Points, Marino Lead, But Watney the Favourite at Pebble

Nick Watney jumped to the top of the bookmakers’ list firing a 4-under 68 at Pebble Beach on Thursday and now sits three shots back of leaders D.A. Points and Steve Marino at the AT&T National Pro-Am.

It was a solid opening round for Watney where he made just one bogey despite missing 8 greens and he’ll have to find his way out of trouble with at least equal success if he’s going to insist on missing greens regularly moving forward.

Watney really is a shaky frontrunner at this stage considering he’s had no notable success at the Pro-Am in past years, including a 27th place finish last year.  Don’t be sold yet on Watney at (7-1).

Steve Marino has been knocking on the door of late and Pebble Beach provides an unforgettable setting for what could be his first career win.

Marino came second in his season opening event at the Sony Open.  However, he’s followed his strong start with some forgettable results of late.

Marino tends to appear and disappear week to week so this could simply been one his dips as he finished 66th at the Bob Hop while missing the cut in San Diego.  With his strong start, it’s not out of line the books have him at (8-1).

Irishman Padraig Harrington sits third with the bookies at (10-1) after posting a 3-under total at Spyglass Hills in the Pro-Am’s three course rotation.

It’s an encouraging start for Harrington who struggled mightily to seal the deal on either side of the Atlantic in 2010.

It wasn’t that he played horribly last season, but failed to show any closing ability and, thus, had to settle for a reasonably decent 5 top-10’s in 18 American events.

One thing he did show last year was an ability to go low on Sunday and with this week’s solid opening 18 he could be one consider over next 54 holes.

Co-leader D.A. Points is all the way back at (12-1), but it’s as if the books haven’t been watching the past couple weeks as he finished 5th in San Diego while coming in 18th at the Phoenix Open.

Now, he’s leading so it could be the 34-year old is finally taking his game up a notch and could be another who guns for their first victory on Sunday.

From the land of long odds.  Former Masters winner Mike Weir is at (25-1) and he’s just four off the lead after a 68 on Thursday.

Man blames fate for other accidents but feels personally responsible for a hole in one   - Martha Beckman