HTWD Picks of the Week: The Honda Classic

VS    

Bernardo: This week I’m going with Rory Mcllroy, relying on his success at the WGC matchplay, while not playing to his full potential. Making it to the final of a match play event on C+ performance  doesn’t happen often within the scope of professional golf. Mcllroy is in pursue of becoming World #1. After failing to get the job done last week, he will look for a possible win, hopefully leveling the playing field in the race for #1. Go Rory!


JJ: To counter Bernardo's selection, I'm going with Lee Westwood for this Honda Classic. I know he got bounced by Rory last week, but he will be extra motivated to take home a title this week for that exact reason. And not to mention that he's paired with Tiger Woods for the first two days, which adds even more fuel to the fire. This tournament is gonna be a great to watch. So many big names with so many story lines, whoever come out on top (and I'm betting it'll be Lee) will have beaten a world class field.

Recap: Last week Bernardo's choice of Luke Donald bowed out early in the WGC Accenture Match Play, while Martin Kaymer (JJ's pick) won his first round match. That sealed the fate for the point to go to JJ.

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald

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WGC Accenture Match Play: Hunting Birdies

photo via Getty Images 

Hunter Mahan hit the cruise control button on route to defeating Rory Mcllroy 2&1. Many might  take Mcllroy’s performance as an aberration, maybe the pressure of the possibility of becoming World #1 might have got the best of him. Mahan never made any costly mistakes during the match. The same could be said about the tournament since he never found himself down to any of his opponents. This win marks his second WGC event and fourth overall win as a professional. 

The championship match was all squared till they reached hole #6, where Mahan made a birdie. This would lead to a three hole stretch of clutch-ness by Mahan, taking advantage of Mcllroy’s misfortunes on the course. Mcllroy would surge back to life after winning holes 11 and 14, resulting in a score of  two up with four to play. We knew Mcllroy was capable of  crafting a comeback, after closing out Lee Westwood in the semis. Though history repeats itself at times that wasn’t the story today. 

In other news the consolation match between Lee Westwood and Mark Wilson was played till the 18th hole. Both players are not praised for a specific component of their games, which doesn’t equate to an exciting match. A positive outcome of the match was an American sweep of today’s matches, a prelude to the Ryder Cup. After Wilson’s  performance this week he might be considered as a caption’s pick. 

Congratulations Hunter Mahan.

HTWD Round 6 Predictions: WGC Accenture Match Play

The WGC Accenture Match Play has narrowed down to a four man field. Hunter Mahan advances to the championship match after defeating Mark Wilson, followed by Rory Mcllroy, after taking on fellow European Lee Westwood. Round 6 matches have set up to be a small preview of the Ryder Cup. Below you will find our predictions for the championship and third place matches. 

Championship Match:

Hunter Mahan vs. Rory Mcllroy - We didn’t see this one coming, but boy has it been an exciting tournament. Many of us expected Martin Kaymer to make it the finals after a great performance last year, but this chapter of the WGC Accenture Match Play has yet another story stored for us. Mahan will be looking to obtain his second WGC event win, while placing himself among a elite group of golfers. Mcllroy on the other hand is not only looking for a win, but becoming World #1 in the Official World Golf Rankings. With so much on the line I believe Mahan will defeat Mcllroy 3&2.

Third Place Match:

Mark Wilson vs. Lee Westwood - Though the consolation match tends to be pushed over with all the buzz surrounding the championship match, this is Wilson’s chance to stamp his name in WGC history. Westwood also had a chance at becoming World #1 if he proceed to championship match. So winning this match is a must for Westwood, if he wishes to stay close to that #1 spot. I boldly predict an American sweep, Wilson wins 2&1. 

HTWD Round 4 and 5 (Saturday and Sunday morning) Predictions: WGC Accenture Match Play

As the field continues to dwindle and more and more players bow out of the Accenture Match Play Championship, the stakes continue to rise. Read below to find out who we think will make big moves tomorrow en route to the Championship match on Sunday.


Quarterfinals:

Jones Bracket:

Peter Hanson vs. Mark Wilson - Two golfers who you wouldn't have expected to be the last 2 in their bracket for a spot in the final four. They are both sneaky good and like to fly under the radar, but we'll see how they react here. I think Wilson eventually takes down Hanson, 1up.

