The Claret Jug Office Pool

Its British Open week, better known as The Open week. So once again it's time for our annual office pool.

Here's how it works. Select 5 golfers, the best total score of your best 4 (FOUR) golfers wins.

In other words pick 5 guys, at least four have to make the cut and the team with the best score of their top four guys wins.

This year’s Open will be held at Turnberry in Scotland. Turnberry has hosted three previous British Opens in 1977, 1986 and 1994.

With the last Open being held there in 1994, means Tiger Woods has never played a major golf tournament round on this historic golf course.

Tiger has spent this week in Scotland “scouting” the course and something tells me he will be ready to go come tee time on Thursday.

So what kind of challenges will Tiger and the others be facing at Turnberry? I recommend keeping your eyes on these four holes.

First, the 489 yard, par four, 3rd hole. This hole plays into the prevailing wind, hence the name of the hole: Blaw Wearie, which means "out of breath."

The hole has been lengthened by 27 yards since 1994, making it the longest par 4 on the course. Two bunkers guard the green on the right.

Second, keep a watch on the par four, 474 yard, 5th hole. This right-to-left hole will play 33 yards longer than it did in 1994.

Eight bunkers add to the difficulty of this hole as do the difficult to read contours of the green.

On the back nine, keep a lookout on number 14. This 448 yard, par four is extremely difficult with two new bunkers on the right between 300 and 320 yards.

A golfer’s first two shots to reach the green must be daring and good. A prevailing wind makes it even tougher.

Finally, there is the tricky par three 15th hole. The 206 yard green is protected by three bunkers along the left side and a steep slope to the right, so any errant shot will be punished.

Do not be surprised to see bogeys and double-bogeys fill up the player’s scorecards at number 15.

That said, here are my five selections in our office pool to see who will take home The Claret Jug.

No. 5 Hunter Mahan

Mahan is currently 5th on the PGA Tour in scoring average at 69.5.
He has five top ten finishes in his 17 tour events so far in 2009.

Only three players finished in the top 10 in each of the year's first two majors: Woods, Phil Mickelson and Hunter Mahan.

With Mickelson out this week, only Woods and Mahan can continue that streak.

A key stat to note is Mahan is ranked eighth on tour in sand saves. His strength as a good bunker player could prove to be a factor at Turnberry.

No. 4 Martin Kaymer

This 24 year old, German may be “unknown” to the casual golf fan, but Kaymer has been one of the top players on the European Tour in 2009.

In 13 European events, he has four top ten finishes including two wins. He is second on the European money list and is 11th in the world rankings.

The big question is does he let the pressure of playing in a major get to him? He missed the cut in both The Masters and The U.S. Open earlier this year.

No. 3 Sergio Garcia

Garcia is currently fifth in the world rankings. So far in 2009 he has split his time evenly between the PGA and European Tours.

In ten PGA events he has one top ten, while in nine European events he has four top tens and one win.

He is also third on the European Tour in greens hit in regulation.

Historically Garcia’s problem has not been getting to the green; it has been what he does once he is on the green.

In the 2007 British Open, putting cost him his first major title and he had to settle for second behind Padraig Harrington.

Garcia’s creative shot-making abilities make him a threat to take home The Claret Jug.

No. 2 Ian Poulter

Although he may be better known for his brightly colored fashion attire he sports out on the course, Poulter is a one of the best “ball-strikers” in the field.

In eight European Tour events this year he has two top ten finishes and leads the tour in greens hit in regulation at 78.5%.

He has been equally as solid on the PGA Tour in 2009 with four top ten finishes in the eleven events he has played.

At the 2008 Open Championship, Poulter had the clubhouse lead on the last round before being beaten by defending champion Padraig Harrington.

2009 may be Poulter’s chance to take home The Claret Jug however one golfer stands in his way…

No.1 Tiger Woods

Woods, who missed last year's Open due to injury, had played in the tournament every year going back to his amateur days in 1995 and has never missed the cut.

His three victories were in 2000, 2005 and 2006.

It is said that in order to win The Open you have to be a shot-maker. Woods is by far the best shot-maker to ever play the game.

He is always in the hunt and finds a way to turn a poor round into a solid round keeping him in the mix.

How good is Tiger playing? So far in 2009, he has played in nine PGA Tour events making the cut in eight of those.

He is 1st in FedEx Cup points, 1st on the money list, 1st in scoring average, 1st in top ten finishes with eight (so he has been in top ten in all eight events he made the cut), and sits at number one atop the world rankings.

Keep in mind that is in just nine events. Kenny Perry who is third in FedEx Cup points has played in 17 PGA events already in 2009.

Tiger will be going for major title number 15 this weekend. I am hoping he gets it.