Tribune golf reporter Ed Sherman highlights some of the players to watch at this week’s Advil Western Open:
Tiger Woods
Woods comes into the tournament on a rare cold streak. He has finished out of the top 10 in his last two tournaments, tying for 12th in the U.S. Open and tying for 16th at the Buick Classic. However, Woods usually doesn’t stay cold for long. A two-time winner of the Western, he will want to build some momentum in his last tournament before the British Open.
Phil Mickelson
Mickelson gave himself a big mental boost by winning the Canon Greater Hartford Open over the weekend. He had been 0-for-Sunday since winning the Buick Invitational in February. The Sunday disappointments, including the Masters and U.S. Open, were starting to wear on Mickelson. But Sunday’s victory should put him in a better frame of mind.
Vijay Singh
Like Mickelson, Singh has had several close calls this year. He finished second at the AT&T Pro-Am and The Players Championship. He is looking for his first victory of the season. One of the most consistent players on tour, this could be the year Singh breaks through at Cog Hill. He loves the course and usually plays well there.
Joe Durant
Durant showed that his 1998 Western victory wasn’t a fluke by winning the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the Genuity Championship in back-to-back starts. However, Durant has been cold of late, missing the cut in four tournaments. He did finish in a tie for 24th at the U.S. Open.
Hal Sutton
At 43, Sutton continues to excel. Since turning 40, he has won six tournaments, including the Shell Houston Open in April. He also tied for third at the Genuity Championship and tied for fifth at The Players Championship. One of the best drivers on tour, he ranks fourth in accuracy, hitting 77 percent of his fairways.
Scott Hoch
Another player who is shining in what should be his twilight years on the PGA Tour. At 45, Hoch won the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic. Then he finished a strong second to Sergio Garcia at the Buick Classic. Barring an injury, he is certain to go over the $2 million mark in earnings for the first time in his career.
Tom Lehman
Always one of the most popular players, Lehman is looking for his first victory of the year. He finished second at the Sony Open and tied for third in the FedEx St. Jude Classic. Lehman usually finishes in the money; he has missed only two cuts this year.
Nick Price
Last year’s runner-up, Price isn’t having a stellar year. He missed the cut at the Masters and U.S. Open. His best finish is a tie for third at the Byron Nelson Classic. Price, though, remains a fan favorite. As a two-time Western winner, he always will be a contender at Cog Hill.
Davis Love III
Love has been plagued by neck problems. He was out for two months before the U.S. Open, where he finished tied for seventh. After missing the cut last week at Hartford, shooting an opening-round 77, Love figures he could use the work. He was a late entrant into the Western Open.
Robert Allenby
The defending champion struck again by winning the Nissan Open in a playoff. However, Allenby hasn’t made a serious run since then. Perhaps in a sign of things to come, Allenby did post a 64 on the final day of the Buick Classic, lifting himself to a tie for eighth.
Jim Furyk
Furyk looked like he had a chance at the U.S. Open before his funky swing went haywire on the final day. He shot an 82 to drop into a tie for 62nd. Furyk did start the season in a big way, winning the Mercedes Championship. He also finished in a tie for sixth at the Masters.
Steve Stricker
Consistency still remains an issue for the former Western winner. He had a huge start to the season, bagging $1 million for winning the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Then he finished tied for seventh in Phoenix. He also had a tie for 10th at the Masters. Stricker, though, has missed a few cuts of late, including the U.S. Open.
Western Open field
As of Sunday
Fulton Allem
Robert Allenby
Stephen Ames
a-Jeremy Anderson
Billy Andrade
Stuart Appleby
Tommy Armour III
Woody Austin
Briny Baird
Craig Barlow
Doug Barron
a-Chip Beck
Cameron Beckman
Rich Beem
David Berganio Jr.
Jay Don Blake
Jeff Brehaut
Mark Brooks
Olin Browne
Bob Burns
Tom Byrum
Emanuele Canonica
Jim Carter
Greg Chalmers
Brandel Chamblee
K.J. Choi
Michael Clark II
Russ Cochran
John Cook
Robert Damron
Marco Dawson
Glen Day
Doug Dunakey
Scott Dunlap
Joe Durant
Joel Edwards
Brad Elder
Bob Estes
Brad Faxon
Ben Ferguson
Steve Flesch
Ray Floyd
Carlos Franco
Harrison Frazar
Robin Freeman
David Frost
Edward Fryatt
Jim Furyk
Brian Gay
Brent Geiberger
Bill Glasson
Matt Gogel
Mathew Goggin
Paul Gow
Paul Goydos
Jimmy Green
b-Michael Harrigan
Dudley Hart
J.P. Hayes
Brian Henninger
J.J. Henry
Mark Hensby
Tim Herron
Gabriel Hjertstedt
Glen Hnatiuk
Scott Hoch
a-Charles Howell III
Bradley Hughes
a-Peter Jacobsen
Lee Janzen
Brandt Jobe
Per-Ulrik Johansson
Kevin Johnson
Pete Jordan
Jonathan Kaye
Jerry Kelly
Skip Kendall
a-Michael Kirk
Greg Kraft
Cliff Kresge
Neal Lancaster
Franklin Langham
Tom Lehman
Justin Leonard
J.L. Lewis
Frank Lickliter II
Davis Love III
Steve Lowery
b-Dino Lucchesi
Andrew Magee
Jeff Maggert
Shigeki Maruyama
Len Mattiace
Bob May
Billy Mayfair
Blaine McCallister
Scott McCarron
Mark McCumber
Spike McRoy
Shaun Micheel
Phil Mickelson
Larry Mize
Michael Muehr
Gary Nicklaus
Frank Nobilo
Joe Ogilvie
Geoff Ogilvy
Craig Parry
Steve Pate
Carl Paulson
David Peoples
Craig Perks
Tom Pernice Jr.
Chris Perry
Kenny Perry
Lee Porter
Nick Price
Tom Purtzer
Chris Riley
Loren Roberts
Rory Sabbatini
Brent Schwarzrock
Scott Simpson
Vijay Singh
Jeff Sluman
b-Mike Small #
Chris Smith
Jerry Smith
Mike Sposa
Paul Stankowski
a-Curtis Strange
Steve Stricker
Kevin Sutherland
Hal Sutton
Esteban Toledo
Tommy Tolles
David Toms
Kirk Triplett
Ted Tryba
Bob Tway
Jean Van de Velde
Scott Verplank
Grant Waite
Duffy Waldorf
a-D.A. Weibring
Mike Weir
Mark Wiebe
Jay Williamson
Garrett Willis
Tiger Woods
Kaname Yokoo
Note:
a-sponsor exemptions
b-section members/champions
Four qualifying spots to be filled Monday
156 players in the field
Alternates:
Chris Tidland
Jason Gore
David Morland IV
Hunter Haas
Steve Allan
Craig Kanada
John Riegger
Tripp Isenhour
Brian Wilson
Kelly Grunewald
