06-14-17

The U.S. Open heads to Wisconsin for the first time in history.

With a massive prize pool in play it’s not time to fanny around.

Is this a jungle? No, it’s Wisconsin!

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: $2,637,930; 31 events

• Wins:
• Seconds: 1
• Thirds:
• Top 10s: 6
• Top 25s: 7
• MCs (10): 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
DEAN & DELUCA	Bud Cauley	T-41	$24,050
Memorial	Dustin Johnson	MC	$0
FedEx St. Jude Classic	Billy Horschel	T-4	$252,000

 

Thermometer:

For the second week in a row before a major, I’ve hit a top 10.

Sadly, there are only four majors in a season.

Sadly, the SHO the week before the Masters, you know, in the first week of April, was my last top 10.

Hitting the top 10 > not hitting the top 10.

Hopefully, I’m out of the wilderness and back in business.

It sounds like wishful thinking but you can’t have a streak without having ONE in a row.

So shut up.

 

Last week:

My Choice: Billy Horschel — T-4

Close Second: Francesco Molinari — T-24

Outlier: Brian Gay — MC

Gut Shot: Ian Poulter — T-31

Rank Outsiders: J.T. Poston — MC, Ben Crane — T-10, Peter Uihlein — MDF and Harold Varner, III — MC.

 

Keys this Week:

For the THIRD week in a row we’ll be seeing a very difficult, to a degree, course set-up. Only one player was double digits under-par last week and not many were the week before at Memorial.

WELL DUH, GLASS, IT’S A U.S. OPEN.

It sure is folks but it’s not a U.S. Open of traditional nick.

Jordan Spieth suggested that between five and 10-under-par could win this week.

Joe Ogilvie, who’s not playing but has been around the block for a while, walked the course earlier in the week and said it was nice but it was hardly ferocious.

Adam Scott remarked in his press conference that there’s not much thought and strategy here except to hit driver as far as you can.

Every big player has a slight knock against them this week from babies, to injury recovery, to miss cut and whatever else.

Nobody clearly stands out this week and I love it.

The last four times major championships have been played on a brand-new venue the champions have been Woods (Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines South), McIlroy (Kiawah Island) by EIGHT shots and Spieth/Dustin Johnson (Chambers Bay).

That’s baller golf from four, yes I include DJ as he was that could for 274 shots that week, ballers.

With $12 million on the line and over $2 million to the winner, I’d suggest the lumber be laid this week.

 

My Weekly Finalists:

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

 

My Favorites:

Rickie Fowler: He’s No. 1 in my preview and checks all the boxes from tee-to-green and short game. For those who say he’s never won a major, you’re right, but the last six major champions are first-time winners (Day, Willett, DJ, Stenson, Walker and Garcia). His name is hardly out of place on that list.

Adam Scott: This is it. It’s these weeks that get him out of bed. If the greens run that true he’ll be one who benefits. If it stays wet, his power will be a huge benefit.

Jordan Spieth: I believe he’s the most mentally tough player out there and “gets it” in the big picture. I also believe his short game is good enough to take pressure off any hiccups in his tee-to-green game. Putting on Bentgrass? Yes, please.

Dustin Johnson: There’s always good and bad news here. The good news is that he’s good to go EVERY time he tees it up. So if you’re convinced that the new baby, being the defending champ and stuttering his last start will hold him back this week, no sweat, use him at Royal Birkdale, Firestone or Quail Hollow.

Jason Day: Huge fairways??? Yes, please! His record at this event with TIGHT fairways and vertigo is pretty amazing plus he’s playing well.

Rory McIlroy: The injury layoff doesn’t bother me as much as it does others. His goal was this tournament and he’s back with no questions. If driving the golf ball is 1A this week, yeah, I’m down to clown. He’ll also benefit from U.S. Open “non-traditional” greens.

 

My Choice: Rickie Fowler

Close Second: Adam Scott, Jason Day

Outliers: Brooks Koepka, Alex Noren, Patrick Reed

Gut Shots: Branden Grace, Shane Lowry

Rank Outsiders: Russell Knox, Jamie Lovemark, Harris English, Steve Stricker

 

QUESTION(S) OF THE WEEK:

Remember, if you don’t see a guy in my choices, it’s more than likely that I have already selected them.

No love for Garcia and half of a grand slam?

Haha, good point.

His record at this event is stellar but if my choices are this week or Royal Birkdale, it’s not even close: The Open > this Open. I’d be surprised if many were holding Garcia after THE PLAYERS and AT&T Byron Nelson to be fair.

Are Thomas or Matsuyama feasible options?

I think you can make an argument for anybody in the top 15 in the OWGR this week especially at a new venue. Surprisingly this major has given Matsuyama the most trouble but with mellow greens I’m not put off.

Should I burn…

Throw a dart.

Drop a pen.

Have your dog pick.

48 weeks. 48 guys. Plenty to choose from!

Lay. The. Lumber.

The cash they are awarding is REAL.

The winners of this event are usually premium players (sorry Michael Campbell, Lucas Glover) so split the hairs you need to split to a.) maintain your lead b.) make up ground.

If Kevin Na wins this week you’ll tell me that I was wrong. But if Na wins and Fowler, Spieth, DJ and Day make up the top 5 you’ll understand what I meant.

Picking a long-shot winner in OAD this week is suicide (too many choices) unless you’re desperate.

 

Good Luck!