First things first: Apologies for the small font in the images of the brackets below, but I run a resource-starved operation. That said, I welcome donations.

As you may have heard, the Accenture Match Play starts today and neither the world’s number one, Tiger Woods, nor number three, Phil Mickelson, is in the field. Naturally, Tiger is hunkered down in some hiding hole, otherwise known as the gated community of Isleworth, and Phil, the quintessential family man, is taking a family vacation. This event stirred up huge hype last year, as Tiger staged his comeback after an eight-month break to recover from knee surgery.

It’s a little different this year, but hey, we got Steve Stricker, Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk and Martin Kaymer to take the top four seeds. Personally, I’m pumped because I love matchplay. I wish more PGA Tour events were played in this format, like the silly the FedEx Cup — or at least the final event. It’s exciting to watch two players battle it out in a one-on-one duel. Well, unless you get, like, Chad Campbell and Ben Crane in the finals. Snore. So, let’s hope that anomaly doesn’t happen this week.

Without further ado, presenting my random bracket picks, where I basically went down the list and went, eeny-meeny-miny-moe. But as you can see, I didn’t go too crazy. I guess I was feeling boring.

JONES BRACKET

I love this bracket. Too many great players. As I learned with my Fantasy Golf picks for the Northern Trust Open, Steve Stricker is always a safe bet. And I’d just really like to see him cry again. I’m sure David Feherty could rouse more tears from Stricks than Roger Maltbie could. But I’d love to see the young dudes, Anthony Kim and Ryo Ishikawa, go far. With the way both have played this season, I’m not sure. Then again, like the annoying cliche goes, anything can happen.

PLAYER BRACKET

Geoff Ogilvy is defending and he’s already repeated once this year with his win at the season-opener, the SBS Championship. He also has a mind-blowing 89.4% winning percentage. But he might be a little distracted and sleep-deprived, since his wife just gave birth to their third child last week. Putting aside my personal bias, I’d keep an eye out on Ryan Moore. He doesn’t hold one of the most decorated amateur careers for no reason. His last summer before turning pro, he won the US Amatuer, the Western Amateur and US Amateur Public Links — all in matchplay. He’s done crazy things, like win the last four holes, carding birdies on three, to win the US Amateur two-up. Expect him to feel comfortable in this atmosphere.

HOGAN BRACKET

It’d be great to see The Irish Kid Who Will Save The PGA Tour, you know, win or something, but apparently he’s been having some back problems. Perhaps worrisome, but he’s only 20. Last year he made a splash by making it to the quarterfinals, where he was ousted by eventual champ Ogilvy. If Allenby and McIlroy meet like I predicted, let’s hope Allenby doesn’t blame it on something silly, like how he should have gone out partying with him until 4AM. I’d like to see the 25-year-old Martin Kaymer, who won his fifth European Tour event in Abu Dhabi recently, matched up with McIlroy in the quarterfinals. Because, well, the entertainment value. Duh.

SNEAD BRACKET

Other than the Molinaris, who are the first brothers to play the event in the same year, and the preposterously long-hitting Alvaros Quiros, this bracket is pretty vanilla. But you got your usual suspects. Now I can’t remember why I chose Furyk. The word “safe” comes to mind, which doesn’t make that much sense now because in recent years he’s faltered when he reached the Sweet 16.

So in the Final Four, I have Stricker, McIlroy, Moore and Furyk. As always, my sincere regrets if they’re hit with the awful Wei jinx. Who are your favorites for the week? You know what to do — drop them below. Please.

With all the young talent out there, we’re constantly talking about and searching for golf’s next big thing (otherwise known as the next closest thing to Tiger). Forget Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas and Adam Scott — they’re yesterday’s news. Now, it’s about Rory McIlroy, Ryo Ishikawa and Danny Lee. Add another to that list: Rickie Fowler, the 20-year-old All-American Oklahoma State standout, who only turned pro in September.

So far, this kid is living up to the hype (surprise!). Last week at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (God, that’s a mouthful), he made his first start on the PGA Tour as a professional. And while we know he’s good, he surpassed many expectations, finishing T7.

