03-15-17

For the love of “The King” this week, I shall honor his legacy with a pick noble enough of his acceptance.

Is this guy a “shoe-in” this week?

 

Each week I painfully writhe and wretch trying to figure out the proper strategy to find a player that will hit the top 10. Wins are great but aren’t likely, so I’m satisfied with having a chance to hit the big money. Missed cuts are absolutely the death in this game, but even the surest of things don’t always happen in the reality world of fantasy golf. Remember, fade or follow, it’s up to you.

 

Gamers who are new to OAD must remember that the most lucrative purses, the majors, WGC events, THE PLAYERS and FedExCup Playoffs, are down the road and you’ll need to save some big boys for these events, all 12 of them.

 

 

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: $1,650,713; 17 events

• Wins:
• Seconds: 1
• Thirds:
• Top 10s: 4
• Top 25s: 6
• MCs (4): Grayson Murray (Safeway Open); Patton Kizzire (SFC); Jamie Lovemark (CB Challenge); Jimmy Walker (FIO); Charl Schwartzel (Genesis); Russell Knox (Honda).

 

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
RSM Classic	Russell Henley	T-10	$150,000
SBS TOC	Brandt Snedeker	T-14	$122,000
Sony Open	Charles Howell, III	T-8	$180,000
CB Challenge	Jamie Lovemark	MC	$0
Farmers Insurance	Jimmy Walker	MC	$0
WMPO	Brendan Steele	T-16	$90,952
AT&T Pebble Beach	Phil Mickelson	65th	$15,120
Genesis Open	Charl Schwartzel	MC	$0
Honda Classic	Russell Knox	MC	$0
WGC-MC	Justin Rose	T-38	$64,000
Valspar	Bill Haas	T-41	$21,451

 

Thermometer:

I consider myself a pretty positive person but my run of form, or lack thereof, is testing my patience.

When the “good” news for the week is that I didn’t burn Justin Thomas (MC) or Henrik Stenson (T-7) it’s hardly encouraging but it is something.

Bill Haas firing 69 on Sunday is usually exactly what I’m looking for but sadly it moved him up from T-54 to T-41 and he collected only $21k and change.

On the positive side, I don’t have to worry about burning Bill Haas until October of NEXT SEASON…

Rubbish.

 

Keys this Week:

This used to be known as the Tiger Woods Invitational presented by Arnold Palmer. He used to load up the helicopter and cruise over from Isleworth, peg it, route the field, collect his check and be home by dinner.

No more.

I’m not sure why Matt Every decided to run riot on the joint for back-to-back years before Jason Day brought reason back to the proceedings last year. The Aussie torched Bay Hill as he circled 23 birdies and added an eagle. He only made six bogeys and three of them were on Sunday. He started the week off with 66 that included his only other, a double!

Giving it a knock off the tee won’t hurt but Zach Johnson has had no problem here the last few years. The leaderboards from the last three years suggest that is more the exception than the rule.

Players who can take care of the par fives and keep it out of run-off areas, bunkers and water will avoid the most bogeys and that points to ball-strikers.

 

My Weekly Finalists:

I explain in more details in my preview what I’m looking for on the course.

 

Henrik Stenson: His record here is impeccable and contains everything but raising the trophy. The Lake Nona resident is more than comfortable here and the results are proof. #3Wood.

Tyrell Hatton: The Englishman has been on tilt since the calendar rolled over to 2017 and has posted three top 10’s in a row. If he wasn’t put off by PGA National he shouldn’t be the least bit bothered this week.

Rickie Fowler: He’s one-for-one in Florida this year with his title at the Honda three weeks ago. There’s not much weakness, if any, currently in his bag and he already has a multi-win season under his belt from 2015.

Francesco Molinari: His worst finish in eight weekends from his last nine is T-20 in a WGC event. I’d say his game travels and he’s quite warm. He’s 28-under here in the last three years and can flush it.

Tommy Fleetwood: The last time we saw him he was closing up shop at WGC-MC with 66-66 on the weekend. That’s hardly surprising as he finished in the top five in both fairways and greens. #ChancesForBirdies.

 

My Choice: Henrik Stenson

Close Second: Francesco Molinari

Outlier: Jamie Lovemark

Gut Shot: Tyrell Hatton

Rank Outsider: Harold Varner, III

 

 

QUESTION(S) OF THE WEEK:

 

No McIlroy? Where’s Day?

Not for me, no, but for you, yes. I’m going to take my shot with them in the biggest $$$ events to try and get back into this format! Either of them can win by accident or by nine shots this week and I’ll be happy to take my shot at a major, WGC, PLAYERS or FEC event when the money is LARGE.

 

What’s with all of the Euros?

The history books are not in their favor as only ONE Euro has won this event in 38 previous tries and it’s Martin Laird. He also shot 75 in the final round! I’m big on the Euros because most of them flush it tee-to-green and the newer greens could benefit them. I can’t use ALL OF THEM at Erin Hills or Royal Birkdale.

 

Good Luck!