The Players Championship aka 'The 5th Major' : 8-11th May

[mrmuzeman]

Hopefully get a decent thread going on this one, I believe it is the biggest purse in tournament golf afterall. Always played at the same course Sawgrass, Florida.

Past Winners

2007 Phil Mickelson
2006 Stephen Ames
2005 Fred Funk
2004 Adam Scott
2003 Davis Love III
2002 Craig Perks
2001 Tiger Woods
2000 Hal Sutton
1999 David Duval
1998 Justin Leonard
1997 Steve Elkington
1996 Fred Couples

Interesting dynamic with Woods being absent through a knee op frees the betting market up a bit. Its a 144 player field. Phil Mickelson is the market leader @ 12/1. Doesnt look a bad bet at all actually as he won this last year and is normally those odds for majors and thats when Woods is about.

What we got folks?

[Beanie]

My fave tourney in the US without a doubt, superb course.

Will get some proper money system picks for this in the betting records thread after rounds 2 and 3, and some outside fancies in here for old times sake.

PS Nothing less than a live 400/1 contender will do Muse

[traeth]

probably going with my usual favourites , but willing to influenced by experts here

paddy power offer 6 places

Six Places!!
Extra Place Special
Paddy Power is paying out on the first 6 places in this week's golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass. That's 1-2-3-4-5-6 Places at 1/4 Odds on the above tournament.

[Snodser]

Will prob. go with my usual "Big" against the field.
Know nothing about that Kim chap, anyone think he can do it again?, apart from Tiger back to back wins are extremly rare.

Good value on good value players out to Els @30.

Have to back Harry,(tradition) he's the only reason I'm in here and he is definitely even more determined than last year.
20/1ew is worth a shot.

[FC Basher]

Here are this years debutants
Ryan Armour (USA); Soren Hansen (DEN); Richard Johnson (WAL); Matt Jones (AUS); George McNeill (USA); John Merrick (USA); Jeff Overton (USA); Andres Romero (ARG); Kevin Stadler (USA); Richard Sterne (SAF); Nicholas Thompson (USA); Johnson Wagner (USA); Charlie Wi (KOR); and Tim Wilkinson (NZ)