But then could he continue his hot streak at this week’s Frys.com Open? Oh, yes. Rickie fired rounds of 65-64 for a two-day total of 11-under, and going into the weekend he’s at the very top of the leaderboard. He only missed two greens in two rounds (both on Friday).

Oh, and, the Golf Channel can’t stop the Rickie-fawning — the commentators are drooling over him. Or, they’re just thinking: Thank God, he’s playing so well. Now we have something to talk about other than Chad Campbell’s niceness and pretending we think the Fall Series is tremendously thrilling.

Then, there’s the question of Q-school. For Rickie to bypass it and secure his card for next year, he needs to finish in the top 125 on the money list. With the $113,700 check from last week, he would either need to win or place second to do that. It’s too bad he had to wait until after September’s Walker Cup to turn pro, otherwise he likely would have cashed more than enough. If he does pull off the near impossible this weekend, he would be the first player since Ryan Moore to dodge Q-school.

Rickie shared his positive and level-headed take:

My expectations were basically just to go out and have two fun weeks and play as well as I could…There’s no reason to tee it up in a tournament if I don’t think I can win. Last week I put together some solid rounds and put myself in contention. This week, feel like I’m in a great spot going into the weekend…Right now [going to Q-school] is still the plan.

Considering Rickie’s fearless, chill attitude, he’s got what it takes to handle the limelight, the pressure and the intensity. That said, he might actually pull off the unthinkable this weekend, and you know, win. Believe it? TBD Sunday.

[Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Image]

The majors yielded some unlikely or should I say interesting champions, so to speak. And it’s not a bad thing. I mean, God forbid, Tiger didn’t win his 15th to move one step closer to tying (and surpassing) Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 career major titles. Because he’s broken just about every other record and we can’t bear that it’s taking him, oh so long, to achieve the most-coveted of all. So, that’s not a bad thing either.

Since we have to wait 8 grueling months before the Masters, let’s take a look back at this year’s majors. I graded them with a 4-star rating with 1 being the lowest and 4, obviously, the highest.

The Masters: While the ending was rather anticlimactic, it was a thrilling Sunday at Augusta. Only two holes separated 48-year-old Kenny Perry from the Green Jacket, his first major title and becoming the oldest player in history to win one. It would have been one of the best Cinderella stories in golf’s history. Unfortunately his nerves caught up with him and he finished with consecutive bogeys, which landed him in a three way playoff with Angel Cabrera and Chad Campbell. By then, Perry had lost his momentum. In other words, he let the moment define him. So did Campbell. Cabrera just kept playing golf, one shot at a time. He was a fun winner, but Perry’s heartbreak overshadowed his victory. Just imagine had Campbell won — now that would have been a major travesty — if we’re talking in terms of snore alert. The whole Kenny Perry thing still eats at me. And because I’m a sap, I cried for him.

Rating: 2 stars

The US Open: I was at Bethpage Black 7 out of 8 days and had an absolutely amazing time. I felt like a little kid at the candy store. So, It really pains me to say it was the least climactic of the majors. Stormy weather forced delays and less than ideal playing conditions. Players, fans and volunteers alike stomped through the soggy, muddy and messy grounds at Bethpage Black. Here’s what we learned: Mother Nature wins every time. In my opinion, it was a fantastic tournament. Unfortunately it was dampened because the biggest story line was the weather.

Tiger Woods started the tournament poorly and never gained enough momentum to stage a real comeback. Phil Mickelson, the fan favorite (something I’ll never be able to understand, especially since NY fans are pretty savvy when it comes to sensing BS), was supposed to take the trophy home to his family. He had a shot, but pulled a Phil and came up short. Then, there was David Duval, who was resurrected after disappearing off the face of the leaderboard for nearly a decade. Instead, good ol’ Lucas Glover played 72 steady holes of golf and turned out to be the most uninteresting winner of the year.

I had no dire complaints because I was sitting in the 18th green grandstands. So, regardless, it was exciting. I even teared during the trophy presentation (again, I’m a sap). There’s something about the conclusion of major sporting events, where I imagine the emotions running through the champions — the shock, the adrenaline, the excitement — and just how incredible it must feel to have their hard work materialize.

