WGC – Cadillac Championship
TPC Blue Monster at Trump National Doral; Doral, FL USA
Purse:  $9,000,000
Champion: $1,530,000; FedExCup Points:  550

Notwithstanding a certain opposite-field PGA Tour event being held in Puerto Rico, all eyes (certainly the vast majority of) will be on the World Golf Championships (WGC) Cadillac Championship at the newly minted Trump National Doral.  The storylines this week at Doral are many; from the now infamous final round withdrawal of World No. 1 Tiger Woods at last week’s Honda Classic, to, which Tiger Woods will show up this week, to, is Tiger Woods’ back going to be healthy enough to defend his championship, to, is Tiger Woods… I’m getting off track here.  How about Jason Day?  Winner of the first WGC event of 2014 at the Accenture Match Play, can he join Woods and Phil Mickelson as the only men to have won two WGC events in the same calendar year?  Maybe it’s Rory McIlroy; fresh off his final round collapse and subsequent loss in a 4-man playoff at PGA National last week at the Honda Classic.  Regardless, this week will be our formal “re-introduction” to the famed TPC Blue Monster, now owned by real estate magnate Donald Trump.  What was initially to have been a $200 million dollar “restoration” turned into a nearly complete “renovation” to the 52-year-old layout.  On that note, will this help or hurt those with good previous course form?  (See Pivotal Holes with changes below).  One thing is for certain, with winning scores perennially in the 16 to 19-under range, it was long past time for a “toughening-up” of the Monster.  According to renovation architect Gil Hanse, “It’s pretty much a brand-new golf course.”  As with each WGC event on the calendar, guaranteed FedExCup points and a big purse up for grabs this week (USD$9M) so plenty is at stake.  This is a no cut event but you have to complete the tournament to collect.

Tournament Notes

• Defending Champion:  Tiger Woods; Runner-up:  Steve Stricker. 

• 50 of the Top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings are in the field of 69.  Lowest ranked player:  South Korea’s Jin Jeong at #193.

• Past champions in the published field:  Tiger Woods (x2), Justin Rose, Nick Watney, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson.  (2008 champion Geoff Ogilvy did not qualify for this year’s event).  

• Course yardage increased from 7,334 to 7,481 yards on the card.  Par 72 (36-36).  Weather forecast to be a factor on Thursday with an 80% chance of precipitation.  Friday: 10%; Sat/Sun: 0%.  Excessive wiind speeds should not be a factor but wind direction will, with only Sunday showing the easterly prevailing wind.

Pivotal Holes (with changes)

#1:  Par 5 opening hole lengthened from 529 to 572 yards. No longer driver, 9-iron.

#4:  To me, was hardest hole on the course at 236 yards (over water); shortened to 203.

#9:  Par 3 (over water) lengthened from 169 to 200 yards; added amphitheater seating.

#10:  Par 5 lengthened from 551 to 614 yards.

#16:  Drivable par 4 shortened from 372 to 341 yards; now more drivable but more water; risk/reward.

#18:  Most difficult finishing hole in golf.  Card says slight lengthening from 467 to 471 yards.  Hanse says #18 pretty much stayed intact.  “It wasn’t broke, so we didn’t need to fix it.”

Ten Names to Watch (Odds)

• Rory McIlroy (15/2) – Losing that final round lead at last week’s Honda aside, how about that 5-wood he hit 245 yards on #18 to get into the playoff?  I’ll never forget the sound of the ball coming off that club head.  Four Top-10s in four 2013-14 season starts including two runner-ups.  Three straight Top-10s at Doral including solo third in 2012.
   
• Adam Scott (12/1) – T12 at last week’s Honda Classic after taking a seven week hiatus.  Two Top-10s in his only other 2014 starts (Hyundai and Sony).  T3 here last year closing 68-64 on the weekend.
   
• Tiger Woods (14/1) –  Woods has four Top-10s in this event, including the 2007 and 2013 champion.  Did not play in 2010 and 2011, and did not finish in 2012 (withdrawing during the final round with an Achilles injury).  Also withdrew during final round at last week’s Honda Classic (back injury).  No Top-10s in three 2014 starts but, he’s Tiger Woods and he goes on the list. 
   
• Dustin Johnson (16/1) – In his last four stroke play starts has four Top 10s including a win at the WGC-HSBC Champions, T2 at Pebble Beach and solo 2nd at the Northern Trust.  T12 here last year and solo 2nd in 2011.
   
• Jason Day (18/1) – Fourth go-around at Cadillac (T45 in 2011; T20 in 2012; T33 last year).  Interestingly enough, Day does not play particularly well in Florida (with only one career Top-10) and so far Doral has been no different.  Two stroke-play 2014 starts (T2 at Farmer’s Insurance and T64 at Pebble Beach).  Won the first WGC event of the calendar year in his last start at the WGC-Accenture Match Play and as noted earlier, could join Woods and Mickelson as only players to have won more than one WGC event in the same calendar year.  Day has the length as well as the short game to be around the top come Sunday.
   
• Sergio Garcia (20/1) – Sergio has a pair of T3s here including last year (going 67-69 on the weekend).  T8 at Honda last week closing in 67 despite missing eight birdie putts from inside 15’.  Has five Top-10s in his last six worldwide starts including two wins (Thailand Golf Championship and CB Qatar Masters).
   
• Bubba Watson (25/1) – Bubba Golf is hot.  Followed a T2 at the Waste Management Open with an impressive victory at the Northern Trust.  Solo 2nd here in 2012.  3rd in Total Driving and T1 on tour this year in Proximity to the Hole so his ball-striking right now is stellar.
   
• Keegan Bradley (28/1) – Six of his last eight rounds at Doral have been in the 60s.  Unfortunately the two rounds that weren’t came on Sundays.  Still worked it into two straight Top-10s here.  After opening rounds of 69-68-66 last week at The Honda, faded to 73 on Sunday finishing T12.  Developing a pattern here.  Has to close now on Sunday.
   
• Jason Dufner (50/1) – The bigger the tournament the more this guy gets left out of the conversation.  Not sure why.  T4 in the last two US Opens and won the 95th PGA Championship last year.  Tough start to his 2014 PGA Tour season with a T65 at Riviera (but shot 68 on Sunday).  Carried that into a Sweet 16 at the WGC Match Play.  T12 here a year ago.
   
• Ernie Els (80/1) – Ernie seems to be getting used to his switch to Adams Golf equipment.  Has to be brimming with confidence after making it to the Final Four at WGC Match Play.  3rd in scrambling this year on Tour, 6th in Strokes Gained Putting and 1st in Sand Saves.  Four time major winner, Hall of Famer and 2010 WGC Cadillac champion.  You could do worse at 80/1.  

My Golf Channel Fantasy picks:  Group 1:  Adam Scott; Group 2:  Sergio Garcia; Group 3:  Ernie Els; Group 4:  Chris Kirk.