04-26-17

This will be the 59th edition of the Zurich Classic in the New Orleans area.

This will be the first one that is played as a partner’s game.

Everyone pair up in threes and we’ll see you on the first tee!

One-and-done

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: $2,278,585; 24 events

• Wins:
• Seconds: 1
• Thirds:
• Top 10s: 5
• Top 25s: 7
• MCs (4): Grayson Murray (Safeway Open); Patton Kizzire (SFC); Jamie Lovemark (CB Challenge); Jimmy Walker (FIO); Charl Schwartzel (Genesis); Russell Knox (Honda); Henrik Stenson (API).

 

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
Arnold Palmer	Henrik Stenson	MC	$0
Puerto Rico Open	Luke List	T-37	$12,900
WGC-Match Play	Rory McIlroy	T-30	$74,000
Shell Houston Open	Jon Rahm	T-10	$182,000
Masters	Jordan Spieth	T-11	$223,200
RBC Heritage	Matt Kuchar	T-11	$114,045
Valero Texas Open	Charley Hoffman	T-40	$21,727

 

Thermometer:

I’ve used course horses.

I’ve used world-class players.

I’ve used rookies.

I’ve used journeymen.

I’m thinking about darts or coin flips as I can’t catch one.

 

Last week:

My Choice: Charley Hoffman (T-40)

Close Second: Billy Horschel (MC)

Outlier: Luke Donald (MC)

Gut Shot: Brooks Koepka (2nd)

Rank Outsiders: J.J. Spaun (T-49), Daniel Summerhays (T-50), Kevin Chappell (WIN)

Well, having the winner and second place in seven picks is a good news/bad news deal. Since I hadn’t burned Chappell or Koepka, the pain stings a bit worse but it’s also not easy picking a winner from a field of 156 players.

 

Keys this Week:

It’s no secret that this track is easy and the partner’s game will encourage birdies in the four-ball format.

The cream will rise in the alternate shot portion and the class should be exposed.

With four par fives and less-than-ideal wind on the weekend, I’m going to lean on the pairs that can fight for pars and steal some birdies.

It will be interesting to see how the win affects scoring on the weekend. If it really blows, you better have a team that can navigate those conditions.

Or, you have some fun this week, play your favorite gut-shot and enjoy the new drama.

 

 

My Weekly Finalists:

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

Remember, each player in the team will receive prize money and FedExCup points.

Pick a OAD, get a bonus player with him!

 

My Teams:

Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson: Both are class wind/weather players and Rose has the course record on this track. The Ryder Cup buddies shouldn’t have to worry about strategy or any “feeling out” process.

Jason Day/Rickie Fowler: These dudes have see this track multiple times and are class players. They won’t miss many putts this week either.

Thomas Pieters/Daniel Berger: They’re both long and strong and can putt. I think the younger guys will have more fun with this and these guys might be the team to beat.

Branden Grace/Louis Oosthuizen: They’ll prefer it to blow a bit as they won’t have to make as many birdies but not too many are going to be hitting it more solidly from tee-to-green.

Justin Thomas/Bud Cauley: Two dudes from ‘Bama in SEC country should be up for the fight. Cauley is on the way back to his form of 2013 and Thomas already has three wins. Burning Cauley to get Thomas sounds proper business.

 

My Choice: Thomas Pieters/Daniel Berger

Close Second: Branden Grace/Louis Oosthuizen

Outlier: Russell Henley/Blayne Barber

Gut Shot: Si Woo Kim/Sung Kang

Rank Outsiders: William McGirt/Robert Garrigus, Andrew Loup/John Peterson, Steve Stricker/Jerry Kelly

 

QUESTION(S) OF THE WEEK:

Wait, you mean I get two guys for the price of one?

Well, yes, since it is a partner’s game but you’re only burning one of the two.

 

Should I burn…

Throw a dart.

Drop a pen.

Have your dog pick.

48 weeks. 48 guys. Plenty to choose from!

Last week I gave you Ryan Palmer (T-6) and Ollie Schniederjans (T-18) down here so I’m glad you’re still reading. If the wind is going to blow, I’m sticking Palmer (with Spieth, no less) right back in again this week. The forecast leans, again this week, for ball-strikers who are going to navigate gusty conditions.

 

Good Luck!