2008 PLAYERS Championship Field
Name Country No. of Appearances Last Time Played Highest Finish
Allen, Michael USA 3 2005 T27 (2005)
Allenby, Robert AUS 11 2007 T4 (2003)
Ames, Stephen CAN 9 2007 1st (2006)
Appleby, Stuart AUS 11 2007 T14 (1997)
Armour, Ryan USA 0 -- -- --
Armour, Tommy III USA 9 2006 T31 (1998)
Austin, Woody USA 9 2007 T16 (2004)
Baddeley, Aaron AUS 4 2007 T37 (2007)
Baird, Briny USA 5 2007 T11 (2003)
Bateman, Brian USA 1 2005 T56 (2005)
Beckman, Cameron USA 4 2005 T26 (2004)
Beem, Rich USA 7 2007 T44 (2002)
Bohn, Jason USA 2 2007 T27 (2006)
Bryant, Bart USA 5 2007 T56 (2006)
Byrd, Jonathan USA 6 2007 T16 (2007)
Cabrera, Angel ARG 5 2006 T26 (2001)
Calcavecchia, Mark USA 21 2007 2nd (1990)
Campbell, Chad USA 5 2007 T6 (2003)
Campbell, Michael NZ 6 2007 T11 (2002)
Casey, Paul ENG 3 2007 T10 (2004)
Cejka, Alex GER 2 2005 T12 (2005)
Choi, K.J. KOR 6 2007 T16 (2006)
Chopra, Daniel SWE 3 2007 T40 (2005)
Cink, Stewart USA 10 2007 T3 (2007)
Clark, Tim SAF 5 2007 T21 (2003)
Coceres, Jose ARG 3 2007 5th (2007)
Couples, Fred USA 24 2006 1st (1984, 1996)
Crane, Ben USA 3 2006 T36 (2006)
Curtis, Ben USA 4 2007 -- --
Davis, Brian ENG 3 2007 T20 (2006)
DiMarco, Chris USA 9 2007 T12 (2007)
Donald, Luke ENG 5 2007 T2 (2005)
Duke, Ken USA 1 2007 T37 (2007)
Elkington, Steve AUS 17 2007 1st (1991, 1997)
Els, Ernie SAF 14 2007 T8 (2006)
Estes, Bob USA 17 2007 T17 (2005)
Fasth, Niclas SWE 3 2007 T21 (2003)
Flesch, Steve USA 9 2007 T38 (2000)
Funk, Fred USA 17 2007 1st (2005)
Furyk, Jim USA 12 2007 T3 (2006)
Garcia, Sergio SPN 8 2007 2nd (2007)
Garrigus, Robert USA 1 2007 -- --
Gay, Brian USA 6 2007 T40 (2001)
Glover, Lucas USA 2 2007 -- --
Goggin, Matthew AUS 2 2007 T12 (2007)
Goosen, Retief SAF 9 2007 2nd (2006)
Gore, Jason USA 2 2007 T23 (2007)
Goydos, Paul USA 9 2007 T38 (1999)
Green, Nathan AUS 2 2007 T16 (2007)
Gronberg, Mathias SWE 1 2007 T72 (2007)
Haas, Bill USA 1 2007 T72 (2007)
Hamilton, Todd USA 4 2007 T58 (2004)
Hansen, Soren DEN 0 -- -- --
Harrington, Padraig IRE 7 2007 2nd (2004)
Hart, Dudley USA 12 2006 T25 (1998)
Hayes, J.P. USA 7 2007 T6 (2007)
Henry, J.J. USA 6 2007 T45 (2006)
Hensby, Mark AUS 2 2006 T73 (2005)
Herron, Tim USA 12 2007 T6 (2005)
Hoffman, Charley USA 1 2007 T75 (2007)
Holmes, J.B. USA 2 2007 T16 (2007)
Howell, Charles III USA 6 2007 T32 (2003)
Imada, Ryuji JPN 2 2007 T68 (2007)
Immelman, Trevor SAF 3 2007 -- --
Jacobson, Fredrik SWE 4 2007 T22 (2006)
Jimenez, Miguel A. SPN 6 2006 T38 (2006, 1999)
Johnson, Richard WAL 0 -- -- --
Johnson, Zach USA 3 2007 T8 (2005)
Jones, Matt AUS 0 -- -- --
Kelly, Jerry USA 12 2007 4th (2001)
Kim, Anthony USA 1 2007 -- --
Kraft, Greg USA 7 2002 T22 (2000)
Kresge, Cliff USA 2 2007 T28 (2007)
Kuchar, Matt USA 3 2004 T16 (2004)
Langer, Bernhard GER 22 2007 2nd (1993, 1995)
Leaney, Stephen AUS 5 2007 -- --
Lehman, Tom USA 16 2007 T2 (1998, 2005)
Leonard, Justin USA 13 2007 1st (1998)
Lonard, Peter AUS 5 2007 T6 (2007)
Love, Davis III USA 22 2007 1st (1992, 2003)
Lowery, Steve USA 14 2007 T6 (1994)
Maggert, Jeff USA 17 2007 3rd (1994)
Mahan, Hunter USA 2 2007 T40 (2005)
Mallinger, John USA 1 2007 T64 (2007)
Marino, Steve USA 1 2007 -- --
Maruyama, Shigeki JPN 9 2007 T14 (2002)
Matteson, Troy USA 1 2007 -- --
Mayfair, Billy USA 18 2007 T5 (2001)
McNeill, George USA 0 -- -- --
Mediate, Rocco USA 18 2007 3rd (2002)
Merrick, John USA 0 -- -- --
Micheel, Shaun USA 6 2007 9th (2004)
Mickelson, Phil USA 14 2007 1st (2007)
Moore, Ryan USA 1 2007 T68 (2007)
Na, Kevin USA 2 2006 -- --
Ogilvie, Joe USA 4 2007 T32 (2005)
Ogilvy, Geoff AUS 6 2007 T16 (2004)
O'Hair, Sean USA 2 2007 11th (2007)
O'Hern, Nick AUS 3 2007 T24 (2005)
Olazabal, Jose Maria SPN 14 2007 T3 (2007)
Overton, Jeff USA 0 -- -- --
Pampling, Rod AUS 5 2007 T27 (2005)
Parnevik, Jesper SWE 13 2007 T23 (1999)
Perez, Pat USA 5 2007 T3 (2006)
Pernice, Tom Jr. USA 8 2007 T27 (2006)
Perry, Kenny USA 19 2007 T3 (2004)
Petrovic, Tim USA 4 2006 T27 (2005)
Pettersson, Carl SWE 4 2007 T8 (2006)
Poulter, Ian ENG 4 2007 T27 (2006)
Quigley, Brett USA 5 2007 T24 (2005)
Quinney, Jeff USA 1 2007 T6 (2007)
Rollins, John USA 5 2007 T8 (2006)
Romero, Andres ARG 0 -- -- --
Rose, Justin ENG 4 2006 T39 (2003)
Sabbatini, Rory SAF 8 2007 T42 (2004)
Scott, Adam AUS 6 2007 1st (2004)
Senden, John AUS 5 2007 T22 (2005)
Singh, Vijay FIJ 15 2007 2nd (2001)
Slocum, Heath USA 5 2007 T44 (2007)
Snedeker, Brandt USA 1 2007 T12 (2007)
Stadler, Kevin USA 0 -- -- --
Stenson, Henrik SWE 2 2007 T3 (2006)
Sterne, Richard SAF 0 -- -- --
Stricker, Steve USA 12 2007 T6 (1999)
Sutherland, Kevin USA 10 2007 T6 (2004)
Taylor, Vaughn USA 3 2007 T8 (2006)
Thompson, Nicholas USA 0 -- -- --
Toms, David USA 15 2007 T12 (2001)
Trahan, D.J. USA 2 2007 -- --
Van Pelt, Bo USA 3 2007 T8 (2006)
Verplank, Scott USA 15 2007 T2 (2005)
Villegas, Camilo COL 2 2007 T3 (2006)
Wagner, Johnson USA 0 -- -- --
Warren, Charles USA 2 2007 T16 (2006)
Watney, Nick USA 1 2007 -- --
Watson, Bubba USA 1 2007 -- --
Weekley, Boo USA 1 2007 T44 (2007)
Weir, Mike CAN 8 2007 T17 (2005)
Westwood, Lee ENG 7 2006 T5 (1998)
Wetterich, Brett USA 1 2007 T52 (2007)
Wi, Charlie KOR 0 -- -- --
Wilkinson, Tim NZ 0 -- -- --
Wilson, Mark USA 1 2007 -- --
Wilson, Dean USA 3 2007 -- --

