Amateur Analysis: The USMNT Squad

Current USMNT Manager Jurgen Klinsmann

Amateur Analysis is a new piece where we'll be breaking down teams/clubs/players, and give our opinions on them. We are in no way professional writers, so it's obviously going to be our thoughts which have little credibility. Just pure opinion and feeling. Off we go!

Yesterday at around 12:00 pm, we finally were given the much anticipated USMNT roster for the upcoming 2014 World Cup Qualifying games vs. Antigua & Barbuda and Guatemala. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann called up his 24 man squad with a few notable and shocking decisions. But before we get into those choices, here is the list of the squad currently going through training, per US Soccer: 

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Stoke City), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)

MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Michael Bradley (AS Roma), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Herculez Gomez (Santos)

And there you have it. This is the team that will be facing A&B on October 12, then turnaround and play Guatemala Oct. 16 and see where they stack up in their CONCACAF group. 

A few comments and notes that I’d like to share about this roster:

• GOALKEEPERS: Pretty standard. Tim Howard has always been the man, and just in case something happens to him, the reserves are good enough to get by.
• DEFENDERS: Also pretty standard. Glad to see Captain Bocanegra with us, and hopefully they won’t allow any goals in this WCQ run.
• MIDFIELDERS: I’m really excited to get Michael Bradley back. He’s definitely been missed, and I know that an in-form Bradley can really help the team. Kind of surprised Brek Shea is in this squad though. Isn’t he hurt?
• FORWARDS: Here is where I’m confused. Landon Donovan legitimately got hurt in his last match and has to get medical tests, yet he’s still picked? I really hope his injury is as serious as it first seemed. I’m also surprised as to the omission of Jozy Altidore. Yeah, his calendar year in a USMNT kit hasn’t been great, but he’s been fantastic in the Dutch League this season. He’s full of confidence, why not give him one last shot? And finally, GORDON OVER WONDO? I haven’t really been impressed by Wondolowski on an international level at all, but still, when the second best forward on your club team gets the selection over you, something seems fishy about it.

Well, those are my opinions of the current selection of USMNT guys for this WCQ. What do you guys think? Let us know in the comments.

Photo via ussoccer

2012 Ryder Cup: Catastrophe in Chicago

Catastrophe. Collapse. Choke. Miracle. Failure. Revenge. Stunner.

Any of these words could be used to describe what happened today (Sunday) at Medinah Country Club in Chicago, Illinois. Some would be more fitting than others, depending on whether you were rooting for Team USA or pulling for Team Europe. Either way, today is a day that will be remembered in not only golf history, but sports history altogether. And I'm 100% positive I'll be only one of millions talking about what just happened. I just wanted to give my 2 cents about this ridiculous day. So, let's get started shall we?

As you may have known, this Ryder Cup saw total domination by the Americans the first 2 days. USA looked like the Europe of the past decade, while Team Europe totally looked like a typical struggling American Ryder Cup squad that constantly got beat down since the turn of the century. USA led by a score of 10-6 after 2 days, an eerily similar score the Brookline Cup in '99 which saw the USA make up that deficit and win the cup in shocking fashion. Still, they were only 4 1/2 points away from Ryder Cup lore...

That's when crazy stuff started to happen. Captain Olazabal totally front loaded his Sunday Singles squad to go out and get points. And guess what? Unlike most of the previous 2 days, that's exactly what they did. They took their American counterparts down and quickly tied up the score, 10-10. Even an almost late-to-tee-time Rory McIlroy was able to win against the hot-handed Keegan Bradley without too much drama.

Honestly, my dad and I couldn't believe what we were seeing. Suddenly, football took a backseat and golf was the main item on tv until the end. We were either going to be in for a really close Ryder Cup that we enjoyed due to a USA win, or we were going to see one of the most historic collapses in the history of the world. Unfortunately, we got the latter.

Once the score reached 10-10, it was game on for both teams. Things got tight, and it was a true race to the number. In this case, it was 14.5 for the USA to win the cup and 14 for the Europeans to retain it. The latter matches that everyone seemed to brush off because they weren't supposed to matter became the matches we all were intrigued about.

It might have taken a while, but Dustin Johnson got the first point of the day for the US by defeating Nicolas Colsaerts of Belguim. A little while after that, Zach Johnson (no relation), snatched a clutch point by taking down 2010 Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell. The USA once again had a comfy lead, and again, it seemed like they'd escape with a narrow victory.

That was definitely not the case.

I have no clue what happened after that moment. From that moment on, only Jason Dufner was able to grab a full point for the United States. Jim Furyk, who was battling all day with Sergio Garcia, completely gave away even a chance at a half point with two fatal misses on 17 and 18. Point Europe. Lee Westwood looked nothing like the Friday and Saturday version of himself and played superbly against an underperforming Matt Kuchar. Again, point Europe.

Suddenly, tied at 13 all, it came down to 4 cats who haven't even won a point in this Ryder Cup. Woods, Stricker, Kaymer, and Molinari had the weight of their teams and countries on their backs, as their matches were going to be the deciders.

It inevitably came down to Kaymer and Stricker, as they were the group ahead of Woods/Molinari. Tied going into 17, that's where the move was made. Kaymer safely made par, while Stricker, who had been struggling with his putting all week, hit another poor one and made bogey. This ensured a half point for Europe, who were only 1 point away from keeping the Cup. Stricker struggled towards a par on 18, and Kaymer ended the drama with a clutch 6 footer for par on the final hole to ensure European elation. Definitely made sense that the guy with the most question marks heading into Sunday and with the least amount of playing time earned the clinching point.

