The Back Nine: Honda Classic

My predictions for the Honda were stamped with comic book sound effect words. Ironically, despite all of the 'Zaps' and 'Pows' I neglected pick eventual winner and obvious comic book choice, Camilo "Spider-Man" Villegas. I actually had him starting on my fantasy squad last week which looked like a great pick until he decided he couldn't break par on the weekend. Regardless, Villegas has been playing great golf so far in 2010 but had yet to close the deal. With a five shot victory at the Honda the deal was closed with vigor.

Alright so I didn't have the winner in my Front Nine, again. Here's who I did have:

1. Lee Westwood - Although he finished eleven strokes behind Villegas it was still good enough for a top ten. The final round 68 came on a day when rounds under par were few and far between. Leap frogging twenty spots to finish T9 saved this pick.  Grade: B+

2. Rory McIlroy - The third round was a killer for my hero (have I mentioned that he's my hero). The five over 75 left him in nowheresville. A closing 69 did vault him twenty-five spots to a T40, but you should finish better than tied for two score when you climb that fast.  Grade: C-

3. Y.E. Yang - Oh boy. Last year's Honda champion opened with 79. He missed the cut, which was +3 mind you, by six shots.  I give him a Y if it were a qualifying grade, but this will have to do.  Grade: F-

4. Ernie Els - The Big Easy finished T5...as far as last place is concerned. He made the cut on the number and decided not to stray to far from the back.  Grade: D-

5. Paul Casey - A rough 73 to open the tournament was amended by two of the next three rounds in the 60's during a difficult week. A closing 67 jumped Casey six spots to a T4.  Grade:A-

6. Charles Howell III - Chuck sorta gritted it out this week, never getting much going but not letting it get away from him either. The T26 inspires such descriptors as okay, alright and ehh.  Grade: C

7. Anthony Kim - I predicted Kim would not have another third round 76 like he suffered in Phoenix. I was right, he shot 73 instead. An even par third round would have at least made a tournament out it. However, Kim once again was showed up by a player who is honing his skills with the clubs, not honing his game at the clubs. Despite it being on talent alone, AK still finished solo second.  Grade: A-

8. Graeme McDowell - 68, 67 to start made this look like a genius pick. 71, 76 to finish killed the dream. Plummeting twenty-three spots on Sunday to T31 made this a tough pill to swallow.  Grade: C

9. Jeev Milkha Singh - Honestly I picked JMS to complete a joke about name spellings. After the guy I comically picked one spot after McDowell finished one spot behind McDowell the joke was on me.  Grade: C-

This was my best overall week so far, and was a few strokes from being really solid. Quite the opposite of what you look for in a handicap I feel I am trending up.

My Overall Grade: C+