Bob Hope Chrysler Classic

Courses: PGA West (host), Bermuda Dunes, Indian Wells, Tamarisk, La Quinta, California
Yardages: 6,950 (PGA West), 6,749 (Bermuda Dunes), 6,512 (Indian Wells), 6,881 (Tamarisk)
Par: 72 (all four)
USGA Rating: 74.6 (PGA West), 72.9 (Bermuda Dunes), 71.0 (Indian Wells), 72.5 (Tamarisk)
Greens: Tifdwarf Bermudagrass (PGA West, Bermuda Dunes & Tamarisk), Ryegrass/Poa trivalis (Indian Wells)

GCSAA Tournament Fact Sheets: PGA West, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes

Weather Forecast

Best Players Last 10 Years

Past Winners:
2001 - Joe Durant
2000 - Jesper Parnevik
1999 - David Duval
1998 - Fred Couples
1997 - John Cook
1996 - Mark Brooks
1995 - Kenny Perry
1994 - Scott Hoch
1993 - Tom Kite
1992 - John Cook

Outright plays:

Charles Howell to win 25/1 e.w. @ Sportingbet, Blue Square or BetSmart [0.5 units]
Very impressed with his 2002 debut last week. Whenever he faulted, he came back even stronger ... just strong enough to deny a matchup win with Furyk over him! No course form, but top-20 in the Invensys Classic at the end of last year. Will surely go close.

Scott Verplank to win 28/1 e.w. @ Heathorns [0.5 units]
Was very impressive for three rounds in the Mercedes Championship and is coming off a week's rest. Two weeks of playing in the Trade Winds does not do your swing any good! Finished 4th last year and despite the courses being set up easy for the amateurs, it is players with good driving accuracy and greens in regulations stats that tend to play well in this event.

Scott McCarron to win 33/1 e.w. @ NetBetSports [0.5 units]
Top-5 in the Mercedes and, like Verplank, has had a week to restore his swing. Top-20 last year and top-5 in the last two Invensys Classics, he likes the courses set up easy and can handle the distractions of giggle golf. Should see another fine performance from the Californian.

72-hole plays:

Fred Funk to beat Brandel Chamblee -165 @ Camelot [0.5 units]
Top-10 in two of last three years and 13th last week, I'll take the chalk on Funk against a player who has a best of 66th in this event in his last three visits

Fred Couples to beat John Daly -105 @ Bet365
Expect Daly to continue to improve, but he has missed the cut in three of five visits. With these five day events, if he gets a good start he can finish highly, but if not, he still does not have the patience and concentration to grind. Siding with Couples who won this event in 1998 and has an excellent long-term record in these pro-ams.

Lee Janzen to beat John Daly -105 @ Camelot
Taking Janzen at decent odds. Steady record in this event so with a mid-table position expected, I'll leave to Daly to hand over the victory

Skip Kendall to beat John Daly -110 @ Olympic
Kendall recorded top-10 finishes in 1998 and 1999 and has a decent record in the Invensys Classic. Comfortable with the pro-am format and maybe inspired by fellow Wisconsin native, Kelly's win last week.

Skip Kendall to beat Carlos Franco -110 @ Camelot [0.5 units]
A missed cut last week and a first-time starter in this event, it is easy to oppose Franco.

Kevin Sutherland to beat Paul Stankowski -110 @ Surrey [0.5 units]
Stankowski finished 2nd last year and has a decent record in pro-ams, but these tend to fleeting glimpses of the player of 1996-97. Sutherland is a much better, more consistent player and can boast top-10 finishes in two of the last three years here.

Post-cut update:

Funk/Chamblee Trails by 6
Couples/Daly Leads by 1
Janzen/Daly LOST by 4
Kendall/Daly Trails by 1
Kendall/Franco Leads by 1
Sutherland/Stankowski WON by 16

Howell 21st
Verplank 23rd
McCarron 18th

Late update with the cut made with just 18 holes to go. Will be happy to come out of this event with a break-even record. The remaining matchups are close and the outrights are on the fringes of contention for a place win, but much will depend on John Daly's performance tomorrow.

Final update:

Matchups: 2-4-0; -2.03 units

Funk/Chamblee LOST by 4
Couples/Daly WON by 2
Kendall/Daly LOST by 7
Kendall/Franco LOST by 3

Outrights: 0-3; -1.50 units

Howell 6th
Verplank 42nd
McCarron 13th

Disappointing event. Loss on both matchups and outrights, though Howell was just one shot short of a place win.