With Casey Blacks (who I might add seems to be filling Win McMurry’s space admirably……time for another interview?) rundown on the Greenbrier Classic above, it’s straight to Ian’s (who certainly couldn’t replace the beautiful Win McMurry) review of who he fancies to perform this week.

“This week the White Sulphur Springs golf course hosts the Greenbrier Classic, which is a completely new tournament to the PGA Tour. Being a par seventy, seven thousand yard long course White Sulphur Springs offers up only two par fives and four par threes. It is similar to last week’s course where greens in regulation and putting will be key. The course offers generous fairways and undulating greens and when the caddies went out on the course for the first time they felt that the winning score could be in the twenty under range, perhaps even lower depending on conditions. So we are looking for a player who hits a lot of greens in regulation but is also a good putter and these are the players I felt most suited to the task:

Matt Kuchar each way @ 16/1
Kuchar is a solid all round player. Tied seventh in scoring average per round on the PGA Tour, he is also tied eighteenth on average birdies per round. As already stated, low scoring seems to be the order of the week and Kuchar doesn’t seem afraid to go low. He averages over 68 percent in driving accuracy and over 69.5 percent in greens in regulation. Heard enough? Wait, there is more, he is over nine percent better in the area of scrambling than the PGA Tour average and he averages 28.89 putts per round. Consistency is also a feature of Kuchars with seven top tens so far this year and after finishing tied fourth last week in Canada on a similar course to here, my confidence in him doing well this week are high. Although he hasn’t won too many tournaments over the past few years, he has been knocking on the door regularly. If he can continue to do, I think that door can open soon……in fact, very soon!

Charley Hoffman each way @ 40/1
Hoffman has only had two top ten finishes all year but one of them came last year in the RBC Canadian Open. He hits the ball over 296 yards off the tee and even though length is not imperative this week, it certainly helps if you are hitting wedges for your second shot rather than 7 and 8 irons. The man also hits over 65 percent of greens in regulation and has a ‘putts per round’ average of 28.81. All in all, despite his form not being overly exciting, I think that Hoffman could fly under the radar this week and challenge for top honors. At 40/1 he represents good each way value.

Jeff Overton each way @ 20/1
Although Overton’s odds are a little skinny, when I weighed up my option, I found I couldn’t ignore him as a tip this week. Statistically, Overton is a long, inaccurate hitter who hits a lot of greens in regulation but his short game around the greens and his putting are sometimes prone to letting him down. However, he is fourth in par 3 performance this year on the PGA Tour, playing them in a combined total of four under and is eleventh in par 4 performance all year by shooting a combined total of seven under par. Now for some recent form and trust me, Overton’s is impressive. He has had two second place finishes this year and two third place finishes. On top of that, Overton finished tied eleventh in the Open Championship, which shows that he is not afraid to perform on a big stage, which is where he might be come Sunday. Despite short odds Overton looks promising.

Okay, perhaps I’m being just a wee bit nationalistic here by claiming The Irish Open is the 5th Major but for every Irish golfer, it certainly is one they would like to get their hands on. The Irish golfing public has been fortunate enough to witness 2 Irish winners in recent year with Padraig Harrington doing the business in a play off against Bradley Dredge at Adare Manor and who could forget Shane Lowry’s monumentuous win last year in a play off against Robert Rock at rain drenched Baltray.

Thats was then and this is now though. Fortunately, the cream of Irish golf have turned up for this weeks event. Boasting 4 major wins out of the past 13, McDowell and Harrington will be sure to have their fair share of followers. However, in this golden generation of Irish golf, we also have one of the worlds greatest talent in Rory McIlroy, backed up by such talents as Clarke, Lowry, Lawrie, McGrane, Hoey and Thornton.

The venue is Killarney Golf Club, one of my absolute favorite places to spend a weekend and play golf. The course is not long but the scenery is sublime, especially on a beautiful summers day. throw into the mix that it is a bank holiday over here and we are hoping for fine weather and record breaking crowds. the only thing that may draw from it is the fact the Galway Races are on this week also……and of course the fact that the Recession is alive and kicking on these shores.

