Jul. 20, 2008
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Gavin Coles, Nick Flanagan, Jon Mills
Tee time: 11:15 a.m.
Tee: No. 1
Total TOUR wins: 0
Why you should watch: Don't be put off by the number of wins in the group; the Aussies and the Canadian bring a lot to the table. Coles won on the Nationwide Tour earlier this year, bringing Nationwide Tour victories for his country to three at the time. It has since increased to five, with Jarrod Lyle winning twice. With all the passion in the air for Aussies this week, don't be surprised to see Coles make this his breakthrough week. And while we're on the topic of Aussies, keep your eye on young Flanagan. The PGA TOUR rookie graduated from the Nationwide Tour early last year after grabbing three victories in the 2007 season. We know he's got what it takes to win, and if he can make the U.S. Bank Championship his first victory, he's got a good shot at Rookie of the Year. Don't let all that Aussie spirit take your mind of Canada's Mills. The 30-year-old Kent State grad shot a 6-under 64 on Saturday to force his way into a tie for third after starting the day tied for 35th. His best finish of the season so far was a tie for 13th in Puerto Rico. Let's see if he can go one better.
| 2008 stat comparison |
| Gavin Coles |
9 |
7 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
3 |
70.67 |
| Nick Flanagan |
18 |
8 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
2 |
72.10 |
| Jon Mills |
20 |
13 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
3 |
71.53 |
|
Brandt Jobe, Joe Ogilvie, Jimmy Walker
Tee time: 10:45 a.m.
Tee: No. 1
Total TOUR wins: 1
Why you should watch: Defending champion Joe Ogilvie leads this group with one win, and oh how the "other Ogilvie" would love to make that one win two this week. Only two shots off the lead, Ogilvie and Jobe have as good a chance as anyone in the field to go low and seal the deal on Sunday. Jobe shot a 65 on Friday, so we know he's capable of firing out a hot round. Like a few other guys we've watched in past weeks, Jobe's best finish of the season so far was a tie for 18th at the U.S. Open. With all the players he was competing against at Torrey Pines on the other side of the Atlantic, Jobe is more than able to take control. Walker, one shot behind his group mates, has been pretty consistent this week with a 69, a 66 and a 67 to get him to where he is at the start of the final round -- tied for 12th. However, that consistency is going to need to go out the window Sunday. The only way Walker can hope to get his first win this week is to shatter his high-60s rounds with something way low. If he can't do that, he's still likely to get his best finish of the year; right now, that's a tie for 35th at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship.
| 2008 stat comparison |
| Brandt Jobe |
14 |
5 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
72.03 |
| Joe Ogilvie |
20 |
15 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
3 |
71.59 |
| Jimmy Walker |
13 |
7 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
71.61 |
|
Kenny Perry, Brenden Pappas, Chez Reavie
Tee time: 9:35 a.m.
Tee: No. 1
Total TOUR wins: 12
Why you should watch: To say this group has the most talent would be an understatement; after all, Perry is quite obviously the hottest golfer on TOUR right now. Sure, it's a long shot, but can you help yourself from rooting for him? Perry leads his group -- and all three of these groups -- with 12 victories, three of them earned this year. He's five shots off the lead, which is more than he's comfortable with, but it ain't over til the fat lady sings, right? South Africa's Pappas already had a sniff of the lead earlier this week when he and his brother Deane briefly shared the clubhouse lead during the first round. Unfortunately, Friday and Saturday 70s prevented Pappas from keeping his name up top, but if he can fire out another 64, like he did Thursday, he has a good chance of finishing strong. Just like Flanagan, Reavie is a rookie this year, and he's been doing pretty well for himself. He carded a tie for fifth at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic early in the season to get off on the right foot, but his best finish since then was a tie for 34th at the Shell Houston Open. Currently ranked 123rd in FedExCup standings, Reavie is one of the rookies who will get to see some Playoff action this year (if he keeps making cuts), but he's going to need some better finishes if he wants to make it past the first event.
| 2008 stat comparison |
| Kenny Perry |
19 |
18 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
11 |
69.97 |
| Brenden Pappas |
13 |
4 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
1 |
71.59 |
| Chez Reavie |
20 |
13 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
1 |
71.56 |
|