07-20-16
From haggis to grits to poutine, like the food listed here, my picks need serious help. With only nine events left to go, gamers should have a decent idea of who is going where.
Ok, poutine is quite decent but I have no time for haggis or grits, sorry.
Time to make a move on it!
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 and four Playoff events left it’s time to start firing on all cylinders.
Guys who aren’t playing well now (Haas & 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! I have written this weekly and the point still stands.
The Current Plan
Jason Day: Oakmont (T-8; $247,806)
Sergio Garcia: Royal Troon (T-5; $310,797)
Jordan Spieth or Branden Grace: Baltusrol
Zach Johnson; JDC
Justin Rose: Returned with MC at U.S. Open and followed with T-46 at Firestone; T-22 last week at Royal Troon is turning this baby in the right direction!
For the new Stenson “fans” that haven’t burned the Swede yet, check out my recap from The Open/Barbasol to find you will have PLENTY of options heading down the stretch.
Jim Furyk: T-2 at U.S. Open caught my attention; T-21 at Congressional in back-to-back weeks suggests he’s more than fine. A stumble at Firestone, where he usually rakes as well, cooled me off and a quiet Open doesn’t help. He’s usually a player in Canada so this week should lend a more accurate look of where he’s at currently.
Here are the gory details from a nothing short of terrible season:
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 |
Quicken Loans | Patrick Reed | T-39 | $28,290 |
Barracuda | Jon Rahm | MDF | $6,420 |
WGC-BI | Shane Lowry | T-36 | $73,500 |
Barbasol | Kyle Reifers | T-35 | $15,808 |
The Open | Sergio Garcia | T-5 | $310,797 |
Results
Season total: $5,216,358; 37 events
- Wins: 2
- Seconds: 0
- Thirds: 1
- Top 10s: 8
- Top 25s: 16
- MC: 5 (Mickelson, FIO; Oosthuizen, SHO; Chappell, Colonial; Casey, Memorial; Woodland, FESJC)
Last week:
Sergio Garcia, T-5 ($310,797) & Kyle Reifers (Barbasol), T-35 ($15,808)
Thermometer:
Wrong big-time world player won his first major…
Keys this Week:
- Par breakers plus par five scoring
- Use ’em or lose ’em
- Bogey avoidance
My Five Finalists:
1.) Jim Furyk
2.) David Hearn
3.) William McGirt
4.) Tony Finau
5.) Colt Knost
My Choice: David Hearn
Close Second: Jim Furyk
Long Shot Special: Brian Harman
Analysis/Stratagem:
SCREW IT.
The few results that I have thrown up this year have been decent but when I can’t even get the PROPER BPTNWAMC last week, I give up. You shouldn’t though. Hearn went close last year but was hunted down and passed by two of the best/hottest players on the planet at the time (Day, Watson). He’s now lost in a Playoff to Jordan Spieth and on the back nine on Sunday to Day and Watson.
That’s experience.
That’s scar tissue.
Plus, I don’t have Day or DJ to burn anyhow.
Leaders and front runners in OAD leagues: Furyk will be my “fill-in” down the stretch as he can play anywhere but he’s just not on OAD form form me. I’d lean McGirt before Furyk unless you’re going to save him for Wyndham in his native North Carolina. I’d be surprised if anyone has Kuchar left but if you do, DO IT NOW. Finau is interesting based on recent form and Knost’s stability (cut-making machine) also entices.
Those of you who are desperate will be scraping the barrel this week to come up with a long-shot selection but Kevin Streelman is on recent fire; John Vegas opened 65-60 last week in Alabama; Brian Harman does NOT have a top 10 here!
Hey, YOU’RE DESPERATE.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Where’s everybody???
ANSWER OF THE WEEK: I have no problem with anyone sitting on DJ or Jason Day to burn them this week in a field that won’t be nearly demanding as the PGA Championship or the late Playoff events. But, the prize for a top 10 isn’t nearly as lucrative either. #DoubleEdgedSword.
Remember, there are NINE tournaments left and the big boys will be playing only a handful of them so don’t get caught with premium players on the sidelines!
Check my preview to split the hairs between Day, Johnson, Furyk, Kuchar, Snedeker and any of the “major” names YOU have remaining! Remember, like most of you, I’ve burned the big boys already so that’s why they aren’t mentioned. If you need me to tell you that Jason Day needs to be No. 1 this week, you don’t need to be playing!!
Good Luck!