Selection must come from only the WGC event. Selections from the Puerto Rican Open will not be counted.
? COURSE: TPC Blue Monster at Trump National Doral, 7,481 yards,
par 72. Doral's signature course greets golf's best with a more modern
stage this year, thanks to a $200 million upgrade that toughens a
52-year-old layout that had shown signs of age. The course gets its name
from its famed 18th hole, where water along the entire left side
torments golfers on both the tee and the approach shot. At the inaugural
Doral Open in 1962, pros went a combined 104-over par for the week at
No.18. Despite equipment advances over the years, No.18 still ranked as
last year's sixth-toughest hole outside the majors.
? FIELD WATCH: World No.1 Tiger Woods defends his title
against the strongest field yet of 2014, facing a lineup that includes
the entire top 50 in the world rankings and top money-winners from
various world tours. The lineup currently stands at 67, though that
could grow by perhaps three qualifiers Sunday night. … Waste Management
Phoenix Open winner Kevin Stadler, No.9 in the FedExCup standings, will
land a berth if he doesn't fall out of the top 10. … Scott Stallings and
England's David Lynn also could get in if they move into the world's
top 50 on Monday. … Barring any late withdrawals, this will mark the
first time everyone in the world's top 50 has teed up at the same event
since the 2012 PGA Championship.
? 72-HOLE RECORD: 261, Tiger Woods (2006 at The Grove). Trump Doral record: 264, Tiger Woods (2005).
? 18-HOLE RECORD: 62, Sergio Garcia and Retief Goosen (both
4th round, 2002 at Mount Juliet) and Bubba Watson (2nd round, 2012 at
Doral). Trump Doral record: 61, Stephen Ames (2nd round, 2000).
? LAST YEAR: Woods cruised to his 17th WGC title and fourth on
the Blue Monster, using a putting tip from buddy Steve Stricker to
record 27 birdies on the Monster. Woods built a four-shot lead through
54 holes, finishing off with a 1-under-par 71 that made the final result
closer than it appeared. It was Woods' 76th career PGA TOUR victory,
and his 100 putts for the week matched his career best in a 72-hole
event. Stricker, who had worked to tweak Woods' posture over putts,
wound up two shots behind in second after closing with a 68.
? STORYLINES: The renewed Blue Monster gets its formal
introduction, showing off Gil Hanse's handiwork of strategically placed
bunkers, trickier greens and, yes, more water. Of particular interest
are the holes leading up to No.18, with water now coming into play at
both the par-3 15th and drivable par-4 16th. … Woods hopes past success
at Doral might give spark to his current malaise, which continued Friday
when he barely made the Honda Classic cut. That followed a Saturday MDF
at Torrey Pines and tie for 41st in Dubai. … U.S. Open titleholder
Justin Rose looks to test his sore shoulder again after a two-day stay
at the WGC Accenture Match Play. A flareup prompted the 2012 WGC
Cadillac winner to take his name out of the Honda field.
? SHORT CHIPS: Jason Day, last week's Accenture Match Play
champion, seeks to join Woods and Phil Mickelson as the only men to
capture two WGC titles in the same year. Woods has done it five times;
Mickelson paired his 2009 WGC-Cadillac title with the WGC-HSBC Champions
in China. … Just one entrant will make his World Golf Championships
debut here: Dawie van der Walt, Order of Merit winner on the Sunshine
Tour in South Africa. …
Last Week's Winner DL817. Congrats!
Updated Standings
1. dfs - 2696
2. Ocala - 2510
3. Bill - 2209
4. NMT - 2130
5. 2952 - 2112
6. Sea - 1814
7. Ed - 1805
8. Bobcat - 1748
9. 67810 - 1699
10. g2f - 1608
11. NiA - 1561
12. Lizard - 1379
13. DL - 1323
Good Luck!!
This post was edited on 3/9 8:59 PM by DFSNOLE
Field