After this, the Europeans celebrated crazily, and it was clear that on the 18th fairway, Tiger Woods was completely dejected. Still only a part of 1 winning Ryder Cup team (Brookline '99), this week definitely epitomized his entire year. In position to become a hero again, but getting stopped by his own random poor play, someone having the weekend of their life, or just simple bad luck.

This Ryder Cup is clearly going into history, for all reasons imaginable. For the Seve connection. For the Brookline revenge. For the Colsaerts barrage on Friday. For the Poulter takeover Saturday. For all the ups and downs that went down in a 3 day span. Whether you're American or European, if you watched this Ryder Cup, you'll always remember what a memorable and ridiculous one this was, good or bad.

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Ryder Cup: Final Day Preview

Wow. What a wild and crazy wild cup this has been. Anything from Ian Poulter and Keegan Bradley looking miles better than anyone else, to Tiger Woods being 0-3 despite playing 2 matches superbly. This Ryder Cup has had it all, and so far, the Americans hold a 10-6 lead. But, as many saw in '99, it ain't over until it's over. Tomorrow's Sunday Singles will ensure who comes home with the trophy. Read below to get our predictions of who takes the Cup!

Matches begin at 12:03 PM on NBC

Match 1: Bubba Watson vs. Luke Donald

- Here we go. Starting off the Ryder Cup finale with a perfect match up. The guy who revs up the crowd before his round and swings with their pure energy, versus the hometown man that lives less than 30 miles away. This is a critical point for both sides, as it could help wrap up the competition for the USA, or spark a European comeback. With that said, I think Donald takes the match here. He's too motivated to prove himself after a mediocre showing so far this week.

Match 2: Webb Simpson vs. Ian Poulter

- Another big match. You have the hottest player on Europe right now (Poulter) looking to grab some early momentum. On the other side, you have Webb who has been playing very nicely and always loves a tough challenge (see 2012 U.S. Open). In this battle, I think Ian Poulter wins 3&2. He's just way too hot for anyone to beat him right now. It's just one of those weeks.

Match 3: Keegan Bradley vs. Rory McIlroy

- Ahhh, the match of the day. Keegan has been dubbed the "American Sergio" while Rory is now hailed as the successor to Tiger Woods. So it's basically sorta kinda Tiger vs. Sergio in a way. That makes it awesome. The way both have been battling this week will make it more awesome. Get ready to see a ton of this match tomorrow, because NBC will definitely show this as much as they can. And with the way Keegan is playing, I really think he wins it in a nail biter.

Match 4: Phil Mickelson vs. Justin Rose

- Another juicy matchup. Two great players that have had top quality weeks. Their point contributions have been vital to their respective teams. Their possible point contribution here might be of utmost vitality. To me, this matchup is so even, I think they are going to halve the match.

Match 5: Brandt Snedeker vs. Paul Lawrie

- This pairing should definitely favor the rookie Brandt Snedeker. He's had a partner in Jim Furyk that has definitely helped him cope with the magnitude of a Ryder Cup. He's also going up against a player that has been relatively quiet all week. I see Brandt winning 4&3, and not looking back.

Match 6: Dustin Johnson vs. Nicolas Colsaerts

- Oh boy. Get your binoculars for this match, because it's going to feature some HUGE hitting. I think these guys should just have a driving contest and determine the winner from there, because that's what many of us will be interested in seeing. It honestly is going to come down to who can get and keep their putter hot, and right now, I see Dustin doing that.

Match 7: Zach Johnson vs. Graeme McDowell

- ZJ has been a quiet force with Jason Dufner this week, and it has really helped him play solid golf. Graeme, on the other hand, has had his up and downs. He does know how to play his best under pressure, however, and that is why I see G-Mac winning this clash of 1-time major champions.

Match 8: Jim Furyk vs. Sergio Garcia

- Jim has had an OK Ryder Cup, winning one match and losing the other with Brandt Snedeker by his side. He's going to have to bring up his game to another level Sunday though, because he'll be facing Sergio Garcia, who just came off of a big win in the fourballs session on Saturday. With what's at stake, I don't see Sergio losing this match up. It just means too much to him to not give it his all on Sunday.

Match 9: Jason Dufner vs. Peter Hanson

- This is going to be a pairing of the emotionless. Dufner and Hanson look so calm on the course it's scary. They both strike the ball nicely and obviously can keep their emotions in check. I think this one will be tight throughout, but I see Dufner squeaking out a point by making a few more putts than Peter.

Match 10: Matt Kuchar vs. Lee Westwood

- I don't have a ton to really say for this match. Matt has been solid and steady while Lee has been all over the map this week. I'll take Kuchar in a landslide, 5&3.

Match 11: Steve Stricker vs. Martin Kaymer

- I also don't have a lot to say for this match either. Two golfers that haven't been playing great as of late and haven't gotten a point. Kaymer has only played one match so far, the fewest on either side. I guess I just gotta go with Steve here.

Match 12: Tiger Woods vs. Francesco Molinari

- Theeee anchor match. This could mean everything; this could mean nothing. Both players are pointless so far, so that means they'll still want to fight and earn a point. However, I think Tiger wants to way more than Francesco. Tiger's played great golf this week and hasn't been rewarded. He's basically due for a point this week, and this is where it should come. I see him winning 3&2.


Well, there you have it folks. I have the USA winning the session, 7.5-4.5. This means I have them winning the Ryder Cup by a score of 17.5-10.5. How do you think they'll fare? Let us know in the comments, and enjoy Singles Sunday!

