Showdown, Week 41: Jeff Overton vs. Alexandre Rocha

So in an attempt to inject a bit more life and interest into tournaments, and because we’re all inveterate gamblers who are one bad card from being out on the streets, Jay Busbee and I are playing a golf version of a football suicide pool: We each pick one golfer per tournament and see how they do against each other, straight up. Victory over the other guy gets one point, victory in the tournament gets three points, and a tie lands you half a point. (Double for the majors.) We turn our attention to the McGladrey Classic.

Wall: I need a win in the worst possible way, so I’m playing a hunch this week and taking Jeff Overton. While Overton’s not playing for full time status next year — he finished the season 58th in the FedExCup standings — I like the fact that he’s coming into the week with seven straight rounds in the 60s, and three top-15 finishes in his last four starts. Here’s hoping Overton can follow Jonas Blixt’s lead and become a first-time PGA Tour winner this week.

Busbee: Wow! Blixterrific! What a pull-it-out-of-the-air … er, well-thought-out, genius pick. I’m following up on that one with Alexandre Rocha, who’s playing very well as he tries to secure his Tour card for 2013. You’ve got to like a guy who’s got something to play for at this point in the season, and Rocha fits that bill. He was T4 last week, and he’s got the kind of motivation that puts him miles ahead of the guys just playing for pride or a paycheck.

Last week: Busbee lands a Showdown haymaker after Jonas Blixt wins the Frys.com Open to capture his first PGA Tour win … and three points for the defending champion. Wall’s Bud Cauley pick was a total flop, as the rookie started strong with 68 but faded into the background over the weekend.

Current score: Busbee – 17.0, Wall – 14.0.

Already Used: Wall – Gary Woodland, K.J. Choi, Martin Laird, Nick Watney, Lee Westwood, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Steve Stricker, Zach Johnson, Luke Donald, Ryan Moore, Jim Furyk, Webb Simpson, Sean O’Hair, Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan, Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Carl Pettersson, Rory McIlroy, Brandt Snedeker, Dustin Johnson, Jason Dufner, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton. Busbee– Nick Watney, Webb Simpson, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Zach Johnson, Luke Donald, Robert Karlsson, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, K.J. Choi, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Lee Westwood, Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson., Tiger Woods, David Toms, Keegan Bradley, Louis Oosthuizen, Phil Mickelson, Jonas Blixt, Alexandre Rocha.

Devil Ball Golf – Golf – Yahoo! Sports