So, with the introductions over, its time to turn to out tipster Ian who’s form over the past few weeks reminds has been far from impressive. Having reminded him of such this week, he has been grinding through the history and statistic books more than ever to provide you with his first winner since his appearance here (in fairness, its only been a couple of weeks but there are standards to be met here). Without further procrastination, here are Ian’s selections:

“Our National Professional Golf Open returns once again to Killarney Golf and Fishing Club. The last two times it was played at this course, in 1991 and 1992, Sir Nick Faldo walked away with the title both times. A lot has changed since then however, both on the course and in terms of players. The greens have been remodelled to USGA specifications and some work has been done with the tees as well. The course should offer low scoring, with the risk of it turning into a ‘birdie fest’ if the conditions are right. Heavy rain has plagued the Killarney area over the last couple of weeks, but the weatherman tells us that conditions will be pretty good for the Irish Open. With some big names in golf arriving in Ireland, it should make for some exciting viewing. Marcel Siem, Graeme McDowell and Damien McGrane were all vying hard to make my final 3 but each just came up short for various reasons. Now for the final 3:”

Rory Mcilroy each way @ 8/1
The odds aren’t great for the young Northern Irishman and it takes a pretty special player to get me to back them at such short odds but Mcilroy is that special player. Two words spring to mind when people mention Mcilroy’s name to me and that’s ‘Quail Hollow’. The quality of his final two rounds there showed just how good a player he is and showed why there is no doubt that he will be world number one someday. But back to stats; Mcilroy booms the ball off the tee at nearly a 294 yard average. Granted that his accuracy isn’t fantastic but he is driving the ball better presently than he did at the start of the season so his stats don’t tell the full story of his present game. The good thing about his accuracy is that he doesn’t seem to have one of these Phil or Tiger shots that will go a country mile off line. He hits nearly 78 percent of green and that with improved putting make him almost the ultimate player. In fact, he has managed to improve his putting by an average of nearly one putt per round. Irish fans will be cheering him on this week and he will want to do well for all his fans. Even at these short odds, Mcilroy seems well worth a bet.

Bradley Dredge each way @ 45/1
The Welshman has been in great form this year and had it not been for his inability to close off tournaments, he would have one or two in the bag already. He hasn’t won in four years which of course is a worry but his play suggests another might be just around the corner. Long off the tee, albeit not always the most accurate, he hits over 67 percent of greens in regulation and a lot of players would kill for his putting. Also he should have good memories from Ireland after coming second in 2007, losing to our own Padraig Harrington, and from finishing tied eighth in 2008. Another thing was that he commented that he wanted to make Monty’s Ryder Cup team. With valuable Ryder Cup points on offer, Dredge is eager to put on a good show. Hopefully that added pressure will prove a boost for Dredge as opposed to a burden, but I am confident he has the mentality to cope. Clearly the bookies are coy on Dredge’s chances but that gives us the opportunity to snap up what appears to be a great value bet, with Dredge priced at 45/1

Alejandro Canizares each way @ 50/1
Canizares is another man who is in the form of his life. He has done all but win this year and coming out the wrong end of two playoffs has only spurred the twenty seven year old Spaniard on. On paper, his game seems suited to all golf courses and there are no glaringly apparent weakness. He averages nearly 287 yards in driving distance and couples that with both driving accuracy and greens in regulation percentages of nearly 69 percent. Moving on to the flat stick and he aint half bad either with an average of 28.21 putts per round and 1.7 putts for greens in regulation. The more I look at these stats, the more appealing this bet becomes. His odds of 50/1 are ridiculously high and should be taken advantage of. His past results in the Irish Open are quite poor but don’t let this put you off as the old Canizares wasn’t a patch on the one that showed up this year.

The debate about who is the Worlds Greatest golfer is of course always hotly contested and always will be. In the video above we get two different view points and now, I am going to weigh in with mine.