Ryder Cup: Day 2 Preview

Well, Day 1 started off very nicely! And with it finally in the books comes day 2 of the 2012 Ryder Cup. Currently, the USA leads the Europeans 5-3. Continue reading to see who we think will do some damage in tomorrow's morning sessions.


Type - Foursomes



Match 1 (8:20 AM ET):

Simpson/Watson vs. Rose/Poulter - This one right here is a juicy matchup. Arguably two of the best combinations of either team, I really feel that this match will produce some excellent golf. Simpson and Watson feed off of each other as well as Rose and Poulter do. Because of that, I think they'll end up halving the match.

Match 2 (8:35 AM ET):

Bradley/Mickelson vs. Westwood/Donald - Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson are one of the best Ryder Cup duos I've seen in a long time. Period. They go so well together it's nuts. With the way they're playing as a team, it's hard to see Lee and Luke really giving them a fit. I think the Americans take this one 2 up.

Match 3 (8:50 AM ET):

Dufner/Z. Johnson vs. Colsaearts/Garcia - This is another toss up match. You have the sneaky good team of Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson going up against Nicolas Colsaearts (who obviously was the MVP for Europe on Day 1) and the passion filled Sergio Garcia. Here I have to lean on the USA to get the job done, however. I see them winning 1 up in a hotly contested match throughout.

Match 4(9:05 AM ET):

Furyk/Snedeker vs. McIlroy/McDowell - In the morning anchor match, here is a rematch of the opening to this year's Ryder Cup. And as close as it was last time, I don't really think it'll be close here. McIlroy is just too much and too good to lose in an important Day 2 session. I see Team Europe wins here 3&2.

HTWD Preview: 2012 Ryder Cup

Well folks, we are finally at Ryder Cup week! USA vs Europe in one of the most highly anticipated Ryder Cups in recent memory. Take a look at this Ryder Cup edition blog below to see how we think things will go down in Medinah. Matches start tomorrow!

Winning Team and Overall Score:

JJ: Yeeeeee its finally here! RYDER CUP time! I'm so excited; I hope team USA can get some revenge on the Europeans! I think with the home crowd backing them, the United States squeak by Europe in an epic weekend. With 28 possible points, I think the USA takes it, 15.5-12.5.

Bernardo: Now that the FedEx Cup points race has come to a completion we focus our attention on the Ryder Cup. This year it will be hosted on home turf, favoring the USA squad to possibly pull off a 14.5-13.5 win over Europe. 

MVP - Team USA:

JJ: I really think USA's MVP is going to be Tiger Woods. He's motived now that he isn't "clearly" the best golfer in the world, and with a subpar Ryder Cup record, he really wants to go out and prove he still has the swagger he's had for his entire career.

Bernardo: This a tough one due to the late season performance. I'm siding with Brandt Snedeker, who is coming off one of his biggest wins and has exhibited some consistency this year. This is his first appearance in a Ryder Cup, it will definitely be one to remember. 

MVP - Team Europe:

JJ: I'm going with the guy who didn't play at all last Ryder Cup cause he wasn't in the right frame of mind for that moment - Sergio Garcia! Now resurgent and at his favorite event in the world, I feel that the Spaniard is going to do some serious damage to the USA this week.

Bernardo: The European team is stacked with some great golfers, but like in any sport you gotta pick a favorite and I'm going with Rory Mcllroy. He currently is probably one of the hottest player in the game of golf besides a few notables. Winning two playoff events isn't easy, he also won the PGA and the Honda this year, followed by a dozen top 10s. 

Overall Rookie of the Week:

JJ: I gotta go with Brandt Snedeker here. First off, he won the TOUR championship and the FedEx Cup. Nuff said? He also is putting lights out and is in front of a home crowd. He should definitely fare well in this environment.

Bernardo: Looks like my MVP choice will also be receiving the title of Rookie of the Week. His year long performance to make it to the Tour Championship and win the FedEx Cup is highly admirable and should produce some exciting golf. 

LVP - Team USA:

JJ: Unfortunately, I'm going to go with Jim Furyk. He hasn't had the best of luck this year (Olympic Club, WGC Bridgestone, TOUR Champ.), and I don't think he's set up for a good 3 days. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Bernardo: Every member of the USA team is a valuable asset, but I believe Keegan Bradley will have a tough due to this being his first appearance at the Ryder Cup. 

LVP - Team Europe:

JJ: Lee Westwood. Why, you ask? Go look at his performance last week. If that isn't a bad omen, then I don't know what is.

Bernardo: I'm going with Nicolas Colsaerts, merely on a gut feeling and lack of publicly in the States.

Photo via wikimedia

TOUR Championship: Smooth and Snedy

Rory. Tiger. Phil. Nick. Brandt.

Any one of those 5 mentioned above had the easiest path to Fed Ex Cup glory this week; a win would automatically give them the 10 million dollar prize with no questions asked. Anything else, and scenarios would have to kick in.

Surprisingly enough, it wasn't Rory or Tiger who took home the money. Or Phil. Or even Nick Watney. It went to Brandt Snedeker, who had made a nice run in the playoffs with sneaky good finishes each week.

As this week went on, separation of contenders and pretenders continued. Watney and Mickelson were never factors, while Rory and Tiger didn't keep up with the leaders. Brandt stayed smooth and steady all week, and came up huge on Sunday, winning by a few shots.

This definitely should bode well for the Americans in next week's Ryder Cup. Snedeker, being a captain's pick, certainly proved his worth to Captain Davis Love III. He also just showed the Europeans that he can come up in the clutch if he has too. Should be super fun to watch.

Congratulations Brandt!

