Thursday Jan 7 – Sunday Jan 10, 2010
I've picked four main criteria in order to aid my selection for this week's PGA opener and they are as follows.....
1. Big Drivers - The Plantation Course @ Kapalua is a long course at over 7,400 yds and looking over past results it seems to favour the bigger drivers on tour -
2005 Winner Stuart Appleby 5th in DD
2006 Winner Stuart Appleby 2nd in DD
2007 2nd Adam Scott 2nd in DD
2008 Winner Daniel Chopra 6th in DD
2009 Tied 2nd Davis Love III 6th in DD
2. Good Links Players - Kapalua is a coastal resort that is susceptible to strong trade winds so someone with proven links form will be an advantage.
3. Players who favour bermuda grass - The Plantation uses bermuda like that prefered in Florida and a correlation can be drawn -
2009 Winner Geoff Ogilvy also a winner @ Doral, Fl. (bermuda)
2008 Winner Daniel Chopra also a winner @ Tesoro Club, Fl. (bermuda)
2007 Tied 4th J.B Holmes a winner @ TPC of Scottsdale (bermuda)
4. Lovers of Par 5s - With four par 5s, Kapalua gives players an opportunity to hit low rounds -
2009 Par 5 Leader Anthony Kim - Finish T2nd
2008 Par 5 Leader Mike Wier - Finish 4th
2007 Par 5 Leader Adam Scott - Finish 2nd
In conclusion the players who catch my eye based on the above are.....
Nick Watney - Ranked 6th in Driving Distance over the past 12 months on the Tour and 2nd on Par 5s, Watney backs this up with proven 2009 form on bermuda with a T12th @ FBR Scottsdale, Az., 2nd @ the WGC-CA Doral, Fl., T12th @ Transitions Copperhead, Fl., T4th @ Arnold Palmer Bay Hill, Fl. He also has a respectable T5th in his only previous start at Kapalua. 2pts e/w @ 20/1 (most bookmakers)
Dustin Johnson - Quite simply, Johnson is the highest ranked distance driver in this week's field and ranks 3rd in overall Driving Distance on the PGA Tour over the last 12 months. He also sits at a respectable 12th position on the Par 5s rankings and the Hawaiian course should suit his style of play even if the wind blows as his win on the Pebble Beach Links in the AT&T last year proves. 1pt e/w @ 25/1 (Ladbrokes)