11-16-2016

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

Sounds like an easy choice…

Keep reading to find out if that’s the case!

Last week, I had a hard time deciphering between Knox (third) and Grillo (T-10) but that’s nothing new to the regular readers of this column. The good news is the both hit the top 10 and neither really had a chance at winning so I’m NOT ANGRY. I’ll never complain hitting the top 10 UNLESS it was beginning Saturday with the 54-hole lead.

The only OTHER good news from last week, similarly to Las Vegas, I doubt many, if any had Perez or Woodland for the week.

Wait.

That means that Knox could be viewed as the “winner”?!?!?

Sigh.

I bet you don’t have a t-shirt that says that.

I bet you have a life, though…

Fachts:

Nobody has defended or won more than once.

This will only be the second year that Plantation is also being used so I’d expect scores to drop again this year.

There are about 100 guys playing this week with some connection to Sea Island so don’t let that distort your views.

Avoiding bogeys on a par 70 is almost just as valuable as making birdies. Check the winning scores in my preview here.

 

Last Season: Il Disastro

Season total: $5,978,929; 47 events

• Wins: 2 (Matsuyama, Hoffman)
• Seconds: 0
• Thirds: 1
• Top 10s: 9
• Top 25s: 18
• MC: 8 (Mickelson, FIO; Oosthuizen, SHO; Chappell, Colonial; Casey, Memorial; Woodland, FESJC; Hearn, RBC Canadian; McGirt, Wyndham; Justin Thomas, DBC)

 

2016-17 season: Brand New Day

Season total: $1,007,190, 6 events

• Wins:
• Seconds: 1
• Thirds:
• Top 10s: 2
• Top 25s:
• MCs (2): Grayson Murray (Safeway Open); Patton Kizzire (SFC).

 

Thermometer:

Some things never change. Of my listed choices last week, the one sitting on top the list finished the highest but I refused to go with it. To be fair, Grillo’s top 10 was very nice and he was playing well entering the week. I would just go ahead and put Knox down for Mayakoba next year as he’s quite comfortable in the Riviera Mayan jungle. Unless you’re saving him for Honda like I am…

Event	Golfer	Place	Money
Safeway Open	Grayson Murray	MC	$0
CIMB Classic	Hideki Matsuyama	T-2	$756,000
WGC-HSBC Champions	Martin Kaymer	T-40	$62,000
Sanderson Farms	Patton Kizzire	MC	$0
Shriners	Chris Kirk	T-61	$14,190
OHL Mayakoba	Emiliano Grillo	T-10	$175,000

 

Keys this Week — RSM Classic:

Six years have produced six American winners on St. Simons Island. None have repeated or won multiple times.

Kirk is the only resident to win.

The Plantation Course is in year No. 2 and has four par fives.

Neither course is longer than 7,100 yards so par four scoring, seaside masters and ball-strikers should have their say.

 

My Weekly Finalists:

OWGR listed in (  )

Chris Kirk (71) — Already burned him but his recent and course form should put him at the top of every list this week. I burned him in his only event in his last five NOT to hit the top 10. Of course I did. Shut up.

Bill Haas (37) — No gamers will be upset come Saturday if a.) the wind is blowing 20-25 b.) he’s anywhere near the lead. He’ll par the place to death.

Kevin Chappell (28) — Course form is impeccable but his recent form, all in Asian, has been non-descriptive. Last time on Bermuda he finished runner up to Rory McIlroy in a playoff at The TOUR Championship.

Russell Henley (117) — T-4 and T-6 in his last two trips and has been sniffing around on Tour the last two times out. Get that putter heated up!

Lucas Glover (172) — Perfect TOAD compliment this week as he hit the top 10 here last year and hasn’t finished outside of the top five in his last two on Tour.

 

My Choice: Henley

Close Second: Haas

Outlier: Glover

Stratagem: Splitting hairs is never fun and it cost me $300k last week so be careful. Whereas Glover and Haas are going to paint fairways and greens, Henley is no slouch when it comes to ball-striking. He’s BY FAR the better putter of the bunch as well. I’d prefer some better form on Chappell but he’s proven that he can play in Florida and I’ll gladly wait until next year to release him. I have plenty of landing spots for Bill Haas (CareerBuilder, for example) and I’m not sure if even Glover’s current form makes for a good idea in this format.

 

QUESTION(S) OF THE WEEK:

Where’s the defending champion?

What’s up with the regional players?

 

ANSWER(S) OF THE WEEK:

• Kevin Kisner has been making plenty of cuts in a row and plenty have been T-25 or beyond. It’s never easy winning one let alone defending it. I’d prefer him on hotter form and there will be more Bermuda tracks for him to tame as the season wears on.
• Check the list of winners and where they are from and you’ll understand my angle. With a skinny field in regards to premium players, I’ll take a shot on a homeboy (or close to it) or a course horse (Chappell) rather than trying to jam a square peg into a round hole. There’s a reason why Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar never break out here. #SeasonEndingPartyHosts.

 

Good luck!