But I digress. If you were watching on TV, I’m sure it was boring as hell.

Rating: 1 star

British Open: An eight foot putt stood between Tom Watson and the story of a lifetime. No one could believe the 59-year-old legend shot 65 in the first round. And no one thought he could hold the lead after 36 holes. When Sunday came along, he made us believe — before the final 18 began, we had basically written the fairy tale ending — the one where the good guy prevails over the bad guy and takes home the girl.

Instead, Stewart Cink drained a clutch putt on the 72nd hole and Watson missed one. Our hearts sank as we watched Watson collapse in the four hole playoff. Because we wanted our story (perhaps even more than Watson), Stewie was dubbed the villain who denied Watson the Claret Jug.

Even though we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, there’s no denying the British Open was the best major of the year; not to mention the most memorable I’ve seen in my lifetime. Oh, the agony, the tears, and the drama — Turnberry made for the perfect theater. That’s all I have to say…or I might start mourning the loss again. And last month I cried enough for Watson to last a lifetime.

Rating: 4 stars

The PGA Championship: Had it not been for the final 9 holes, this would have easily been the least interesting major. And had the rest of the field not showed up to play on Saturday, I might have fallen asleep amidst the telecast. So, let’s be thankful Tiger didn’t perform his usual final nine — or for that matter, weekend — heroics. Mostly, we have Y.E. Yang to thank for the mind-blowing 3-hybrid he hit into the 72nd hole — the shot that brought down Tiger and his perfect streak of winning when he held the lead after 36 and 54 holes. Don’t get me wrong, I was rooting for Tiger until around the 60th hole when I realized Yang actually had a damn good chance to win.

Now, we have the first Asian-born major champion and golf has been affirmed as a global sport. More important, we have proof Tiger is, in fact, human (a friendly reminder in case you haven’t heard it enough recently).

Rating: 3 stars

So there you have it. I cry a lot at post-majors — for the winners and the losers. In all seriousness, the year of the Bridesmaids was a good one. Well, unfortunately for the champions, the back stories and the runners-up upstaged their glory. Perhaps we never got the outcome we expected or wanted, but we still got compelling narratives. Not to mention, it’ll be even more exciting when Tiger wins the Masters next April. The anticipation is part of the game. And the chase keeps the game interesting.

How would you rate the majors?

Y.E. Yang’s Approach Shot on the 72nd Hole

It was mind-blowing! Talk about gutsy. Yang hit a 3 hybrid OVER the trees, against the wind to a tucked back left pin, and managed to land it softly to about 10 feet.

Dare I say it was the best approach shot into 18 in recent history? Yes, I am.

I’ve heard it compared to Shaun Micheel’s approach when he practically holed it on the 18th hole to win the 2003 PGA Championship — certainly an incredible shot. But, it’s got nothing on Yang’s — considering the circumstances, who he was playing with and battling against, and the sheer difficulty of the shot. Sorry Micheel, Tiger wasn’t anywhere near being in contention, and beating out Chad Campbell? Please.

Both executed their shots amazingly well under major championship pressure, but Micheel didn’t have Tiger lurking or the windy conditions or a 3 hybrid in his hands. Yang could have easily pulled a choke job — like many of his contemporaries have done «coughPhilMickelsoncoughRoccoMediatecough».

I was floored when I saw it. I thought, holy crap, is he serious? When the ball came to rest, I jumped off the couch, threw my arms in the air, and even let out a big “Hooray” (or something like that) — now I don’t usually get that excited about a golf shot. And if I do, it’s usually Tiger knocking in a 20 footer for the win or Tom Watson’s run at the British Open.

Can anyone think of one more impressive? Drop your thoughts below.

Perhaps it’s just me, but the turn of events yesterday at the Crowne Plaza Invitational strangely reminded me of the Masters. The main similarity is obvious - Clark was gunning for his first PGA victory and Perry was aiming for his first major championship, and well, neither of them were able to seal the deal.

