The Starter: Round 3, Bob Hope Classic
The third round of the Bob Hope Classic is set to begin soon. Here's a look at Saturday's round:
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EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR NETWORK on-site correspondent Brett Wright previews Saturday's third round:
Round 2 is now in the books at the Bob Hope Classic. Conditions were finally playable on Friday after a long layoff due to rain all through Thursday. Players took advantage of the receptive greens and there were many low scores, perhaps the best by Bubba Watson at with a 10-under 62 on the difficult Silver Rock layout. I had the pleasure of covering Shane Bertsch, the first-round leader. Bertsch started off somewhat shaky with a bogey at the par-5 second and then settled down to shoot 3-under 69 at the Palmer Private. Bertsch has never won before on TOUR but looks ready to win and is having great control of his irons this week.
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The forecast through the end of play on Monday looks promising. The amateurs and celebrities that sat out the second round will be back on Saturday and the true atmosphere of the Bob Hope Classic will return. Three of the rookies who played well in the first round followed it up with solid second rounds, Alex Prugh shot 66 at Palmer Private, Chad Collins posted a 64 at the Nicklaus Private and Martin Flores fired a 65 also at the Nicklaus Private. Look for at least one of these rookies to contend all the way through the back nine on Monday. Do not be surprised if all three are in contention and one of them wins.
The golf courses will more than likely remain saturated through the tournament finish, so keep in mind the players who can stay in the fairway (the only part of the courses they have been able to cut with the mowers) will have a significant advantage. The rest of the equation is adjusting to a new set of greens each day. Both Tim Clark and Shane Bertsch told me that despite the moisture we have endured, the greens are very consistent. This also means you have to be aggressive all week here because someone can make 10 or 12 birdies in a round and make up ground very quickly. No one this week will just survive and get the win, they are going to have to go out and take it!
INSTRUCTOR'S CORNER: Alex Fisher, head instructor at the TOUR Academy at TPC Las Vegas, analyzes the playing conditions at the Bob Hope Classic.
Nationwide Tour graduate Chad Collins moved up 38 places in Round 2 by shooting an impressive 8 under on the Nicklaus Course, mainly due to just 24 putts. No stranger to winning, Chad won the 2009 Miccosukee Championship and has had a number of near misses during his career. Look for him to stick around for the rest of the week and challenge for his first PGA TOUR win.
Putting is often overlooked by amateur golfers when it comes to practicing. Hitting a drive 300 yards is all the rage nowadays, but putting is where the scoring is done. To be a good putter a player must have good distance control. Certainly direction is important but, if you become proficient at lag putting you will reduce your scores.
Go to the putting green with three balls before you tee off. Select a hole and place each ball at 5, 10 and 15 step increments. The goal is to get each ball just past the hole but within 3 feet. If you fail at one distance then you have to start again. Last year at the U.S. Open I watched a number of pros do this drill. Work this drill into your pre-round routine and you'll start to putt lights out.
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