10-26-16

For those of you who would like to dig a little deeper.

It wouldn’t be OAD season if my picks weren’t all over the map but after two weeks, I’m only KINDA disappointed.

KINDA because I didn’t decide to change my angle of attack BEFORE the new season started. Sometimes you gotta hit bottom before you decide you’ve had enough and it’s time to change shit up.

Done changed.

This is a results driven business, plain and simple. In the OLD DAYS, I would pissing and moaning about how Matsuyama couldn’t win. Now, I’m thrilled to have  $735k in the bank after two events with a second place on the ledger. Would I have MOAR confidence if I would have had a T-3 and a T-3 to make that kind of money? Probably. Confidence is a dangerous thing…

Fachts:

First WGC of the season or last WGC of the year? Er, both.

Check the winners on this course. #BallStruck.

 

 

The 2012 event was held at Mission Hills so no point following that history.

Dustin Johnson once made three doubles and two bogeys and still won, setting the tournament record in the process (2013).

It didn’t hurt that he made 28 birdies and two eagles that week either.

That same week Martin Kaymer made 29 birdies and oddly finished T-8.

Bubba Watson once won here on 11-under in a playoff after he defeating notorious big-hitter Tim Clark.

Kevin Kisner and Russell Knox, both in the category of non-basher, both were 16-under after three rounds last year.

Got all that?

Yeah, me neither!

 

2016-17 season: Brand New Day

Season total: $756,000, 2 events

• Wins:
• Seconds: 1
• Thirds:
• Top 10’s:
• Top 25’s:
• MC: Grayson Murray, Safeway Open

 

Thermometer:

70 and sunshine thanks to Hideki Matsuyama’s solo second last week. The last two seasons I’ve claimed a win and a solo second from the Japanese stud. Too bad I can’t figure out the other 200 or so pros! Need proof? Check out last year here

 

Keys this Week — WGC-HSBC Champions:

Pedigree does it for me plus it’s no secret that the Euros are kicking off their playoffs. Add in the fact that premium iron players have taken home all the victories and the field pares down nicely. Oh, and it’s a WGC event with the winner taking home $1.62 million so better lean on a player who’s proven at this level and won’t be afraid of cashing a check that size.

 

My Weekly Finalists:

OWGR listed in (  )

 

Dustin Johnson (2): ’13 champ, T-5 last year, in the top 10 more than not.

Patrick Reed (7): Made only two bogeys here last year but had two doubles to finish five back.

Paul Casey (13): I hope your competitors see T-21 last week and forget about him.

Alexander Noren (18): Red hot with three wins in his last 10.

Francesco Molinari (40): 2010 champ and winner his last time out.

Martin Kaymer (48): Course record holder and 2011 champ.

 

My Choice: Martin Kaymer

Close Second: Alex Noren

Outlier: Francesco Molinari

 

QUESTION(S) OF THE WEEK:

• Where’s Matsuyama?
• What’s with all of the Euros?

 

ANSWER(S) OF THE WEEK:

• Er, well I burned him last week but I wouldn’t talk you out of him this week based on his recent form.
• Noren and Kaymer aren’t members on Tour so we won’t see much of them besides these events, majors and THE PLAYERS. Plus, it’s a no-cut event and that’s guaranteed bucks.
• Dustin Johnson can win anytime, anyplace and anywhere so I’m not going to talk you out of him either. I PREFER playing him during a run of form, not the first event back, but that’s me.

 

Keys this Week — Sanderson Farms Championship:

With a winner’s check that totaled less than what Matsuyama made for second last week, this is an event where I can endorse either end of the spectrum. Pick a class player and hope they do what they do or pull someone out of left field and hope to steal one like Malnati and Taylor have done the last few years. The podium is the only thing that matters this week as this total purse won’t stretch.

 

My Weekly Finalists :

 

Patton Kizzire

Chris Kirk

Ian Poulter

David Toms

 

My Choice: Patton Kizzire

Close Second: Chris Kirk

Outlier: David Toms

 

Kizzire is chasing his first win on Tour and has been close here and last time out. Plus, he’s from this part of the world (Alabama) so he should be right at home. Kirk is the safest bet on the board and Toms course history pushes him up the list.