[Beanie]

Originally Posted by Snodser

Will prob. go with my usual "Big" against the field.
Know nothing about that Kim chap, anyone think he can do it again?, apart from Tiger back to back wins are extremly rare.

Good value on good value players out to Els @30.

Have to back Harry,(tradition) he's the only reason I'm in here and he is definitely even more determined than last year.
20/1ew is worth a shot.

Well Kim might just have a bit of the Tiger in him - during his win this week he could have been excused a final round wobble given his age and given that he had no wins, but he played very solidly again, draining putts from everywhere and not giving the rest a sniff, just the way Tiger tends to close out.

He's got a big drive, attacks pins, and can putt like a dream - so I'd certainly suggest he can do it again - whether his price is value to do so is another matter entirely. Probably not, but worth another look later.

I'd give Els the body swerve - he's been a shadow of his former self recently and is priced up like that purely because he's Ernie. Any other player would be 100+ with his form.

He just doesnt seem interested anymore - there's younger, fitter, even stronger guys out there now.

It started back when he lost the Alfred Dunhill after being 2 shots ahead on the last hole, hit the water twice and missed a tiddler to force a playoff - since then the desire has gone and I dont see him being consistent enough here.

[Snodser]

Originally Posted by Beanie

It started back when he lost the Alfred Dunhill after being 2 shots ahead on the last hole, hit the water twice and missed a tiddler to force a playoff - since then the desire has gone and I dont see him being consistent enough here.

Reminds me of a certain Sevriano, never did come back, still one of the greatest golfers ever to hole a par mind, & what a short game!

No, Els is not part of my "possibles" that said he may well get a win or 2 in the next 24mths. Not ness. in the "main" tournaments.

This has nothing to do with anything but would you believe me if I said I was coached (for 12 lessons) by one Harry Bradshaw...........you may have heard of him.............. Answers on a post to..................

[FC Basher]

Just looking at the Moment
JB Holmes - two visits to this event in 2006 opened with a 71 couldnt improve on that and finished T-38,in 2007 started badly with a 76 but finished 69 68 to finish T-16 probably erratic and not the best putter, unlikely winner,but one to watch if in position after 2 rounds,will probably be over-looked even in the later stages and could sneak a place with what looks a pretty open event.

KJ Choi - Looks the part here and at 40's looks the best priced player at upto and around thoose odds T-23 last year hes best to date.

On Mickleson - Changed his putter and the length of so question marks there,highlighted by the fact hes dropped to 63rd in the putting averges,2006 he was 5th in 2007.

[mrmuzeman]

Merrick, John USA 0 -- -- --

Wonder what his handicap is

[Snodser]

Big 7 (7/4) & Harry 20/1 ew.

Will drop in now & again to see what the experts think .

[Beanie]

Got the skeleton of a preview - will be up tonight - or failing that early am.

Who is in the 'big 7' you got Snods - is Els still considered a 'big'?

[Snodser]

Originally Posted by Beanie

Who is in the 'big 7' you got Snods - is Els still considered a 'big'?

Lefty, Scott, Furyk,Harry, VJ, Ogilvy, Cink. Paddy power.

[Snodser]

By the way Beans, I'll try & get your preview but family commitments may keep me away from here this weekend, even the rugby!

I'll still be with you in spirit mind

[Beanie]

No worries - have a good one. It'll be more for information purposes anyway, will be doing most of my punting in running as usual.

Have to say thats a pretty strong 7 - Scott and Cink are red hot right now, Furyk, Singh and Ogilvy in good form, Harry likes it round here and the defending champ in big Phul. GL

[Snodser]