Firstly, I had to grapple with what exactly are we looking for when we say the “worlds best golfer”. In the video, one member picks Westwood on current form while another picks Woods on past form and future form. This is all a little confusing so to make it a bit more clear in everyone’s mind and to get that brain of yours working into overdrive, here is the scenario:

Tomorrow morning, every male professional golfer will tee it up in a competition, lets call it “The Ultimate Major”. There will be 4 consecutive rounds with one each played on what I consider some of the best courses in the world: Augusta, Carnoustie, Pebble Beach and Sawgrass. If you can correctly pick the winner, you stand to win $100,000, if you fail to pick the winner, you lose, lets say, your house. So, with that in mind, you really need to now consider just who would you bet your house on? Who in your mind, is the best golfer in the world? Who will net you $100,000? Well, if it’s my money and my house, there are only 5 men Im considering:

Lee Westwood: If there is one man in the world right now that has to come into your reckoning, it is Westwood. His record isn’t one that simply includes European wins, he is a multiple international winner. There is little doubt either that from tee to green right now, he is the most solid trust worthy player on tour. His chipping remains weak although it has improved and despite some still lackluster days on the greens, his putting has come on along way in the past few years also. The big question with Westwood is that being in contention is simply not good enough in our case here. Each way doesn’t cut and unfortunately, Westwood’s ability to close out majors is in question and something I have to consider too.

Tiger Woods: Who could argue with his past record and his ability to win tournaments that seemed beyond his reach. Time and time again, the Tiger Woods of old would hit irons shots to pins barely legal, produce chip shots that were barely imaginable and hold putts that seemed barely hole-able. He was, and still is according to the rankings, the undisputed world number 1. However, a lot has happened in a year. Before, he was the game of golf, he seemingly wrote the rules and you were either with him, or you were simply out….end of story! Now, the spotlight is focused on his behavior and every minute detail and move he makes is rightly scrutinized. His golf as a result is suffering. His driving is average at best (I am being nice here) and all of a sudden the hole has gone from being the size of a bucket to the size of an egg cup holder. Heck, somedays he must wonder does the hole just keep moving on him with the amount he is missing. And so, here is my dilemma, do I really think Tiger can get it around Carnoustie and Pebble Beach especially without getting into trouble once too often? I know he can be there or thereabouts but can he maintain that level of consistency for 72 holes? Add to the fact we know already he tends to struggle at the British Open when the wind picks up.

Phil Mickelson: I don’t think there is anyone on the world who wouldn’t cheer if Mickelson dethroned tiger as World number 1. Not only because he is such a likable, genuine role model but also because of his cavalier approach to the game. He knows nothing but attack and he thrills audiences the world over with this style. If Mickelson is in contention in any tournament, it is always worth tuning in to watch because you never know whats coming next. Of course, we all know that his particular weakness is his erratic driving, made up somewhat by without doubt the best short game in the business. There is no one, absolutely no one better or more imaginative around the greens than Mickelson. The worrying part though, in addition to the driving is his putting. He really has struggled for the past few years with the short stick and for now, the inconsistencies show no signs of letting up. Weighing it all up, we know Mickelson will be in contention in Augusta, Sawgrass is manageable too and perhaps Pebble Beach, but what of Carnoustie? Could you imagine Mickelson being tied for the lead with Westwood, Woods, Els and McIlroy on a windy final day at Carnoustie and your house is on the line. I myself would be a nervous wreck because every time that driver gets pulled out of the bag, its shut your eyes and pray time. Could he really hold it together for the entire 72 holes?

Ernie Els: The big Easy and another of golfs more likable and gentle role models. It was difficult to watch what seemed to be the demise of Els only for him to resurrect his career in the manner champions only know how. To be honest, there are not many weaknesses in his game but in each department, you would not say he is the best. It is his all around game and consistency which leads me to believe he has to be a serious consideration. Whats more, like Westwood, none of the 4 courses would give him any undue extra problems. He has the game to win anywhere, which is what he has proven throughout his career. The biggest fear I have with Ernie, particularly when it comes to majors, is that putting stroke. I flat out don’t like the look of it and come the back nine on Sunday in previous majors I have watched him, I think it begins to look a bit twitchy. Do I really think he can hold the putts when required to save my house?