Remember how important those final holes were in determining the outcome at the Masters? Perry led by two going into the final day and finished the last two holes bogey-bogey. His blunders resulted in a three-way tie for the lead between himself, Angel Cabrera and Chad Campbell. I’m pretty sure we all remember the outcome. Cabrera. Green Jacket.

Similar to the Masters, a three-way playoff ensued between Steve Stricker, Steve Marino and Clark. Like Cabrera, Stricker had the momentum going into the playoff and executed clutch shots coming down the stretch. And like Perry, Clark couldn’t recover and let his nerves get the best of him. Campbell and Marino (the “other” runner-ups) never seemed like a serious threat or factor in both cases.

When Stricker was asked about recovering from missing his short par putt on 16 in regulation and about closing a win, he responded:

It’s always tense coming down to the stretch, the final few holes of a tournament when you are in contention. That’s what makes winning difficult and hard to do […] It’s about the ups and downs, and you got to learn to pull yourself up after it happened, or something doesn’t go your way. […] But, you know, you just got to keep plugging and do what you know how to do, hit it in the fairway and that’s what ended up happening.

Excellent point.

It appeared that Stricker was out of contention after he bogeyed the 16th. But that’s the beauty of golf - one shot or one hole can change things very quickly. Stricker didn’t play flawlessly. Being that he hadn’t won since 2007, he had quite a bit on the line as well - the difference is that he had experience and knew what it took to win. He just continued to play his game. As did Cabrera at the Masters.

It wasn’t the Masters, but you can bet that this loss will haunt Clark for a while.

But unlike Perry who is 48 and most likely won’t have another shot at winning a major championship, Clark is only 33 years old. You can bet he’s reflected on his mental breakdown blunders, and he’ll make light of it the next time around. His time to raise the trophy will come soon enough.

My mind exploded yesterday afternoon. Not just once, but several times. I was sitting at the edge of my seat all afternoon. I was thinking, “Wow, do [Angel] Cabrera, [Kenny] Perry and [Chad] Campbell want to give me a heart attack at the ripe age of 26?” It certainly felt like it. It was just that dramatic.

Okay, the ending of the story was anti-climatic compared to the rest of the day, but Angel Cabrera still made history. He became the first South American Masters winner and redeemed the memory of fellow Argentinian and friend, Roberto De Vicenzo, who would have won in 1968 had it not been for a scorecard error.

As for Kenny Perry’s collapse, it was unfortunate and heartwrenching to watch. All day, he was doing everything he could to just “hang-on” to his lead. Without a doubt, he played solid golf. After he attacked the pin on the 16th and tapped-in for birdie, I thought he had it in the bag. Similar to Tiger Woods, the pivotal hole was the 17th.

Perry said, “I had a shot to win..all the way ‘til the 17th.”

He sure did. Also, like Tiger, he finished out with back-to-back bogeys. The circumstances were different, but it’s the way they handled and viewed the situation that made it so telling. While Perry was playing not to lose, Tiger is always playing to win.

At the end of 72 holes, it was a three-way tie for the lead between Perry, Cabrera and Chad Campbell. So, why and how did Cabrera win? He wasn’t the “best” player in the field. He’s overweight, drinks like a fish, and loves his cigars, but he’s easy-going. I could argue that in a team effort both Perry and Campbell handed Cabrera the Green Jacket on a silver platter, but I won’t. Cabrera won it in his own right. He played 72 holes at Augusta better than the rest of the field. It wasn’t perfect, but he contained the damage.

Sure, Cabrera practically shanked an iron shot on the 8th hole. And, sure, on the first sudden death hole, he pushed his driver so far right, it was in the no-fly zone. On his punch-out, he even hit a tree, but with a bit of luck, his ball ended up in the fairway. Under pressure, he managed to get up-and-down for par to force a second play-off hole.

Cabrera said, “Yes, [I was having fun], I was happy with my game and I had confidence. I was just trying to enjoy the moment […] I was easy going. I felt good during the playoff. Obviously one bad shot, it costs you the tournament, but overall, I felt relaxed.”

