2012 PGA TPC Predictions
PONTA VEDRA BEACH, FL (ATS Consultants) – The PGA Tour heads to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. for the unofficial “fifth” major, The Players Championship.
Last year, K.J. Choi beat David Toms with a par on the final hole of a playoff. Toms missed a 3 ½ foot comeback putt for par in the playoff on the island-green 17th.
A very strong field takes the trip to the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Bubba Watson is a notable absentee on the grounds of wanting more family time, but he is the only player in the world’s top-10 to not be teeing it up this week. The British trio of Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald head the field.
The Stadium Course at Sawgrass is one course that would seem to require a decent past record if a player is to win here. Every winner since 2003 had previously posted a finish of 17th or better in the Players Championship, and many in their previous appearance before winning here.
Mahan finished tied for sixth last year at TPC. He has already won twice this year. He’s fifth in GIR (greens in regulation) and 18th in scoring. He ranks fifth in the world and first in the FedExCup. He’s also probably the best driver on the tour. On August 8, 2010, Mahan won his third PGA Tour title at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Mahan won his second WGC tournament in February 2012 at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and recorded his fifth career PGA Tour victory in April at the Shell Houston Open.
The world number 6 has won eight times on the PGA tour in the last three years, but various injury problems lately held him back. He finished 6th in his last tournament outing at the Pete Dye-designed TPC Louisiana. Stricker has a strong iron game and is superb on and around the greens, currently ranking 13th on tour in Scrambling. He has six top-25s here including last year’s T-12. He won at Kapalua this year, and has three other top 10s. He’s looking for his 13th career win.
Longshot
The Australian wants to join fellow Aussies Adam Scott, Greg Norman and Steve Elkington, who were all previous Players Championship winners. Day had to pull out of this year’s Masters with a foot injury, and although last week’s Wells Fargo Championship was his first start since his Augusta withdrawal, Day claims the pain is gone. Day finished tied for 6th at Sawgrass last year, and currently ranks 16th on tour in Scrambling and 18th in Strokes Gained – Putting. Day is getting great odds mainly because of the injury though he still ranks 15th in the world.
ATSSportsline.com has been providing winning sports picks since 1992. Want more from ATS Consultants? Click Free Picks to get daily winners delivered directly to your inbox with no obligation!
