The Par-72 Blue Monster now measures 7,481 yards us 147 yards from the last time the Pros played here with the biggest difference being the Par-5 10th hole that now measures 614 yards. Water, as always will be a factor at Doral and suffice to say total driving will loom large on this track. Distance and accuracy have been keys in the past – no reason to think differently about this week. <\/p>\n
2014 Cadillac Championship at Doral Resort and Spa<\/strong> Defending Champion<\/strong>: Tiger Woods ($1,500,000)<\/p>\n A newly redesigned Blue Monster at Doral will get its first test this week when the PGA pros contest the 2014 Cadillac Championship \u2013 likely minus one of the masters of this course and defending champion Tiger Woods who may withdraw due to a back injury. <\/p>\n So who should we keep our eyes on – let’s break it down.<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy 7\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n There likely won\u2019t be a more motivated guy in the field this week \u2013 Rory will come to play after letting one slip away at the Honda. He had everything going for 3 1\/2 rounds last week and now has four top two finishes in his last 10 starts overall. He is long off the tee, his accuracy isn\u2019t a question and his putter for the most part has been terrific. Rory is trending in the right direction and will be hard to beat this weekend.<\/p>\n Adam Scott 12\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Has a T6, T8 and T12 in three starts this year \u2013 typically solid for one of the two or three best players on the planet. His T12 last week at the Honda was his worst finish in his last 12 starts. We know Scott will be in the mix and he may be due for a win this week.<\/p>\n Tiger Woods 12\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Likely won\u2019t play this week because of a balky back \u2013 disappointing!<\/p>\n Dustin Johnson 14\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n How good has DJ been? He has five top sixes and a T12 in his last six starts overall and his stats have matched his results \u2013 tops on TOUR in GIR, he leads in adjusted scoring, all around scoring, he\u2019s third in ball-striking and 17th in Proximity. Johnson\u2019s results on this track have been inconsistent to say the least but he does have a runner-up finish here which should bode well for one of the longer hitters on TOUR.<\/p>\n Jason Day 20\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n WGC-Accenture Match Play champion hasn\u2019t fared well at Doral but a win and a second place finish in his last two starts can all but erase the past performances. Day is on fire at the moment and cannot be counted out!<\/p>\n Sergio Garcia 20\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Sergio has been the most consistent player on the planet \u2013 eight top 10s in his last 11 starts including a T8 last week. He hasn\u2019t finished outside the top 20 in any of those starts! Garcia is due and with the \u201cNew Doral\u201d on the horizon this just may be the week. Leads the TOUR in driving distance, ball-striking and Proximity \u2013 the best traits to head into Doral with. He won at Riviera, tied for second at the WMPO and tied for ninth at the Match Play \u2013 he is on quite a run. Watson has finished second in this tournament before and enters this week in terrific form.<\/p>\n Jordan Spieth 22\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n With two top-five finishes in his last three starts, including a T5 in the WGC two weeks ago, it is obvious that nothing bothers this kid. He makes his debut at Doral but that hasn\u2019t mattered much on the other track he played for the first time \u2013 Spieth is a battler. He is ready for prime time and a good bet to break through in a Major this year but knowledge of Doral is crucial for success so maybe this isn\u2019t his week.<\/p>\n Phil Mickelson 25\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Have to mention Phil \u2013 anything can happen when he tees it up. But his recent form has me scared off just a tad.<\/p>\n Keegan Bradley 28\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Is coming off a T12 at the Honda and has 13 top 20s in his last 17 events played. Although he hasn\u2019t broken through with a win in any of those events he has played well enough to keep himself in the mix each and every week.<\/p>\n Matt Kuchar 28\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Has anyone seen the real Matt Kuchar? He missed the cut at Riviera and hasn\u2019t quite been the same since a magical run at the end of 2013. He has two top 5s in four starts on this track before the redesign but it is hard to predict exactly what to expect from Kuchar this week.<\/p>\n Charl Schwartzel 33\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Another guy that missed the cut at the Honda but he does have seven top 10s in his last 12 stroke-play events. We haven\u2019t heard a ton from Charl but maybe this week is his time.<\/p>\n Harris English 33\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Has six top 10s already this season! He sits eighth in GIR, ninth in scrambling and fifth in adjusted scoring but will tee it up for the first time at Doral this week. That means less than ever at this point however with Doral\u2019s redesign.<\/p>\n Hunter Mahan 40\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Has three top 10s in his last four starts but has just one top 10 in his career at Doral. But as we\u2019ve seen this year Mahan has the overall game to contend anywhere and with a \u201cNew Doral\u201d ahead of his he could thrive this week. Mahan at 40\/1 is very, very intriguing.<\/p>\n Webb Simpson 40\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Has been consistently good the last few months \u2013 five top 10s in seven starts this season and he looked OK in his starts at Doral before the redesign. He sits second on TOUR in strokes gained-putting and all-around.<\/p>\n Jason Dufner 50\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Hasn\u2019t been great so far in 2014 but when you see Duf at 50\/1 it is certainly worth mention!<\/p>\n Jim Furyk 50\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n May not be the longest off the tee but Furyk has the experience and the all around game to make any tournament interesting. He has six top 10s in his last 10 starts.<\/p>\n Rickie Fowler 50\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n Has been playing very well of late \u2013 a third at the Match Play and a T24 last week. He has been trending upward and a hunch tells me Fowler could make some noise this week.<\/p>\n The Pick this week isn\u2019t sexy but it is smart. Rory McIlroy at 7\/1<\/strong> is simply on fire and will be even more fired up after his collapse last week at the Honda. He won\u2019t let a meltdown happen again \u2013 don\u2019t be surprised if he runs away with the tourney!<\/p>\n My sleeper is Jason Dufner at 50\/1.<\/strong> Any time I can get Duf at 50\/1 on a tough course I am certainly going to jump all over it.<\/p>\n
\n Location: Miami, Florida, United States<\/strong>
\n Course: Doral Golf Resort and Spa – Blue Monster<\/strong>
\n Date: Mar 6-9, 2014<\/strong>
\n Total Purse: US $ 9,000,000<\/strong>
\n Winner’s Share: US $ 1,550,000 (17% of total purse)<\/strong>
\n Golf Odds from Bovada<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nThe Favorites:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Contenders:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n[soliloquy id=”82219″]
\nBubba Watson 22\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Sleepers (50\/1 or higher):<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Pick:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
VIEW OUR TOP CAPPERS PICKS FOR ALL SPORTS – EVERY SINGLE DAY 24\/7 \u2014\u2013><\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n