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HTWD Picks of the Week: The TOUR Championship

JJ: Ahh, the final pick of the week session. Lemme begin this piece with congratulating Bernardo for another stellar picking season. He kicked my butt yet again, and now I have to pay up by buying the dude dinner. Oh well, until next year! But for now, we must pick a golfer for the TOUR Championship, and I'm going to go with Mr. Louis Oosthuizen. He's put together a very steady season starting with the Masters, and continuing on with this nice little playoff run. Hopefully he could end his season nicely with a win and a cool 10 million dollars. Bam!

Bernardo: This week I'm going with Jason Dufner who has a mathematical chance of winning the FedEx Cup. Dufner already has two wins this year and a handful of great finishes. If Dufner is able to finish within the top 10 this week, it would definitely be one of the best scenarios to end the season. In summation this is our final pick of the year and thanks to all that followed along. 

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh, Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Bo Van Pelt, Steve Stricker

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U.S. Open: King Murray...Finally!!!

For the past 5 years in the tennis world, we have come to know and love a great triumvirate of all time greats. That would be Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Together, they have dominated tennis for the past half decade. If one of them wasn't in a final, it was a sure thing the others would be. Men's tennis hasn't this type of stranglehold on the Grand Slams by only 3 players. Many have even dubbed this age the "Golden Era" of tennis, as we may never see 3 of the greatest players of all time play at the same time like this ever again.

Well, tonight, that changed. The "Big Three" will now virtually turn into a "Big Four", and the triumvirate will turn into some square-shaped power struggle. This is because, finally, Andy Murray of
Scotland has joined the party and won a grand slam. Yes, he is now the newly crowned champion of the U.S. Open. He did so by defeating Novak Djokovic in a 5 set thriller, winning 7-6 (10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2.

While Murray almost blew his 2 set lead, his mental grit at the end to break Djokovic is what pulled him through. The brutal wind conditions really affected both players from the start, and Murray handled it better from the get go. However, it definitely seemed that he got tense and started pushing balls back in the 3rd set, as he realized what was at stake. In the 5th set, he went 180 and went back to the form that won him the first 2 sets.

With this historic victory, Murray becomes the first Brit to win a major title since Fred Perry, which dates to over 50 years ago. He now has a GS title and an Olympic Gold to his name this year, clearly putting him in the running for a possible Player of the Year award. With the way he's played as of late, who knows? But then again, with the season not totally over, a frustrated Djokovic and disappointed Federer may have something to say about that.

Congratulations, Andy!

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BMW Championship: Rory's Year? Part 2

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For the second week in a row Rory Mcllroy is champion of a FedEx Cup playoff event. Rory’s impressive play this week, clearly reveals why he currently is ranked World #1. Winning back-to-back during a pressure filled week is something to be admired.

Rory got the the job done with rounds of 64,68,69, and 67. He finished 2 shots ahead of Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson, who came close to reaching him after carding a handful of birdies. 

Now as we enter the fourth week of the playoffs, Rory looks to be the favorite in the race of obtaining the FedEx Cup along with a 10 million dollar paycheck. The top 5 players in the points list as we enter the Tour Championship are Rory Mcllroy, Tiger Woods, Nick Watney, Phil Mickelson, and Brandt Snedeker.

What’s next: Next week will definitely be filled with number crunching and predictions to select a possible FedEx Cup Champion. If Rory is able to win, this will be a great bullet point on his resume when being compared to Mr.Woods. 

HTWD Picks of the Week: BMW Championship

JJ: Kevin Stadler! Dude sits currently at 32, and will need another solid week to crack the top 30 for the Tour Championship. Surprisingly enough, he's made some big moves so far. With top 10s in both of the other events so far, he's having one of the strongest FedEx Cup Playoffs so far. Let's see if he can continue that solid momentum this week at the BMW.

-VS-

Bernardo: The FedEx Cup Playoffs continue as we enter the third week of competition. This week I'm going with Sergio Garcia, who as of recently has been playing some sublime golf. With a reduced field of 70, which is filled with many great players, will make the task of reaching the top 30 circle difficult. I believe Sergio still has some good golf left in him, especially as we near the Ryder Cup so this week should be in his favor.  

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh, Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Bo Van Pelt, Steve Stricker

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The Deutsche Bank Championship: Rory's Year?

As we come down to the final 2 playoff events for this PGA Tour season, we have a better understanding of who the real candidates are for player of the year. And, after the way things turned out this week, there are really 2 candidates left.

That would be the winner of this week's event, Rory McIlroy, and Tiger Woods. After we witnessed Louis Oosthuizen blow a three shot lead and fail to atone for it on the final hole, Rory claimed victory this Labor Day weekend for his 3rd PGA Tour victory this season. Tiger tried to make a final round charge, but came up short and ended up in solo third.

As Rory and Tiger made charges, Louis completely stalled. He was absolutely awesome yesterday, and today, once he got going, it was far too late. That's what cost him the tournament and the big(ger) paycheck.

Rory now stands at No. 1 in the FedEx standings, No. 1 in the world, and No. 1 on the money list. Should he now be considered the best in the game? The player of the year? We shall see soon enough.

Personally, if Tiger were to win the FedEx and play well in the Ryder Cup, then it's a toss up between the two. Right now, it looks like Rory is king. But that's why, as the old saying goes, "it's not over until it's over"...

Stay tuned!

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HTWD Picks of the Week: The Deutsche Bank Championship

JJ: Happy Labor Day Weekend, everyone! With Labor Day comes shopping sales, the start of the college football season, the tennis US Open, and finally, the Deutsche Bank Championship! The Friday start and Monday finish is one of the most unique things in all of golf. It is also the 2nd leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, so that means we gotta keep trucking along with our picks. I'm going to go with Jason Dufner here. He took the Barclays off, so he is pretty fresh heading into this final run that will include the Ryder Cup. A two time winner this season, hopefully he can pick up right where he's left off this season and continue the massive success.

