The Bubble
- Charles Howell, III
His biggest values in fantasy are twofold. He kills it in the early part of the season when the fields are thin, like him. He makes tons of cuts and there is no cut this week. Popped.
- Sergio Garcia
Fair play last week on birdies and eagles and the money he donated for Houston. Not even those donations could sharpen his focus to contend after the first round. I don’t want to say “I told you so” but this wasn’t a surprise. He has posted two rounds of eight in red figures on the weekend in this event over the last four years and he wasn’t happily married or a major champion. Adios.
- Hudson Swafford
Uncharted territory for “the law firm” here as he we’ve never had to see him in a “must perform” outing. After four rounds at par or worse at Glen Oaks he rebounded with four rounds under par at TPC Boston. Roller coaster rides are not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Sadly, I’m both.
- Xander Schauffele
Sometimes you just have to trust it. Or them. Or the swing. Or whatever. I write this every week to reaffirm that belief: since he won his first tournament on Tour he’s followed that up with T-20 at a major (after finishing T-5 at Erin Hills), T-13 at his first WGC and T-17 at his first FEC Playoff event. I lean his way because he’s done it against BIG fields in BIG events. That counts.
- Mackenzie Hughes
Sometimes you just have to trust it and with Hughes it’s the putter. His results on Bent/Poa have been very solid including T-13 last time out at TPC Boston. One rookie has made it to East Lake in every Playoff but one. I think that streak will continue with No. 32 or No. 31 as the leap they have to make isn’t ridiculous.
Mr. 30. Bill Haas
Dude has won the 10 million gold coins before and had to do it in a playoff so I’m not much bothered about him being bothered. His 68-65 to close at DTC should affirm that position. Of his last five rounds at Conway Farms, four are 68 or lower. Buying.
- Gary Woodland
Similar to Haas, making cuts hasn’t been the problem but rather it has been capitalizing on the opportunities. Similar to Haas, Woodland found form on Labor Day weekend as he closed 67-67 for T-18 at DTC. Unlike Haas, Woodland has never posted anything lower than 68 in his two trips and has four rounds par or worse. If you’re splitting hairs…
- Jason Day
He’s not in the form he was in 2015 or in 2013 but he’s trending like a beast (T-9, T-6 and T-25 last time out) and he’s owned this track (33-under). If it honks like a duck and waddles like a duck…
- Brendan Steele
He gets an extra look in his career-best year because of the putting surface and tiny greens. T-13 here in 2015 with all four rounds in the red so he should be excited and comfortable.
- Henrik Stenson
Beware the rested golfer! The Swede needed rest on his wonky knee but his form wasn’t suffering. He smashed the tournament record at Wyndham with 22-under and was T-17 at Glen Oaks in the first Playoff event. He fired 63 here in 2015 as he claimed T-10.
- Jason Dufner
As usual, it will depend on his precise iron play and moody putter. With wins in each of the last two years he’s hardly up against it. He didn’t break par in 2013 in his only visit so I’m not rushing him to the front of the line.
Glass Houses 