The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard is the next stop on the PGA Tour. Palmer's own Bay Hill Club course is a long course with tough greens. And this year the greens are even tougher. Grounds crew have had to work around the clock combatting the courses nematodes problem (nematodes are pretty much tiny worms that eat away at the grass). Although all of the greens that were damaged are being repaired and treated, there will still be patches of brown on some of the courses dance floors.
For the second year in a row, Tiger will enter the API boasting a bold winning streak. Last year, Woods played this event riding a seven stroke-play win streak and this year Woods enters having won his last five and seven of his last eight overall. But I think it's time for a new champ. Here is a list of 10 players that can put a stop to Tiger's streak this weekend.
1. Phil Mickelson -- Mickelson tees up for the first time since the WGC. Lefty has finished T6th, 2nd and 1st so far in 2008. We all know what a final pairing of Tiger/Phil would do to Sunday's ratings.
2. Vijay Singh -- Singh also tees up for the first time since the WGC in one of his favorite events on one of his favorite courses. Since 1993, Singh has finished in the top 10 six times and out of the top 25 only twice at the API. But don't ask him about the 18th.
3. Jim Furyk -- Furyk is floating around the top 25 in each event he's played so far this season. If you need accuracy from the big head, which this event requires, Furyk consistently delivers. Furyk ranks ninth on tour in driving accuracy percentage (74.51) which should give him a good chance at taming Tiger.
4. Sergio Garcia -- In his first 16 drives this year, Garcia has put the ball far enough to rank 10th on tour in distance. If Garcia doesn't let his putter take him out of it, I imagine we'll be seeing Garcia on the top of the leaderboard.
5. Bubba Watson -- Watson can kill it off the tee (312 yards per drive, best on tour), and it helped him to nine top 25 finishes in '07. If Watson can find the green and get the putter going, his drive could carry him this weekend.
6. J. B. Holmes -- After missing the cut at the PODS, it's hard to consider Holmes as a contender against Tiger. But on a long course with XL par 4's, Holmes ranks second on tour in driving distance, putting pressure on Woods is something Holmes isn't afraid of doing.
7. Luke Donald -- In the two events he's participated in on the PGA tour this season (discounting the WGC where he finished tied for 17th), Donald has tied for third and finished second. Next up for Donald is a victory.
8. Stuart Appleby -- With the entire field falling in Sunday's round at the PODS, Appleby found his way into the top 10. Meaning, Appleby has put up 5/5 in top 10 finishes to start '08.
9. Ryuji Imada -- Ninth on the money list, already has two second place finishes and a T5th (in just six events) to go along with the fact that Imada is third on tour in scrambling. It's anytime now before Imada gets a win.
10. John Senden -- After starting with an MC at the Sony Open in early January, Senden hasn't missed a cut since. His 67 on Sunday at the PODS boosted him into that two under tie for second.
One player I didn't mention but don't want you to forget about is Ian Poulter. Poulter said in a recent United Kingdom issue of Golf World that "it will just be me and Tiger" soon enough. The Arnold Palmer Invitational will be the first event that Poulter and Woods are playing together since the magazine was published.
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