03-01-2017

Altitude, dude!

Mexico City welcomes the world’s best players to a brand-new venue.

Yahoo! Fantasy Golf

 

@MikeGlasscott

 

Last Week: 150

Winter Points: 1,310

Winter Rank: 3,047

Season Points: 1,310

 

Last Week:

 

Winner Rickie Fowler was the only bright spot but sadly I didn’t play him until the final three days. I missed a 66 on Thursday and didn’t use Adam Scott’s 68 on Sunday.

Group B was a disaster as only Kevin Kisner made the weekend. His 66 on Saturday was excellent and put him into the top 10. His 77 on Sunday guaranteed my donut for the day in the group. #PickBetterGolfers.

I went with Daniel Berger over Sergio Garcia to start the week and paid the price as Berger didn’t fire in his hometown.

 

This Week:

 

Remember, Yahoo! is a SCORING GAME ONLY.

Nothing else matters.

It’s back to Bent-Poa this week and this new track will play short-ish because of the altitude (over 7,500 feet above sea level).

If the Mexico Open on the PGA Tour LatinoAmerica in 2014 had 17-under as the winning score, I would suggest finding guys who circle plenty of birdies and eagles.

These events usually don’t pull any punches as the cream frequently rises to the top.

It’s up to YOU to roll the starts out or save them for later!

More details in my preview here:

 

Group A

Starts remaining in parentheses

 

Dustin Johnson (7) — He destroyed a difficult Riviera his last time out and has all the tools to do it again this week. He won at Oakmont the event prior to his WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last summer so there’s precedence.

Rickie Fowler (10) — I missed the boat on him at WMPO when he finished T-4. I did NOT miss the boat last week. I’m staying on board as I don’t have to worry about rust and he’s the best short gamer of  the premium players in this group.

 

SUPER SUBS

Adam Scott: I can’t make a case against him; I just prefer Fowler for reasons stated above.

Gary Woodland: Followed up his T-5 at Pebble with T-2 last week at Honda; should have been better but bogeys at the final two holes should have him even more focused this week. He gets the nod over McIlroy because he’s won at altitude and is on MAYJAH FIYAH. I’ll have plenty of chances to use McIlroy down the road!

 

Group B

 

Jordan Spieth (7) — He shines when the fields are deep and the prize money blings.

Justin Rose (10) — The Englishman claimed he didn’t play that well with T-4 at Riviera. Fine, improve on it!

Brandt Snedeker (10) — Poa yo! Plenty of evidence that suggests tight courses and that grass on the greens makes his game shine (Harbour Town, Torrey, Pebble). No rough doesn’t hurt either!

Matt Kuchar (10) — My insurance policy this week as the altitude should help his chances and his short game will. Kuchar won the Bridgestone America’s Cup in Mexico City last year so he won’t have to acclimatize his game as much.

 

SUPER SUBS

I’ll never talk you out of using Hideki Matsuyama but I only have five starts left and we haven’t hit the majors yet!

Jimmy Walker has been known to get low and showed signs the last two weeks that he’s starting to figure some things out.

Francesco Molinari’s bounce-back effort last week removed some of my doubt and should relish the tree-lined fairways this week.

Paul Casey is trending in the right direction and has no problems finding GIR.

 

Group C

 

Sergio Garcia (8) — Another very solid week last week shows he’s in the mood early this season. This spot can be used multiple ways because of the guy down there. #ArrowDown.

Henrik Stenson (10) — Gamers might not even need to sweat his partner this week if his recent form is any indication.

 

SUPER SUBS

I’ve often referred to Group C as the Rummage Sale of fantasy golf as there is something in here for any theory or style.

I suggested Tyrell Hatton in here last week and his T-4 suggests I do so again.

Youngsters Jon Rahm and Emiliano Grillo makes excellent pairings with Stenson in this no-cut event as the risk should be minimal.

Alex Noren would make for a tasty Swedish Daily Double.

 

 

“Ned says…”

 

Ned Brown returns to drop his knowledge in Yahoo! as he did here last year. Ned is a legend in the gaming world and has cleaned up in Yahoo while most of you were in diapers! He’ll share his thoughts and picks here when he wants!

 

@ESoxGolf

 

Last Week: 158

Winter Points: 1,379

Winter Rank: 450

Season Points: 1,379

 

 

Group A

 

Dustin Johnson (7) — In a lot of ways this week’s course is like Riviera where Johnson easily won two weeks ago. The fairways are Kikuyugrass and the greens are a mix of Poa annua and Bent. This course will play a lot shorter because of the altitude (7,603 to 7,835). If you take the results from two weeks ago at the Genesis Open as your cheat sheet you probably will do OK.

Adam Scott (8) — Decent play the last couple of weeks with T-11 at the Genesis and a T-14 last week at the Honda Classic.

 

Super Subs

Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, Rory McIlroy

 

 

Group B

 

Jordan Spieth (5)– I’ve been using Spieth and Justin Thomas pretty heavily to start the year. Thomas has cooled down, but Spieth is still playing well and could have an advantage with his putting. This is a no-cut event so I’ll try to hide him on the bench.

Justin Rose (9) — I’m stunned how well he played in the early part of this year with a solo second at the Sony, a T-4 at the Farmers and a T-4 at the Genesis. I should have more than one starts used on him this season.

Francesco Molinari (9) — Trying to figure it out between Molinari or Mickelson with the nod going to the Italian. He most likely has a little more experience at playing at altitude and he is playing a little better than Mickelson coming into this week.

Matt Kuchar (10) — Since I took the Gold medalist from the Rio games, why not take the bronze medal winner? Kuchar also looked ok at Riviera where he tied for 22nd place.

 

Super Subs

Kevin Na, Hideki Matsuyama, Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey

 

 

Group C

 

Tyrrell Hatton (10) — Wrote my picks last week at 4:30am and one of my mistakes was leaving out Hatton. He closed out ’16 with a solo second at the DP World Tour Championship and the hot streak continued in ’17 with a T-13 in Abu Dhabi, a T-3 in Dubai and a T-4 last week at The Honda Classic.

Henrik Stenson (10) — Yes, I completed the three Rio Olympic medalists with the silver medalist here. Stenson has continued his amazing hot streak from ’16 with a T-8 at Abu Dhabi and a solo second place in Dubai.

 

Super Subs

John Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Thomas Pieters, Martin Kaymer

 

FORE!

Shoot any questions and follow along at @MikeGlasscott and mikeglasscott.com to stay in tune.