Rory McIlroy: This is the man I believe will fill Tigers boots, although maybe not emulate the career that Woods has had. The young Irishman is an incredible talent and for those who have yet to witness his ball striking in person, you are honestly missing out for it is a think of beauty. From tee to green, McIlroy can be sensational. One only has to think back to the weekend of Quail Hollow to justify such a statement. There are however some question marks over McIlroy. One is that he is still very young and we should expect that his learning curve will last a little while longer yet. Evidence of such was at the second round of the British Open this year where he shot an 80 in testing conditions. The ability to grind out scores and turn 80’s into 75’s, like Woods so often does is what you need to be the Worlds best. There is also the issue with his putting. It is the single part of his game that looks…well…..ordinary! To become the Worlds best, he must find a way of improving it in my view because he rarely looks like the invincible machine that Woods did in the past on the greens. Taking everything into account, could McIlroy really upset the odds and stand toe to toe with the Worlds best, stare them in the eyes coming down the stretch and produce the shots needed to win. Is he at this early stage capable of holing the putts that matter?

So many questions, so many debates, but I have to make a decision and my top 5 in order of preference at this moment in time are as follows…….drum role please:

1. Lee Westwood
2. Tiger Woods
3. Phil Mickelson
4. Ernie Els
5. Rory McIlroy

Lee Westwood gets the nod because as far as I am concerned, he is due a major and the most consistent golfer in the world today. People kept telling me Harrington was a choker and all of a sudden, he had won three majors in the space of 18 months. It takes a bit of good fortune to win a  major, a bad shot getting lucky, a bad putt dropping when it shouldn’t, a lucky bounce etc. For my money, Westwood is doing everything right to win a major. I am confident he will win one and it may as well be “The Ultimate Major”. He is the only one I could possibly feel confident of with my house on the line (I should point out I actually still rent but just go along with it). Woods and Mickelson are just that little bit wild for me and I would be nervous of both around Carnoustie in difficult conditions. Ernie is generally quite steady but I sadly think his majors days could be behind him and McIlroy is simply too inexperienced for my liking to handle courses to the magnitude of Pebble Beach when it is set up in a US Open style. His time is coming, and probably sooner than most expect, but it will not come this week unfortunately!

So, with that evaluation done, why don’t you have a little think about it and leave a comment below with your top 5. Needless to say, it doesn’t have to include my 5 picks. I am aware that Stricker, Furyk, Poulter, Donald, Casey, McDowell, Ishikawa and more were left out so let me know why I was wrong in doing so. I look forward to your comments but rest assured, any top tip other than Lee Westwood and as far as Im concerned, it’s bye-bye house and not even the sniff of $100,000.

Lee Westwood……We Get Golf’s “Ultimate Major” Winner

After a superb 60 which put him right in contention after Saturday’s round,Carl Petterson followed it up with an impressive 67 to win the 2010 Canadian Open by a single stroke from overnight leader Dean Wilson. Luke Donald shot 66 to claim third and extend his recent run of good form. The Englishman now jumps to a career high 7th in the World Ranking.

As for Pettersson, he is yet another man pushing for the extremely competitive European Ryder Cup team. One would feel that he needs to either show his face in Europe for a few tournaments or else win another PGA Tour event in the next month for Monty to consider him though. I wonder if he was even pre-fitted for the uniforms like all the rest who are in contention??

Ian has been looking through the field and here is what he has come up with for this weeks Canadian Open:

“The RBC Canadan Open is the next stop on the US Tour and is being hosted on the Par 70, St. Georges Golf and Country Club, which measures over seven thousand yards. With three par fives and five par threes, the course is ideally suited to strong iron players. As it is a tree lined course, there is a premium also on accuracy but those that can hit it a long way, might find themselves with some short irons into greens which they can attack. Based on this, I am looking for those whose stats back up the need for strong iron play in addition to above average length combined with above average accuracy.

