The West Coast Swing is heating up with another stop in California this week and the return of Tiger.  As of posting Phil is also scheduled to play but that may change as he has a respiratory ailment, which really sucks because if healthy I would put him the favorite to win.  Now I’m not so sure.

Tiger will be going for his fourth straight win in this event and five of the last six years.  It will be a tough test for Tiger though, playing his first tournament of the season.  Tiger has not played since winning the Target World Challenge in mid December.  How that puts him at a disadvantage I do not know, I’m just going on guy instinct here.

Buick Invitational
Torrey Pines Golf Course – San Diego, California

The Buick Invitational will be played on two courses for the first two rounds, the North and South courses.  Of the two courses the North course plays easier (68.68 vs. 73.03 stroke average last season) and those that make the cut will play their final two rounds on the tougher South course.  The South course is also the host of this year’s U.S. Open (which I may be attending, fingers crossed) though it will be playing much more difficult come June.

Tiger will definately be in the hunt come Sunday but will fall short of winning.  I look for a healthy Phil to win.  If Phil can’t go look for one of the young guns to step up this week.  Bubba finished T4 here last year. This is a looooong course that fits Bubba’s looooong drive.  If he can keep his drives out of the rough he will be in contention all weekend.  Snedeker also played well here last season, finishing 3rd, and already has a Top 10 on the early season.

But does it really matter who wins?  It’s going to be a great tournament to watch.  As always I’ll be rooting for a Tiger/Phil final pairing (it’s been 143 days since the last, but who is counting?) though odds are not likely if Phil can’t breath.  Will the 2008 trend of “suprise” winners continue? 

Could Win:  Tiger, Phil

Will Win:  The Field

Preview

Tiger plays for the first time in 07 this week as he looks to increase his PGA Tour winning streak to seven consecutive tournaments, dating back to last season’s British Open victory. Last season Tiger beat Nathan Green in a playoff to win the Buick Invitational for the second consecutive year, and the fourth time in his career. Tiger has never finished outside of the top 10 in this event. In other words he’s a heavy favorite to keep his current streaks alive at Torrey Pines.

Also look for Phil to do well this week. He has won this event 3 times (last win in 2001) and is looking to bounce back from a disappointing finish last week. Will there be a Tiger/Phil final pairing on Sunday? We can only hope.

Current FedEx point #1 Vijay Singh is also in the field at the Buick Invitational. Vijay has only played this event twice since 2000, finishing 11th in 02 and 24th in 05, and is always a threat to win. Also look out for Lucas Glover, who was tied for 1st going into the final round last week. Glover finished T4 here in 06, while missing the cut in 04 and 05.