Phoenix Open Betting – AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
The PGA TOUR moves to Pebble Beach this week after an interesting stop in Arizona. Congratulations Kyle Stanley for one of the biggest bounce backs I can remember!
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
February 6-12, 2012
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Spyglass Hill and Poppy Hills courses
Pebble Beach, Calif.
Purse: $6.1 million
Winning Share: $1,080,000
FedExCup Points: 500
Defending Champion: D.A. Points
My picks from last week struggled at the Waste Management – Martin Laird finished tied to 61st and my sleeper Cameron Tringale failed to make the cut.
The Pebble Beach will be played over four difficult courses that includes one of the most evil Par 5’s on the TOUR. All of the Big Guns on the PGA will be present – yes even Tiger Woods will make his 2012 North American debut. His presence alone makes the Pebble Beach the most anticipated tournament so far in this young season. So who wins? Let`s take a look.
THE FAVORITES:
Tiger Woods 5/1
Woods hasn`t played this event for 10 years – 10! Woods loves this course and has won this event (2000) as well as a US Open at this site. His game is ramping up and is getting close to a level in which we can consider Tiger a serious threat each and every week. He has finished third or better in three straight events, finished second in Dubai two weeks ago and won only nine weeks ago at the Chevron World Challenge.
Tiger will be in contention – no doubt. But I expect a Top 10 finish rather than an outright win. He`s coming along but isn`t quite there yet!
Dustin Johnson 18/1
Johnson is a two-time winner of this event – 2009 and 2010. But Johnson enters this tournament struggling to find his game – he hasn’t finished in the top 20 in his last eight tournaments. He loves this course and he certainly is due – too bad his game isn`t up to snuff!
Phil Mickelson 20/1
Mickelson has a lot in common with the other two discussed so far – good, not great at this point of the season. Mickelson has won this event three times – 1998, 2005 and 2007 and has two Top-10`s in the last two years. Phil has failed to crack the Top 25 in his last four tournaments and last came Top 5 12 tournaments ago. I for one am not loving Mickelson`s game right now.
THE CONTENDERS:
Nick Watney 22/1
Watney crumbled in the final two rounds at Torrey Pines and then was forced to withdraw last week due to illness. He has been rather disappointing this year but with all the bad going on, something good has be on the horizon – Pebble Beach just may be the stage. He finished 6th last season at this event and certainly has the game to make a run this year.
Hunter Mahan 22/1
Mahan had a brutal tournament last week – missed the cut in Qatar but previous to that he finished a strong 6th at Torrey Pines. Mahan finished second here last year – shooting a tremendous tournament best 67 and 66 at Pebble. Look out for Mahan – he loves this course and he is uber-motivated after last week`s debacle.
Brandt Snedeker 25/1
Snedeker followed up his win at the Farmer`s with an inconsistent T50 finish last week. Snedeker has had his issues on this course – one Top-25 finish in five attempts
Bryce Molder 30/1
Molder has become one of the more consistent Pros on the TOUR – Top 15 finishes in six of his last seven tournaments. He is a definitely one to keep your eye on after closing out in Phoenix with a 66 to place T15. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Spencer Levin 33/1
Ugh! Levin has to look no further than the man that beat him last Sunday Kyle Stanley who followed up his collapse the week before with an incredible Sunday. Levin is obviously playing well right now (minus his ugly round Sunday at Scottsdale) and he finished 4th at this event last year. Levin also had 3 rounds in the 60s at Pebble in 2010 but imploded on Sunday. If he can put together four quality rounds, he could break through.
THE SLEEPERS:
D.A. Points 40/1
Points won this event last year with the shot of the year on 18 – out of the drink! Remember? He had an off tournament last week – T45 but has finished in the Top 10 twice already this year. At 40/1, he is decent value!
Trevor Immelman 66/1
Immelman started terribly this season but since has strung together nine straight sub-70 rounds. Immelman is a birdie machine who finished a respectable T12 at Phoenix last week.
D.J. Trahan 80/1
Trahan at 80/1 is very intriguing indeed. He finished 4th last week after recording a 66 on Saturday and a 64 on Sunday at Scottsdale. He has two Top-10s at Pebble Beach – in 2009 and 2010 and is playing his best golf in over a year. Confidence is a funny thing and in this case it could carry Trahan to a great showing this week.
THE PICK:
I was leaning toward Nick Watney 22/1 last week but decided against it and this week, I can`t help but think that he is overdue for a big win. After a week off, look for Watney to make some noise.
My sleeper this week is D.J. Trahan 80/1. After his best finish in well over a year, I think momentum and confidence could potentially result in a very good pay day!
