08-09-17

The final major of the year plus one regular event and four FedExCup Playoff events means the time is NOW in this format.

Shame I don’t have this fella lying around waiting to be used!

I’ve made this bed so I’ll lie in it…

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.

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: $4,028,441; 39 events

• Wins:
• Seconds: 1
• Thirds:
• Top 10s: 10
• Top 25s: 17
• 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
Greenbrier	Tony Finau	T-7	$228,975
John Deere Classic	Daniel Berger	T-5	$189,840
The Open	Adam Scott	T-22	$88,000
RBC Canadian	Bubba Watson	T-42	$42,200
WGC-BI	Branden Grace	T-28	$73,562

 

Thermometer:

The thermometer has been retired.

I’ve replaced it with a black cat.

I’ve tried everything else.

Last week:

Let’s take a look back at my suggestions from WGC-BI.

Or let’s not!

My Choice: Branden Grace — T-28

Close Second: Rafael Cabrera-Bello — 72nd

Outliers: Tommy Fleetwood — T-28, Marc Leishman — T-41, Gary Woodland — T-63

Gut Shot(s): Ross Fisher — T-44, Chris Wood — 73rd

Rank Outsiders: Mackenzie Hughes — T-66, Kyle Stanley — T-41, Jimmy Walker — T-28

Hey, at least everyone made the cut!

Welp…

Time to renovate and build another one.

Keys this Week:

Quail Hollow is going to play difficultly because of its length and possibly the weather. Add in the brand-new greens running at “tournament” speed and we should be in for a tussle.

Playing as a par 71 at 7,600 yards will be difficult enough but if the forecast rain hits, fairways lengthen and will shrink. This gives the big bombers and advantage and the short, accurate guys get left behind. Quail Hollow is normally a tough place to drive it and find GIR but the weather will help.

The new Champion Bermuda hasn’t much time to settle in so it should be firm and fast. The newly sanded bunkers shouldn’t cause any problems and the tight lies in the landing areas will force a decision rather than a migraine like deep rough would.

A major should test all parts of the game and this should qualify.

Last of the Mohicans

With only six events (including this week) left, it’s time to release the hounds. With six of those events with monster prize pools, it makes it even easier. Here’s who I have left (OWGR ranking) and thoughts on each:

Jason Day (7) — Yeah, anywhere is fine but his lack of form allows me to keep him dry longer. That’s fine as he has enjoyed East Lake over the years.

Alex Noren (9) — He’s not a member THIS YEAR so he’s not eligible for the FEC Playoffs.

Justin Thomas (14) — He’s in the worst slump of his short career with three MC’s on the bounce but with NO CUT this week, it might be exactly what he needs to be freed up.

Tommy Fleetwood (15) — He’s not a member THIS YEAR so he’s not eligible for the FEC Playoffs. Ctrl-C; Ctrl-V.

Rafael Cabrera-Bello (16) — Gamers, he is a member this year and currently checks in at No. 61 in the FEC rankings. He’s eligible, as of today, for the first three FEC Playoff events, if he chooses to play them. There’s no guarantee he will unless he wins this week…

Francesco Molinari (20) — Gamers, he is a member this year and currently checks in at No. 41 in the FEC rankings. He’s eligible, as of today, for the first three FEC Playoff events, if he chooses to play them. There’s no guarantee he will unless he wins this week… Ctrl-C; Ctrl-V.

Tyrell Hatton (22) — This week or next gamers! He’s not a member THIS YEAR so he’s not eligible for the FEC Playoffs. Ctrl-C; Ctrl-V.

Louis Oosthuizen (23) — The classic utility man is healthy and makes a great option moving forward. He sits No. 44 on the FEC ranking and will be used for sure (TPC Boston).

Brian Harman (26) — Sitting at No. 9 guarantees his trip to East Lake for The Tour Championship. Georgia native at East Lake doesn’t sound all that ridiculous. Stay tuned.

Marc Leishman (28) — Another Swiss Army Knife that translates on most tracks, the Aussie is No. 13 in the FEC rankings.

Kevin Chappell (29) — His world ranking matches his FEC ranking so he’ll need another decent effort to book his ticket to East Lake again. He lost in an playoff to Rory McIlroy at The Tour Championship last year.

Jason Dufner (30) — He won last time in Ohio at Memorial and has a pair of top 10’s in four tries at Firestone South. He’s also No. 21 in the FEC standings so he should be good for all four Playoff events.

My Weekly Finalists:

My Favorites: You can see the entire list at mikeglasscott.com

My Choice: Tommy Fleetwood

Close Second: Marc Leishman, Zach Johnson

Outliers: Kevin Chappell, Gary Woodland

Gut Shot(s): Xander Schauffele

Rank Outsiders: Jhonattan Vegas, Kyle Stanley, Jason Kokrak, Daniel Summerhays, Lucas Glover

 

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.

Who do I save???

If you’re leading, you have a plan and surely won’t need my help!

If you’re trailing, there’s no point in taking great players with you to the final weeks if you can’t win.

Having the winner at East Lake doesn’t mean much if you finish outside the money.

For you baseball fans, it’s Game 6 and you’re trailing 3-2 in the series. Pitch everyone tonight because you’re trying to force Game 7. Worry about that later…

The winner this week will be…

You get a massive trend IN MY PREVIEW that should help you split some hairs.

The shortest hitter to recently win a PGA Championship was Jason Dufner at Oak Hill in 2013.

Bogeys that don’t turn into doubles and pars that are saved won’t hurt this week. With three par fives and a drivable par four there will be a chance or two to pick up some birdies.

Keep it out of the creek and lakes and take your medicine between the ears.

Quail Hollow has produced some long-shots and some big boys but I always lean quality in the big events.

Good Luck!