Player Bracket:

Rory McIlroy vs. Sang Moon Bae - Young stars with the potential to be elite for a very long time face off here. However, the younger Rory is much readier for this moment than Bae. That's why I think he'll take him down, 3&2.

Hogan Bracket:

Matt Kuchar vs. Hunter Mahan - Here, arguably the best American players in the game right now go head to head. This should be the most compelling and entertaining matches in this session. They both can light up a golf course, and birdies here might be needed to halve some holes. I think it's Mahan's time to earn another big win. I'm taking him 2&1.

Snead Bracket:

Lee Westwood vs. Martin Laird - These UK internationals both can crank the golf ball out there, so there might be some one-ups-manship going on. Although I feel this match will be tightly contested, I think Lee makes some clutch putts late to put away Martin, 2&1.

Semifinals (Sunday morning session):

With our predictions from above, now we'll see who we think makes it to the finals:


Hunter Mahan vs. Mark Wilson - Once again, it's American vs. American. Youth vs. Veteran. Ball striker vs. putter. Flat Bill hats vs. Visors. Any way you shape this up, it's a match of opposites. But like I stated above, I think it's Hunter's time this week. He'll win 4&3.

Rory McIlroy vs. Lee Westwood - This will be a great match to watch. They both have shots for the number one spot if they can get to the finals, which puts this match even higher on the pressure scale. And I know Lee doesn't want to lose to young Rory, so I think that will drive him to beat him, 2&1.

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So there you have it. Our final we predict is Lee Westwood vs. Hunter Mahan. How do you think it'll go down? Let us know in the comments, and get ready to watch a lot of golf tomorrow!!


EDIT: There will only be 18 holes of golf today, not 36 as I anticipated. I forgot about the change in format they created from last year where the semis and finals will both be played tomorrow. My apologies.

HTWD Round 3 Predictions: WGC Accenture Matchplay

Day 2 of the WGC Accenture Match Play comes to an end, yielding some interesting results. Round 3 matches commence at 12:50 ET. Below you will find our predictions.

Jones Bracket:

Peter Hanson vs. Brandt Snedeker

Snedeker seems to be up holding up quite fine after defeating Kyle Stanley. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the championship match come around Sunday. Snedeker knocks Hanson out 2&1.

Mark Wilson vs. Dustin Johnson

The short ball vs the long ball. You could argue that Wilson had the easier path to this match but everything in life needs a bit of luck. I believe Wilson will stun some critics and defeat Johnson 2&1.

Hogan Bracket:

Martin Kaymer vs. Matt Kuchar

All eyes on this match. Not to mention they share the same initials (MK). Kaymer is in the hunt for a repeat chance at glory, while Kuchar wants a piece of the action after only making it to the semi finals last year. Definitely a hard one to predict. Kaymer sends Kuchar home 3&2. 

Steve Stricker  vs. Hunter Mahan 

Mahan comes into this match with some momentum after a great match vs Y.E. Yang, the “Tiger Slayer”, which included a stretch of purefect golf. Mahan wins 2&1 over Stricker. 

Player Bracket:

Rory Mcllory vs. Miguel Angel Jimenez 

Jimenez continues to astonish us with his matchplay dominance after knocking out Sergio Garcia  and Keegan Bradley. Two of the hottest players on tour (referring to last week). Unfortunately, the journey ends tomorrow, Rory wins 3&2. 

John Senden vs. Sang-moon Bae

Bae has provided us with some upsets, knocking off Ian Poulter and Charl Schwartzel. If Bae is able to defeat players of that calibrator, its not looking to good for Senden. But remember golf is unpredictable. Bae wins 4&3 against Senden. 

Snead Bracket:

Lee Westwood vs. Nick Watney

Westwood should be a piece of cake after taking on media magnet Tiger woods. Watney wins 3&2. 

Martin Laird vs. Paul Lawrie 

Both Scots defeated young talented players, riding their recent successes, this should play out for a great match. Lairds defeats fellow countrymen in extra holes.  

