The.Frozen.Predictions- RBC Heritage

  With yet another Masters which didn't disappoint we are left wondering what's next? the next major, next masters? well that's fifty-one weeks away, so the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town will have to do. Lets be honest its a decent follow up, with the course being a classic Pete Dye creation (with input from Jack Nicklaus) Harbour Town Golf Links has for years been a PGA tour favourite. But hopefully not their favourite winners jacket. Also the short trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina from Augusta, Georgia all contribute to the strong field. Canadian bias of the week: a few years ago the Royal Bank of Canada stepped up and saved the tournament when they needed a sponsor. So hopefully one of the young Canadians can step up for the win, I'm looking at you Graham DeLaet, and the rest of Team RBC.

The Course:

Harbour Town Golf Links
Par: 71    Length: 7,101
Architect: Pete Dye
Purse: 5,800,000 (1st- 1.04 mil.)

  My first memories of this course came from Microsoft Links Golf which predates Tiger's arrival on tour shout out to Windows 3.0. What was true then is still true now its' a ball strikers paradise where hitting fairways and greens are a must. So leave the big hitters on the bench and look to the guys rolling the rock and hitting a lot of fairways and greens. Just like defending Champion Carl Pettersson, who when his broom stick is working can go low, with his five shot victory over Zach Johnson.


Recent Winners:
2012 Carl Pettersson (-14)
2011 Brandt Snedeker (-12)
2010 Jim Furyk (-13)
2009 Brian Gay (-20)*
2008 Boo Weekley (-15)


*tournament record



This weeks Yahoo picks:

A-list: 

Charles Howell III: He was trending in the right direction trying to get back to The Masters his hometown event. After falling short look for him to come out with extra motivation this week.

Brandt Snedeker: Whos year has had more highs and lows then Snedeker and following his disappointing finish Sunday. The ribs look healed and he`s due for some more highs.

Bill Haas: Has the ball striking to be in contention but the question has to be can he do it on the weekend.

Notables: Boo Weekley, Brian Davis and Tim Clark


B-list:

Luke Donald: Doesnt have the length to contend at Augusta good thing this isn't Augusta. Like Tiger last week you have to have him on the roster.

Matt Kuchar: His slow and steady game settles up well here. And how often does he finish outside the top 25?

Carl Pettersson: He won last year and the broomstick mafia is here too stay, giving the a big F-U to the rule 14- 1b. Best gut in sports well golf for sure, so why not?
  
Notables: Zach Johnson, Ernie Els, Aaron Baddeley and Graham Delaet (follow his wife on twitter)











C-list:

Jason Day: Well he didn't win last week for Aussies but he does have the game to be at the top of the leaderboard again this week.


Billy Horschel: Although its his first time teeing it up at Harbour Town, his first win is coming soon.

Notables: Harris English, Kevin Streelman, Canadian Brad Fritsch and Pat Perez (for my boy Shiz)


So if The Masters didn't make you want to get out and play well you shouldn't be reading this blog, but if you made it this far you should get a treat...

 God I hope the next Break Big is close to a beach.

-The.Frozen.Golfer

The Week That Was.. The Masters

  Tour players, Golf legends and fans all circle Masters week on their calenders for a reason, and the 'tradition unlike any other' surely delivered. From Wednesday Par 3 contest to Sunday and the final putt fell in a playoff. There was no shortage of headlines, keeping millions of viewers were glued to the TV screen and if you weren't you should have...

                                                  The Big Three & The Par Three

 
     As the tournament starts we are treated to the yearly reunion of Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, they highlight the Par 3 contest and hit the opening tee shot, with patrons lining up at dawn too catch a glimpse. If your unfamiliar The Master doesn't include a pro-am, so we have the par 3 contest. From current stars to past champions even past major winners, who never won at Augusta, come to play. Girlfriends, wives, children & grandchildren all take part. How can you not enjoy seeing golf's big three (Jack, Arnold, Gary) competing again. Or the eye candy behind the ropes thanks Paulina (right). But there's still the curse, no one has won both the par3 and the tournament in the same week.

