Dolch: A dozen questions that will be answered at TPC Sawgrass (PGATOUR.com)
May 3, 2010
What can we expect from Tiger Woods at THE PLAYERS Championship? Craig Dolch ponders that and more.
The calendar says it’s early May, but things are definitely heating up on the PGA TOUR as we head into THE PLAYERS Championship. Here are Dolch’s Dozen questions that will be answered in the next six days:
1. Can Tiger Woods pull out of the funk after missing the cut at last week’s Quail Hollow Championship by an eye-dropping eight shots?
I suspect so. Although Woods has had just one top-10 finish at THE PLAYERS since his victory in 2001, he has never missed consecutive cuts in his career.
2. Is Phil Mickelson about to unseat Tiger Woods as the world’s top-ranked player?
It could happen this week if Mickelson wins THE PLAYERS and Woods finishes out of the top five. Not only has Mickelson never been No. 1, but Woods has held the spot for the last 258 consecutive weeks and 598 total weeks in his career.
3. Can Jim Furyk join Fred Funk and Mark McCumber as hometown winners at TPC Sawgrass?
His recent form says it’s very possible. In Furyk’s last seven starts, he has two W’s and has finished in the top 11 two other times.
4. Can an American lift a trophy at the PGA TOUR’s signature event?
Recent history says no. Four of the last six winners of THE PLAYERS have been international players, including Sweden’s Henrik Stenson last year. Irishmen Rory McIlroy, fresh off his electric win at Quail Hollow, and Padraig Harrington, twice a runner-up here, are solid candidates to continue this trend.
5. Should we expect to see another wire-to-wire winner this week?
Probably not. Because of the exacting nature of THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, only four of the last 11 54-hole leaders have gone on to win.
6. Should we be surprised if the winner this week isn’t a marquee player?
Not at all. Stenson became just the eighth player in the top-10 in the Official World Golf Ranking to win THE PLAYERS since the rankings began in 1987.
7. Which hole will likely be the most difficult this week?
This may surprise you, but it may not be the 17th or the 18th. Last year, the most difficult was the par-4 14th, which ranked 17th among all holes on the PGA TOUR in 2009 at 4.353.
8. When is Anthony Kim going to have his long-awaited thumb surgery?
If he’s smart, never. Despite the problem, Kim has a win, a second, a third and a T7 in his last five starts. Wouldn’t surprise me if other pros don’t start trying to injure their thumb.
9. Can any of the 18 first-timers win this week at TPC Sawgrass?
This is a course where experience really matters. Having said that, if there’s one who could, it’s Rickie Fowler (four top-10s this year).
10. What’s happened to Geoff Ogilvy?
For the second consecutive year, the Aussie won early and then tapered off. He doesn’t have a top-25 finish in his last six starts.
11. How will FedExCup points leader Ernie Els fare after his month-long break from the PGA TOUR?
Historically, Els hasn’t been at his best at THE PLAYERS. He has just four top-10s in 16 starts.
12. Could THE PLAYERS turn around Sergio Garcia’s fortunes?
Absolutely. In his last four starts here, he has a win, a runner-up, a T14 and a T22.
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