Bernardo: This week I'm picking Louis Oosthuizen for the 2nd event of the FedEx playoffs. Louis is coming off a hot finish at the Barclays, finishing T5. He currently sets 21st on the points list and is exhibiting some great golf as we near the end of the season. Louis has had his share of ups and downs this season, but as a previous major champion he has proven to be a contender. I look forward to some beautiful ball striking and hopefully a win by Louis. 

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh, Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods, John Daly, Sergio Garcia

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Bo Van Pelt, Steve Stricker, Carl Pettersson, Tim Clark

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The Barclays: Watney To The Top

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The first week of the FedEx Cup playoff has come to a completion, crowning Nick Watney the Barclays Champion and holder of the #1 position in the points list. Watney got the job done with some stellar play that included rounds of 65,69,71 and 69. The start of Sunday morning had the media on their toes over the issue whether Sergio Garcia could possibly go back-to-back this week. That definitely wasn’t the story today with world-class players like Brandt Snedeker, Dustin Johnson, and of course Watney huning for the large pay out that comes with winning the FedEx Cup. Watney has had a average season this year, but after winning a playoff event the perspective will change for the Fresno State alumnus.

HTWD Picks of the Week: The Barclays

JJ: The FedEx Cup playoffs are finally here! Normally I wouldn't be that excited for it, but with all of the story lines going on this year, it's going to be a thrilling month of golf to watch. And even though this pick race is all but over, I still must make picks. Because of that, I'm going to go with Sergio Garcia this week. Bethpage Black is somewhere he has played fairly well, and since he won last week his confidence is sky high. Hopefully he can bring me home a point (or two) and make this race closer than it really is.

Bernardo: Its playoff time or at least golf's version. The Barclays is the first leg of the 4 events that make up the playoffs. In order to continue to the next stage, players this week must finish within the top 100 point leaders. This week I'm picking Tim Clark who is coming off a hot finish at the Wyndham Championship. Clark could use another high finish to keep his momentum going as the season comes to an completion. A win would be the best scenario. 

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh, Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Bo Van Pelt, Steve Stricker

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Wyndham Championship: Re-SURGE-nt

With the FedEx Cup playoffs and Ryder Cup looming, there were many players looking to make a move in the final regular season tournament on the PGA Tour. One of the more notable players to watch this week was Sergio Garcia. Ranked outside the top 100 in the FedEx standing coming into this week, Sergio needed to make a big move. He also needed to make a big move on his European Ryder Cup points list, as he was outside of the projections there as well. With that said, he definitely left a big impression on the golfing world as the final big part of the season comes along.

After a calm 67 on Thursday, he flew right into contention with a sizzling 63 on Friday. This put him 2 shots back into the weekend. He then followed that up with a controlled 66 on Saturday to snag a 1 shot lead heading in to the final round. Garcia looked as composed as ever this week, even when Sunday play had to be stopped due to a rain delay. The sudden downpour had to push the tournament to a Monday finish. That definitely tested his and all of his chasers' mental fortitude.

Sergio eventually was able to do more than just handle the delay- he took advantage of it. He made many birdies, including 4 in a 5 hole stretch to put the tournament away, and never looked like he was in too much trouble. His putting was superb, and his ball striking was just as good. The soft conditions allowed him to fire at pins whenever he wanted, and it really made things every easy for him.

With the win, he racked up his first one on the PGA Tour since 2008 (THE PLAYERS) and his 8th overall.

What's next: Expect Sergio to be full of confidence heading into the playoffs and Ryder Cup. He will definitely not be the same golfer who said "I can't win a major" back at Augusta. With this stellar performance, he showed us again why he's fits right in with the other elite golfers.

Congratulations, Sergio!

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HTWD Picks of the Week: Windham Championship

JJ: I'm really, REALLY close to being mathematically eliminated in this Fed Ex Cup picks race. I probably need to win out just to have a chance. So, I'm going to try to mount my comeback with a guy who is doing the same thing - John Daly. He has played solid golf the past 2 weeks, and with this being the final tournament before the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs begins, it'd be nice for him to grab a win and possibly enter the Playoffs. That'd be nice. For the both of us.

Bernardo: This week I'm picking Carl Pettersson, who has had great success at this event. We're entering the final stretch of this year long competition and should play out to be an exciting finish. Carl is having a great season filled with high finishes, winning, and recently contending in the PGA. Due to his past achievements at this event I believe Carl will continue his end of the season comeback with a victory. 

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els

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PGA Championship: Oh Hail Rory!

This year’s PGA Champion is none other than Rory Mcllroy, who showed no mercy after obtaining an 8-stroke lead to become a 2-time major champion. The day started with the completion of the third round, which was delayed due to some unplayable weather on Saturday. Most eyes were on Tiger Woods this week due to the public cry for a major win from el tigre, but that was not the case this week. Rory defeated the field with rounds of 67,75,67, and 66, exhibiting the level of play needed to be ranked amongst the legends of the game (currently ranked world #1). 

What’s next: Rory will be expected to compete at a high level due to critics not believing in the young star’s talent.  Many will compare him to Tiger and his possibilities of becoming the next TW. Let’s face it, Rory is fully capable of becoming the world’s best, but no one is perfect at this game.  I predict he will continue to be a contender in big events, along with winning a few events per year. In other news we need Tiger to win a major, failed attempts has been the trend and many are ready to see Tiger reclaim his dominance in the game.  