                                       Guan Tianlang, The 14 year old from China...

  When you consider the remarkable story for the 14 year old beating pass major winners and locking down the sliver cup on Friday. Its hard to imagine another kid having a better week then Guan Tianlang, forget that month, he did arrive at Augusta three weeks prior to the event. Playing practice rounds with Ben Crenshaw, Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods, could be enough for best week ever. Forget about being the youngest ever competitor at the Masters a mark that I hope isn't surpassed in my lifetime. I feel old enough talking about a 14 year old. With all the attention if he came out and failed to break 90 everyone would have understood. This kid proved you better believe the hype he opened with a 73 and beat players like defending champ Bubba Watson. And shut up PGA tour players who were critical of his invite (click here). He didn't stop there in the second round he was assessed a one shot penalty for slow play, which he handled with class. To still go on and lock up low amateur honours as the only one to make the cut, at +12 (73-75-77-75). If Adam Scott is the first Australian to win the Masters, Guan Tianlang could be the first from China.



                                                         Tiger F'n Wood Ya'll....

  It's been said Tiger doesn't move the needle he is the needle and that was no more evident then Saturday at Augusta should he have been DQ'd? Should he WD? What happens if he wins? What if he doesn't? Everyone has an opinion. Personally I have no problem with him playing. What I can't understand is if the drop was reviewed after the round why did it take his post round interview to cause the penalty if your fine with in the scorer's tent. Leave it at that the rules are confusing enough and now every fool watching at home is calling to have an affect. This doesn't happen in any other sport. No one is calling to call a travel when Lebron take three steps for a dunk. But this is golf and the age we live in.

  As we all know now Tiger wasn't able to win his 15 major, but this has to feel like it was his to win and late Friday on the back nine he was tied for the lead, looking like he was going to have a tap in for birdie on the 15th and then he hits the flag, one bad bounce and the ball ends up in the water and then there's drop gate. Ultimately ending with Tiger taking an eight on the hole and after he finished T4 at five under and the playoff number being nine under. What if ? he doesn't hit the flag has to be factored in. Will all that I think Mr. Woods will win his 15 and possibly his 16 major this year, and he has Lindsay Vonn to help with the disappointment.



                                               Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi....

 
 Well Adam Scott who for years has been in the discussion for best players without a major and after last years collapse at the Open, it's hard to be happy for him. A well liked guy at the magic age of 32 (the avg. age of Masters winners), winning for Norman, winning for Australia. It was a finish that has rightfully eclipsed all the other story lines and rightfully so. Sunday at the Masters is known for the roars and birdies and great golf that needs to be played down the stretch. And Angel Cabrera wasn't going to go away quietly either, when he stuck his approach on 18 to within 3 feet he looked poised to win his 2nd masters even if he's ranked 230 something in the world. There's just something about that drive down Magnolia lane that can change a players week.

  Aussie's and there was a few with a chance late on Sunday Jason Day was in the mix until a bogey on the 16th ended his push. Marc Leishman the unknown Aussie in the hunt, played the final round with Scott was the first round leader and has earned the right to be on my fantasy team at some point this year. After all that it's still Adam Scott's moment and he earned it with a birdie on 18 that if you saw his reaction you must have thought he won, but Cabrera matched him. The weirdest stat of the day has to be with all the Masters playoffs in history none have gone farther then the second playoff hole, edition 2013 was no different. It wasn't Bubba from the pine straw but at 20 footer to win golf's greatest major who has dreamt of that...

-The.Frozen.Golfer

The Masters... What's For Dinner

Last night Bubba Watson hosted his Champions dinner, and kept us guessing what he would serve. Although he's wild and a little nuts. After seeing his menu started with Caesar salad, followed by grilled Chicken breast with sides of green beans, mashed potatoes, corn, macaroni and cheese and cornbread. Confetti cake and vanilla ice cream were served for dessert. I'm sure he's the guy who won't try anything different, we all know that someone. Here's what Sir Nick Faldo thought tweeting #HappyMeal. I think that's his dry British attempt at an insult. 

























