07-05-17

I’d suggest reading this missive carefully as there is a catch.

Due to the deadly floods in Greenbrier County last year, the 2016 edition was cancelled and Danny Lee could not defend.

One year later, the course has been rebuilt and put back together for the PGA Tour.

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: $3,405,864; 33 events

• Wins:
• Seconds: 1
• Thirds:
• Top 10s: 8
• Top 25s: 14
• 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
U.S. Open	Rickie Fowler	T-4	$420,334
Travelers	Paul Casey	T-5	$248,200
Quicken Loans	Patrick Reed	T-17	$99,400

 

Thermometer:

I.

Can’t.

Buy.

A.

Winner.

 

Last week:

Congrats to all who had Kyle Stanley but I’m not sure if any seasoned gamers would have had a start to burn on Charles Howell, III, (P-2) as he usually rakes early in the season or Rickie Fowler (T-3) who has been on fire all year long.

My Choice: Patrick Reed — T-17, two shots out of the top five.

Close Second: Bill Haas — T-13, one shot of the top five.

Outliers: Graham DeLaet — MC, Danny Lee — T-22

Gut Shot(s): Kevin Chappell — MC

Rank Outsiders: Keegan Bradley — T-5, Kevin Streelman — T-17

 

Keys this Week:

No clue.

I’ve done barely any research as I didn’t even preview the event.

Here’s what I know just from PAYING ATTENTION:

1.) All the greens have been redone and softened to add extra hole locations. Translation: Toss the green maps and find guys who hit the most greens.

2.) It’s a resort course so don’t be surprised if low scores return in volume this week. #BirdiesEagles.

3.) Birdies and Eagles open the door to the masses so not a bad week to stretch a bit if you’re trailing.

 

My Weekly Finalists:

I didn’t preview the event so please take these selections with that in mind.

I’m playing the games this week as not to have to explain for the rest of the year why I didn’t.

 

My Favorites:

Danny Lee: He’s been rock-solid for two months and he defends this week.

Bill Haas: Backed up his career-best finish in a major (T-5, Erin Hills) with T-13 last week at QLN.

David Lingmerth: Swedish Danny Lee played from the final group last week and has finished outside of T-26 once since MC at RBC Heritage.

Keegan Bradley: Back-to-back top 10’s on courses where putting didn’t matter. He’ll need to make a few more this week but he’s hitting it great.

Webb Simpson: Less influence on the greens equals more guys who can pound GIR. He qualifies easily.

Tony Finau: He’ll overpower the joint and is top five in GIR. No point over-thinking this.

My Choice: Tony Finau

Close Second: Keegan Bradley

Outliers: Jimmy Walker, Curtis Luck, Kevin Streelman

Gut Shot(s): Danny Lee

Rank Outsiders: Keegan Bradley, Kevin Streelman

 

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.

Where’s your preview?

I’m celebrating my independence of being under-employed this week by not doing one.

I looked in the mirror and the boss was cool with it...

Should I burn…

Throw a dart.

Drop a pen.

Have your dog pick.

Those who lead will have another week on a “new-ish” track where they can throw out a veteran, collect a top 20 and maintain their lead while the rest of us chase our tales.

This week and next will see scoring return and the fields get even deeper.

 

Good Luck!