HTWD Thursday Predictions: WGC Accenture Match Play

With a day full of upsets, come from behind wins, and momentum shifting matches, Day 1 of the 2012 WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona should be dubbed a success. In all honesty, it was one of the more memorable and exciting days of Match Play in a good while. It had a ton of drama in almost every possible way. With that said, let's get on to our predictions for tomorrow for this unpredictable tournament!

Day 2 PREDICTIONS:

Jones Bracket:

Ernie Els vs. Peter Hanson - After playing a perfect match against Luke Donald, Els should retain his solid form by beating Hanson, 2up.

Kyle Stanley vs. Brandt Snedeker - The hottest player in golf will get his revenge over Snedeker's Torrey triumph here, dispatching him 4&3.

Robert Rock vs. Mark Wilson - R&R played well to beat Adam Scott today, but he'll be no match for the steady Wilson. Mark will win it, 2&1.

Dustin Johnson vs. Francisco Molinari - DJ had to make a huge comeback against fellow compatriot Jim Furyk today to win. His momentum and extreme length should have him coast to a 3&2 win.

Hogan Bracket:

Martin Kaymer vs. David Toms - With Luke Doanld out of the way, Kaymer continues his quest to get the title that eluded him last year. Martin wins, 4&2.

Matt Kuchar vs. Bubba Watson - Kuch will be too much for the currently inconsistent Bubba. Matt should win 5&4.

Steve Stricker vs. Louis Oosthuizen - This could be one of the matches of the day. Two of the more consistent players when in form. I think Steve will win 1 up.

Y.E. Yang vs. Hunter Mahan - "Tiger Slayer" Yang is sneaky great in match play. That's why I think he'll take this match over Mahan, 2&1.

Player Bracket: 

Rory McIlroy vs. Anders Hansen - Surprisingly enough, Rory was more than tested on day 1. He'll be fine tomorrow though. He'll handle Hansen, 5&4.

Miguel Angel Jimenez vs. Keegan Bradley - "Grandpa" Jimenez (as Benardo refers to him) got the best of El Nino today, and he'll take down another young star tomorrow, continuing his exquisite match play form, by a score of 3&2.

Jason Day vs. John Senden - Day is a great match play thinker, and he should be more than enough for his fellow country man. Day wins, 3&2.

Charl Schwartzel vs. Sang-Moon Bae - The reinging Masters champ is in fine form at the moment, and he should take out the little known Bae, 2&1.

Snead Bracket: 

Lee Westwood vs. Robert Karlsson - Both players are playing well, but I think Lee takes down Robert here, 2&1.

Nick Watney vs. Tiger Woods - EASILY will be the spotlight match tomorrow. Although Tiger may find his game by tomorrow, I think Nick's ball striking will be too great. Watney wins, 2&1.

Mateo Manassero vs. Martin Laid - The young stud goes up against the Scot here. I think experience will beat the Italian, with Laird winning 3&2.

Ryo Ishikawa vs. Paul Lawrie - Contrary to the match above, I think the Japanese Prince will emerge victorious here. His win vs. Haas was HUGE. I think he wins it 1up. 

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HTWD Predictions: WGC Accenture Matchplay

The folks at HTWD will be making predictions for the upcoming matches followed by recaps of previous matches. Since tomorrow will be the first day of competition we will start with predictions for the first 32 matches. So enough with the small talk, lets get to the predictions!  

Round of 32:

1.Graeme McDowell vs Y.E. Yang

Two talented international players will definitely put on a show for the viewers at home. McDowell will be seeking some revenge after falling short to Yang last year. Yang wins 3 and 2. 

2. Hunter Mahan vs Zach Johnson

Both players don’t have the best of history at this event, I believe Mahan will defeat Johnson 2 and 1. Sealing the deal with that eye catching swing tempo that will perform under pressure.

3.Bill Haas vs Ryo Ishikawa 

A good matchplay player greatest tool is the flat stick , with that said I’m going with Haas winning 4 and 3 over Ishikawa. Haas seems to have his putter dialed in, especially after dropping a long putt on the 2nd playoff hole at the NTO to win.

4.Justin Rose vs Paul Lawrie 

Rose wins 5 and 4 over Lawrie. Lawrie hasn’t play in this event since 2003.