And I know the three people who actually read my blog are wondering who I have this week. (Hint: Tiger) But I want to win all four majors this year in my fantasy league. So here's a good article from the commish, also its his day job. Pat Mayo of rotoexperts.com click here!


I promised to keep the hits coming this week with the masters only 24 hours away. Speaking of hits have you heard about Ray Js new joint. (yea the dude from that sextape you know you watched) So don't miss the par 3 contest wrap up tomorrow.

-The.Frozen.Golfer

The Masters...A Walk To Remember

It's FINALLY here and I'll everyday this week cause why not? IT'S MASTERS WEEK!!!

  A verse familiar to most golfers is a "good walk spoiled", this week even shooting 80 can't completely spoil your day (just ask Rory). Because it's Augusta National Golf Club.


Most of us will never see the course but have memories of holes there that rival those of our home course. Professionals who play around the world on the best courses blush like school girls when they talk about it. Patrons with a golden ticket smile bigger than a fat kid inside Willy Wonka's factory. And for the rest of us we can relive the drive down magnolia lane through our TVs. And we can rejoices know spring has sprung and we have the most exciting golf weekend of the year.

-The.Frozen.Golfer

The week that was... Valero Texas Open

Since we're forced to wait extra week for the years first major, here's my final thoughts on the week that was... Billy Horschel needs to claim down, Rory's is back, Siem was oh so close and who's Martin Laird? Plus I really cant wait for the Masters just so I don't have to listen to Johnny Miller at least for a week.


My pick Billy Horschel hung in tough and put on a putting display his friend Tiger could be proud of, but is he too fired up on the course and if he had won a few majors a legend named Tom Watson and the like would call his behaviour disrespectful and unprofessional. After a Texas two step that gave him back to back top 3 finishes. Going into Sunday he looked the most likely to be the last player earning a tee time Thursday at Augusta. That same emotion and intensity that gave him the 54 hole lead, may have cost his first tour victory. We all know the guy who screams and breaks a club on the course and his normally the same guy saying he needs to stay loose, comments also made by Horschel. If he keeps putting the way he did on Saturday making over 240 feet of putts, a win is in the near future. Personally I think the tour should let guys like him smoke the occasional joint. 
 

After the rocky start to the season and with all the hype for the move to Nike and being the world #1 Rory McIlroy. Wasn't living up to the expectations, and with the bad taste left in this mouth from the 2011 Masters can you blame him for the last minute decision to play this week. After a 2nd place finish and four solid rounds (72, 67, 71, 66) on a tough course, Rory looks posed to be a popular pick to content next week. Maybe he needs to listen to Arnold Palmer and tee it up at Bay Hill next year, then we wont hear I need more reps and he wont be asked if he has broken up with his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, (right) he's not stupid.

The fairy tale story of the year had to be Marcel Siem, last week he won on the European tour and for the moment got within the top 50 and in the field for The Masters. Only to have Henrik Stenson's finish in Houston knock him out. So the organizers of this week's Valero Texas Open offered him a sponsors exemption. Late Sunday he was one shot back until a triple bogey seven on the 12th hole. With that Cinderella's slipper didn't fit, I hope he got some Texas BBQ out of the trip.

Martin Laird the streak buster, with his bogey free nine under 63 the low round for the week. He's not only won a cool 1.1 million, he's playing next week at Augusta too. The streak he broke was the American revolution of sorts on tour, with American's winning the first 14 events of the year. Laird being Scottish also tied the score record with his 63. Starting five shots back I doubt he truly thought he was going to finish as the winner, especially when you consider his best finish prior was a T-34 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

-The.Frozen.Golfer

This week in Golf...

Well we know the major season in golf has arrived  the ladies are playing the Kraft Nabisco this week and the guys are playing the Masters next week. So in the world of golf there's no shortage of headlines:



First we have Annika  Sorenstam attacking Michelle Wie, well if you call speaking the true an attack you can read more on it here at golfchannel.com. But shortly after Annika contacted Michelle to claim she was misquoted, what she should have done is offer her some lessons in winning tournaments.





