Joey D checks in from Reno...

Back on the west coast, this week for the Reno-Tahoe Open. Much different conditions weather-wise this week as compared to when the Tour was out west earlier this year. Warm and sunny during the day is a far cry from what we saw in Pebble Beach or San Diego as this season got underway.

I have four guys in the field this week - Jason Gore, Chez Reavie, Tom Pernice Jr. and Charlie Wi. Pat Perez is in Akron for the WGC-Bridgestone event, while Ryuji Imada and Jason Dufner are both taking the week off.

JG is coming off a few decent weeks - T28th at the Buick and T7th in Milwaukee mid-July. TP went T52 last week and T15th in Milwaukee, so he too is looking to capitalize on some pretty good play as of late. My new guy Chez Reavie missed his last three cuts and is looking to reverse that trend this week, as it Charlie Wi, who had a few finishes in the fifties and missed a few cuts. All four are in the thick of it entering Friday, so stay tuned to see how things play out entering the weekend.

My horse Double P is my lone guy in this week's World Golf Classic event, shooting even and looking to make a run this week. With no cut at a WGC event, he has four days to get out there and make things happen. Pay attention this week as he could get hot any of the next three rounds. There's a sense of calm when you don't have a cut hanging over your head. PP has four days to get out there solely focused on playing golf. It's a completely different mindset.

It's always an interesting week when you have two events - one larger one with the majority of the Tour's big name players and a smaller one, where guys are looking to make up some ground and put themselves in a better position with the FedExCup kicking off in a few weeks.

The talk at Bridgestone this week is Tiger Woods... as it should be since he's a six-time champion. Every time he tees it up, this guy is expected to win. With his track record in Akron, how can you bet against him this week? That said, he inexplicably missed the cut at the British Open this year, while a 59-year old almost won. Yet another thing which makes this game of golf so incredible at this level.

When Tiger misses a cut, it reminds you again that he's human. Everybody out here could win any given week and all of these guys have earned the right to be here. The media loves to make it Tiger vs. Phil Mickelson every chance the get - which is great for headlines - but it's only part of the overall story. Tune in this week to see if somebody else can make a run.

Back to Reno, this has the makings of a great event this week. You get a great crowd out here on the west coast and there's a definite summertime vibe you don't get back east. There's a real sense of ease and a calm this week in Nevada. An 'under the radar' type event. The air is different, the ball flies a little further and the mountains provide a great backdrop and landscape. It's a different overall sense of golf. No rain, higher altitude and a welcomed breather after weather has wreaked such havoc these past few weeks.

Weather aside, we have to remember that this season started in January and this has been a very long season. Seven straight months out here with that pressure building week in and week out. Keeping that mental focus when the body starts shutting down -- it's no easy feat.

Two different focuses this week with the Bridgestone guys tightening up their game for the final major of the year; next week's PGA Championship - as well as the Reno guys giving it their all, trying to earn a spot at Hazeltine. Watch it all unfold these next three days.

More from Reno this weekend.


Joey D.