AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AM The Monterey Peninsula Country Club Shore Course is back in the rotation of three courses this week. Poppy Hills is out.
This is a 54 hole cut tournament. The length of the courses are not long, all in the 6,900 range, a possible key this week could be driving accuracy. The fairways have been narrowed on average to 27 yards, thats 13 less than last year. The reason, is prep and grooming for the 2010 U.S. Open held right here at Pebble Beach. Strong mid to short iron players have excelled here in the past. Steve Stricker would have been a strong favorite but is not in the field.
Unfortunately, weather always seems to be a part of this classic event. They had plenty of rain on Tuesday cancelling practice and Friday looks to be heavy at times.
This also dampens our attack on the matchups. Yes, sometimes we can find an edge with bad weather, but many times just being on the right side of the tees times early or late can be a 4-5 shot swing.
[B]Mike Weir -130 [/B]vs. Padraig Harrington
We cashed betting against Paddy last week and we'll continue here as Weir has two runner up finishes at Pebble and other than Stricker is one of the best wedge players in the game. Do not take last weeks missed cut to seriously, he ran into the worst of the foul weather in his 2nd round.
Paddy showed real signs of rust at the Northern Trust Open. He hit just 44% of his greens, was 1 of 4 in sand saves hit only 18 of 28 fairways.
[B]Ryo Ishikawa -120 [/B]vs. Rickie Fowler
Neither of these young guns can hit a fairway, but Ishikawa can putt better, scramble, and overall has much more experience at this level. Recall him beating Kenny Perry head to head in the Presidents Cup. He will be a giant killer next week too.
Fowler has already played four events and missed the cut in three including last week at the Northern Trust Open. In 12 rounds thus far on the PGA Tour this season he has one round in the 60's. Ishikawa made the cut LW finishing T32 and had two rounds in the 60's.
[B]Added [/B]
[B]KJ Choi -110 [/B]vs. Rory Sabbatini
KJ solid thus far this season and other than the brilliant 63 Rory shot in Hawaii he has been inconsistent as usual. Sabbatini's Pro-Am partner is George Lopez! ....and he plays slow and signs a million autographs, the perfect distration for the speedy and rude Sabbatini.
