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Every week of the 2010 PGA Tour season, the editorial staff of the SI Golf Group will conduct an e-mail roundtable. Check in on Mondays for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors and join the conversation in the comments section below.
Michael Bamberger, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: Truth or dare, folks: who were you rooting for as the players made the turn on Sunday at Pebble and why? I'll get us started: David Duval himself, with the boy in the western shirt waiting for him over the 18th green. He's the closest thing golf has to an iconoclast.
Jim Gorant, senior editor, Sports Illustrated: Definitely Duval, although I was also pulling for Johnson. If I'm being honest, I felt like anyone but Holmes. Don't know why, but I find him hard to root for.
Mark Godich, senior editor, Sports Illustrated: Duval as well. Did you see that grin on his face during his post-round interview? I can't remember the last time I've seen him that excited.
Gorant: Looked like he was making a concerted effort to flash the grin several times during the interview. Even took the shades off.
Cameron Morfit, senior writer, Golf Magazine: David said on Friday that he's had a much easier time focusing on the majors because of the exacting course setups, but that he realizes he's got to man-up for the regular Tour events. It would be nice to see him have continued success on that front.
Jim Herre, managing editor, SI Golf Group: A Duval win would've been the best story, and heaven knows the Tour needs one.
Morfit: Johnson's win didn't inspire a lot of confidence, but on the other hand he figured out a way, which is part of the game, too. Keep in mind the guy had to play a 5:45 final round, while watching two guys make 9 on 14, Molder in the group in front and then Goydos. Bad golf can be contagious.
Bamberger: Good point, Cameron: having the ams in your group has to add a shot. And how about a tip of the hat to Cameron: getting a little air time with his nonchalant walk on 18 AND making it into the Swimsuit issue. (On the Golf.com promo page.)
Morfit: Wow. It's been a very big day for me. I'd just like to thank the sponsors. And speaking of the Swimsuit issue, I chatted a bit with Matt Jones's fiancee today. She's a former Ms. USA contestant who got a standing ovation when she walked across the range at Bethpage last summer. Book it right now: Best-looking Tour wife, SI player poll, 2011.
Damon Hack, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: I was pulling for Duval. I took some heat from this group when I sang his praises pre-Bethpage. He's going to win. Soon.
Farrell Evans, writer-reporter, Sports Illustrated: I was hoping for Duval so that we would have something to say about him other than "he's close to being in top form again."
Morfit: Duval just didn't play the par-5s very well this week. I watched him hit his second shot over the cliff on 6 Saturday, and he played 'em in even par Sunday. Another lost opportunity for a guy who really, really needs a W and has to be getting tired of moral victories.
Alan Shipnuck, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: Duval would've been a great story, but he's 40 with a lot of scar tissue. His time has passed. Dustin Johnson has a chance to be a star, and maybe a dominant force. I want to see how far he can go.
(Alan Shipnuck answers readers' questions every Friday in his weekly mailbag. Ask a question here.)
Bamberger: Let's give the winner his due. Where do you rank DJ among the young guys? He's SO hungry to win; he says it and you can see it. Lovemark, Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Alvaro Quiros — or your favorite name — who has the stuff to become truly dominant? I'm still inclined to say Rory, who has every single shot and a putting stroke in development.
Gorant: Johnson is only 25 and has three wins. Did anyone mention that he can dunk? Or that he's 6'4" with huge hands?
Shipnuck: The key is 25. You can easily make the case he is the best young American. And along with Rory Mac, maybe the best young talent in golf.
Evans: Sorry Alan, Dustin Johnson just shot 16-under to win. He's not exactly winning in tight, U.S. Open-quality conditions. Not yet, anyway. But he is very good.
Herre: Yes, Johnson finished with a 74 — not exactly stepping on anyone's neck.
Shipnuck: The 74 is not what matters. It's that he got it done, on Sunday at Pebble, when he didn't have his best stuff.
Morfit: Dustin is an interesting story if you look at the big picture. The last thing Tiger needs while he's on his indefinite leave is for some guy who's younger and longer than him to get a full head of steam and start thinking he's a superstar.
Evans: I don't think any of these players will be dominant. It's just not possible in the men's game. The tour is simply too deep, outside of Tiger. The names on Bamberger's list will be excellent money winners, but not great in the way that Tiger, Els, Vijay or Mickelson have been in the last 15-18 years.
Morfit: I don't like that Rory's already got back problems. If they're not that big of a deal, though, I like his chances. Johnson is really good, but his build may give him trouble with the full swing in the future. As he admitted to me once, he's got a lot of arms and legs and torso to keep track of, and when it gets out of synch, look out. He hit some squirrelly shots today and needed all of the help from Goydos and the big lead they started with. And last year's final round here was canceled. I've got to see this guy under a bit more under pressure.