Predictions: Verizon Heritage

Although you may still have the Masters hangover, there’s more golf to be played this week, with the Verizon Heritage taking place in Hilton Head, South Carolina. While it is hard to ever really sink your teeth into this one, it does provide us with some good golf, which is what we’re looking for. So let’s get right to the predictions for this week’s tournament.

The Sleeper

Though he hasn’t had a hot start to the year, Scott Verplank did have a hot finish at the Masters this past week. After shooting 73 the first three days, he capped off the year’s first major with a 68 on Sunday, which gave him a T18 finish, and some definite momentum heading into this week.

Verplank was very effective in 2009, with eleven Top 25 finishes in his 24 starts, so most think that he’s due for another solid season this year. While he’s not particularly long off the tee, his putting usually makes up for it, so he’s certainly a threat to contend, and possibly win this week. With it being the week after the Masters, it’s normally hard to predict who will bring it and who will suffer from a letdown after the week at Augusta. I think Verplank brings it this week, and puts himself in contention to win.

The Favorites

You can check out the favorites according to Vegas if you’d like, but here are my favorites heading into the week:

Jim Furyk, Camilo Villegas, K.J. Choi, Matt Kuchar, Paul Casey, Stewart Cink, Lucas Glover, and Jerry Kelly.

Honorable Mention: Sergio Garcia, Robert Allenby, Boo Weekley, Tim Clark, and Zach Johnson.

Ok, as usual, we go elimination style to the finish. Let’s begin!

As easy as it would be to pick Choi after his performance at the Masters, I think it’s just as easy to think that there’s no way that he plays just as well this week. I’ve found a new respect for this guy, and think that he’s set up for a great rest of the season. But it’s asking too much for him to come right back out the next week and win.

Cink just hasn’t had the type of year so far that we expected, especially after winning his first major last year at Turnberry. While he’s certainly got the game to contend each and every week, his putting hasn’t been as hot as it was last year. With two Top 10 finishes this season, he can play well enough to win this week. I would expect a good finish, but not a win.

Glover is another ’09 major winner that we all thought would make some noise early on this year, but that hasn’t happened. But again, the season is young, and we’ve still got a ton of golf to be played. He does have a Top 10 this year at the Farmers Insurance Open, and could easily excel on a course like Harbour Town, so don’t be surprised to see this be the possible launching point for him to make this a great season. I can’t pick him to win though.

Casey surprised us all last week when he missed the cut at the Masters, which led some of us to wonder if injuries were still bothering him. Any time that he enters a tournament healthy, he has to be considered a favorite simply because of his game. However, after what had to be a disappointing week last week at Augusta, I’m not sure that he can bounce back that quickly and win a tournament.

The Final Four

Jim Furyk, Camilo Villegas, Matt Kuchar, Jerry Kelly

Speaking of Masters disappointment, it’s hard to say that anyone could have been more disappointed than Furyk. He shot an 80 in the first round, which pretty much ended his week right there. That’s golf though, and Augusta can make even the best of players look bad. You would expect him to be back on his game this week, and be out to prove that last week was just a fluke. I have full confidence that he plays well this week, and assures himself a Top 10 finish…..but not a win.

Kuchar got a lot of attention last week, more so for his pairing with Tiger Woods than his actual golf game. But he held his own at Augusta, finishing at even par on the tournament, which isn’t too bad considering how some of the more experienced players fared. He should definitely ride last week’s momentum into Hilton Head, and would have to be considered a serious contender. But again, he’s not my winner.

The Finals

Camilo Villegas vs. Jerry Kelly

Camilo has had a great season thus far, with three Top 10 finishes in only six starts. His length off the tee always makes him a threat at a course like Harbour Town, which is why he has to be considered one of the favorites to win it.

As for Kelly, he’s the definition of solid. You always seem to see Kelly’s name towards the top of the leaderboard throughout the tournament (such as a T12 finish at the Masters), and there’s no doubting that his game is more consistent than ever right now.

This is one of the more difficult tournaments to predict, since it is coming right off the heels of the Masters. However, I’m confident in this pick, and even more confident that these two guys are going to finish in the Top 5.

As for the winner though, that’ll be Villegas.