5.Dustin Johnson vs Jim Furyk

Two different styles of play. I believe the conservative approach will come out victorious. Furyk wins 3 and 2 over Johnson. 

6.Thomas Bjorn vs Francesco Molinari 

Molinari wins 2 and 1 over Bjorn. A big fan of the Molinari brothers.

7. Charl Schwartzel vs Gary Woodland

I believe Schwartzel will win 5 and 4 over Woodland. Mainly because Woodland makes his WGC matchplay debut this week. 

8. Ian Poulter vs Sang-moon Bae

Poulter is literally a matchplay boss. Sorry Bae better luck next year. Poulter wins 3 and 2 over Bae

9. Steve Stricker vs Kevin Na

Stricker won this event back in 2001. Stricker wins 2 and 1 over Na.

10. Louis Oosthuizen vs Aaron Baddeley

Badds seems to be getting back to his form. I believe he defeats Oosthuizen 4 and 3. 

11. Webb Simpson vs Matteo Manassero 

 The hottest players on tour usually perform well in matchplay. Simpson wins 2 and 1 over Manassero.

12. Alvaro Quiros vs Martin Laird 

Quiros's distance will definitely be an advantage for taking some risk rewarding shots.

Quiros wins 4 and 3 over Laird.  

13. Adam Scott vs Robert Rock

The Rock will not stop Scott from winning. It might take multiple rocks. Scott wins 3 and 2 over Rock

14. Bo Van Pelt vs Mark Wilson

Wilson has had his stretch of good golf. The guy is becoming the underrated Mr.Consistent. Wilson wins 2 and 1 over Bo.

15. Jason Day vs Rafael Cabrera Bello

Tomorrow is the day, Day defeats Cabrera 4 and 3. 

16. Simon Dyson vs John Senden

We don’t see much of Dyson in the states. One of my favorites on the European Tour. Dyson wins 2 and 1 over Senden. 

17. Matt Kuchar vs Jonathan Byrd

Byrd had a great week at the NTO but the Kuchnator is looking for some revenge after falling short last year

18. Bubba Watson vs Ben Crane 

Two very talent players who we wish could win a bit more often. Watson defeats Crane 3 and 2 over Crane.

19. Nick Watney vs Darren Clarke 

Clarke got into the field with his win at the Open Championship. Tough luck he got matched up against Watney, a fierce competitor.  Watney wins 5 and 4 over Clarke. 

20. Tiger Woods vs Gonzalo Fdez-Castano

El Tigre any day of the week. Woods wins 3 and 2 over Gonzalo. Saw Tiger at the ATT, ball striking is up to par just needs to fix the putter and Tiger should be in the winners circle.

21. K.J. Choi vs Kyle Stanley

The Tank takes on Stanley the king of redemption. Relying on Stanley’s recent success, odds don’t favor a tank victory. Might have to call in the air units. Stanley wins 2 and 1 over Choi

22. Brandt Snedeker vs Retief Goosen

Snedeker’s quick pace is beneficial in matchplay. Snedeker defeats Goosen 3 and 2.  

23. Sergio Garcia vs Miguel Angel Jimenez

Team Spain will be a crowd favorite. I believe El Nino will come out a champ, winning 4 and 3 over Miguelito. (I love you Sergio)

24.Keegan Bradley vs Geoff Ogilvy 

This is a difficult one, Ogilvy plays well in matchplay (past champ) but Bradley is coming off a interesting finish at the NTO. Bradley wins 2 and 1 over Ogilvy.

25. Martin Kaymer vs Greg Chalmers 

Kaymer will be in the hunt for another chance at becoming a WGC matchplay champ.

I believe Kaymer wins 4 and 3 over Chalmers

26. David Toms vs Rickie Fowler 

A clash between old school and new school. I believe experience will be key in this  match. Toms wins 3 and 2 over Fowler. 

27. Lee Westwood vs Nicolas Colsaerts 

Not a fan of Westwood but he has the upper hand on fellow European Colsaerts.

Westwood defeats Colsaerts 2 and 1.

28. Robert Karlsson vs Fredrik Jacobson 

The battle of two Swedish golfers, who can light up the course on any given day. Karlsson defeats Jacobson 2 and 1.

