Caddysview.com » Tag » Caddysview.com News

Tag Archives: Caddysview.com News

Don't overlook Grace in 'best young golfer' debate

By | |
Leave a comment

Quick: List the best young golfers in the world right now.

The names will come quick and easy, so familiar that even a casual observer could reel ’em off in a hurry.

Rory McIlroy, obviously. The foursome of Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Rickie Fowler and Jason Day, too. Give it a few more seconds and they’ll probably come up with the likes of Hideki Matsuyama, Victor Dubuisson, Brooks Koepka and Harris English.

We can debate just exactly what constitutes a “young” golfer, but it’s inarguable that 26-year-old Branden Grace has been severely overlooked on this list.

Grace won the Qatar Masters on Saturday in impressive fashion, playing his final six holes in 5-under. It was his eighth career professional title, sixth on the European Tour and second in his last four starts.

Those accomplishments might still pale in comparison with a player such as Reed, who owns half as many victories but on a much more competitive circuit, but Grace’s immense talent shouldn’t be overlooked as much as it’s been to date.

The reality is, we’re watching him develop right before our eyes.

Grace hasn’t finished outside the top-25 in his last 10 worldwide appearances. If confidence brings results and results bring confidence, he should have all sorts of momentum heading toward the meaty part of the calendar in a few months. Which is also the next step in his progression.

It should be pointed out that he’s claimed all but one title in the months from October through January – not exactly primetime for an elite player. It should also be noted that in 11 career major starts, he’s never fared better than T-18. And that his limited PGA Tour experience is profoundly pedestrian.

Those results should all leave him behind some of the more popular young players, but it’s the other ones – the winning in bunches; the consistent play – that should at least help include him as part of this conversation.

from Caddysview.com News http://ift.tt/1uHu3z8

Place your bets: Vegas offers Super Bowl/golf props

By | |
Leave a comment

Next Sunday is already shaping up as a great day for sports TV viewing: Rory McIlroy in the morning from Dubai, followed by an afternoon of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in Phoenix with Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots serving as the nightcap. Now there’s even a way to turn a profit from a day of watching golf and football – assuming you can get to Las Vegas to place a bet.

The WestGate Las Vegas SportsBook released a series of Super Bowl prop bets Thursday, including several cross-sport props. While some include English Premier League soccer or NBA basketball, several of the “who will have more” wagers are tied to golf, both at the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open and the European Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Here’s a look at the Super Bowl vs. golf props offered (number in parentheses indicates a spread, i.e. a side favored by -4.5 would have to be five or more higher to win the wager):

Rory McIlroy final-round score in Dubai (-14.5) vs. Doug Baldwin receiving yards

McIlroy final-round birdies (Pick ‘Em) vs. Rob Gronkowski receptions

Marshawn Lynch rushing yards (-11.5) vs. Sergio Garcia final-round score in Dubai

Tiger Woods final-round score in Phoenix (-5.5) vs. Julian Edelman receiving yards

Robert Turbin rushing attempts (-0.5) vs. Woods final-round birdies

Gronkowski receiving yards (-4.5) vs. Phil Mickelson final-round score in Phoenix

Jordan Spieth final-round score in Phoenix (-32.5) vs. Russell Wilson rushing yards

Rickie Fowler final-round score in Phoenix (-19.5) vs. Brandon LaFell receiving yards

Of course, all of the props assume that the golfers in question will still be around for the weekend. Should any of the players withdraw or miss the cut at their respective tournaments, bets on props tied to their final-round performance would be cancelled and refunded.

from Caddysview.com News http://ift.tt/1Cun7Xd

Balky putter costs McIlroy, now 8 back in Abu Dhabi

By | |
Leave a comment

It appears the Abu Dhabi trophy will continue to elude Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy was in the mix at the halfway point of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, just two shots off the lead despite a rather balky putter.

The putter failed to cooperate once again on Saturday, and this time there was no hole-in-one to save his score.

McIlroy made only two birdies en route to a 1-under 71, a score that saw him get lapped on a day when most of the contenders broke 70. After starting the day alone in third place, McIlroy now finds himself in a tie for fifth, eight shots behind Martin Kaymer.

The key to the round was obvious on the stat sheet: McIlroy missed only one green in regulation, but he simply could not convert a putt and needed 34 swipes on the greens to complete his round.

“I just didn’t putt well at all,” he said. “Very disappointed. I hit the ball just as well as I did yesterday, gave myself so many chances and just didn’t convert any really.”

McIlroy has been a runner-up in Abu Dhabi three times in the last four years, and it appears that streak of near-misses will extend with Kaymer apparently on cruise control. McIlroy is joined at 12 under by Charl Schwartzel and Gary Stal, one shot behind Alexander Levy and Bernd Wiesberger and two shots behind Thomas Pieters, who remains alone in second place.

McIlroy spoke to reporters in a soft tone after the round, resigned to the fact that he will once again leave this particular desert stop empty-handed.

“Very wasteful today, and obviously playing for second place it looks like tomorrow,” he said.

from Caddysview.com News http://ift.tt/17TuThV