The Mulligan: Zurich Classic at New Orleans

This week the Tour heads down to N'awlins to play the crazy TPC Louisiana. This is a crazy course because nobody really knows what it takes to win here. Many people will tell you a strong putting performance is the key, while others say accuracy from the tee box is the most important factor. Still yet others will adamantly claim that hitting greens with your irons is the most important part of the game on this course.

Success here has come in many forms in the past and it appears that many different styles of play can succeed here. So who is going to play well this week? I have a few reasoned picks that are based on a formula of momentum, past success and gut-feeling.

First, I think Brian Davis has a lot of confidence coming in this week after his great weekend (despite the ugly ending to his tournament) at Hilton Head. I think Davis folded under the pressure last week and that tells us a lot about where he stands as far as being ready to win on this Tour. I still think he will have a good week, simply because the timing of his swing is perfect, but don't look for him to close on Sunday anytime soon.

I also think Charles Howell III is going to have a good week. He almost won here last year where he finished tied for second so we know he can play well here. Also, he has six Top-25 finishes in 2010 so we know his game is on. Look for Trip to have a good week.

I am not quite ready to give up on Jerry Kelly even though he might as well have putted with an upside-down left-handed driver with the headcover still on last week (he finished last in putting during last week's tournament). Nobody seemed to notice that he actually played quite well other than his putting. I am willing to bet the poor putting was a fluke and that JK will be back to form this week to contend for the trophy. . . And he won here last year! This is my pick to win IF he decides to use a putter rather than an elongated lint-brush on the greens.

My sleeper pick is Bryce Molder this week. He has actually been quite consistent this season which makes me think he may be good for a Top-10 this week.

The Mulligan: The Verizon

Congrats to Phil Mickelson on winning his third green jacket last weekend. It was a great Masters to watch for golf fans everywhere watching a battle to the very end. Anthony Kim and K.J. Choi really came alive and applied pressure while Lee Westwood played very well all weekend. Now the Tour heads to Harbour Town for the Verizon Heritage. Harbour Town is a very short course with small greens, so precision players should play well here this week.

K.J. Choi played extremely well at Augusta and I think he will carry that momentum into this week's tournament. He hasn't played here since 2001, so we don't know how he feels about the course, but it seems to set up nicely for his game. He hasn't missed a cut in 2010 and he is 5th on Tour in GIR.

Jerry Kelly played well at Augusta but flew somewhat under the radar. He shot a 67 on Saturday and finished the tournament tied for 12th. That makes three top-15 finishes in his last 5 starts. I think he will have a good week again at Harbour Town now that he has found his swagger again.

Matt Kuchar is 12th in Putting and 27th in GIR on Tour. Those statistics are very important this week, and Kuchar has been playing well recently. To top it off, he finished tied for 7th here in 2008 and tied for 10th here in 2005. He was a popular expert pick for the Masters, but I think this course sets up better for his game. He is my pick to win this week.