The Masters

Ladies and Gentlemen, "A tradition like no other" is back. Yes, I am talking about The Masters. The only major in golf that plays on the same course every year at the legendary Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

This is the best major of them all and the one everyone wants to be associated with especially if you're an American. Then again the U.S. Open is pretty damn bad ass as well. But with that said lets talk the main players and what to expect.

First off, with Tiger's huge comeback win last week he is the obvious favorite. Looking for his fifth green jacket and fifteenth overall major, Woods seems to be back in full stride and I expect at least a top 5 finish. If anyone has watched the last two years, Woods hasn't play good at all but somehow manages to stay up on the leader board. If he has a good start Thursday and Friday, just give him a jacket and get ready for Easter.

Second guy to talk about is Phil Mickelson. Lefty did not play well last week but he is sporadic and has frequently rebounded from tough stretches his whole career. The key for Phil is to get off to a good start because he is not a type of guy to make a charge on Sunday at a major. Lefty is a two time Masters champ and if he doesn't pull his well known blow ups, he could definitely win.

Padraig Harrington...this is the guy who has won the last two majors. Woods wasn't there, but this is not the type of player would choke under Tigers pressure. Paddy won the British Open in some of the most ridiculous conditions remembered and then gutted out a two stroke victory at the PGA championship. The worse the weather conditions are, the better chance Padraig has to win. Precision with the irons is not exactly the wheel house of Paddy like it is with Woods and Mickelson (when he is playing well he may even be better than Tiger..big if though), so I actually am not a big fan of Paddy in this major as I am the others.

The last two champions of the this event are relatively unknown to casual golf fans. Trevor Immelmen from South Africa is the defending champ and America's Zach Johnson won it a two years ago. Now if they hadn't won this before I would think they would have no chance, especially someone like a Johnson who's ball flight is relatively low compared to most tour pros. But if the course is playing hard rather then soft, it gives more people like Zach Johnson a chance.

My dark horse to win is Geoff Ogilvy. Thanks to a choke from Phil, he won the US Open a couple years ago and plays well on tough courses and against top fields.

On a complete different topic I am presently listening to the main theme of one of my favorite movies, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS starring Charlton Heston and Yul Brenner. This movie is an EPIC...something like 220 minutes. But it is well worth it and they play it every year the day before Easter on ABC...



-The Diesel

The Tiger Hunters

With Tiger Woods injuring his knee and missing most of the 2008 season, it opened the door for other players around the world to showcase their talents. A few stepped up to the plate and these are three of the guys I expect to give Tiger a run in the major tournaments and close that humongous gap in the world rankings between number one Woods and number two Mickelson.



Padraig Harrington stepped up big time in 2008 winning the last two majors and displayed great nerve while doing it, particularly at the British Open. During those horrendous conditions, Harrington bombarded the back nine with birdies and eagles alike for a come from behind win over the shark Greg Norman. But...could Harrington have left his best game behind him? Possibly, but I don't thing Padraig is like that. His game isn't about overpowering the course with long drives but rather with precision accuracy with irons and clutch putting under pressure which cannot be taught. Lets just say Harrington would have enjoyed himself more in World War I rather than World War II. Expect Harrington to win a US Open before a Masters.



Anthony Kim. I am very much looking forward to this young mans career. Kim can do it all, and after blowing out Sergio Garcia at the Ryder Cup, I expect Kim feels he has the game and the attitude to win multiple majors. He's young (23 years old) and hes cocky. The talent is certainly there, but does he have the discipline that Woods had at his age. Kim won twice on tour this year, notably at the AT & T National, who's field consists of all the top pros.



Sergio, Sergio, Sergio....Sergio has been a "young gun" now for about ten years ever since he burst on to the scene in 1999 challenging Woods at the PGA Championship, eventually losing. Since then he has had a number of close calls, but still no major victories. I expect this to change over the next two seasons. However, let me make this very clear....GARCIA IS A LITTLE BITCH....Wanna see something cool? How about Mr. Garcia spitting in a cup after missing a putt..



But, the man can golf his ball, and its only a matter of time before he loses his major virginity.

-THE DIESEL