A look at the competition from our analysts at LCSN (Losers Club Sports Network):

Les BD Copson: I don’t think there is any one competitor who wants the TF Championship more than the Bigg Dogg himself.  The big tanker may have gotten into a bit of trouble last year, missing opening ceremonies and barely making it to the first tee on time.  We think that may have served as a wake-up call and believe BD  to be all business this year.

Constantino Rocca:  He’s really doing it, living the American dream, house and wife, only thing missing is the 2 car garage and the 1.5 children.  The garage seems to be in the works but are the kids next?  We’ll leave that question to Roxie, but he is teamed up with one of the group’s best (as far as holes played this summer) and MM might currently be Roxie’s best shot at writing a ticket to the championship.  We hope Roxie has been working on his short game as MM should have no problem keeping them in the tourney from tee-to-green.

Larry “the legend” Ligenza: The Legend has pulled a 180 on us from last year’s scenario.  A year ago we saw and LL with a wife and kid.  The new look LL is a money-blazing world traveler, earning him the nickname Green Phantom.  The group still wonders where LL is get the greenery to fund his weekend loaf-spending sprees and wants a piece of the action.  With LL’s travel schedule, we feel he has had little time to prepare for the tournament and with a 2 week absence from his NY-nan, we feel LL will need a strong effort from the BD to chase down the defending champs.

BZer Zielinski: We’re still wondering if BZ will be taking bets this year before the tourney.  Rumors were that 3-4 members may have taken BZ to the bank by shooting below 80 last year.  BZ’s always seems to be good for a big birdie here and there so it will be critical to criss-cross with his partner Esta to keep them in contention late in the tourney.  We all know the lags are never a problem, we’ll just have to wait and see if this is indeed his year.

Bubba Barbarini: Bubba seems to be has healthy as he has ever been for his third TF tournament.  However the addition of an off-season little one may put a big strain on his mental game.  Sleep deprivation is not the best tactic for a run at a third championship and we feel the need for a strong showing from partner Zippy on the back nine for the champs to tree-peat.  Along with the lagers, we wonder if Bubba will have the mental game to withstand all the trash talking…..  the new double glove technique by Bubba will be ripe for conversation.

Zip Zielinski: We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again.  It all comes down to putting for this competitor.  Zielinski has made some improvements in his chipping game but still lacks the confidence to make the big putts.  With a tough field, there are plenty of chances that this tourney comes down to a putt-off on the greenery.  That doesn’t bode well for the tree-peat.  On a positive note, Zip played one of his best rounds this summer on zero sleep, typically a factor in the tournament and even more so with PPII on TF Eve.

Miker Montross: A member of the rock group formerly known as the “Love Triangle.”  We just don’t know about MM’s psychy after the break-up of the long time group.  Most say the break-up was due to irreconcilable differences and it was a mutual break.  But we know MM must be devastated after all the long years and hard work he put into setting up “the triangle”.   MM needs to play strong to give Team MM/Rock a shot.  We just don’t think he can do it at this point in time.

Esta Carrier: Who will show up this year?  Low 40’s or high 50’s?  We just never know what to expect from this TF competitor.  We give Team Esta/BZ a fairly good shot as the experienced BZ maybe the only teammate he respects enough to listen to his advice.  Only 2 strokes off the final score last year, we think a little coaching from the BZer could help Esta’s team take a run at the champions.