GolfPicks.BlogSpot.com: Golf Picks Valero Texas Open

Article - Spieth Comes Home

Finishes at Valero

Last 11 Years

2002 (02) Thru 2013 (13)

In Order of Last Years Finish

(L3) Last 3 years

POWER RANKS

Course

Narrow Fairways surrounded by trees and hazards. Need Good Drive accuracy and Scrambling this week. Good Putting will be required as well.

Zach Johnson

Won here twice - in 08 and 09 then MC and hasn't played Valero since. Btt his stats are off the Hook - and set up real well for this course - #3 in Drive Accuracy - (see PR above).

Jordan Spieth

Is back at Home in Texas this week after a week off to prepare. He missed the cut last year and 44th the year before. Sticking with him for a while longer.

Freddie Jacobson

The "Junk Man" can scramble with the best of them and has a good record at Valero.

3 Top 5s and an 18th in the last 4 years. He is also trending right now - finishing 10th and 20th in the last 2 PGA events.

Summerhays Daniel

Is on the sheet again and was 7th last year - Like him at 80-1 LVH.

Brain Davis

Ranked 5th in Power Ranking But was not on the sheet. Really sucks as 1st time winners are a tradition at Valero.

Odds (Good Longshots)

WH	LVH	Player
15	15	Mickelson Phil
15	15	Kuchar Matt
18	15	Johnson Zach
18	18	Spieth Jordan
20	18	Walker Jimmy
22	22	Furyk Jim
28	25	Palmer Ryan
25	25	Hoffman Charley
30	25	Jacobson Freddie
30	30	Steele Brendan
35	30	Kokrak Jason
40	40	Na Kevin
35	30	Horschel Billy
30	40	Hadley Chesson
35	40	MacKenzie Will
50	40	Chappell Kevin
50	40	Laird Martin
40	50	Choi K.J.
40	50	Senden John
50	50	Perez Pat
50	50	Tringale Cameron
75	50	Baddeley Aaron
50	60	Els Ernie
50	60	Knox Russell
50	60	Holmes J.B.
50	60	Ishikawa Ryo
60	60	Koepka Brooks
60	60	Guthrie Luke
60	60	Molder Bryce
100	60	Pettersson Carl
60	80	Harman Brian
60	80	Leonard Justin
75	80	de Jonge Brendon
75	80	Uihlein Peter
75	80	Noh Seung-Yul
100	80	Hoffmann Morgan
100	80	Langley Scott
75	80	Summerhays Daniel
75	80	Colsaerts Nicolas
100	100	Harrington Padraig
125	100	Grace Branden
100	100	Villegas Camilo
100	100	Flores Martin
75	100	Huh John
NA	125	Lee Danny
125	125	Goosen Retief
NA	125	Toms David
NA	125	Immelman Trevor
NA	150	Ogilvy Geoff

PLaying for a Masters Invite:
Chesson Hadley
Ryan Palmer
Peter Uihlein
Charles Howell III
Ryo Ishikawa
Brooks Koepka
Kevin Na

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Round 1
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Our Power Ranks
Storm the First Page of Leaderboard!
144 Players in The Field
1st and 2nd / 3 Tied for 4th

Jordan Spieth In Trouble!

He Bogied 6 of the first 9 Holes (+6). He will need a strong 2nd 9 to keep his hopes alive for a chance to compete this weekend He Birdied 1 (played the back nine first). 5 Over through 12 Holes. 6 to go?

The Comeback KId
Does it again. 6 over heading into the last 9 holes. With the leaders at just around -3. So he didn't try to get it all back in 9 holes. But he got half - Finishing at just (+3).
If he shoots well tomorrow - could be just 2 or 3 off the lead by Saturday.

Phil Mickelson
Said coming in "He's just practicing to win another Major at the Masters."
What an Ego! Bet he felt pretty good - several strokes ahead of Spieth on the front 9.
That didn't last. He was 3 Over by the Final Hole. He had a 2 footer for Bogey.
He missed even that Tap In - to Finish 2 behind Spieth (+5).
Maybe you're just practicing, Period, Phil.

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Round 2
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4 Power Ranks on the First Page!

Perez and McKenzie

Put on a Clinic - Sticking One Approach shot after another. It was Fun to Watch for once this year Real Golf! What a deal. They were both at (-7) but each fell several strokes by the end of the Round. Unfortunately they - like the rest of the field - watched great shots bounce off or roll down the undulating greens. When will the PGA realize that's not want we want to see?

