Find Me A 100 Winner / Paul Krishnamurty / 22 July 2008 /

Paul Krishnamurty believes the Texan has got what it takes to triumph at Glen Abbey.

Considering Ryan Palmer finished 3rd in last year's Canadian Open, and played well at the weekend, I'm surprised to see him trading at [180.00]. This year's renewal is being played at a different venue, Glen Abbey, but analysis of the course conditions suggests it will suit Palmer's talents down to the ground.

After a very wet spell, Glen Abbey is playing very long, and very soft. In previous tournaments on this course, hitting greens in regulation was very much the key to success. With the rough pretty penal at over four inches, long game accuracy will again be essential, but the conditions should place an extra emphasis on driving distance. For those that do hit the fairways, there should be ample opportunity to make plenty of birdies in target golf conditions.

So we're looking for somebody that drives it long, hits a high percentage of greens in regulation and makes lots of birdies. Consider Palmer's stats in these areas. Amongst this week's field, he ranks in the top-25 for both driving distance and greens in regulation over the last three months. Not bad at all, but the real positive lies in the stats for 'birdie average'. In this department, he ranks 1st amongst all PGA Tour players, (not just those in Canada).

Recent form is fair too, with three top-15s since the start of May. And unlike so many other rags, Palmer has shown he can get the job done on Sunday. The 31-year-old Texan has twice won professional tournaments, one each on the Nationwide and PGA Tours. The highlight was obviously the latter, when winning the 2004 FUNAI Classic. If my memory serves me correctly, he held his nerve well down the back-nine that day despite the best efforts of Vijay Singh to chase him down.

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