Before Cabrera, Campbell, and Perry got to the tee on the first play-off hole, I had a feeling Cabrera would prevail. Campbell was clearly shaking in his shoes and Perry had lost his mojo. Meanwhile, Cabrera was just doing his thing, playing his game, hitting one shot at a time. He wasn’t thinking about the outcome.

“This is the Masters. It’s a course that you can do a lot of birdies, a lot of bogeys,” Cabrera said, “A lot of magical things happen. It’s simply the Masters.”

Meanwhile, it was Perry’s tournament to win, and he knew it. It had the makings of a perfect Cinderella story. It would have been too good to be true. He would have become the oldest player to win the Masters, which would have been an amazing feat itself - but it would have also been a record across all professional sports.

It was even tougher to watch Perry lose the play-off because he was so gracious, but it was also why he lost. He didn’t have Cabrera’s laidback mentality and doesn’t have Tiger’s killer instincts.

Afterwards, Perry said, “I fought hard out there. I was nervous. I had a lot of fun being in there. It was a blast for me to fight with them and I just didn’t get it done today. It was my tournament to win and I lost it.” 

Perry has never won a major championship, and in all likelihood, he never will. He simply doesn’t have the mental resilience.  

It just seems like when it gets down to those deals, I can’t seem to execute,” said Perry “Great players make it happen and your average players don’t. And that’s the way it is.”

Perry let the moment define him.  So did Campbell.  Cabrera just kept playing golf, one shot at a time.

In case you missed it, Angel Cabrera and Kenny Perry are tied for the lead at 11-under-par after three rounds of play. Chad Campbell and Jim Furyk are looming closely behind them at 9-under-par and 8-under-par, respectively.

Which one of these guys will be sitting in Butler Cabin come Sunday evening?

I’m sticking to my guns and going with Kenny Perry.  He’s 48 with nothing to lose (relatively speaking), and aside from a few shaky moments today, he’s playing solid golf. More importantly, he’s going into tomorrow with a carefree attitude. Also, just look at the guy. How can you not cheer for him? Every time I see him, I want to give him a big hug! I like Angel Cabrera’s demeanor though; nothing bothers him out there. He’s one chill dude. It’s like, “Alright, next shot, let’s just get this over with so I smoke a cigar.” However, I’m not sure if he has another subpar round left in him. Chad Campbell is DUNZO. Nerves, anyone? He’s played well, but looks like he’s lost his steam. And then, there’s Jim Furyk. Yeeaah…do I really have to watch his swing all day? Fine, I’ll deal with it.

In other news, Phil and Tiger are paired together in the final round, but not at the tee time they would have much rather preferred. They’re both at 4-under-par, 7 shots behind the leaders. This could get..uhh..interesting…or more likely, I have this weird feeling that we’ll be watching the two best players in the world imploding deeper into the abyss also known as Augusta. Sorry guys, I know you’re good, but a 64 on Sunday in the Masters? Puh-lease.

I’m looking at the leaderboard after two rounds and I’m baffled. Absolutely baffled. It has nothing to do with who is at the top and who isn’t so much as it has to do with what it will look like on Sunday. What did I expect though? It’s Augusta and it’s the Masters. Anything can happen at this point.

Then, there’s the weather factor. I don’t have to tell you that the conditions were much different today than they were on Thursday. In the post-round interviews, co-leaders Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry, both mentioned the wind made it more difficult. However, it didn’t take the toll on them as it did with the rest of the field.

Just for fun, let’s look at Tiger (who looked like he was ready to implode as he walked off the 18th green). When he was asked to comment about the wind, he responded coldly, “Yeah. You might say {it was tough].” Yikes.

Word around the greens is that thunderstorms are headed toward Augusta, which calls for a soggy course by the time morning comes along. Advantage: long-hitters.