 
With Bubba Watson doing countless media appearances to promote The Masters, Oakley did one of the coolest things we've seen lately in golf. In trying to justify stealing Bubba from Travis Matthew last year. (something it has to be pointed out they plan to sue Nike for doing with Rory) Well now we know Oakley offered Bubba a hovercraft as a cherry on top. check out the link here!

And if you think that's cool just look at the watch he wears worth a cool 525,000.00.







 

And the Masters scripting has been released, I don't know if I like idea of clothing companies knowing what golfers are wearing months in advance. Then again these are the times we live in. I couldn't do a better job with the details then mygolfspy so check out their take on @NIKEGOLF

And I want to say I told you so, Billy Horschel is doing alright at the Valero this week!

-The.Frozen.Golf

The.Frozen.Predictions- Valero Texas Open

Can we just fast forward to masters week? A question posted by most of the golfing world and endorsed by The.Frozen.Golfer. So this week's tour stop The Texas Valero Open has few subplots that don't end with next week in Augusta... But let's highlight the best event in San Antonio not named the Spurs.

The Facts: Valero Texas Open previously the Texas Open which dates back to 1922. With a winners  that include Sam Snead, Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer. Is currently played at TPC San Antonio Oaks course, the love child of architect Greg Norman and his ex future son in law Sergio Garica. The layout of 7,433 yards, par 72 has been known to produce low scores, as has the event as there hasn't been a winner over par since 1934. 

Recent Winners:
2012 Ben Curtis (-8)  
2011 Brendan Steele (-8)
2010 Adam Scott (-14)
2009 Zach Johnson (-15)
2008 Zach Johnson (-19)


This weeks yahoo picks:

 First lets just say Kevin Na didn't make the list. if you really need a reason watch this!

A- List:

Padraig Harrington: We haven't heard much from him this season, but with my St. Patty's day hangover finally wearing off, why not find some luck of the Irish.

J.J. Henry:  Well he's from Texas and this is his Open, playing for pride usually causes bridies to drop.

Gary Woodland: It's about time he plays up to his potential. Plus his Jayhawks didn't make it to the final four so we should have his full attention this weekend.   

Brendon de Jonge: Every year he seems to fly under the radar, I think this week we'll see him #duffering with his first trophy.

Rory McIlroy: More Irish

B- List:

Jimmy Walker: I had him on the list last week and he was in the mix until this thrid round 78 but rebounded well with a ten shot swing 68 Sunday. Also a Texan!

Aaron Baddeley: He can surely putt and on a course where you have to make bridies I think he'll be fine.

Feddie Jacobson: He definitely dresses Swedish, and if you read my previous post I'm a fan of Peacocking (look it up)  
 
Jim Furyk: If the past Ryder Cup is still leaving a bad taste in you mouth get over it, you're not throwing away a pick with Jim. Also Fluff has a serious duster!

Bud Cauley: Another young gun posed to make some noise in the wild west.


C- List: 

It has to be noted the chioces in the C section seem more likely to produce a winner that the other two, but here's my who's who.

Charl Schwartzel: Like Snedeker at the start of the season he was one of the hottest golfers on the planet, but he wasn't sidelined with a bad rib.

Ian Poutler:  Unlike our buddy Furyk he left chi-town on top of the world but he has yet to show it, look for this week to be different.

Brendan Steele: He's a past winner and after this video with my favourite big breaker of all time,(@sarabrowngolf ) he deserves a second look. 

Billy Horschel: If he keeps playing like this we could see him tee it up next week as well.

Share Lowry:  Why not more Irish. And I like anyone I know will share a burger with me.


Notable Texans: Chad Campbell, Ryan Palmer, Colt Knost, Justin Lenard, Jordan Speith, Hunter Hass.

My final thoughts need to be mentioned I won the winter segment of my fantasy pool with the a score of 1983, the same year I was born. It's a sign. And if you need a sign that spring is truly around the corner you can thank Golf Digest and Holly Sonders for this offering, which can surely melt any leftover snow on your home course!!

If you missed the link here it is again you can thank me in the comments below (http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2013-05/photos-holly-sonders#slide=1)

The.Frozen.Golfer