Is this the week for an Australian USPGA victory?
IN: News | US PGA | Funai Classic (2004) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 20 Oct 2004
As official, full field events on the 2004 USPGA Tour draw to a close, there is still a lot of uncompleted business for those looking for these last two events to make or break a season.
The top 125 needs to be sorted either here or next week in Tampa, the top thirty who will get their chance to play the Tour Championship is still on the line, as is the chance to play the Masters for those hovering around the top forty and not otherwise eligible. So any feeling of end of season spirit might exist for some but for many there is still much work to do.
The tournament is played over the Magnolia and Palms courses at the Walt Disney Resort near Orlando, both courses built in 1971. Both have undergone changes from their original Joe Lee design and have had their greens re-grassed to now carry Tifdwarf. Magnolia course will host the event with one of the four rounds being played over the Palms course.
Vijay Singh starts the hot favourite, and rightly so, although the odds that are available on him in most agencies hardly make it worth a punt. The $4 or $5 dollars for a dollar invested that is available highlights just how good and how highly regarded Singh is, but they are almost unbackable odds in a field of 156 very hungry players. We have seen on many occasions this year with players like Andre Stolz, Todd Hamilton, Mark Hensby and Rod Pampling and others winning that the number of players capable of winning on the USPGA Tour is much broader than it has ever been and others seem more attractive. Mind you come Monday I will probably be saying that they were good odds.
Singh does go well here however having won the event last year and although not quite as sharp as he was a month ago, he is still Vijay Singh.
Chris DiMarco was second here in 2002 and although he does not win out of turn, and has not won this year, his game is in great shape. He has had two weeks off since the American Express to recharge the batteries for his run to the finish line this season and may well be worth a bet.
Jim Furyk has not played often here and has not done all that well when he has. After his missed cut last week I can't get excited about his prospects.
Two weeks ago Scott Verplank looked like he was done for the year with injury problems, but he bounced back with a reasonable tournament in Las Vegas. When he was last in Orlando at Bay Hill, he finished third a week after his runner up placing at Doral and with a runner up finish here last year, if he is clear of injury, I like his chances.
Tom Lehman seems to be getting better and better every week and three top fives in his last four starts are hard to argue with. He has continued to play well here even when he has not been playing well overall so he has a real chance.
There are however several Australians who it can be argued have every reason to expect a good week.
Stuart Appleby continues to play very solidly in recent weeks and with some good form in Florida generally, he can be back in the winner's circle again.
Rod Pampling is playing just so consistently since his win that I would think a good showing here is not out of the question. He has been 14th and 16th in his last two starts and played very well here in his only start in this event in 2002. He plays well in Florida and for longer odds there is a bit of logic there.
Mark Hensby seems to be available at some very good odds about the place and with his 11th place at the American Express at his last start he deserves more respect. He was 9th in Canada not so long ago and doesn't seem to mind Bermuda.
Of the other Australasians Lonard would love to finish off a rather ordinary season with a big flourish. He has kept his card safely enough but in what has been a year that promised so much before his early season accident and has delivered so little, a turn of fortune would be welcome.
Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley, Craig Parry, Stephen Leaney, Steve Allan, Scott Hend and Craig Perks round out the boys from down under.
