Eurosport - Thu, 15 May 15:02:00 2008
The US Tour takes a ride up Interstate 95 to Georgia this week, where Zach Johnson defends his AT&T Classic title against a field including the mercurial great white shark, Greg Norman.
The Tournament: AT&T Classic
The Course: TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Georgia
Sugarloaf was the first North American course designed by Greg Norman, so it's fitting the Australian should return for this third Tour outing of the year. Taking inspiration from the Old Course at St. Andrews and Royal Melbourne, Norman included sod-wall bunkers, and created a lay-out that lends itself perfectly to risk-and-reward tournament golf.
The cinematic 18th is a case point, with players hoping to make eagle required to carry water with their second shot. Golf World magazine called the course "the best thing to emerge from the hills of Atlanta since Bobby Jones". Basically, it looks really cool.
A List
Tee 'Em Up: After suggesting you bench Sergio Garcia last week, Tee &lsquoEm Up was banished to a dilapidated pitch-and-putt on the south coast and told to have a long, hard look at itself. We will not make the same mistake again - though Colin Montgomerie's request for similar treatment before The Open will be granted. Back to this week...Zach Johnson won at Sugarloaf in 2004, tied for second in 2006 and won again last year. Add to that his Masters win in the peach state of Georgia last April and you can see where we're going with this. Alongside him, David Toms looks to be the best bet from a depleted field. The American has shown consistent form on his last four appearances, and his second-round 68 at Sugarloaf last year proves he has the game for the course.
Cut 'Em: Kevin Stadler might have finished tied for 15th last week, and 25th the week before at Wachovia, but statistically his driving accuracy and scrambling are below average and on a Nicklaus course both are paramount. He also missed the cut at Sugarloaf last year. Rich Beem is another to leave well alone. The American with a penchant for pork pie hats has missed more cuts than he's made this year, and had a miserable time in Georgia last year - shooting a first-round 76 before retiring with flu midway through his second.
B List:
Tee 'Em Up: Stewart Cink is your B-group banker, but then 57.06 per cent of Fantasy players already knew that. Not only is the three-time Ryder Cup player in stellar form, with six top-10s already in 2008, but he'll be playing on his home track and staying at his own pad at Sugarloaf. This could be his week. Our second pick is Australian Steve Elkington, who put in a solid showing at Sawgrass last week and has quietly earned himself $830,550 playing consistent golf this year. The 1995 USPGA champion finished tied for 16th in the AT&T last season, and his old mate Norman would love to see him roll back the years this time round. Last year's runner-up Ryuji Imada is another worth serious consideration.
Cut 'Em: The Fantasy world is split on this one, but we're saying ditch Bubba Watson. He's been cut in his last two tournaments, and suffered the same fate at the AT&T last year. The American may well have grown up playing long Florida courses similar in design to Sugarloaf, but he's a long way from winning form. Michael Allen is another to leave behind. He's had no top-10s this season, and was cut on his last two appearances in Georgia, in 2004 and 2005.
C List:
Tee 'Em Up: Ben Crane played consistently well at Sawgrass, coming in tied for sixth for his fifth top-20 finish of the year. If that doesn't sway you, consider his record at this tournament, which includes a win in 2003 and a top-10 the year after. To keep him company, we're sticking our neck out for Steve Marino, who's only been cut twice in 14 tournaments this year, and finished tied for sixth in the AT&T last year.
Cut 'Em: He was cut last week at the Players, as he was on his last three visits to Sugarloaf in 2004, 2005 and 2006. John Rollins has no place being anywhere near your team. Call us crazy, but we're also suggesting Paul Goydos gets a rest. The 43-year-old came desperately close to victory at Sawgrass, but our money is on a tired Goydos sliding unnoticed from contention this week.
Will Tidey / Eurosport