Establishment (Vijay Singh) vs. Youth (Nick Watney)

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May. 24, 2011
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

One of the themes for the 2011 PGA TOUR season is the competition involving the younger players and the established ones. How will the veteran players -- those with significant TOUR experience and long-standing championship pedigree -- fare against the hungry up-and-comers who are looking to nudge their way into the TOUR's elite?

Each week, PGATOUR.COM will select two players and analyze their chances heading into the tournament. We'll then track which player has the better score for his team, and keep a running team tally throughout the year.

This week for the HP Byron Nelson Championship, we've selected Vijay Singh and Nick Watney.




ESTABLISHMENT
AGE: Singh is in his 17th season on the PGA TOUR. He has 34 PGA TOUR victories, including three major championships, and 22 international wins in 15 different countries.
OVERVIEW: The hard-working pro from Fiji has already earned a spot in the World Golf Hall of Fame. And despite battling some nagging injuries as he approaches his 50th birthday, Singh continues to contend -- posting three top-10s in 2011, including a solo second at the Northern Trust Open and a tie for this at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Singh's signature season came in 2008 when he won The Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship to open the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and went on to win the $10 million prize. The former world No. 1 also captured nine titles in 2004 -- including his third major at the PGA Championship, which was also his second win in the season's final major.
HISTORY IN THIS EVENT: Singh, who is playing in his 12th HP Byron Nelson championship, won the event in 2003 when he beat Nick Price by two strokes. He also finished third two years later.
OUTLOOK THIS WEEK: The 2011 season has been a mixed bag for Singh. In addition to his three top-10s, most recently at the Wells Fargo Championship, Singh has missed five cuts, four of those coming in his last six starts.
 


YOUTH
AGE: Watney turned 30 on April 23.
YEARS ON TOUR: Watney is in his seventh full season on the PGA TOUR. He has won three times, including the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship earlier this year.
OVERVIEW: Watney is one of the game's most promising young stars. His victory against a star-studded field at Doral two months ago came two years after he lost to Phil Mickelson by one in the same tournament. In addition, he rallied to win that day with a birdie on the 72nd hole at TPC Blue Monster a day after making double bogey there. Watney started the 2011 season with four straight top-10s before breaking through with the victory at the Cadillac Championship. Watney also had a shot at winning his first major last year -- taking the lead into the final round of the PGA Championship before closing with an 81. That was the exception, not the rule, so look for Watney to come up big this year.
HISTORY IN THIS EVENT: Watney's record in the HP Byron Nelson Championship isn't stellar. A tie for 31st in 2008 is his best finish in three starts. He also tied for 61st and missed the cut in his 2005 debut.
OUTLOOK THIS WEEK: His performance this year indicates Watney is a threat every time he tees it up. He should be rested after taking last week off. Not to mention, his performance at THE PLAYERS was solid -- he ranked fifth or better in greens in regulation and putting. He also ranks second in the TOUR's All-Around category.
Tee times
Tee Times for Singh, Watney
Vijay Singh and Nick Watney are paired together (with Matt Kuchar) in the first two rounds at TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas. They tee off from the first tee at 1:29 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Here are the results of the previous matchups this year
    Score/Finish Tournament   Score/Finish  
Steve Stricker 20 under (T-4th) Hyundai TOC Dustin Johnson 14 under (T-9th)  
Ernie Els 4 under (T-42nd) Sony Open Jason Day 8 under (T-20th)
Stewart Cink 5 under (MC) Bob Hope Classic Bubba Watson 7 under (MC)
Davis Love III 5 over (MC) Farmers Insurance Open Rickie Fowler 5 under (T20)
Angel Cabrera 7 under (T-49th) Waste Management Phoenix Jhonattan Vegas 2 under (MC)  
  Padraig Harrington 2 over (T63) AT&T Pebble Beach National Dustin Johnson Even (T55)
Jim Furyk 1 under (T35) Northern Trust Open Louis Oosthuizen 3 over (T62)  
  Vijay Singh 9 over (MC) The Honda Classic Anthony Kim 7 over (MC)
Luke Donald 11 under (T6) WGC-Cadillac Championship Jhonattan Vegas 2 under (T31)  
Sergio Garcia 7 under (T15) Transitions Championship Matteo Manassero 6 under (T20)  
Phil Mickelson 1 under (T24) Arnold Palmer Invitational Graeme McDowell 9 over (MC)  
  Fred Couples Even (T60) Shell Houston Open Gary Woodland 10 under (T13)
Tiger Woods 10 under (T4) The Masters Martin Kaymer 6 over (MC)  
Justin Leonard 2 under (T30) Valero Texas Open Anthony Kim 7 over (MC)  
  Jim Furyk 5 under (T21) The Heritage Jason Day 7 under (T9)
David Toms 7 under (T18) Zurich Classic of New Orleans Brandt Snedeker 2 over (MC)  
Phil Mickelson 10 under (T9) Wells Fargo Championship Bubba Watson 3 under (T48)  
  Tiger Woods Withdrew THE PLAYERS Championship Charl Schwartzel 6 under (T26)
Paul Goydos 5 under (T10) Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Jason Day 3 under (T31)  
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