We got back headed in the right direction last week in Phoenix so that was fun - and we won another head to head match up from our free pick videos! putting us undefeated now for the golf season on the video picks.
This week the Tour is headed back to California and the golf heaven that is The Monterey Peninsula. Ahhh, Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove, California. I remember my days in San Francisco working for KSFO Radio and covering this event. Never missed a chance after work to head to Clint Eastwood's bar, The Hog's Breath. A classic piece of history in this most beautiful of places.
Please take a look at the video we did with two free picks for this week.. /tv/?v=emFXx5ybw0Q
What you will find here in a nutshell is as follows..
Chris Kirk +110 over Jimmy Walker (-130)
Walker is getting all of the hype here because he has been so hot with 3-top 10's in the last 3-years here at Pebble Beach. He also won back in September at The Frys and again about a month ago in Hawaii.. so yes, he's hot.. but so is Kirk, who won this past Fall in Georgia, finished 2nd to Walker at The Sony, and finished 2nd here last year at Pebble - ahead of Walker. Pebble Beach's signature characteristic is small greens - so guys have to be good at hitting greens in regulation - and they have to be good at scrambling (getting up and down) when they miss the very easy to miss small greens. Finally, they have to putt well on this Poa Annua species grass which can be spongy and bumpy unlike Bent Grass which is smooth as silk... so I am going to look at who ranks well in Greens In Regulation, Scrambling, and Putting. Kirk is 44th, 36th, and 86th respectively. Walker is 49th, 47th, and 7th.. so yes, Jimmy is putting better but Kirk ranks slightly better in the other categories. Let's also take a look at Walker's last event, down in San Diego when he was paired with Tiger for the first two days. He missed the cut. Some reports say he was not feeling well but I take the fact that he missed the cut on a seaside venue with Poa Annua greens - just like Pebble. I don't think this guy doesn't deserve to be the favorite but I will gladly take a small shot with the plus money on what I think ought to be a real tight head to head with both of these guys figuring into the top 20 or better this weekend.
Graeme McDowell -110 over Jim Furyk (-110)
Furyk has some courses where he is just money but Pebble has not been a regular big money pay day for a guy that is a virtual ATM machine most of the time. In the last five years, he has finished no higher than 30th and has missed the cut once too. McDowell played here in 2003, 2005, and 2006.. with 2-missed cuts and an 8th.. then in 2010, he wins The US Open at Pebble. This will be his first time back since winning his first major here and what's pretty cool, his Dad is going to be on the bag caddying for him. McDowell has come right out and said that he's jazzed for this special occasion. Secondly, Furyk has not played competitively since September 22nd of 2013 while McDowell has played twice in November and once in December, twice in which he recorded top 10's. Small sample size but he ranks number one in greens in regulation and number one in scrambling. Furyk in 2013 was excellent in GIR at 14th but not so hot in putting and scrambling at 68th and 57th, respectively. Finally, I will go with a Northern Irishman over an Arizona Wildcat as it is supposed to rain in the early going of this event and the track will likely be soggy, wet, overcast, and chilly.. exactly like Northern Ireland.
To get my Premium Plays for this week's golf, you can click here.. /pregamepros/pro-bettor/bettor.aspx?id=86670#capper
Enjoy the golf this week, folks.
Thank you and have fun!
Brady Kannon
@lasvegasgolfer
www.LVTeeTimes.com