Thrash Talk: Bunker's Dozen: April 2006

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By Cody Thrasher via TheSandtrap.com

This month's edition has a Masters flavor mixed with a new Players Champion and a youth movement.

Another month of the PGA Tour season has come and gone, and it's time for another edition of the Bunker's Dozen. The Florida Swing wrapped up two weeks ago with an exciting Players Championship. Also, The Masters is right around the corner and it's apparent in this month's rankings. Finally, the LPGA's popularity is on the rise, but how many ladies managed to make our list? And remember, this list is based off results up to March 31st.



That's enough talking for now, so let's get to this edition of the Bunker's Dozen!

1Tiger Woods hangs onto the top spot this month after win at Doral in early-March and a so-so month from everyone else. With The Masters on the horizon, it's only fitting to have Mr. Woods at the top our list.


2Hootie Johnson makes the list for obvious reasons. Only Tiger gets more headlines at Augusta than this guy. It's going to be interesting to see what kind of controversy Mr. Johnson stirs up this year.


3Stephen Ames won the biggest tournament of the season so far, The Players Championship; It's not about 9&8 for Ames anymore because he was the only player to figure out the tough TPC at Sawgrass.


4Michelle Wie announced she will play in the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic again this season. Also, Wie found herself in second place going into the weekend at the LPGA's first major championship of 2006.


5Luke Donald won the Honda Classic last month and also claimed he wants to be the best golfer in the world. And yes, that statement included Mr. Woods.


6Juli Inkster turned back the clock with a win at the Safeway International last month. Inkster was also at the top of the LPGA money list as of March 31st.


7Camilo Villegas debuts on the list this month after narrowly missing out last time. Villegas has led the string of young guns on the PGA Tour this season and finished tie for third at The Players Championship (barely missed out on The Masters).


8Annika Sorenstam officially announced her arrival this season by winning the LPGA's Mastercard Classic in March. Sorenstam will surely make her way up the list as the season progresses.


9TPC at Sawgrass wreaked havoc on some of the PGA's best last month. Just ask Davis Love III, Jim Furyk, and Sergio Garcia how tough it was to stay at the top of the leaderboard. It was "crumble city" at the stadium course.


10Thongchai Jaidee will become the first Thai-born golfer to play in The Masters after receiving a special invitation. Jaidee got the invitation over the ever-popular Camilo Villegas and fellow Bunker's Dozen member Greg Owen.


11Retief Goosen moves up a couple spots this month after finishing strong at Doral and runner-up at The Players Championship. The Goose could be adding a green jacket to his collection of clothes very soon.


12Rory Sabbatini can thank his wife for maintaining a spot in the Bunker's Dozen this month. Sabbatini's wife has been seen wearing a shirt that says "Keep Up." Nick Faldo had his own thoughts of what the shirt meant, but I can't share them here. By the way, Sabbatini is still ranked first on the PGA Tour money list after a shaky month at best.


13Greg Owen made the list for dubious reasons after three-putting from 40 inches on the 17th hole at Bay Hill. Needless to say, Owen lost the tournament by one shot to Rod Pampling, hence the reason he is ranked unlucky #13 this week.


Dropped Out: Geoff Ogilvy, Tom Lehman, David Howell, Chad Campbell, David Toms, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Meena Lee, and Scott Verplank.

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