Congratulations Rory Mcllroy!!!!!!!!

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HTWD Picks of the Week: PGA Championship

JJ: Finally! It's PGA Championship week, and we are now going to be hearing a lot about "Glory's Last Shot". That phrase will be alive for many this week, especially for world No. 2 Tiger Woods. He's going to have a lot of pressure this week to perform and win, and that's why I'm going to pick him this week.

Bernardo: The last major of the year is upon us and the race for Ryder Cup Points will be a priority  for some besides holding the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday.  This week I'm picking Steve Stricker who is coming off a hot finish at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Stricker certainly isn't a favorite this week, but he already has a win under his belt this year and is looking to add a major championship to his collection of achievements.  

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh, Rickie Fowler

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Bo Van Pelt

Make sure to “like” our Facebook page! Either by going to the page itself (fb.com/hacktillwedie) or clicking on the “like” button on the right side of our home page.

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WGC Bridgestone Invitational: Keegan's Back

What another wacky finish this week at another high profile golf event. Last time at The Open Championship, we saw a slow meltdown of Adam Scott, who led most of that tournament right up until the end. Today, we saw another "collapse" of sorts by Jim Furyk, who made double bogey on 18 to lose by 1 stroke over Keegan Bradley.

Keegan made an astonishing charge with solid play all day, eventually ending up with a 64. He went into the 18th hole down one and needing some magic like he had at Riviera. He made a clutch up and down by sinking a 15 footer that HAD to be made. If you couldn't see how he was able to win last year's PGA Championship, this day definitely showed how and why he did it. 

I feel very bad for Jim, however, as he led for 71 holes this week, and on the 72nd and most important, he couldn't come through. A la Phil Mickelson, all he needed was a bogey or better, but it didn't happen. Jim also had a chance to win another big tournament, the U.S. Open, earlier this summer, but he couldn't finish that off either. Hopefully he can shrug off this tough defeat and play well next week at the PGA.

What's next: Next week we have the final major of the year, the PGA Championship, fittingly dubbed "Glory's Last Shot". Many golfers will have something to prove next week. Some of the headliners are: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, and Luke Donald. There's gonna be a ton of storyline, and only one winner will come out of it. It will definitely be very compelling to watch. See you guys then.

Photo via Getty Images/PGATOUR.com

HTWD Picks of the Week: WGC Bridgestone Invitational

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JJ: As the final tune-up for the PGA Championship begins, there are a handful of players that we'll be keeping our eyes on to see how they're doing at this week's WGC event. A great tournament to prepare you for a major is on hand at this Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone, which will surely bring a lot of drama to the table. With that said, I'm going with Rickie Fowler. He has already notched one win this year, and is eagerly looking for his second. He hasn't been too much of a factor lately, but he can always seem to step up his game at the right time, and right now would be perfect.

Bernardo: Well we're down to the final few weeks before the 2012 PGA Tour comes to a completion and the hunt for FedEx Points continues. This week I'm picking Bo Van Pelt for the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. Bo is currently having a superb season that includes eight top 10s and is ranked 22nd in FedEx Points. Bo is not known for winning many tournaments, but he has progressively improved. This momentum will certainly lead him to become a better player and possibly obtain his second win this week. 

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els

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RBC Canadian Open: Piercy Does It

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Scott Piercy is this year’s RBC Canadian Open champion after displaying some great golf at Hamilton Golf Club. To start the tournament off Piercy tied the course record with a 62, which included a pair of eagles. Sunday’s leaderboard exhibited a handful of talented golfers just a few birdies away from obtaining the lead. Piercy got to a quick start on Sunday after carding four straight birdies on the front nine, starting on hole two. But bogeys on hole eight and fourteen would set him back. Piercy got things back to contention after chipping in on hole fifteen for birdie, retaining the lead from Robert Garrigus and securing the win with consistent play in the closing holes of tournament play.

What’s next: Piercy has had a bumpy 2012 season, but a third place finish at the John Deere and a win at the RBC Canadian Open can definitely be a game changer. With a 13^th place standing in the FedEx Points Race, I predict he will shoot for a possible spot at the Tour Championship and possibly a win or top five finishes.

HTWD Picks of the Week: RBC Canadian Open

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JJ: I'm going to make this short and sweet, so I'll go right out and say it: I'm picking Vijay Singh this week. He just finished with a top 10 at last week's ridiculous Open Championship, and has posted many low numbers this year. Although he may be turning 50 within the next few months, I think Vijay has at least one more PGA Tour win in him. Hopefully it's this week at the RBC Canadian Open, and hopefully he can help me inch closer to Bernardo.

Bernardo: This week I'm picking Ernie Els who is coming off a victory at the British Open. Els is a consistent player when he starts to play well. He had a great week in England, which included solid play from tee to green.  We see how he reacts on the course after coming off one of his biggest wins. At the age of 42 Els might be entering his prime like players like Steve Stricker who had breakout seasons in their early to mid forties. In summation I believe Els will play well if not be in contention on Sunday afternoon.  

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington

Make sure to “like” our Facebook page! Either by going to the page itself (fb.com/hacktillwedie) or clicking on the “like” button on the right side of our home page.

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The Open Championship: Un-Easy Finish

Incredible.

If I had to sum up this year's Open Championship in one word, that would be it. This year's Open was "Incredible" for so many reasons. An incredible course, an incredible comeback, and an incredible collapse are the main ones that come to mind.

