04-05-17
I don’t think loading up on the chalk comes as a big surprise this week.
This fella has had some 2017 and needs to be in your lineup this week regardless.
Shell Houston Open: 133
Winter Points: 1,768
Winter Rank: 2,587
Spring Points: 133
Spring Rank: 10,200
Season Points: 1,768
Season Rank: 2,294
Last Week:
After racking up 40 points on the first day, I decided to change my lineup to move the morning wave into play.
Bad idea.
My four subs posted two points. Adam Scott shot 77. Jordan Spieth matched him. Phil Mickelson was medalist with 72 and Henrik Stenson posted 75.
Two points.
Dos.
Dueces.
It was easy to figure out the lineup the rest of the weekend as my choices after the cut were limited!
If that’s not bad enough, I burned a Spieth start with a one-rounder.
Dumb.
This Week:
Remember, Yahoo! is a SCORING GAME ONLY.
Nothing else matters.
With the nasty weather forecasted, find guys who can take advantage of the par fives and avoid bogeys.
If the course takes on two inches of rain today, as forecasted, I’d find guys who can get it down the fairway.
If the wind blows 15-25 mph from dawn to dusk, I’m looking for a grinder or two who can find a way to get the ball in the hole.
Par looks to be a decent score heading into the weekend but then the forecast swings back into spring so moving day and the final round will be interesting, as they should be regardless.
There are weeks to take chances.
There are weeks to ride the chalk.
If you read MY PREVIEW, you’ll know which corner I’m in this week.
Group A
Starts remaining in parentheses
Rickie Fowler (7) — I love his form, his demeanor and the fact that he’ll be overlooked in this group. Nobody better throughout the bag currently minus the guy I’ve left out in this group. I don’t mind being contrarian with a stud like this.
Rory McIlroy (9) — He and DJ both go late on Thursday and that does NOT look to be the proper end of the draw. With nine starts left, I can be more flexible using him as opposed to DJ and his six starts.
SUPER SUBS
Dustin Johnson: I’ll be one of the few fading him and that could pay off but that’s my gut, not yours.
Jason Day: The weight is off of his shoulders as his mom is doing better after cancer surgery. Free your mind and the rest will follow? Day has had a flair for the dramatic before so don’t put this past him either.
Group B
Jordan Spieth (6) — He leads the Tour in GIR, is second in birdies and third in scoring average. The only question is when NOT to use him! Repeating, but one less start. Throw in his course form here if you need a double shot.
Justin Rose (6) — Plenty of red numbers here and zero MC from 11 tries makes a tasty combo.
Phil Mickelson (7) — His recent play at The Open suggests a bit of breeze won’t bother him. Too many big finishes to count.
Paul Casey (8) — Sturdy ball-striker has found the top 10 the last two trips down Magnolia Lane.
SUPER SUBS
The next four should include in some order Hideki Matsuyama, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kisner and Charley Hoffman
Group C
Lee Westwood (10) — You don’t hit the top 10 four times in the last five years if you’re not putting up red numbers here.
Jon Rahm (8) — Jordan Spieth finished second in his first try at Augusta. Rahm has the same talent level and his recent form suggests the same.
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’ve left Tyrrell Hatton off all season long so why change now!
Ross Fisher has hit the top five in his last two starts, both WGC events. He’s played four previous times here.
Jason Dufner will hit plenty of GIR and his game is peaking at the right time.
Daniel Berger can do it all and has won at a difficult TPC Southwind.
“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
Shell Houston Open: 133
Winter Points: 1,871
Winter Rank: 140
Spring Points: 133
Spring Rank: 9,582
Season Points: 2,004
Season Rank: 137
“Ned says…
A maddening week at the SHO as I took Stenson over the safer play in Henley and paid for it. We’ll see if we can fair better this week.”
Group A
Dustin Johnson (6) — He comes rolling into Augusta as the World’s No. 1 player winner of his last three starts Genesis, WGC Mexico and WGC-Match Play). The biggest question is how must did the Match Play take out of him? Outside of that he is a no-brainer starter this week.
Rory McIlroy (9) — The second slot in Group A comes down to the Rickie versus Rory pick. I thought Rickie looked last week that he was coming prime form. Rory has a little better record here which is why I’m giving him the nod. It will all come down to the putter with McIlroy.
SUPER SUBS
Rickie Fowler, Marc Leishman
Group B
Jordan Spieth (5) — I mentioned last week that Spieth had cooled off from his hot start, but I was pretty surprised that he missed the cut at the SHO. So he rolls into his fourth Masters out of form, but his record here is outstanding and there is no way he can be faded.
Hideki Matsuyama (7)– He was the hottest player in the world from October to about February. After his championship at the WMPO his best finish is a T25 at the WGC Mexico. His recent record at Augusta is solid with a fifth place in ’15 and a T7 last year. So the main reason to use him this week is his track record here.
Justin Rose (6) — Out of my four picks for Group B Rose is probably the most solid . He has played well for the most part of the season and his resent record at the Masters is also solid with a T14 in ’14, a T2 in ’15 and T10 last year.
Phil Mickelson (9) — One of the questions of the week is about Mickelson and if he can put it together for four good rounds. I thought he played very well in the two WGC events, so I was disappointed in his T55 at the SHO. That being said Phil likes to take the week before to work on certain parts of his game, so you can’t over read last week.
SUPER SUBS
Paul Casey, Brandt Snedeker, Justin Thomas
Group C
Jon Rahm (7) — He is a first-timer at Augusta, but he has been playing some great golf this year. He started the year at 137th in the world and he currently sits at number 12. I was concerned last week that the Match Play might have taken too much out of him, which it looked like it had at the start of the week, but he came on strong on the weekend to finish T10.
Tyrrell Hatton (8) — I really don’t like to start two first-timers in Group C, but they are the guys that are playing best right now. Going back into last year he has top 10s in five of his last six stroke play events and in those five events four of them were top fours. He is playing well and having fun doing it.
SUPER SUBS
Russell Henley, Sergio Garcia, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Daniel Berger
FORE!
Shoot any questions and follow along at @MikeGlasscott and mikeglasscott.com to stay in tune.
Glass Houses 