Without further ado, my picks to take home the Green Jacket on Sunday:

• Kenny Perry: This has the makings of an awesome Cinderella story. I’ll refer back to what I wrote on Wednesday. What I failed to mention was that he has confidence from a spectacular performance at last September’s Ryder Cub; he was a big reason and boost for the U.S. win. He mentioned today how great it was when he heard fans hollering, “Way to go in the Ryder Cup.” Also, he is hitting the ball better than ever - he’s driving it beautifully, allowing him to attack the pins. He’s only missed a few fairways and hit 15 or 16 greens in regulation over the past two days. Impressive is an understatement to describe those stats. Not to mention, Perry is one of those players who once he gets hot, he doesn’t stop!
• Chad Campbell: He’s a baller. He’s playing well. He hits it long. As long as he keeps his putter going, he’ll be just fine. Let’s do some math: Momentum + Confidence + Ball-Striking = WIN.
• Tiger Woods: He might be 7 shots back, but (as much as I’d like to at times) I’d never underestimate a “Tiger Woods Comeback.” Yeah, it might be a different situation being that it’s Augusta, one damn tough track. However, he thrives under pressure. He knows he can do it. And, he has the advantage of hitting the long ball.  Ball-striking hasn’t been the worst of his sorrows. Watch out if he gets the putter rolling.
• Anthony Kim: He has the “Tiger Woods confidence,” and momentum on his side. Despite his mediocre record in 2009, he’s mentally tough with a winner’s attitude, which already gives him a huge advantage. And, simply, he’s due for a major win. Why not it be the Masters?
• Phil Mickelson: After his late round surge, he’s back on track. He’s been in this position before, and to boot, he has won two out of the last five Masters.

Yes, I know that Round 2 of the Masters is well under way, but to be fair, I just started watching the coverage online. And, thanks to Winston Wolfe, I feel inspired to post the list of top 5 to watch and top 5 to not.

5 To Watch:

1.) Kenny Perry: His “hook” was made for Augusta (as I mentioned earlier this week), and for once, he’s using it to his advantage.

2.) Rory Mcilroy: I like this kid. No, check that. I love him. Sure, Augusta isn’t always kind to those who haven’t played it before, but Mcilroy is defying the rules. Did anyone else catch that eagle on #13? Amazing. He stays so calm and collected. How the heck is this kid 19??? It’s almost an understatement to say that he is mature beyond his years.

3.) Geoff Ogilvy: He’s been my favorite to be fitted for the Green Jacket on Sunday; mostly for reasons of making the “smart” pick. He shot a quiet one-under-par 71 yesterday, and this is why I like him. He’s setting himself up for a surge this weekend. Mark my words.

4.) Chad Campbell: OK, this isn’t fair because he’s in the clubhouse already, but I would’ve predicted that he’d have another strong showing today. I swear.

5.) Tiger Woods: So far, he seems rather baffled by the greens and wind patterns at Augusta, but he’s still right in the thick of the leaderboard. Is he going to win it all?! I wish I could lie and say he won’t, but look, would you bet against him? Real money? No way. Also, you have to keep in mind, this is Tiger. He’s known to creep up the leaderboard, and next thing you know, he’s a putt away from winning.

5 To Not:

1.) Phil Mickelson: He’s lost. He’s out of his element. I think his early exit last week got to his head. As much as I’d like to see Lefty in contention on Sunday, he’s just not there.

2.) Sergio Garcia: See above.

3.) Camillo Villegas: Man, I’d love to see him play well, or even just make the cut. All the high hopes, all the potential, all the hype. Has the pressure been to much for him? I wouldn’t pin him as the type, but…he’s been struggling. I hope his luck changes for the better soon.

4.) Mike Weir: I’m a fan. That’s why it’s been so tough for me to see him scramble. He carded a 4-under-par 68 yesterday. I want to say that he’ll keep up the good play (I mean, he does have a green jacket on his resume). But, he’s going to feel the pressure of making the cut and and the slow collapse is going to commence as he makes he way toward Amen Corner. Just a bad gut feeling.

5.) Fred Couples: This pains me. Seriously. It breaks my heart to say this, but he just didn’t bring his game to Augusta. Perhaps last Sunday was too draining for him.

Side note: Anthony Kim decided to show up and play, today. This might make up for Freddie’s disappointing performance. Nevermind, it won’t. But still, how can you not love AK’s potential and swagger? And, that belt buckle?