29. Luke Donald vs Ernie Els

Donald is the defending champion. Nuff said. I believe Els will make Donald earn the win. Donald wins 2 and 1 over Els. 

30. Jason Dufner vs Peter Hanson 

I have a soft spot for Dufner in my heart, nearly cried for the dude after falling short at the PGA. I long for Dufner to get a win, might not happen this week. Dufner wins 3 and 2 over Hanson

31. Rory Mcllroy vs George Coetzee

#TeamRory. Mcllroy hasn’t lost in the first round of matches and wouldn’t expect to this week. Mcllroy defeats Coetzee 4 and 3. 

32. Kyung-Tae Kim vs Anders Hansen.

Both players don’t have good history at this event. They just might make a name for themselves this week. Kim wins 2 and 1 over Hansen. 

HTWD Picks of the Week: WGC Accenture Match Play Championship

  VS

JJ: After looking at the bracket closely and intensely, I have decided that I'm going to go with a #1 seed this week. I'm taking last years runner-up, Martin Kaymer of Germany. Kaymer (left) has been flying under the radar as of late, and that's what I like. He's always a solid player, and looks like a machine out on the course at times. Hence, he's nicknamed the Germanator. This is a great attitude for match play, where it's just you against one person, and your focus needs to be at an all time high. After looking at Martin's possible opponents, it seems like he has one of the easier draws in the tournament and should make a deep run this week. Heck, he may want revenge after running into an unbeatable Luke Donald last year. We'll defnitely see.

Bernardo: Its match play time folks and the best will bump heads on the course, for a chance to be crowned WGC-Accenture Matchplay Champion. I’m going with a reliable pick this week, Luke Donald. If history repeats itself the outcome of Donald coming out victorious is very high. Last year Donald missed the cut at the Northern Trust Open going into WGC matchplay. This year he played poorly at the NTO, setting the stage for a repeat win. This was the starting point of Donald’s race to become World #1 and this week it might mark the beginning of another extraordinary year of golf for Donald. (Go Sergio!)

Recap: Last week Bernardo's pick of Aaron Baddeley didn't have a great overall week, but it was enough to beat JJ's pick of K.J. Choi. Bernardo takes the lead once again.

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley

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HTWD Preview: WGC Accenture Match Play Championship

This week, the PGA Tour stops by in Arizona for a twist in format and an increase in intrigue. That's right, this week we have the always fun Match Play Championship going on. This is the closest thing we'll have to a tennis tournament or March Madness, so get ready for it folks. Just a few things to remember about this week: It starts on Wednesday, not a Thursday (due to the amount of matches that need to be played), it is a match-play knockout event (so once you lose, you're automatically out), and to win this darn thing, you have to play 6 rounds in 5 days.

We here at HTWD are pretty dang excited. We always enjoy watching match play since it doesn't get played out too much during the year. Let's take a look at some of the marquee opening round matches (number is designated seed):

Bobby Jones Bracket: 

#1 Luke Donald vs. #16 Ernie Els - A battle that places the current World No.1 vs. a former holder.

#3 Dustin Johnson vs. #14 Jim Furyk - The young American vs. the former FedEx Cup Champ.

#4 K.J. Choi vs. #13 Kyle Stanley - The Tank goes up against one of the hottest players in golf.

Sam Snead Bracket:

#1 Lee Westwood vs. #16 Nicolas Colsaerts - Let's see if the Lee can get past the long hitting Belgian.

#5 Tiger Woods vs. #12 Gonzalo Fernandez-Costano - Wherever Tiger plays, all eyes will be on him.

#6 Bill Haas vs. #14 Ryo Ishikawa - Last week's winner will go head to head with the Bashful Prince.

Gary Player Bracket:

#3 Charl Schwartzel vs. #14 Gary Woodland - Current Masters Champ goes up against a dark horse.

#4 Sergio Garcia vs. #13 Miguel Angel Jimenez - We will have our eyes on this Spanish Showdown.

#5 Keegan Bradley vs. #12 Geoff Ogilvy - The reigning PGA Champ faces the "King of Match Play".