Paul Casey: Each Way @ 16/1
The first person to jump out is Paul Casey. What a terrific iron player, averaging nearly seventy percent of greens in regulation on the PGA Tour and over seventy three percent on the European Tour. Not only that but he is extremely long, averaging over two hundred and ninety yards in driving distance on the PGA Tour while still managing to keep it pretty accurate. Following on from his tied third place in the Open Championship last week, he is carrying some momentum. Between the European and PGA Tour, he has three further top fives this year and two further top tens. Although a ten time winner on the European Tour, he has only one single PGA Tour title to his name. While fatigue could be a factor from travel and a long week at the British Open, I am confident that Casey can put up a good showing this week.

Hunter Mahan: Each way @ 28/1
The American looks like he has the perfect game for the course. He averages over two hundred and ninety yards in driving distance and also averages nearly seventy percent in both driving accuracy and greens in regulation. These stats make up for his poor putting, but if he can putt well he will surely be there or there abouts at the end of Sunday. His form has not been particularly great this season but with valuable Ryder Cups up for grabs and Mahan fighting hard for his pace, I think we could see a change in fortunes for Hunter over the next month or so, starting this week.

Alex Cejka: Top ten @ 5/1
Cejka is quite a short hitter but he is accurate and hits quite a lot of greens in regulation. He was tied fifth last week in the Reno Tahoe Open and was tied third at the end of July in Germany in the BMW International Open. Unfortunately, like Mahan, putting is an issue which makes winning it, in my opinion, a bridge too far for Alex. We have also seem him slip away from the top of leadersboards when in contention to win more than once over the past few years. However, with odds of 5/1 for him to finish in the top ten, I think this is quite appealing considering there aren’t a lot of big names in the field this week.

“NEW YORK — Tiger Woods’ estimated endorsements for 2010 are worth $22 million less than last year, according to Sports Illustrated’s annual analysis of the highest-earning American athletes.
Woods is still No. 1 on the list, as he has been for the rankings’ seven years. But his estimated total earnings of more than $90 million are down 30 percent from nearly $128 million two years ago.
Rival Phil Mickelson is again No. 2 with total earnings of more than $61 million. His estimated endorsement income is $52 million, compared with $70 million for Woods.
Floyd Mayweather Jr., LeBron James, Alex Rodriguez, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Derek Jeter, Peyton Manning and Dwyane Wade round out the top 10.” Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

Aw well, I guess he will have to make do with $90 million per year, not exactly at the beans and toast situation just yet…….until maybe his ex-wife deservedly gets her claws out (I know I know, less of the puns!!)

This weeks event on the US Tour is the Canadian Open. I will post a full preview on tomorrows site but for now enjoy some of the fantastic highlights over the years from this special tournament. Who will ever forget Tigers six iron to the 18th or the heartache in seeing Mike Weir come so close to winning his national championship only to see his dream shattered by a visit to the water on the 18th. Lets hope this week has more drama in store for us.

Since it is the first time a European tour event has been played at the golf club, there are no past results for us to judge our potential winners on. However, we will persevere and see if we can unearth some gems for you this week. Last week’s tips unfortunately didn’t provide us with the desired result at the British Open, although my man McIlroy did earn himself a place so congrats to anyone who backed him each way. Although pleased with a top 5 finish I really though McIlroy could do the business last week, especially after that blistering opening 63.

Ian has been analyzing the field for this weeks Scandinavian Masters and hoping to put last week behind him, here is what he has to say:

“My first pick is Englishman Robert Rock. Although perhaps not a household name, he has been in terrific form this year and from what I’ve seen, it’s difficult to understand why he has yet to win on tour. It is surely a matter of “when” and not “if”. With five top top four finishes and a further two top tens, most notably finishing tied seventh at the Open Championship last week, perhaps that day of reckoning is upon us. His putting stroke is sublime and if the rest of the game can match it this week, I think he has a great each way chance. At 28/1, his odds aren’t bad either.

