For those golf fans that think this week is the lull before the storm that is The Masters…think again. There are plenty of stories making the rounds and a ton of interesting battles going on right now. It’s not Ali vs. Frazier or even Pacquiao vs. Mayweather but it makes for some great fights.
The ANA Inspiration vs. Shell Houston Open. First off is the fact that there is a major going on and the LPGA has opened the major season with a bang. 
Ko, Lewis, Wie, Pressel and even old timer Juli Inkster are making this week at Rancho Mirage interesting. The Shell Houston Open is a fine tournament but sitting in the shadow of The Masters is a tough one. So Phil Mickelson may have found his game on Thursday and that’s great but the winner here is the ladies. ANA Inspiration in a late round knockout.
Tiger Woods Playing vs. Tiger Woods Not Playing. Will he or won’t he? Play that is, play at The Masters. With conflicting reports as to the state of his game we still aren’t sure if we will see Tiger try for that elusive fifteenth major. First Tim Rosaforte tells us he shot a “worst ball 66” at the Medalist then we hear that on his trip to Augusta he shot a 74. Hmm, interesting. I can’t imagine a healthy Tiger passing on Augusta. I think he plays and if his game doesn’t make the trip with him he re-aggravates his “glutes” and withdraws. Tiger plays in a very close split decision.
Phil Mickelson vs. Tiger Woods at The Masters. As long as these two are in the field we hold out hope for a Sunday Showdown. But forget it, those days are done. Phil has struggled but may be tuning his short game at Houston and both players know Augusta so well, if healthy they have to be able to stick around for the weekend. But at best this is a lightweight undercard bout and ends in a disappointing draw.
Amanda Dufner vs. Jason Dufner. The Dufners have announced they are divorcing and the PGA Tour will be losing one of its most photographed couples. We all joked that Duf had “married up” and he even admitted that was the case. Now, Duf gets the two houses and Amanda gets $2.5 million. From a distance it looked like a mismatch with Duf being reserved and his wife being the biggest of extroverts. I bet we’ll see her soon in some reality TV show. But Dufner can cut his losses, move on, get his game back and earn many more millions. Amanda is looking for another meal ticket. A battered Jason wins this in an old school, bloody, fifteen round knockout. 
Rory McIlroy vs. Lexi Thompson. In the main event we see Rory versus Lexi in “The Battle of the Bods.” Rory graced last months Golf Digest shirtless and in a kilt and he’ll be on next month’s Men’s Health magazine and good for him. He has transformed his formerly doughy body into a ripped, machine with barely 10% body fat. But Lexi is Golf Digests choice for the Fitness and Power issue this year and let’s just say she’s not a kid anymore. Thompson is a fellow gym rat like McIlroy and it shows. And for her it’s just not enough to be fit and look great, she’ll kick your butt too. The butt kickings don’t end in the gym they extend onto the course too. It’s not even close: Lexi in a first round, Mike Tyson-like TKO. Rory never had a chance.
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