Ben Hogan Bracket:

#8 David Toms vs. #9 Rickie Fowler - This American duo might both just put on a putting clinic.

#5 Bubba Watson vs. #12 Ben Crane - Half of the "Golf Boys" facing each other = instant fun.

#6 Hunter Mahan vs. #11 Zach Johnson - A battle of potential Ryder Cup teammates this year.

For a complete list of the matches to be played on Wednesday, click here.

So there's our take on the match play. What are your thoughts? We will be back tomorrow to give you our predictions! Stay tuned.

Photo via turner/pgatour.com

Northern Trust Open: Bill of Rights

Bill Haas celebrates his win with his wife

And the PGA Tour season keeps rolling along with memorable wins and historic finishes. Drama has been the main theme for this 2012 season so far, and boy has it been a great one. This week at the Northern Trust Open was no different.

All week Phil Mickelson had been the favorite to capture a second victory in a row, and he was poised to complete that thought on Sunday. Phil had a share of the lead heading into the final day. That's where things got interesting. Sergio Garcia blitzed the field by shooting a 30 on the back nine (his front) to rocket into contention. He ended up cooling off to shoot a 64, which ended up being by and far the best round of the week, especially on Sunday, where people were struggling to making any moves. It eventually came down to Bill Haas holding the lead at -7 in the clubhouse with Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley the only guys who could catch him. To force a playoff, both would need to birdie the 18th, a tough hole all week long. But just like that, Phil drains his 27 footer to get into a playoff will Bill, and Keegs drop his putt on top of him. Just like that, we're headed back to 18. 

In the sudden death playoff, the first hole they played (18) was pretty routine. All three hit solid tee shots, then 2 putted for their pars. They then moved onto hole 10, a short par 4 with a ton of different ways to be played. Bill went with driver and pulled his tee shot a little bit left, leaving him with a wedge into the green. Both Phil and Keegan went more direct to the green, but ended up short and in tough spots. Phil's second shot went over the green, Keegan ended up past the flag onto the fringe, and Bill ended up on the green but well short. But then, Bill drained his 45 footer to put the pressure on Mickelson and Bradley. Phil's 3rd shot ended up short and it ended his chances. Keegan Bradley had his putt lip out, and that was that. Bill Haas took his 4th career PGA Tour victory, and now has 2 wins in less than 1 full year. People always talk about Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, and Bubba Watson, but maybe we should start talking more about current Fed-Ex Cup and Northern Trust Open Champ Bill Haas.

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HTWD Picks of the Week: The Northern Trust Open

 VS

JJ: For this PGA Tour stop, I'm taking "The Tank" K.J. Choi. K.J.(right) is making his 2012 debut here, and is a stout player. He also has had mad success at Riviera, last year finishing T-7 with 4 top-10s overall. K.J. is the perfect golfer for this type of golfer. He is patient, never gives up, and has a strong mental game whenever he gets in tough situations. This is why it suits him well to play well here, and hopefully he can start off his PGA Tour the right way- with a W.

Bernardo: This week I’m going with the defending champion, Aaron Baddeley. Last week I got to see Badds (left) at Pebble Beach, where he finished at 12-under par (4th place). Badds seemed to be in great form, coming up short to pin seeking Phil Mickelson. This week’s field is jam packed with some great names, including world #1 Luke Donald. Hopefully my conservative pick will be in my favor. If history repeats itself, I like my odds just like a math athlete (Hoodie Allen) since Badds finished T6 at Pebble before winning at Northern Trust Open.

Recap: Last week at the AT&T, JJ's pick of Phil Mickelson not only beat Bernardo's selection of Dustin Johnson; he won the tournament. Therefore, JJ gets two points for having his player win the tournament, and now the race is all square.

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson

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Photos from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

After spending a few days and quite a few hours over at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tournament this week, we were able to snag a few photos of what we saw while we were there. Check them all out below.

Pebble Beach, Hole 17

Pebble Beach, Hole 6

Pebble Beach, Hole 9

Check out more after the jump...