Royal Lytham and St. Annes put on a heck of a golf tournament, and for that, we thank them greatly. They definitely showed us why they're a major championship golf course, and why they'll definitely be back soon for more. With that said, let's move onto the final round and it's historic drama.

It all started with Australian Adam Scott and his nice 4 shot cushion to start the day. He held the lead over Graeme McDowell, Tiger Woods, and Brandt Snedeker, all who were within 5 shots and the most likely candidates to catch Scott.

However, that didn't happen at all. Each of the aforementioned players struggled, and never really put any pressure on Scott, until Ernie Els crept into the picture and started to wreck havoc.

Sure, Ernie only ended up with a 68, but on a day where everyone went backward, he shot up the leaderboard. Els played brilliant and smart golf, methodically moving around Lytham just like a major champion needs to do in a final round. He lurked and lurked until he holed a 20 footer on 18 to put REAL pressure on Adam.

Unfortunately for Adam, what many thought he had in the bag, was gone in an instant. After making a birdie on 14, he proceeded to make 4 straight bogeys, or basically the opposite of what Charl Schwartzel did at Augusta 2011. The fact that Ernie moved up while Adam moved down didn't help Scott's psyche. He had to press, and it just led to more and more mistakes. It ended up with him missing an 8 footer on 18 to force a playoff with Ernie, and it led to big time heartbreak.

Honestly, as much as I (and many others) was happy for Ernie to win at this point in his career, I was just as disappointed for Adam. He played fabulously for 68 holes and then it all went south so quickly. I really hope that this not only springboards Els' career for a few more years, but that it also helps Adam become a better golfer overall (i.e. Rory at Augusta). I hope they both can play this level of major championship golf in the upcoming majors, because they definitely gave us a week to remember.

Congratulations, Ernie!

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HTWD Picks of the Week: The Open Championship

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JJ: Awww yee, Open Championship week! This is gonna be awesome. There are gonna be some stellar first and second round pairings, a tough test in Royal Lytham, and tons of pressure on the world's best to claim this year's Claret Jug. With that said, I'm going to go with a guy who should have one a major last year: Jason Dufner. Jason has had a superb season this year, and all is missing is a major title to cap it off. He got married, finally is now a winner on the PGA Tour (twice, actually), and is coming in with supreme confidence. He'll definitely be a player to watch this week and hopefully he can navigate through all of the 200+ sand traps on his way to a possibly victory.

Bernardo: It’s Claret Jug time and I’m picking Padraig Harrington who knows a thing or two about winning the Open. The British Open is a difficult tournament for American players due to their lack of experience on link style courses, which in all honesty don’t have the best course conditions and weather can also be a factor. Paddy plays well in these tough conditions and it is evident since he has won this event twice. I predict Paddy will have a routine week at the Open, possibly adding another Claret Jug to his collection. 

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson

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John Deere Classic: Zach is Back

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The John Deere Classic has come to a completion, crowning a new champion Zach Johnson at 20-under par. Coming into the week Steve Stricker was the favorite, but after a slow final round he was unable to chance Zach. The last few holes of tournament play, including the playoff definitely made this event one to watch and exciting since there were numerous players just a few birdies from obtaining the lead.

Standing on the tee on hole #16 Zach had a one shot lead over Troy Matteson after he carded double on the previous hole. At this point Zach probably pondered that all he needed was to par out and he could possibly win.  Surprisingly Matteson would reach the par-5 hole #17 in two shots and make a 59-foot putt for eagle, tying Zach at 20-under and atop of the leader board. Both players would par the 18^th and continue onto a sudden death playoff.  

This was where things got interesting since both players doubled the first playoff hole that included a handful of drops by Zach, which stirred up some debate within the commentators. The players would return to the 18^th tee box and give it a second chance. Zach found the left-hand bunker and would hit one of the tournament’s best shots of the week, a solid iron from 194 yds. to just under 2-feet from the hole. And as the storyline goes Zach would birdie and Matteson would fail to match Zach.

What’s next: Zach now has two wins for the year. He will be searching for more wins on tour. Zach already has proven he can win a major as well. It is evident he will be remembered as a fine striker of the ball due to his green jacket. I also liked that his swing coach was on the bag this week, a clear advantage over the field.  

Congratulations Zach Johnson!

HTWD Picks of the Week: The John Deere Classic

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JJ: Since I'm getting back on track, I'm going to continue my aggressive picks for points so I can close the gap on Bernardo. This means I'm going with 3 time defending champion Steve Stricker. The dude absolutely owns this course, and even though he's had a modest season at best, familiar tracks bring out confident and pleasant memories. This is why I think he'll have another solid week here, and possibly go for the Strick Slam. Good luck Steve!

Bernardo: This week I’m picking Zach Johnson. This tournament has been dominated by Steve Stricker, but  I believe Zach will have a great week, possibly winning or atop of the leader board on Sunday afternoon.  Zach has had his fair share of high finishes at the John Deer Classic, revealing some comfort at TPC Deere Run. Some other positives are Zach already has a win under his belt this season and should be in the hunt for win #2. 

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, Freddy Jacobson, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge

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Wimbledon Championships, 2012: The Return of the King

An image that will forever be remembered

Most critics have written off Roger Federer since circa 2010. They considered the then 28 year-old "washed up" and too old in tennis years. They also noted that Nadal was a much better player than him, and that the rest of the tennis world had caught up to his tennis play. 2011 only strengthened their case, as Federer didn't win a major for the first time in about 8 years. He was the current #3 player in the world, and supposedly his fall down the ranking was imminent.