Luck of The Draw
Jordan Spieth drew the short straw in Tee Times this week. Fog, Delay, Wind and Rain first Round. High Winds and Dry Greens the 2nd. Early Late Tee Time had a great advantage. JOrdan did well to survive into the weekend. 6 Over after Friday. He's just (+1) going into Saturday. Mickelson was lucky to makes it at (3+) - Right on the Cut Line.

House of Cards
The Leaderboard has 4 untested and unfamiliar faces on top. 4 Players with multiple Top 10s are right behind them. Look for a new set of leaders by the Final 9 Holes on Sunday.

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Round 3
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LIVE NOW! GOLF CHANNEL - 12 NOON

NBC COMPLETES CONTINUES COVERAGE 12 NOON ON

EARLY ROUND UPDATES

Bowditch (-11)
Holes 2 Chips on his 1st 2 Holes - to Extend his Lead!

Seems like a good nice, humble guy - too bad I have to root against him.

Jordan Spieth

Making a move. 3 Under on front 9 (-2). It would be Miraculous if he came back to steal this one after a 6 Over Start on Friday. He will need the Leaders to Finish around (-10) Today - to have a chance. So Yell "Shank! When the Leaders Tee Off.

Our Power Ranks
Kuchar / Perez and Na still on the First Page 3 and 4 back.

ROUND 3 FINAL

Get Off My Leaderbord!

Until Collins pushed one down - 6 of 8 Names on the First Page were Power Ranks. If the Leader falls - we are ready to Steal This!

Life's Ups and Downs

Have been hard on Steven Bowditch. Over 100 Starts - Only 2 Top10s in his Career.

UP and Downs were his specialty Yesterday. He Missed 11 Fairways and still shot 4 Under.

The Pictures Below illustrate just one of many fantastic saves that kept him on Top.

RESULT

With 3 Rounds in the 60s - He is due for one bad one.
That would the Final Round Make this Anyone's Game.
We'll see?

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Final Round
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EARLY ROUND UPDATES

You can only do This so many times
Before it Bites you in the Ass
Ball Rolls Past Green Into Bunker
Double Bogey!

Bowditch In Trouble

He Dropped 3 Strokes on the First 4 Holes. Tied with Power Rank - Matt Kuchar for First (-9)

Leaders have Stalled
Around 8 and 9 Under on Front Nine

Bowditch Leading (-10) After 5
Continues to Take the Scenic Route

RESULT Bogey (-9)

Jordan Spieth

(-5) After 9 - Needs the Leaders to Stall and about 5 More Birdies - would be a Miracle?
He just Missed a 12 footer on 8 and then This Chip (Below) by half an inch! Those 2 missed Birdies would have put him just 2 back. He'll need to Light up the back 9 and Hope the Trouble at the Top Continues.

Loupe Falls

Out of the Race with a Double Bogie on 7 (-5). Bowditch (-9) Spinning his Wheels as well.
Kuchar Failing to Take Advantage. SummerHayes (-7) and McKenzie (-6) Gaining Ground.

JUST YOUR AVERAGE SUNDAY FINAL ON THE PGA

HE WHO CRASHES LEAST WINS
THIS IS STUPID
PGA!
MAKE THE COURSES PLAYABLE!

Spieth Not Immune

Drops a shot on 11 (-4) . 7 Holes Left - Not Looking good.

Loupe (-5) On The Clock

For slow Play. In the Bunker on 8. Went over allotted time (50 Sec) this Hole (56 Sec).

Received Warning - next Violation = Penalty 1 Stroke.

Summerhayes

Just Missed and Easy 3 footer for Bogey to Fall Out of Sole 3rd. (-6)

HEADING INTO FINAL BACK 9

Perez
Losing his Cool on 11th - From Bunker to Rough and then Whifs is Chip only 12 feet onto Fringe. Drops 2 shot to (-4)

Bowditch
Sole 1st (-9)

Kuchar
3 Puts 10 - Dropping to 2nd (-8)
Drops Another on 11 (-7)

Bowditch
OK - Off the Rock - Into Official - Back onto Rough. Better Lucky than Good Sometimes.
That Probably Just Saved him The Lead

HERE'S WHATS WRONG WITH THE PGA

SUMMERHAYES APPROACH ON 13

BALL LANDS POINT A

ENDS UP POINT B

GREAT SHOTS ARE NOT REWARDED

That Far from Being Over!

