Goosen seeks defence at Transitions
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 Transitions Championship | Preview | 17 Mar 2010
With just three more tournaments to play before the first major of 2010, this week’s Transitions Championship performs a significant role as a lead in event to the Masters.
Several players now considered amongst the favourites for Augusta National are in the field and despite the overnight announcement by Tiger Woods that he will now seek his 5th green jacket there remains much interest in their performances in coming weeks.
The tournament is again being played at the host venue since its debut as the Tampa Bay Classic in 2000, the Larry Packard designed Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club to the north and west of Tampa on Florida’s west coast.
Retief Goosen defends a title which last year gave him his first PGA Tour victory in nearly three years. He defeated Brett Quigley and Charles Howell by one shot with Howell dropping shots late in his round after moving into a share of the lead.
Despite a poor week last week at the WGC tournament at Doral, Goosen has played well enough in 2010 for him to be considered at least a chance to successfully defend.
Another playing well in 2010 and with a little form on this golf course is the world number two Steve Stricker. Stricker finished 4th in 2009 after being well in contention with nine holes to play. He also finished 14th in the event in 2008 which included an impressive final round of 66.
Vijay Singh has not played in this event in the past two years but he is a previous winner and a runner up and appears of late to have regained some of the form and confidence he displays when at his best.
Stewart Cink has put in one or two good tournaments this season and does enjoy a good record in this event. He is not at his peak but is slowly but surely reaching that point and could be a factor.
Jim Furyk has seldom played this event but he did lead after round one last year before finishing well back. At some point Furyk will begin to play at the level we saw from him late in 2009 and if it was this week it would not surprise.
Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter are playing this event for the first occasion but both are in very good form. Harrington shared the lead late in last week’s WGC event before finishing 3rd and Poulter, although yet to win a strokeplay event on the USPGA Tour, did win the recent Accenture Match Play.
Another European with prospects this week is Luke Donald. Donald has not played this event in the past six years but is playing well and has won in Florida previously.
The Australasian challenge is headed by Geoff Ogilvy who has recorded two top tens in four starts in this tournament. After an early season win in Hawaii Ogilvy has been a little below his best since and will need to improve significantly if he is to be a chance.
John Senden is playing well enough and importantly has been twice second in the past three years at this tournament. Senden finished 11th at last week’s WGC.
Jason Day, James Nitties, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Jones, Adam Scott, Nathan Green, Mathew Goggin, Greg Chalmers, Stuart Appleby, Nick O’Hern and Rod Pampling along with New Zealander Tim Wilkinson make up the balance of the Australasians.
