MatthewGoggin Posts -- FanHouse

Accenture Match Play Final: Geoff Ogilvy Faces Paul Casey

Posted: Feb 28th 2009 7:12PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: PGA

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It might not have been Tiger Woods against Phil Mickelson. Heck, it isn't even Ernie Els playing Vijay Singh, but the two professional golfers playing the best right now will face up against each other Sunday exactly 125 miles away from their home course.

Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who won this tournament in 2006 and was runner-up in '07, will take on Englishman Paul Casey in a 36 hole final to see who can claim title of Best Golfer During Tiger Week.

Monday Pin Placement: Has Phil Lost It?

Posted: Feb 9th 2009 12:00PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA

Every Monday during the PGA Tour season, Monday Pin Placement will run as a wrap-up of the weekend's action, with a little commentary mixed in. We'll focus on what you may have missed while you were out grinding on the putting green.

Phil Mickelson Struggles Again -- There is no reason to get totally riled up and make the assumption that Mickelson has gone the way of Ernie Els. Mickelson is still ranked fourth in the world and is a threat to catch fire and burn up future installments of this column. But the idea still has to be brought up: Phil Mickelson could be losing his luster.

FanHouse U.S. Open Media Guide, Page 6

Posted: Jun 10th 2008 6:24PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA

Tiger Woods just emailed and said he's pretty excited to see his name on the FanHouse Media Guide.

Jim Furyk (above, right) -- WON -- Even though he complained the conditions are tough, he's been as consistent as anyone at the U.S. Open the last four years. He tied for second the last two years and is always a threat at a tournament you have to hit fairways.

Sergio Garcia (above, left) -- t-3 -- You have to putt really well at this tournament to win, so I can't see Sergio pulling one out until he figures out the flat stick. He's had two good U.S. Opens but hasn't made the cut since 2005 and is always one of those guys you pick in your office pool only to kick yourself for putting all your eggs in a basket that can't make a five-footer.

Robert Garrigus -- CUT -- He isn't having a great year on Tour, missing half the cuts he's played in so far. No matter his troubles, nobody can take away that silver medal in trap shooting his dad won in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

Philippe Gasnier -- DNP -- Gasnier, a native of Brazil, is using the exposure he'll receive this week at Torrey Pines to increase the popularity of golf in a country of almost 200 million, with just 25,000 recreational golfers.

Bob Gaus -- CUT -- Gaus has played in one U.S. Open, and the winner was Hale Irwin. Eighteen years later he's back for more, qualifying for his second national championship. I wouldn't place your gas money on the 47-year-old, who has never made a cut in the four PGA Tour events he's played.

Mike Gilmore -- CUT -- Like Gaus, Gilmore has never made a cut on the PGA Tour, but even worse, he couldn't break 80 in his last attempt at the U.S. Open.

Matthew Goggin -- t-36 -- A pretty good time to be playing well, Goggin just finished in a tie for second at the Memorial two weeks ago.

Retief Goosen -- WON -- Good news, he's won the championship twice since 2001. Bad news, he hasn't won a PGA Tour even since 2005. Always a threat to win on tough golf courses, Goosen is the complete opposite of Sergio in your office pool. What was I thinking passing up on the GOOSE?!

Jason Gore -- t-49 -- The perfect example of golf being based around confidence. Gore was the fan favorite in the 2005 U.S. Open but hasn't done a lot since riding the post-Open wave to victory at the 84 Lumber Classic. Gore has missed the cut or withdrawn from eight straight tournaments heading into this week.

Hunter Haas -- DNP -- The 31-year-old Haas hasn't lived up to expectations set by a 1999 U.S. Amateur Public Links win. Two stints on the PGA Tour, in 2001 and '05, both landed him back on the Nationwide Tour, where he's made six of 11 cuts this season.