With a 2 Shot Lead - And Just 7 Holes Left -

Bowditch (-9) Puts for Birdie and it Stops a half turn from Going In.

Bowditch (-9) After 12
Kuchar (-7) After 12.

Bowditch Lips Out on a 5 Foot Put (-8) After 12.
Kuchar (-7) After 12.

Summerhayes Birdie! (-7) After 14.
In Trouble on 15 Long Par Put?

MacKenzie
Long Birdie Put! (-7) After 17.

Bowditch BIRDIE! (-9) After 14
Kuchar BOGIE! (-6) After 14.

4 HOLES LEFT!

Summerhayes Bogey! (-6) After 15.
Come On Dan! I Got $800 if this guy wins. $10 @ 80-1
Sticks Approach on 16 Inside 10 Feet! Birdie! (-7)

Bowditch PAR (-9) After 15

Bowditch Laying Low

Waiting to Tee Off on 16

Bowditch (-9) Hits Another Human on 16 as He Pushes it Right into Stadium Gallery.
I Swear - Hitting People has saved him 3 or 4 shots today.
Don't Swing till you see the Whites of their eyes?
Loupe (-6) Tees off behind him - Hits the same Crowd.
Kuchar (-6) Tees off behind him - Hits the same Crowd.

The Sponsors will have "Helmet Day" on Sunday next year.
Bobby Jones just rolled over in his grave.

MacKenzie
Leader In The Clubhouse (-7)

Summerhayes
Sticks Difficult Approach on 17!

Loupe (-6) Great chip inside 4 feet Par - (-6)
Bowditch (-9) Sticks another chip shot from the Rough inside 3 feet Par - (-9)
Kuchar (-6) Great chip inside 3 feet Par - (-6)

Summerhayes
OMG! Put Lips out on 17! PAR
Well, that's what I mean - Makes Golf exciting when you have $800 Riding on a Put.
Nicer when they make it though. (-7) After 17.

Bowditch
(-9) On 17th - Spectator Yells during his Backswing. Stops Resets.
Pushes it Right! Through Cart Path into Dirt.
Another Good Save - On the Green 35 Feet for Birdie?
(2 Shot Lead) Should be Easy 2 Put unless he get the "Yips".

Summerhayes
On PAR 5 18th - Tee Shot - Fairway on 18
Shot 2 - Lays up - Wouldn't be my Call - 2 back on Last Hole.
Even if He Birdies - Bowditch has the same Par 5 Next.
If the leader Finishes Par / Par He's can't win. Well See?

Bowditch
On PAR 4 17th Birdie Put - Inside 2 Feet. PAR (-9)

Summerhayes On PAR 5 18th
3rd shot - Short of Pin by 40 feet. Laid up too Far Back - Bad Move!
4th Shot - 40 foot Put misses by an Inch - 3 Feet Past. PAR (-7)

THIS IS IT!

Summerhayes
Leader In The Clubhouse (-7)
MacKenzie
Leader In The Clubhouse (-7)
Kuchar and Loupe
(-6) on 18th with Bowditch

Bowditch
On the Tee - PAR 5 18th

6 Shots to Win.

PUSHES IT WAY LEFT! Left of Rough in cabbage just short of desert.

Shot 2

Lands In the Fairway

Oh Great, They just explained the guy has suffered from depression for years.
Now I can't even yell shank. For real. Feel bad Rooting against him. If he blows this - can't be good for depression.

Well, He just landed on the Green with his 3rd shot. So unless he 4 puts from 50 feet - he's safe. I - on the other hand - may Buy a Gun and Slit My Wrist. 2 Power Ranks in the Clubhouse with the lead. Hey - Good for him. Not Over yet though. Kuchar still has an Approach shot for Eagle from a crap lie in the Rough - OK pretty Much Over.

WOW! Kuchar almost hits the Pin! But bounces off green into Rough.

Bowditch Puts to Inside 3 Feet. WOW! Lips Out! Pushes in.

Bowditch Wins
Good for Him!

POWER RANKS

2ND / 3RD / 4TH AND 6TH