My second tip is the Swede Peter Hanson. He has already won on tour this year, and recent form could be pointing him towards yet another. Tied sixth in France three weeks ago and a strong showing in the Open Championship only for two poor closing rounds of 74, Hanson is not far off the top of his game. The big Swede has such a calm demeanor that if he gets into contention, he generally doesn’t let much phase him. His odds are relatively low at 16/1 but buoyed on by the local support, I think he has a big chance. Furthermore, he is also paired with Rock over the opening two days so I’m hoping that they can get off to good starts and ensure that they bring out the best in one another.

Lastly, after much head scratching and pencil gnawing, my final tip is Raphael Jacquelin. He, like the other two, is beginning to show some solid form. The last competition he played in was the Barclay’s Scottish Open where he finished tied 3rd but he also came runner up in the Saint-Omer Open. True he was poor at the beginning of the season but he has proven before he has the credentials to win, and when playing well, there are not too many more fluid and classic swings. I’m giving him the nod at 28/1

For those who have been living under a rock for the past couple of years, the iPhone is Apples phenomenal phone that launched in 2007 and I can admit I have been converted to an Apple Addict over the past 12 months. However, it is the “Apps” which you can download to smartphone devices that have seen so many manufacturers rush to get their name in this space. True, App’s have existed for some time but it is the iPhone popularity that has catapulted them into stardom.

What does all this have to do with golf though. Well, for starters, there are some pretty cool Golf Apps (all non golfer are now snickering after I mentioned golf and cool in the same sentence). Take for instance the PGA Tour App. Here I can stay abreast of the latest tournament scores with an interactive leaderboard right in the palm of my hand. I can also view upcoming fixtures, get an insight into each individual player and view the latest videos. Add to this the ability to browse the Champions Tour and Challenge tour and you have in my eyes what is a really convenient piece of software. Unfortunately, the European Tour must be under that rock I spoke of yesterday because there is still no sign of them releasing an App. I have sent them an email re: how they were lagging the USPGA Tour when it came to social media outlets like Apps, YouTube, Facebook etc but with no response. I am amazed at how behind the curve they are here considering how proactive they have been with regards the promotion of the Tour, for which they deserve immense credit.

While Apps like these are great, it is the real golf functional apps that really grabbed my attention. For instance, I came across the Rules of Golf App the other day and proceeded to download it to my phone. Now I know the rules of golf are not exactly a stimulating subject but bear with me. Too often in club competitions, rules are broken, perhaps not intentionally but nevertheless errors are made. I agree there are way too many rules for everyone to remember but for those in the dark, a simple thing like a rule book in the bag is an obvious solution. For some reason though, this little book seems largely unpopular with the golfing population and hence the introduction of the Rules of Golf App.

I want to be one of the first to commend the R&A for the creation of this App. When you log in, you are met with a very detailed menu presented in very simplistic fashion. It is designed so anyone can navigate the software with absolute ease and find the answer to their question within seconds. Not only that, when you search for a ruling you will find the text is accompanied by images and even a video. I don’t think it could be any clearer and how much more efficient could this possibly be for golfers who need a ruling on the course! Finally, there is a quiz for those who need to brush up on their knowledge. Yes I know a quiz on the rules of golf might not be everyone’s idea of a fun night in but golf is a game of etiquette and it is ignorant in my view to play the game without some knowledge of the rules. Spend 5 mins per day on this App and you will find your knowledge will improve dramatically within weeks. So for those with an Apple iPhone, I would strongly encourage you to download it.

Needless to say there are many golf apps which provide a service. For instance, there are also GPS systems for yardages you can download but I am unclear as to how good they actually are at this point (Im going to download one today and test it on my local course Saturday if it is indeed available). It is a step in the right direction though and I am sure that in time we will be marking score cards, signing into competitions etc all through our phones etc. Some don’t particularly like all this movement away from the traditional forms and decide against embracing the changes we see happening around us. I am the complete opposite though and find these revolutionary adjustments to the old traditional methods exciting. Lets all just admit and welcome the “Planet of the Apps”

If anyone has any interesting information on alternative golf apps either in Europe, the US, Asia or wherever, please do leave a comment below.