05-24-17
Colonial has been hot and dry and this weekend is no exception.
“Hogan’s Alley” will present a test but there are birdies to be made and scores to be posted.
AT&T Byron Nelson: 148
Spring Points: 1,073
Spring Rank: 2,871
Winter Points: 1,768
Winter Rank: 2,587
Season Points: 2,841
Season Rank: 1,253
Last Time:
If I’m unloading DJ, more often than not he’s going all four rounds. His 16 weekend points weren’t what I was hoping and not having Day in the lineup didn’t see me burn a start on him or have to just for bonus points. It’s a tough decision but the season is at the half-way point so I’m not panicking.
Yet.
I should have used Kang and Kuchar exclusively in Group B but I didn’t and took 4, 0 and 6 points with their replacements.
Group C I timed perfectly with Garcia and Koepka and since both of them shot 74 on Sunday I had no outs.
This Week:
Remember, Yahoo! is a SCORING GAME ONLY.
Nothing else matters.
Here’s another week with only two par fives so par four scoring is paramount.
Colonial’s previous champions come from all walks of life so I’d suggest mixing your team with guys who can make hay tee-to-green while chucking in a couple who putt Bentgrass well. Remember, it’s Bent next week at Jack’s place as well so the putters will be licking their chops!
As I have noted everywhere, it’s hot and windy this week. Texans might not win here very often but they should understand ball flight and patience.
Group A
Starts remaining in parentheses
Kyle Reifers (10): I’ve listed him first just to get your attention. Check it though as he’s no mark here.
Marc Leishman (9): This is the first name on the team sheet in Group A this week and it’s not even close. I don’t think the other pick will matter unless you’re playing tee times/waves.
SUPER SUBS
None of these guys made my preview so no point bullsh!tting you here! If you’re desperate I’d lean on McDowell’s class but I try and not game desperately! Hard to tell sometimes, I know!
Group B
Jordan Spieth (5): Right on schedule as he defends this week on a course that gets his attention in a good way. Oh, and his old putter is back in the bag!
Matt Kuchar (7): If I played him last week after 81 at THE PLAYERS, I’m surely going back for more after T-9 at TPC Four Seasons.
Paul Casey (7): Six rounds of 14 are 66 here. Yahoo is a scoring game.
Phil Mickelson (8): He’s back at Colonial and he’s in my lineup as insurance in case he keeps up his “new” course performance. Check the preview for details.
SUPER SUBS
Since Spieth is going all four rounds, I can mix-and-match the other three from this group.
I thought Kisner was turning a corner but he couldn’t putt on Bent last time at Eagle Point and MC on his beloved Bermuda at Sawgrass.
I love Adam Hadwin and won’t talk you out of using him but I’m not sure where Snedeker is at the moment.
Group C
Jon Rahm (4): Bouncing back after 82 at Sawgrass should be fun to watch! If this is the beginning of the end of the Spaniard, I kid, I kid, I’ll have Dufner in reserve.
Jason Dufner (9): He’s been knocking and this might be the week the door opens. He’s posted T-2, T-2 and T-6 in the last five years at Colonial.
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.
Pat Perez, Brian Harman, Tony Finau, Bud Cauley, Kevin Tway and ultimate course horse Zach Johnson are included in this week’s embarrassment of riches.
“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
AT&T Byron Nelson: 122
Spring Points: 1,081
Spring Rank: 2,296
Winter Points: 1,871
Winter Rank: 140
Season Points: 2,952
Season Rank: 98
“Ned says…
A tough couple of weeks in Yahoo! fantasy.
I have made the absolute wrong call at every turn and as a result I have fallen back to 98th place.
Clearly I’ve had company making bad calls.”
Group A
Marc Leishman (10) — If we could just pick our players out of Group C this week, we would all be ahead of the game but that’s not reality. Leishman won the API in the spring and he looked good last week at the Byron Nelson where he tied for 13th place.
Graeme McDowell (10) — Many will use James Hahn in this spot based on his third place last week at the Byron Nelson however he has missed the cut in all three of his attempts here. Others will try Bill Haas but he is in a mini-slump right now with three straight missed cuts. As a result Graeme McDowell, who has never played in this tournament gets the nod by default.
SUPER SUBS
None
Group B
Jordan Spieth (3) — Might as well address one of the biggest puzzles this week. Spieth is really caught in a slump right now. Tossing out the team-play Zurich Classic he has missed the cut in three of his last four events. His putting is giving him trouble and that normally is his strength. The easy call is to avoid, but he has a great record at this course. Since over 50% of the teams are going to pick him the week the best advice I can give is to stash him on your bench and use him if he straightens himself out.
Kevin Kisner (7) — I was very impressed with Kisner at the Zurich Classic and I have been looking for chances to use him since then. He has a very good recent record here of T-5 in ’15 and a T-10 last year.
Matt Kuchar (6) — As I write this I see that Kuchar is number two on the list as players picked in Group B this week. This is for good reason. A limited field and he had a good recent record here of a second place in ’13 and a T-6 last year.
Paul Casey (9) — He looked very good at the masters and he has played well since with a T-12 at the Wells Fargo and a T-22 at THE PLAYERS. His recent history here isn’t that exciting but he did have success in ’09 when he finished in fifth place.
SUPER SUBS
Webb Simpson, Phil Michelson, Sung Kang, Brandt Snedeker
Group C
Sergio Garcia (6) — I have fallen back in the rankings partly due to Sergio. I used him in the first round in the last two weeks and he has played poorly. I avoid him the next two rounds and he plays well. I then use him in the final round and he plays again poorly. If he could put four good rounds together he should be right there on Sunday, so he is on the roster for another week.
Jason Dufner (9) — Like of the rest of the Yahoo! nation I love Jon Rahm and I’m low starts on him. As a result, I’m going to roll the dice and go with Jason Dufner. Dufner is coming off a T13 at the Byron Nelson and he has a good recent record here of a second place in’12 and ’14 plus a T-6 last year.
SUPER SUBS
Jon Rahm, Brian Harman, Kevin Tway, Bud Cauley
FORE!
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