AT&T Pro-Am: The Lefty Is Back

Mr. & Mrs. Mickelson 
Photo:Getty Images

The AT&T Pro-Am played out for an exciting finish. Throughout the duration of the final round many familiar names, came within a few shots of possessing the lead. Phil Mickelson had the golf gods on his side, crafting up a final round 64, consisting of some great shots and saves. Mickelson started off  very quickly after going 5-under through 6 holes which included an eagle on hole #6. As the Lefty took total control of his game, Charlie Wii and Tiger Woods slowly faded away, never finding a spark of good play to challenge Mickelson. A great loss for Wii after starting the round with lead and  collapsing on the first hole with a double bogey, followed by a pair of bogeys on 5&6. 

The headlining story filtering its way through golf fans and critics, heading into the final round was will Tiger/Mickelson be able to pull through with a early win in 2012. Sadly for  Tiger fans the day did not play out as planned. Bad drives, unreliable putter, and a few bad swings seemed to consume Tiger’s day. Today’s result was similar to his finish in Abu Dhabi. So what is next for Tiger? Well I believe after some failed attempts he will be to see what is working and what it is not. Yes, he won last year at the Chevron but, lets not be quick to say Tiger is back. He might win in a few weeks or months, winning will only be the beginning of the journey to becoming that dominant player we all love to see. 

Mickelson quietly took care of business at pebble as the eyes were on Tiger throughout most of the week. This lack of media/fan attention might have been on Lefty’s favor, allowing him to play with a bit of  ease. This win marks Mickelson’s 40th PGA Tour title. Mickelson being paired up with Tiger, made this win ten times better, taking on the best face-on. He proved he has a lot of good golf left in him, maybe enough to win the U.S. Open as predicted in our Bold Predictions Blog Series. 

Congratulations Phil Mickelson. 

Final Round Highlights:

HTWD Picks of the Week: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

VS 


This week the PGA Tour heads to the Monterey Peninsula for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. In case you don't know, this is one of the most well known stops on tour, as it brings in a multitude of big name golfers and celebrities to partner up and have fun while making some birdies and entertaining the crowd. Stay tuned this week for updates as we will be at this event starting on Friday.

JJ: Oh boy, I'm falling behind this race quickly. AGAIN. Can't let this continue, so I'm going to pull out one of my big guns in a tournament filled with 'em. I'm going with Phil "The Thrill" Mickelson this week. Lefty has been continually improving this season, and this is one of his favorite tournaments. The laid back atmosphere usually helps a guy like him, and hopefully it's enough to start making up some ground on Bernardo before it keeps getting more and more ugly.

Bernardo: This week’s PGA Tour event is one of my favorites, for the reason that it is driving distance from my hometown. This week I’m going with Dustin Johnson, relying on his previous performance at this event. Johnson has recently had some knee injuries which has put a standstill on his scoring, definitely not his driving. Johnson has won twice here, so winning this week wouldn’t be very surprising, more like a given. Hopefully his amateur partner, Joe Rice, will be of some benefit to Johnson's play this week.

Recap: Last week in Phoenix, Bernardo's choice of Matt Kuchar was enough to beat JJ's selection of Brandt Snedeker. Bernardo continues to lead early in the season.

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar

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Waste Management Phoenix Open: Redemption of Kyle Stanley

Whew, what a sports day. We first had the sensational soccer game of Manchester United vs. Chelsea which was thrilling throughout, then we had this golf tournament which got a lot more interesting with Spencer Levin struggling, and finally we had the Super Bowl, which featured Eli Manning yet again out-dueling Tom Brady. This was definitely a day to remember.

But anyway, back to our golf tournament in Phoenix, Arizona. Spencer Levin started the day with a nice 6 shot cushion and was easily playing miles better than anyone on the first 3 days. But then, things got weird. Levin started going backwards as the field moved forwards towards him. It eventually saw him surrender his lead to 1 shot at the turn, with guys like Kyle Stanley and Ben Crane pursuing him. Stanley was playing hot today, trying to overcome the horrible turn of events that happened to him last week. He ended up with a great round of 65 to give him a chance. He made putts when he needed, and scrambled excellently. You could tell he was going to win once Levin made double bogey on the easy par 5 15th hole. From that point on, Kyle was able to hang on and finally capture that first elusive victory.

