Bob Hope

"Middle age is when age starts to show around your middle."

The great Bob Hope authored many memorable one-liners during his time, but few have been so apropos for a TOUR pro heading into Hope's yearly event in Palm Springs.  Steve Marino must have decided he'd had enough of middle age already at the age of 30, as he shed a few numbers in the waistline during the off-season and has come back with a new body and, judging by his stellar performance at the Sony last week, a new game.

Marino is my pick at the easiest array of tracks we'll see all season solely becuase he's playing well.  His track record at the Hope includes three made cuts out of three, but just two top 30 finishes to his credit.  If you like players with more of a history at the venue, you may want to try Matt Kuchar, Bill Haas, or Bubba Watson, who all dueled with Tim Clark last year when Haas emerged with a one stroke win.  Of those guys, Clark has withdrawn, and Haas isn't the safest choice.  I do like Kuchar a lot though, as his consistency and putting should score very well here.  Watson is a wild card, as always.

Mike Weir also has great history in the desert, with four top 10s and a win here, but he's been almost unplayable pretty much since the Hope last year.  You have better options in the one and done.

Others who are off to a decent start to the season who are playable this week include Jeff Overton, Chad Campbell (who has a win here), and Brendon de Jonge.

Finally, I would be remiss not to advise you to spend some time watching the results this weekend in Abu Dhabi, where Westwood, Mickelson, Poulter, Kaymer, McDowell, McIlroy, Casey, Harrington and others will be teeing it up in the marquis event of the weekend and the month of January.

Who's Hot?
M. Wilson
Marino
Kuchar
Bettencourt
Campbell

Who's Not?
Weir
Leonard
Toms
Clark (withdrawn)
Lovemark

Most Talent
Kuchar
Overton
Cink
Watson
Moore

Course History
Weir
Haas
Hoffman
Campbell
Perry

My Picks
Marino
Kuchar
Overton
Campbell
F. Jacobsen (just a hunch)

Cheers,
TFAM