Jun. 26, 2008
All times are eastern.
Brian Bateman, Eric Axley, Arron Oberholser
Tee time: 12:27 p.m.
Tee: No. 10
Total TOUR wins: 3
Why you should watch: Defending champion Brian Bateman has a shoulder injury that's affecting his swing, so the chances of a repeat win are pretty slim. However, the proud winner didn't want to miss the chance to come back to the scene of his first -- and only -- TOUR win, so he delayed his surgery. You can expect at least some enjoyable play from someone that eager. Eric Axley was one of the surprise top-10 finishes at the U.S. Open two weeks ago (he tied for ninth). He missed the cut the following week, but hopefully he'll find the oomph he had in San Diego at another long course this week. Oberholser hasn't competed in an event since the Memorial Tournament, so look for that rest to spark some improved play from him this week. He needs it with only two top-25 finishes this year.
| 2008 stat comparison |
| Bateman |
16 |
6 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
72.16 |
| Axley |
18 |
9 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
2 |
72.33 |
| Oberholser |
6 |
6 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
72.05 |
|
Johnson Wagner, Woody Austin, Nick Watney
Tee time: 7:45 a.m.
Tee: No.1
Total TOUR wins: 5
Why you should watch: After a shaky start to the season with six straight missed cuts, Johnson Wagner has been in pretty good shape since winning his first event three weeks after the sixth missed cut. Wagner had been finishing in pretty average positions before he broke through in Houston, and the last few weeks have been average for him again. Time for another surprise win? Woody Austin hasn't done anything notable since his tie for 21st at THE PLAYERS Championship, but he plays well at Warwick Hills. Last year, he tied for second, and in 2006, he tied for fifth. He needs to put some magic into his season if he wants to make a playoff run (he's currently 63rd in the standings), and this is the perfect place for him to do it. Nick Watney has held his own at tournaments with strong fields this year -- a tie for fifth at Kapalua, a tie for 21st at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a tie for 11th at the Masters and a tie for 26th at the Memorial Tournament -- but he hasn't been consistent like that all year. At 87th in the FedExCup standings, Watney needs to make something happen if he wants to go as far in the playoffs as he did last year.
| 2008 stat comparison |
| Wagner |
17 |
10 |
1 |
-- |
-- |
1 |
1 |
71.87 |
| Austin |
17 |
13 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
6 |
72.04 |
| Watney |
14 |
12 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
4 |
71.88 |
|
Justin Leonard, Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman
Tee time: 7:27 a.m.
Tee: No. 10
Total TOUR wins: 30
Why you should watch: This is a group to be afraid of. Already hot with that recent win under his belt, Justin Leonard could be dangerous out there this week. We know he plays well at Warwick Hills -- he tied for second last year -- and his performance has been far from lackluster this year: Leonard has one win, four top-10 finishes and three top-25 finishes in 2008. Just ask the PGATOUR.com experts; Jim Furyk is one big powerful horse for this course. If you're not watching him, you're crazy. He has eight top-10 finishes at Warwick Hills in 13 starts, and he won the event in 2003. It hasn't been much of a year for Furyk so far, so this is as good a tournament as any for him to change that. Tom Lehman has been a little inconsistent this season: two top-10 finishes, one top-25 finish but seven missed cuts. Lehman tied for 20th at the 2007 Buick Open, so it wouldn't be a stretch to see him bring home another strong finish instead of a missed cut this week.
| 2008 stat comparison |
| Leonard |
16 |
15 |
1 |
1 |
-- |
5 |
8 |
70.56 |
| Furyk |
16 |
13 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
4 |
6 |
71.28 |
| Lehman |
12 |
5 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
3 |
72.06 |
|
Tiger Woods
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