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PGA Tour Golf, NEC Invitational
Th Aug 19 – 20.00 BST (SS2)
Fr Aug 20 – 20.00 BST (SS2)
Sa Aug 21 – 19.30 BST (SS2)
Su Aug 22 – 19.30 BST (SS2)
This week's event, played on the par-70 South course at Firestone,
will feel like a stroll in the park after Whistling Straits
last week. Tiger Woods heads a competitive field, and will
go off favourite on the back of his outstanding record here
(3rd, 5th, 1st, 1st, 1st, 4th), but he was playing less badly
last year and still got beat by six shots. It is surely only
a question of time before he snaps out of his current dearth
of victories, but the man who looked most likely to come on
for last week's run is Phil Mickelson. Winner of the 1996
World Series of Golf at Firestone, Lefty has finished solo
second, tied for fourth, tied for eighth, tied for ninth and
tied for 23rd in his five NEC Invitational starts since. After
taking a month off before the USPGA he will be a lot sharper
this week.
Next month's Ryder Cup holds the key to the final two picks
this week. Stewart Cink will be on a massive high after getting
the call-up from Captain Hal Sutton this week, and he is highly
likely to raise his game as a result of the pressure being
lifted. His form at this venue is not bad either – two
results within the top-13 places – while his 17th place
last week brought his current tournament run of top-20's to
six, three of which were top-6 finishes. He may not be the
most accurate of drivers but lapses off the tee are not overly
punished here, a remark that also applies to this week's final
pick, Fredrik Jacobson. The Swede needs a good showing this
week, or in next week's BMW International Open, to climb the
one place on the world points list to earn an automatic spot
in the European Ryder Cup team. Last week's performance from
Chris DiMarco showed how this can be a powerful motivational
tool for any player, and this could be just the incentive
that Jacobson needs. What's more his putting (7th in putts
per round stats) will be a major asset this week on greens
that have a reputation for being super slick.
Nigel's Three Off The Tee... Mickelson @ 15/2, Stewart Cink
@ 40/1, Fredrik Jacobson @ 66/1. Each way ¼ odds, 1.2.3.4.5.
Bet this tournament In-Running throughout.
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