THE GOLF CHANNEL
BRANDEL CHAMBLEE

(2-1) NICK CAREY- Nick has been on fire on Men’s League Wednesday’s and is easily playing his best golf in years. Twenty strokes is a lot for the field to deal with. There is no doubt he wants to leave us for BC with a very sour taste in our mouths before he goes. The biggest handicap sweetspot in the field.

(3-1) WAYNE BURKE- Burkie’s Wednesday’s have been better than his Saturday’s this season but he has a major championship under his belt and 8 strokes to work with. We know he is good AND lucky so no one will be surprised if he arrives upstairs with a 72 right between our eyes.

(4-1) MIKE WHITE- The explosion is coming, it’s just nobody ever knows if its a 79 or a 99, even Mike himself. He will tee it up with 15 strokes of liquid dynamite this Saturday…or diarrhea. The 2018 Masters Champion will be looking to join Brent Locke as the only two time winners in KWGA Masters history.

(5-1) CHRIS RUSHTON- You don’t win 3 FEDEX Cups in a row for no reason. However, Rushton still is missing a major championship on his resume. It’s more baffling than his swing to be honest. He will be wielding the power of 17 handicap strokes at us like John Holmes used to wield his pecker back in the day. As soon as you bet against this guy he bites you.

(6-1) LUC POIRIER- This young man has scaled the wall of improving his game from Division 3 when he entered the league to Division 1 where he know comfortably resides for the foreseable future. It would not surprise me one bit if he fires a 71 and sends us all home wondernig if we should have a swing coach on retainer like he does.

(7-1) RAY IVANY- Razor was in contention in 2 majors last year, including The Masters ,so he knows how to stick his nose in places wher he isn’t wanted and perform. He reminds me of Scottie Scheffler in one regard, those dancing feet when he swings. This just in…Scottie Scheffler is doing pertty good these days.

(8-1) BARRY HENNIGAR- It’s been a slow start this season to say the least. Finding him on Saturday’s has been difficult. I mean, who goes to Italy for 17 weeks in the middle of golf season? He has been back a week or so now so he has his bearings about him again and 8 strokes of handicap injustice. Go to work Barry.

(9-1) JOHNNY KENNY- Recent injury woes aside, this Anvil Draughts alum shot 74 just a couple weeks ago so we know he can go low and bury the field. No doubt he is hungry to win a major but if his concentration drifts to some random soccer match across the globe, call of the dogs…the hunt will be over.

(10-1) TOMMY THOMSON- A 79 last week at The Legends shows that his game is starting to come to the fore and clandestine 3 hour range sessions have the KenWo staff starting to call him Vijay. Dont’t forget, this man lost in a playoff in 2020 to Rene, so the stage isn’t too big in the big moments. Another 70 something this week and I gotta look at him in a green jacket for a year.

(11-1) GARY JOHNSON- Still without a major, Johnson will be looking to stop the teasing from so called friends, and he knows the ones who tease him behind his back. The driver has been pure so if he can make a couple of putts early, start the ticker tape parade in green and gold.

(12-1)  NICK LEVY- Now that his kids have chosen golf over hockey in the summers, get used to seeing the 2015 Masters champion around a lot more often. That’s bad news gentlemen. When Levy gets out of the gates quick, he knows how to knock out opponents. His margain for error is slim but he knows how to make birdies in bunches.

(13-1) GERRY ELLIOTT- It’s a difficult mountain to climb week after week but nobody has played better or more consistently than Elliott this season. He may need to shoot a gross 60-something to win Saturday so he slips down the list a bit. Can he that? Yes. But the winner of this event is usually 65 or less net. The 2014 Masters champion…The 2023 champion?

(14-1) TIM PRESCOTT- His Masters prep this year consisted to chasing tail in Indianapolis, IN this year, I guess to reconnect with his KWGA nickname. Not sure how much golf he has played but there is no more need of pocket pool thats for sure. Can he shoot 68-71 on the biggest stage? He’d have a story for The Eagle Man if he did.

(15-1) SCOTT WOODWORTH- It’s so hard watching him limp around this season, so much so, that I actually miss his diarrhea digestion days. “Showcase” Scott will need to harkon back to days of yesteryear to win this Saturday but a 73 is possible. This is a Cinderella Story if he wins…could this be his first major?

(16-1) BRUCE FAGAN- I have seen more pornography than Bruce thi season on Tour, and that is saying something since I officially became desensitized to that genre of film making several weeks ago. Many have forgotten he actually won this event just two seasons ago and didn;t get his just do because of the calamity that Covid caused this event at that time.

(17-1) HAROLD FISHER- Recent struggles knock him down this list but 13 strokes still gives him a punchers chance this weekend. On the positive side he has won a major and nobody is more prepared with 100 rounds in already this season. Making putts is always the difference maker for Harold so if he can jam a few in early, it’s trouble for the rest of us.

(18-1) BOB MAXWELL- I know what you are thinking. Why such long odds for the first ever KWGA Masters champion in 2013.? Separation anxiety I say. For the first time all season he will not be grouped with buddies Kenny and Woodworth, so if you hear him switch his music box to self-help tapes from country music, you know the party is over. Go get ’em Bob.

(19-1) GEOFF FLECKNELL- Preparing for Masters tournaments should never involve  drinking on the deck with neighbours every  night nor playing once a week. Fuji hasn’t been in contention in a major yet but 14 handicap strokes gives him a chance to show his wife he can accomplish something sporting wise outside of coaching his children.

(20-1) DEREK THOMSON- No golfer is currently further from their handicap sweet spot. A 91 last Saturday included a bout with the shanks and a quick, quiet car ride home following the round. As famous, and beloved OJ Simpson lawyer Johnni Cochrane once said, “If the jacket doesn’t fit…you must acquit.” I promise I will smile through all my bad shots this weekend boys.

(21-1) JOHN AMIRAULT- Did you think I would put myself below The Sheriff? Not a chance. John has played more pocket pool than golf this year and with only 10 handicap strokes, he would need to shoot a 75 to win. That simple math…and shit tectonics. If he wins again this year, I will wash his underwear for a year instead of his wife.

(22-1) MARTIN SUTER- Ireland, England, Italy, Bankgkok….where in the world is Martin? I guess you deserve to go frig off and travel the world when you did as well as he did in his career. But this is The Masters, not an Anthony Bourdain TV show. There are no short cuts with golf and so the rust will no doubt show this Saturday. I wouldn’t be surprised if he hit a flagstick just to remind us all.