Zurich Classic round three: Watney's position stronger than it looks

Memo to David Toms: if you have to trot out excuses for your poor showing at the Zurich Classic you need to do a lot better than blame a “bomber’s paradise". The stats just don’t back you up old boy. Sure there are bombers in the leading pack. Top dog Nick Watney, for instance, has been hitting it around the 300-yard mark, as has Scott Gutschewski in third place.

But second-placed Ken Duke is not the heaviest of hitters, struggling to make 280 yards, much the same as Mark Calcavecchia. Know what David, you’ve actually driven it better than them and your measured drives Saturday put you at more than 290 yards. So how come they are in the top four and you languish tied for 53rd? Putting David, P-U-T-T-I-N-G. As your distance play has improved, your flat stick has given up the ghost, along with the patience of a lot of your fans I imagine.

Glad I’ve got that off my chest. I listened to his interview Saturday with incredulity and growing ire.

So another favourite down the tubes and, instead, a host of odd faces seeking to end their Tour virginity. I’d like to see that as a cue for another day of fluctuating fortunes bringing a smile to layers’ faces, but I’m not so sure. Anything under 70 for Watney would leave a tough ask for any of his rivals. Looking back over his best period towards the end of last year Watney often prospered on the Sunday, although obviously never under the pressure he will face today. But his opponents are a pretty rum bunch.

Duke represents pure frustration for me - I sent a few things flying Saturday as I watched him climb the leaderboard and he is partly why Toms’s comments got my goat. I had planned to mention Duke at the outset when I spotted him at 11th in my overall stats and posting a handy 10th place at the Heritage last week. But I was put off by his poor distance figures - 73rd in my stats - with everyone saying this course demanded a big hitter. C’est la vie. Mind you, the perils of wobbly Sunday apply to him as much as Watney.

Gutschewski looks a bit of a flash in the pan, Jeff Maggert’s stats are unimpressive for one so high, and Kyle Reifers has shown some grit to stick around so long, but hasn’t broken through 70 since day one. I thought my ship had come home when Bubba Watson hit the front Saturday, but then his shoulders dropped for reasons best known to himself. And I would still seriously fancy Calcavecchia if I wasn’t alarmed that he put his back out reaching down for his hat Saturday. He’s says it’ll be fine, but he would wouldn’t he? If it is he could still be our man.

But 67 was the best anyone could do on the Sunday two years ago and that was just one person - Woody Austin - throwing caution to the winds from the back of the field. That suggests anyone outside the top five faces a huge struggle. With the wind possibly making things tricky, even a par round might just be enough for Watney. It could all come down to how steady his nerves are.