Front Nine: AT&T Pro-Am

After a rough opening week to the Front/Back Nine series the Golf Potato hopes to recover quickly. Here are this week's players holding the proverbial wedge to get me out of trouble:

1. Sergio Garcia - I have seen a few rounds of Sergio's Euro Tour play and I have to say he looked pretty good. Not in that swarthy Spaniard kind of way, his game looked good. The biggest improvement was the putter which last year packed it's bags and filed for divorce. I like his chances to play well in California.

2. Luke Donald - Last week's runner up has long been a "Steady Eddie" type of pick. He traditionally hits a lot of fairways and greens, has a solid short game and can roll the ball on the greens. Injury stopped Luke at the Accenture Match Play last year, ending a very hot start to the 2009.

3. Kevin Na - Kevin "Na Na Naahh" Na is the antithesis of the Luke Donald pick. Na has a world of talent but is a 50/50 shot every week to play well or catch an early flight. The real prediction with Na is this: at some point in the television coverage you will see Kevin drop his club at the end of his swing, signifying a hozelmonster headed towards a spectator's dome. Still, Na tends to play his best golf on the West Coast swing so I'll pick him to have the hozelmonster shank prevent him from winning, not miss the cut.




4. Jim Furyk - "Fists Of" Furyk's worst finish at the AT&T in the past five years is a T39 at 4-under par. As noted from last week, Jim finished strong with two weekend rounds in the 60's. I look for a top ten out of Furyk this week.

5. Retief Goosen - The Goose has finished T6 and solo 4th in two PGA Tour starts this year. Last year he finished solo 3rd at this event. I will be so bold as to confidently say this could be your winner this week, maybe.

6. Sean O'Hair - I love Sean's game. The only thing I worry about with O'Hair is whether or not he is getting enough to eat.==>

7. Matt Kuchar - Matt finally seems to be matching his talent with the pro game. He has gotten off to a great start this year with a solo 2nd and 3rd in four events. In the past three years at the AT&T, Kuchar has finished with a T6 and a T14, even during not so great years statistically. Maybe he just likes being paired up with celebrities.

8. Mike Weir - The Canadian Lefty (not a political statement) was runner up at this event last year. Steve Stricker ended up winning last week after having been runner up the year before. Hmmm. I know Weir missed the cut last week but he finished towards the bottom last year at Riviera, and missed the cut the year before that. Hogan's Alley just doesn't seem to agree with him. Not to worry, historically the AT&T is right up Weir's alley.

9. Phil Mickelson - Phil's good, really good. He could win and should factor. That's it.