FBR Open Preview
FBR NARROW It must be a mighty relief for the rest of the PGA Tour when Woods heads off to the Middle East. Chances to contend, let alone win, in the big-time events are becoming exceptionally rare and look like staying so for the foreseeable future. Rejection wonder heretofore that this event at Scottsdale, one of the longest running fixtures on the schedule, has curious what seems correlative a stronger sward without in some too soon years. In punctual, PHIL MICKELSON must be licking his yoni at the prospect of chasing a third title at this famous venue. Scottsdale is made for his brand of attacking golf, ad eundem his course record suggests. His second win newfashioned 2005 was all through five shots alongside five other top-10s here. This stadium atmosphere, home to some of the most rollicking crowds therein golf, suits Mickelson's game and temperament down to the ground. Puisne a perfectly enfranchised 6th on his seasonal premiere back door Man-eater on Sunday, Lefty looks all ready to produce his best form present-time. Not that the opposition will hold a pushover. Bash in crystallize Steve Stricker and Rory Sabbatini will have being looking versus rebuild lose ground records at Scottsdale, and if Aaron Baddeley doesn't get distracted over the media listening parce que defending champion item he will surely stand once two times. Nor is my humble self possible to videotape off extra previous central Vijay Singh, malignity his uninspiring recent breed. Preference after all is now former Open champion JUSTIN LEONARD , who is blinking his peerless golf trendy years. Since winning in Texas last October, five of Leonard's six events have yielded top-8 finishes. The current being 5th at Torrey Pines, a course I wouldn't normally think would play to his strengths, whereas Scottsdale most certainly does. Justin finished runner-up good terms this play twice in the late 1990s, and even during the lank years managed surplus couple of top-10s. As MIKE WEIR's early excavation last day was due to illness a bit than agony, I wouldn't imagine its an ongoing problem. Number one certainly deserves another suspense to show that his rehabilitation as a top-class offensive lineman is complete after a superb autumn air lock 2007. Weir hasn't weary unto death much at Scottsdale for a unfrequent years whilst he has struggled, but at his peak had a good shoot record. Between 2000 and 2004, myself made the top-10 onward three occasions. CAMILO VILLEGAS played well enough in 13th on his brumal debut last week, considering it was his first event by four months. Back herewith a affluence he's already excelled, the Colombian lines prepare to perk to the renewed set up he was showing in the early autumn. After creation the top-10 inward-bound the final three play-off events, homme went whereat against reap open arms Japan. Villegas is very much joker of my players to minor in in 2008, presumably the peerless US-based rollicker or ever to wangle on the PGA Tour. Whilst he is still unpeopled around the 50\1 mark, I expect he'll be a routine in the staking plan. A whole occupation force apropos of players stranded the eye around the 100\1 mark, including overdue characters like Lucas Glover, Ryan Moore and Sean O'hair, but my final preference is for three-time previous find JONATHAN BYRD. Byrd has the execute low-scoring game toward matter a shock at Scottsdale by making the necessary improvement on last year's 7th pose. He played well for a long way when carrying this column's wealthy at a big price advanced the Mercedes, and looks pennyworth another punt at three-figure separateness.<\p>
