01-03-17

Man, I’m going to be writing 2016 on my checks until at least May!

Fantasy Golf is back y’all! Your prize is at the end of that rainbow!

Trendspotting

2016-17 Winners (at time of victory)

Brendan Steele (Safeway), 33
Justin Thomas (CIMB), 23
Hideki Matsuyama (WGC-HSBC), 24
Cody Gribble (SFC), 26*
Rod Pampling (Shriners), 47
Pat Perez (OHL Mayakoba), 40
Mackenzie Hughes (RSM), 26*

*Rookie, first-time winner

Youngsters

Players 29 and under

2014-15: 14 players  (24 victories in 47 events)

2015-16: 13 players (19 victories in 47 events)

2016-17: 4 players (seven events and counting)

 

Prime-Time Players

More than 29 and less than 40

2014-15: 16 players (17 victories in 47 events).

2015-16: 22 players (26 wins in 47 events).

2016-17: Brendan Steele

 

Old Guard

40 and over

2014-15: 4 players in 47 events.

2015-16: 2 players in 47 events.

2016-17: 2 players in seven events.

 

Rookies

2014-15:  Nick Taylor; Sanderson Farms.

2015-16: 3; Emiliano Grillo; Frys.com; Smylie Kaufman; Shriners
Si Woo Kim; Wyndham.

The ONLY year a rookie has not made it to The Tour Championship was 2014.

 

First-Time Winners

Rookies, journeymen, up-and-comers, I’ll keep track of them all. It’s a life-changer.

2013: 12

2014: 10

2015: 11

2016: 16

2017: 2

Cody Gribble; Sanderson Farms

Mackenzie Hughes; RMS

Both are rookies as well!

 

This Week

Paradise found.

Maui’s Kapalua Resort and Spa will host the newly named SBS Tournament of Champions on the very get-table Plantation Course. The Plantation Course, when prevailing winds blow, annually ranks inside of the five easiest on Tour. With only three par 3’s and four par fives, birdies will come fast and furious thanks to the massive fairways and greens and resort-speed greens. That combination equals painfully low scores!

 

Top Finishers  from 2016

01 Jordan Spieth

02 Patrick Reed

03 Brandt Snedeker

06 Fabian Gomez

10 Jason Day

10 Dustin Johnson

10 Jimmy Walker

10 Bubba Watson

21 Justin Thomas

27 Russell Knox

31 James Hahn

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