This should do wonders for Kyle. He's got immense talent and might finally join the cast of up and coming Americans to crash the PGA Tour in recent years. And for Spencer Levin, he surprisingly seemed upbeat after this hard loss. I'm sure his gritty attitude will get him in contention again soon. It'll only take a matter of time, just like Kyle showed us.

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HTWD Sports: Super Bowl XLVI (46)

Here it is, folks! SB 46 coming to you later today, at 6:29 ET on NBC. This rematch of 2007 should be one of the more intriguing Super Bowls in recent memory. And just in case you forgot, here's some of the story lines swirling until this game kicks off:

- Tom Brady and his quest for his 4th ring. IF he gets it, will he be considered the greatest to ever play the game?
- Eli Manning on pursuit to eclipse his brother in Super Bowl rings, after living in his shadows his entire life.
- Rob Gronkowski's ankle, and if how much he'll play.
- The Giants pass rush attempt to knock around Brady.
- How the Patriots corners will handle the Giants receiving corps.
- The pass/run ratio for both teams.
- Peyton Manning and his situation.

Watch out for these headlines and stories as we get closer to kick off, they should be talked about frequently.

I believe that it will come down to whoever has the ball last, as these teams are incredibly equally matched. The Pats have the better offense, but the Giants have a rock solid defense. Tom Brady is Mr. Clutch, but Eli Manning has been the most successful QB in the 4th quarter this season. We will need to see who steps their game up this time.

My prediction:
Patriots and Brady overcome the vaunted Giants defense and Eli, 31-28

Photo via Naby

HTWD Sports: Manchester United vs. Chelsea

Manchester United will face Chelsea this Sunday, a must see fan favorite. A little back round information, last week Everton defeated Manchester City while the Red Devils cleaned up Stoke City 2-0. This would put both teams in a tie at the top in the English Premier League. This morning Man City took on Fulham, the bad weather didn’t seem to slow down the top EPL contender, winning 3-0. 

Man United now is faced with the pressure to win against a fierce rival Chelsea, to match Man City’s win and retain their position on top. Man United has come up short this year both at the FA Cup and Champions League, motivating the prestigious English club to take the league title.  Sir Alex Ferguson enters this match with some confidence, relying on some historical advantages the clubs have between each other. 

Some notables names on the Chelsea squad out due to injuries and international games: Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and John Terry. This could help Man United’s odds but, Anders Lindegaard is out due to a ankle injury which could be a factor. I believe Javier Hernandez, Nani, and Wayne Rooney will be determining factors on the Man United lineup. Even though it is unsure if Rooney and Nani will play. While on Chelsea, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata will have to craft up a miracle with the absent of top players. 

The clash between these two English Clubs will definitely provide for some great soccer. Will Chelsea be able to upset Man United’s hopes for a chance at the EPL title? 

My prediction for this game: Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea.  

HTWD Picks of the Week: Waste Management Open

      VS

JJ: What's up everyone. For this week's West Coast swing tournament, we're heading over for a brief stop in Arizona before heading back to California next week. The Waste Management Open should be a crazy one, for all the right/wrong reasons. But more on that for another day. For this week, I'm going with last week's "winner", Brandt Snedeker. Some could say that he backed into his win, but I think this is gonna really help him this week. Winning a golf tournament is extremely hard to do, and it gives extreme confidence when you can come out on top. Brandt has always been known as a quick and quirky player, and I think when he knows he is playing well, he is a top player. We'll see how he does this week.

Bernardo: Happy Wednesday folks. Welcome to this week’s edition of HTWD Picks of the Week. As mentioned by fellow blogger ⇑⇑⇑, the PGA Tour is in Arizona for the Waste Management Open. For my pick I’m going with none other than, Matt Kuchar. Kuchar has developed into quite a player these past few years, not only accumulating wins but, fans as well. His most recent win was back in 2010 at The Barclays. I got a feeling that 2012 will be very career changing for the Georgia Tech alumni. Kuchar made his 2012 debut at the Humana Challenge, finishing at a respectable T22. Keep an eye on the leader board this weekend, you might just find Kuchar climbing his way to the top.

Recap: Last week both blogger's picks missed the cut with the same exact score, so it ended in a tie. This year we are giving no points for ties, so the score remains the same.

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane

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