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Stanley
06-21-2004, 05:43 PM
Outright plays (1.5pts):

Tim Herron to win 25/1 e.w. @ Sportingbet, Sporting Odds, Paddy Power and Victor Chandler
Should really avoid people who played at the weekend given the brutal nature of the course, or rather, the greens. But Herron was never in contention and outplayed his partner, Tiger Woods, in the final round. It was his fourth top-20 in five starts and that includes two top-5 finishes last month. Having finished in the top-10 in 2000 and 2001 here, he has shown that he can master this course and is in the form to do so again.

Tim Clark to win 33/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
Committing the same error here. Clark came from nowhere last week with a 3rd round 66, but was realistically still out of contention with one round to play. He finished alongside Herron in 13th place and like Herron, this was just the latest result in a run of good form: his third top-15 in three four starts. He had a top-20 finish on his debut at Avenel two years ago, so unless the fatigue factor from Shinnecock Hills is too severe, he should also continue his good form on this course.

Luke Donald to win 33/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler
On much firmer ground here with Donald who did not qualify for last week's event. But on his last outing two weeks ago, he finished 7th and that was his 7th top-20 finish in 15 starts this year. He almost gained his second Tour victory when he lost to John Daly in the playoff for the Buick Invitational in February and could certainly make amends this week. He has played this course previously and he completes a trio of players in good form who match the criteria for success around Avenel - good at hitting greens in regulation, but not necessarily good putters given the very small size of the greens.

Stanley
06-22-2004, 06:25 PM
Matchup plays (1.5pts):

Joe Durant to beat Kris Cox -111 @ SIA
This is a short, tight course with small greens so the driving accuracy and greens in regulations are important this week and there is quite a difference between these two players. While Durant lies 5th and 2nd in these categories on Tour, Cox lies 154th and 126th. Add in the fact that Cox has not played this course and Durant finished 2nd last year and this should be a win for Durant.

Justin Leonard to beat John Daly -120 @ Bet365
It is amazing to think that Daly is ranked 2nd in All-Round Ranking on the Tour, but he is still being opposed anyway. They are in comparable current form, but there is a huge difference between them on this course. Leonard won this event in 1997 and has had four top-5 finishes in eight visits, while Daly has missed four of his last five cuts here. The rest of his game has improved enormously this year, but he is still wild off the tee and that will be penalised around Avenel.

Griswold
06-23-2004, 12:32 AM
Stanley,

Does it concern you at all taking Harron b/c of the same reason you didn't like Daly? I know you said that Harron has 2 top 10 finishes here in the last three stops but his DA ranks 165, only 5 spots ahead of Daly.

I respect your opinion and appreciate all that you do for this forum.

Stanley
06-23-2004, 10:35 AM
Griswold,

Very true, but my point would be that Herron successfully adapts his game to Avenel else he would not be able to score well here. Daly has not been able to curb his wild driving and so misses cuts here.

A look back at the tournament stats confirms this. Herron's driving accuracy stats on this course:

2003: 75%
2002: 57%
2001: 70%
2000: 75%
1998: missed the cut
1999: 71%

Apart from 2002, these all compare favourably to his current driving accuracy average of 55%.

Stanley
06-23-2004, 05:47 PM
Adding (1.5pts):

Bo Van Pelt to beat Brian Gay -105 @ Carib
Gay may have the better course history, but they are playing at two different levels at the moment. Van Pelt has finished ahead of Gay in their last four common events and leads him 8-3-0 h2h in 2004 as a whole. In the relatively unimportant category - for this week because of the small greens - of putting, Gay has the edge over Van Pelt, but there is a big difference elsewhere. Van Pelt ranks 10th in total driving; Gay is 153rd. Van Pelts ranks 23rd in greens in regulation; Gay is 151st. Van Pelt is a totally different player this year and should finish near the leaderboard.
(also available at Aces)

Paul Stankowski to beat Heath Slocum -115 @ Five Dimes
Not too many cuts between these players recently, but Stankowski certainly has the edge. He has finished ahead of his opponent in four out of their last five common events and at least he has made cuts around Avenel with two top-15 finishes in his last five visits. As with the previous match, the selection leads his opponent in all the important core stats.

Stanley
06-27-2004, 06:19 PM
Outrights - Final update: 1-2; -0.87pts

Herron 4th
Clark mc
Donald 43rd

Good result from Herron who climbed up the leaderboard in every round to get a three-way share of 4th place. Got the make-up of the winner right - Scott was 1st in greens in regulation for the week and only 15th in putts per round - but is didn't make Donald a contender despite being 2nd ranked for greens in regulation. He putted too poorly (ranked 73rd in putts per round) to contend.

Matchups - 72-hole plays - Final update: 2-2; -0.53pts

Durant/Cox WON by 5
Leonard/Daly LOST by 4
Van Pelt/Gay WON by 7
Stankowski/Slocum LOST by 6

All plays decided at the cut. Pity as Daly shot 76-77 over the weekend so there would have been a good chance of victory if Leonard had made the cut.

PGA Tour ytd
Outrights: 12-63; +17.35pts
Matchups: 83-74; -11.00pts

All Tours ytd
Outrights: 52-196; +116.65pts
Matchups: 232-192; +8.40pts