ok, so not the stretch i was hoping for after the MASTERS. last wk was very nice for JB, sucks for me as i had him the week before at ZURICH. his DRIVER was certainly the edge that just made some of those holes on the back9 play not as hard. JB made that GREEN MILE look like he was pitching around on a football field. 9i on 16, 5i on 17, and 9i on 18?!?! great for JB, as hes back in the winners circle, but also now hes going to be around for more major tournaments and could very well take that next step in his career. especially if his short game and putter can keep up like it has, though struggled late with it, his long game can be still off, not by much, to still take advantage of most tracks.
uncharacteristically posting early, and will post some long shots. so far in 14 season, surprised most havent drawn this correlation between the new 14 schedule and the "top guys" falling late. well, most of these "top guys" had some time off between a lengthy 2013 season and this year. most didnt get into "golf mode" till march. less than 2months from the MASTERS, so you figure in that stretch, they'll have glimpses of their solid play of 13, but when put in tough spot late, when not given enough time to be in top form, then they have faltered. 1 by 1 over the last 3 months you have seen 1 top player after another fall short. hate to post this, but you will see these guys win very soon, the stew is cooking, just time till it all comes together.
so with that said, will all of that continue this week? i dont see why not.
still looking into further, but going with a few "longer" shots that may be worth a buy to start. to go 1 further, last yr @ WELLS FARGO, first time in some while that greens were considered bad, much like they are this week. that wk @ WELLS FARGO, you saw #1000 OWGR ERNST take the title. also have to mention there was bad rain that last day, still, greens may not be as apparent to a "first timer" that some of the greens are off, unlike other "top names" that may notice the slight imperfections. interesting week, and am posting early mostly as a warning to not buy those "top names" this week. out of the "top names" hard to argue against KUCHAR.
THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP(-3.17u)
18/1 M. KUCHAR(1u) -- to win L (t17)
1.55/1 M. KUCHAR(1u) -- top10 L
290/1 M. JONES(.1u) -- to win L (t17)
480/1 T. JAIDEE(.1u) -- to win L (mc)
550/1 B. STUARD(.1u) -- to win L (t17)
650/1 J. MAGGERT(.1u) -- to win L (t48)
710/1 S. BROWN(.1u) -- to win L (t62)
16.5/1 J. FURYK(.5u) -- to win/thru2/ L (2nd)
reed(+160) / moore(1u) -- tour mu L (MC-t26)
mahan(+113) / english(1u) -- tour mu L (MC +7- MC +5)
spieth(-102) / watson(1u) -- tour mu W (t4-t48)
rose(-110) / donald(1u) -- tour mu W (t4-t38)
furyk(-130) / z. johnson(.5u) -- tour mu W (2nd-t26)
haas(-112) / jacobson(.5u) -- tour mu W (t26-64th)
scott(+102) / mcilroy(.5u) -- tour mu L (t38-t6)
kuchar(-135) / watson(.5u) -- 1st rd mu L (71-69)