6:00: Morning News

Blixt back to defend, but MetroNews staffers don’t see a repeat

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — A year after making a final-round push to win the Greenbrier Classic, Jonas Blixt returns as a defending champion who continues baffling himself with oscillating moments of precision and miscalculation.

“You never know what you’re going to get, so I sound like Forrest Gump right now,” he said.

View Greenbrier updated leaderboard.

The 30-year-old Swede pines for consistency, rather than the topsy-turvy results that led him to finish second in this year’s Masters and outside the top 10 in his other 15 starts.

“You have guys like Matt Kuchar that play well every week and guys like me that have good weeks and some bad weeks and are a little more roller coaster,” Blixt said.

The fifth annual Greenbrier Classic opens Thursday with Blixt ranked 41st in the world and 84th in the Fed Ex Cup standings. He still seems quasi-stunned by the circumstances surrounding last year’s title.

His final-day 67 on the Old White TPC made for a 13-under finish, though much of the attention went to the unraveling of third-round leader Johnson Wagner, who closed with a 73 and wound up two strokes back.

“It was a crazy week last year,” Blixt said. “I never really thought I was in contention until the 16th hole and then I ended up with a W, so I really don’t know how to analyze that.”

METRONEWS PICKS
How do our staffers forecast this weekend’s Greenbrier? We asked them for three potential winners, including one dark horse.

Fred Persinger’s three picks

Bubba Watson: How do you pick against the 2014 Master’s champion and leading money winner on tour with over $5 million? Plus he has a brand new home on the property!
Brendon Todd: He has played in 21 events this year, making the cut 18 times. He has one win and six top-10 finishes and has won over $2.9 million. He’s anked 10th in the Fed-Ex Cup.
Brian Anania (dark horse): The West Virginia state amateur champion has played almost as many rounds on The Old White TPC as Jim Justice.

Hoppy Kercheval’s three picks

Jimmy Walker:  OK, so I’m taking the points leader, but the guy has played consistent golf with three tour victories and eight top-10s. Plus, he’s finished in the top five here three of the four years.  Not to mention that the Baylor grad may have been coached up by Art Briles.
Davis Love III: Has been in the hunt the last two years. Finished tied for ninth last year and shot a 67 on Sunday—the same Sunday score as Blixt. Love finished tied for 17th two years ago and never shot above 70.
Ted Potter, Jr. (dark horse): Won the tournament two years go and finished tied for sixth last year.

C.J. Ricker’s three picks

Keegan Bradley: He hasn’t had the most stellar year, but with Captain Watson on property, I think Bradley will perform well to make a push to get himself on the Ryder Cup squad.
Steve Stricker: The family man will enjoy the atmosphere at the Greenbrier as all his support system is here. With his wife on the bag Stricker will find the good vibes. Stricker is rounding into shape with three straight top-25 finishes in his shortened schedule.
Shawn Stefani (dark horse): The Greenbrier Classic has never had a top-tier player win in its existence and coming off of a great finish at the Quicken Loans last week, Stefani could ride the momentum and change his career with a win on the Old White.




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