06-22-16
I’ve been considering changing the name of this column to DOA instead but Jason Day provided a glimmer of hope last week at Oakmont.
The key to OAD is to be good and lucky. Some people jumped on Day when he won back-to-back. Some people, like me, were saving him for Oakmont. Whereas the rest are now wondering where to play him.
The answer is simply: Yes. He’s ace just about every week he’s healthy and entered, minus Memorial.
The lucky part is having “him” the week(s) he does fire.
Or Spieth. Or McIlroy.
Next year I’m going to try and win it by the U.S. Open and hang on for dear life down the stretch.
Yeah, that’s the ticket…
Of the current OWGR top 30 or so, I have the following players remaining:
1.) Jason Day
2.) Jordan Spieth
10.) Justin Rose
11.) Patrick Reed
12.) Branden Grace
13.) Sergio Garcia
18.) Brandt Snedeker
21.) Zach Johnson
22.) Charl Schwartzel
23.) Chris Wood
24.) Russell Knox
25.) Kevin Kisner
27.) Ben An
28.) Rafael Cabrera Bello
29.) Jim Furyk
30.) Justin Thomas
31.) Kevin Na
37.) Bill Haas
The good news is I have these players to choose from.
The bad news is I have these players to choose from.
With two majors, one WGC and four Playoff events left, there’s no need to keep the safety on.
Guys who aren’t playing well now (Snedeker, Haas, Kisner & Rose) hopefully find form later in the summer. Guys like Day, Spieth, Reed will come down to which event you’ll believe them to be most comfortable. Remember, Day and Spieth both rake at East Lake. So does Furyk. And Rose. And Haas. And Snedeker. You’ll need just one of them at the end!
As of today, here’s the plan:
Jason Day: Oakmont (T-8; $247,806)
Sergio Garcia or Branden Grace: Royal Troon
Jordan Spieth or Branden Grace: Baltusrol
Justin Rose: Returned with MC at U.S. Open.
Jim Furyk: T-2 at U.S. Open caught my attention.
Let’s see who has already made the ultimate fantasy sacrifice already:
| Event | Golfer | Place | Money |
| Frys.com | Brooks Koepka | T-41 | $21,000 |
| Shriners | Scott Piercy | T-25 | $44,832 |
| CIMB | Anirban Lahiri | T-21 | $78,400 |
| WGC-HSBC Champions | Adam Scott | T-70 | $42,000 |
| Sanderson Farms | Patrick Rodgers | T-20 | $41,356 |
| OHL Mayakoba | Patton Kizzire | T-58 | $13,764 |
| RSM | Brendon de Jonge | T-33 | $27,049 |
| HTOC | Brandt Snedeker | T-3 | $381,000 |
| Sony | Kevin Kisner | T-5 | $220,400 |
| CB Challenge | Ryan Palmer | T-17 | $75,897 |
| Farmers | Phil Mickelson | MC | $0 |
| Waste Management | Hideki Matsuyama | WIN | $1,170,000 |
| AT&T Pebble Beach | Jimmy Walker | T-11 | $143,500 |
| NTO | Dustin Johnson | 4th | $326,400 |
| Honda | Luke Donald | T-61 | $13,115 |
| WGC-Cadillac Champ | Henrik Stenson | T-28 | $79,428 |
| Valspar | Danny Willett | T-22 | $52,959 |
| Arnold Palmer | Scott Brown | T-27 | $41,934 |
| WGC-Dell Match Play | Rickie Fowler | T-53 | $63,000 |
| Puerto Rico Open | Graham DeLaet | T-11 | $66,000 |
| Shell Houston Open | Louis Oosthuizen | MC | $0 |
| Masters | Bubba Watson | T-37 | $50,250 |
| RBC Heritage | Matt Kuchar | T-9 | $147,500 |
| Valero Texas Open | Charley Hoffman | WIN | $1,116,000 |
| Zurich Classic | Daniel Berger | T-20 | $64,909 |
| Wells Fargo | J.B. Holmes | T-53 | $16,589 |
| THE PLAYERS | Rory McIlroy | T-12 | 212,625 |
| AT&T Byron Nelson | Jason Dufner | T-24 | 54,020 |
| Colonial | Kevin Chappell | MC | $0 |
| Memorial | Paul Casey | MC | $0 |
| FESJC | Gary Woodland | MC | $0 |
| U.S. Open | Jason Day | T-8 | $247,806 |
2015-16 season
Season total: $4,781,723; 32 events
- Wins: 2
- Seconds: 0
- Thirds: 1
- Top 10s: 7
- Top 25s: 15
- MC: 5 (Mickelson, FIO; Oosthuizen, SHO; Chappell, Colonial; Casey, Memorial; Woodland, FESJC)
Last week: Jason Day, (T-8; $247,806)
Took the No. 1 player in the world to break up my horrific run and he almost didn’t see the weekend. His second round 69 saw him slip into the weekend and his third-round 66 saw him vault into contention. The eagle-birdie combo on Nos. 12 and 13 on Sunday gave me false hope that something special was on the cards. His double bogey, bogey finish reminded me his luck was used making the cut. Looks better if you just pick up the paper and see T-8, right? RIGHT?!?!?!
Feels like a win after the last month.
Thermometer:
Even the thermometer is laughing…
Keys this Week:
- Bogey acceptance
- Distance won’t hurt
- Up-and-down will lead to more up than down
My Five Finalists:
1.) Patrick Reed
2.) Jim Furyk
3.) Charley Hoffman*
4.) Roberto Castro
5.) Brendan Steele*
*already burned
My Choice: Patrick Reed
Close Second: Roberto Castro
Long Shot Special: Jon Rahm
Stratagem: Light field means burn a big boy and pray they do their job. Castro makes a fine second banana plus doesn’t stand out anywhere else and gets it done here. Furyk is now back in play for RBC Canadian and any other tournament he’s playing. Steele and Hoffman make for very steady and heady plays for those who’re leading.
Good luck chops!
