usually can’t afford to look even one week ahead.
3. They are just happy to be there.
Competitors from all three walks of life will be at this week’s Barclays Classic. Strangely enough, it’s the players from the first group that tend to have the most success the week before a major.
The biggest difference between world class players and the second tier is how well they know their game. World class players can peak their play for major championships, and that usually means their games are just about as good as they get the week before a major.
Take earlier this season for example. Phil Mickelson (+912) ran away with the Bellsouth Classic and then won The Masters the following week. Last season, Mickelson, Sergio Garcia (+2397), and Retief Goosen (+2054) were among the players who won the week before a major.
They’re just three players among six of the world’s top 10 competing this week at the 6,839-yard Westchester Country Club. Defending champion Padraig Harrington is also in the field and is listed at +2581.
Jim Furyk (-119) vs. Vijay Singh (+109) – Singh (tournament matchup)
Singh should never be dogged against anyone other than Tiger Woods, Mickelson, and maybe, maybe Goosen. He may be past the days of challenging for the world’s No. 1, but Singh still has seven top 10’s in 13 starts this season his 69.85 scoring average ranks eighth on tour.
He’s also not one to be counted out at Westchester. Singh has finished in the top 10 six times in 13 starts at the Barclays (formerly Buick) Classic, and his average finish of 25th is actually better than Furyk’s.
Furyk finished second at Westchester last season, but has finished in the top 10 there just four times in 12 starts. His average finish is 39th.
Fred Couples (-114) vs. Justin Leonard (+104) – Leonard (tournament matchup)
Getting Leonard at plus money is always a strong play. It’s an even better proposition at such a short venue. With an average drive of just 280.9 yards, 159th on tour, Leonard is going to make his money with precision wedge play and touch around the greens.
He finished T-7 at Westchester last year in his first appearance there since 2001 when he finished T-56. In three career appearances at the Barclays Classic, Leonard has an average finished of 28th.
Luke Donald (-130) vs. David Howell (+120) – Howell (tournament matchup)
Howell’s third round scoring average (75.8) is terrifying, but despite that stat, his average finish this season is 24th, and his overall scoring average is 71.7.
Howell plays most of his golf on the European Tour, where his third round scoring average (69.25) is actually better than his tour-best 69.77 scoring average. Expect the 10th-ranked player in the world to overcome his third round shortfalls as he gains more experience on the U.S. tour.
Pick to win:
Garcia has won the week before the U.S. Open each of the last two years, but his T-18 at The Memorial last week was his best finish since January, and at just +2397, that’s not much value for a struggling player.
Instead, look for Mike Weir (+7070) to take home his first title in more than two years. The left-hander has enjoyed a quiet resurgence this season after a disappointing 2005. He ranks 31st on the money list and has made the cut in his last 10 starts.
Weir is another player whom the short course will greatly benefit. He ranks 169th on tour in driving distance (277.5), but sixth on tour in putting (1.724).
He’s also a guy who knows a thing or two about preparing for major championships, winning the 2003 Masters and finishing in the top 10 in six other majors.