05-24-17

Byron Nelson last week.

Ben Hogan this week.

Jordan Spieth defending champ.

Proud Texas.

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: $2,361,880; 28 events

• Wins:
• Seconds: 1
• Thirds:
• Top 10s: 5
• Top 25s: 7
• MCs (9): Grayson Murray (Safeway Open); Patton Kizzire (SFC); Jamie Lovemark (CB Challenge); Jimmy Walker (FIO); Charl Schwartzel (Genesis); Russell Knox (Honda); Henrik Stenson (API); Thomas Pieters (Zurich); Kevin Kisner (WFC).

 

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
Zurich Classic	Thomas Pieters	MC	$0
Wells Fargo	Kevin Kisner	MC	$0
THE PLAYERS	Sergio Garcia	T-30	$65,205
AT&T Byron Nelson	Brooks Koepka	T-50	18,090

 

Thermometer:

For the second week in a row I was in a decent position heading into Sunday.

For the second week in a row my selection took a massive score and killed any chances for glory.

You would believe that I’m used to it by now.

I am.

Since nobody likes a quitter, I’ll soldier on.

At least my ancillary picks are helping somebody out there!

 

Last week:

My Choice: Brooks Koepka — T-50

Close Second: Bud Cauley — T-5

Outlier: Kevin Tway — T-20

Gut Shot: Smylie Kaufman — T-27

Rank Outsiders: Morgan Hoffmann — T-27, S.Y. Noh — MC, Tim Wilkinson — MC and Ollie Schniederjans — T-55.

 

Keys this Week:

Experience.

This grand track doesn’t throw out first-time winners or youngsters.

Wind players will also gain attention because it’s gonna blow hot and heavy all weekend.

 

My Weekly Finalists:

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

 

My Favorites:

Jordan Spieth: His record here is immense and it’s easier to beat 121 Tour guys than fields in a major. It’s a legitimate question this week.

Ryan Palmer: It’s his home course and his caddy is the club champion. Don’t over-think this sometimes.

Bud Cauley: He’s hit the top 10 in his last three events and he’s had past success here.

Jason Dufner: He should probably be in front of Cauley if you’re ranking them but top five is top five.

Marc Leishman: He’s never MC here and is a noted wind player.

 

My Choice: Bud Cauley

Close Second: Jason Dufner

Outlier: Chris Kirk

Gut Shot: Zach Johnson,

Rank Outsiders: Nick Taylor, Kevin Tway, Ben Martin, Kyle Reifers

 

 

QUESTION(S) OF THE WEEK:

 

Er, Spieth son?!

He’s No. 1 on the list above so READ. I’ve already burned him at Augusta.

I’m leading, what should do?

Pat yourself on the back, stick in Jason Dufner or Zach Johnson and enjoy the ride. Heck, even Adam Hadwin and his 13 made cuts in a row works this week as well.

 

Should I burn…

Throw a dart.

Drop a pen.

Have your dog pick.

48 weeks. 48 guys. Plenty to choose from!

Billy Horschel, Webb Simpson, Kyle Stanley or Chris Kirk should get a few second looks or TOAD plays.

 

Good Luck!