Others had hope. They felt that with Roger's new coach, Paul Annacone, and with his newfound hunger (not having won a major since early 2010 really motivated him), it was only a matter of time before he reasserted himself among the true elite in the men's game. This meant he would have to prove to all the doubters that he could 1) win major championship again AND 2) regain the number 1 ranking. Both were obviously tough tasks, but Roger contained the belief and confidence to get the job done.

He started off Wimbledon this year by openly saying he'd like to win the tournament and get back to No. 1. A pretty bold statement, but for Roger, it was doable. His first two matches were as easy and swift as they come for him. Then, things got interesting.

Longtime rival Rafa Nadal was shocked by 100th ranked Lukas Rosol, and the tennis world was flipped upside down. He may never admit it, but Roger probably had that in the back of his mind as he faced Julian Benneteau the day after that huge upset. He lost the first two sets and was soon on his way to a 3rd round exit, until things turned around in classic Federer-like fashion. Roger soon found his form, and won the next 3 sets to escape disappointment.

After a mild back scare against Xavier Malisse, he was soon awaiting a semi-final showdown with top seed Novak Djokovic. This was where Federer's truest test was, because if he could get past Nole, he could get past anyone. And surely enough, he dispatched Djokovic in 4 sets to reach a record 8th Wimbledon final against the British hero Andy Murray. Murray was fighting for UK history and lore, while Federer was trying to prove that he still belonged.

Unlike their previous 2 finals, Murray got off to the fast start, winning the first set, 6-4, and broke Roger's serve twice. Federer soon found his footing in this gigantic final, however, as he started to loosen up and look like the dude who dominated tennis for the last decade or so. He took the second set with a clutch break of Murray's serve, and continued his momentum even through a rain delay that took up an hour. His serve wasn't broken for the rest of the match, and looked pretty much unbeatable. Murray played superbly, yet Roger was just too much for him on this day.

On Roger's second championship point, a Murray forehand that was sent long sent Federer into the ground and into tears, as his dream was fulfilled once again. Gone are the doubters who said he'll never win again. Gone are the critics saying he'll never be #1 again and is closer to his retirement than his prime. Gone are the naysayers of him being the GOAT (Greatest of all time). The case is now closed. With this win, Roger Federer continues to show us why he's the greatest, and why he still has the hunger to come back for more.

Congratulations, Mr. Federer.

Greenbrier Classic: Breakout Week

What a surprise we had this week at The Greenbrier Classic. We had the two biggest names in the sport (Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson) miss the cut, we had a US Open Champion in Webb Simpson falter down the stretch, and we had two journeymen players fighting for their first win in a playoff.

Very unknown players Ted Potter Jr. and Troy Kelly gave us a duel that many expected to be held by Tiger and Phil.  Potter overcame a 4 shot deficit with 4 holes to play to force the playoff with Kelly, whom many thought that was going to claim his first PGA Tour title (Ted shot his second straight 64 to put himself in this position, by the way). Potter and Kelly had to go to 3 playoff holes until Potter drained a birdie putt on the 3rd to snag the trophy.

With the W, Potter receives an invitation to the 2013 Masters Tournament, over $1 million in earnings, and a jump to 51st in the FedEx Cup standings. Not too shabby for a dude who missed 24 straight cuts 8 years ago on the Nationwide tour.

Congratulations, Ted!

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HTWD Pick of the Week: The Greenbrier Classic

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JJ: Happy 4th, everyone! For the Greenbrier Classic, I'm going with Jeff Overton. Not only can he rep the red, white, and blue well this week since he's American, he can also have a good chance to go low for this tournament. He's 22nd this year in birdie average, so let's hope he can drop a few putts and stick a few irons to get that average up a little bit. It'll be interesting to see how he'll do with a high quality field this week (Woods, Stricker, Mickelson, Johnson, and Simpson are just some of the big names competing here).

Bernardo: Happy 4th of July!!!! This week I’m picking Zimbabwe native Brendon De Jonge. He is coming off a bad final round, but overlooking that hiccup he played a solid tourney. Most individuals that are paired up with Tiger tend to lose focus due to the hype surrounding the group, a possible reason for his disappointing final round. Now for the good stuff, De Jonge has played well at the Greenbrier, leading me to believe he should bounce back this week. De Jonge also has played a full schedule, which shows he can perform consistently after only missing 3 cuts.

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, F.J.

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AT&T National: Tiger Magic Part 3

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Tournament host Tiger Woods is the 2012 AT&T National champion. This win will be marked down as his 74th victory, needing only 9 more to surpass Sam Snead’s record of 82 wins. Many are still critical to say that Tiger is back, but after winning 3 times this year it is evident the Tiger we once knew is back. 

A fairly stacked field was no match for the difficult Congressional GC and a surging Tiger. On his way to winning the tournament Tiger shot rounds of 72-68-67-69, revealing the tough conditions players had to endure after a cut line of 6-over par and a storm that nearly halted the tournament from completion. 

Tiger’s play today definitely impressed me and reminded me why he is consider to be best player in the world. Standing on hole #18, instead of hitting a 3-wood, (he had a 1 shot lead going into 18 over Bo Van Pelt) he opted for the driver, challenging himself to be clutch (Tiger can be iffy with the big stick). After hitting a 345 yd drive, he struck a 9 iron within feet of the hole, not to mention the pin place was probably the toughest all week.  Bo would go on to bogey the hole, allowing Tiger to take a 2 shot lead and the win. 

What’s next: Well now that we know Tiger has the ability to win multiple times, our next guess is he will win a major. I believe he has a chance of winning the PGA Championship. The PGA will be held at a tough course (Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina) which is usually Tiger’s key ingredient for success. Tiger will certainly go on to win at minimal another event this year.