I see what they did there!

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.

2018 Thermometer:

Event	Golfer	Place	$$
Safeway Open	Tony Finau	2nd	669,600
CIMB Classic	Paul Casey	T7	218,166
CJ CUP @ 9 BRIDGES	Keegan Bradley	T47	23,759
WGC-HSBC Champions	Hideki Matsuyama	T50	51,875
Sanderson Farms	Chesson Hadley	T2	464,400
Shriners	Patrick Cantlay	WIN	1,224,000
OHL Classic	Kevin Chappell	MC	0
The RSM Classic	Charles Howell III	MC	0
Sentry TOC	Kevin Kisner	T17	99,333
Sony Open	Brian Harman	T4	256,266
CareerBuilder Challenge	Jason Dufner	T36	27,189
Farmers Insurance	Jon Rahm	T29	43,872
WMPO	Alex Noren	T21	80,040
AT&T Pebble Beach	Phil Mickelson	T2	488,400
Genesis Open	Dustin Johnson	T16	111,600
Honda Classic	Graeme McDowell	MC	0
Total Events: 16	Top 10s: 6	MC: 3	$3,758,500

Last week:

I went off the board to chase Graeme McDowell as I was unsure of how bad the wind would be. The answer was bad and not the kind the kids use. It was nasty and it played havoc on some of the best players in the world including the defending champion to name one.

McDowell’s even-par round of 70 was backed by 77 and he MC by two shots.

Yes, the cut was FIVE-OVER par!

Justin Thomas was never on my radar last week so I’m not nearly as upset as the Fowler, Woodland, Hatton or Garcia fans. I still can burn these guys down the road. It was a case of short-term loss for long-term gain. I knew that going into the week.

The stars of the show last week were my gut-shot pick and one of my rank outsiders. Sadly, that and $5 will get you $5.

Last Week:

My Choice: Graeme McDowell MC

Close Second: Sergio Garcia T33, Rickie Fowler MC, Gary Woodland T49

Outliers: Tyrell Hatton MC, Jason Dufner T17, Ian Poulter MC

Gut Shot(s): Tommy Fleetwood 4th

Rank Outsider(s): Sung Kang MC, Luke List P2, Sean O’Hair MC

This week:

Studs only folks as not many slide through fields of this magnitude to cause the upset.

With 550 FedExCup Points and $1.7 million to the winner, it’s time to make up some ground. Since there is no cut, everyone is going to take home a check this week. For those of you playing in leagues that reward the majors or Playoffs keep that in mind as well.

The elevation (7,500 feet above sea level) will shorten the track (7,345) for everyone. The layout includes three Par-five holes this will give the big hitters their advantage. Kevin Kisner made the most feet of putts last year and finished T11 so you better find guys who can peg GIR and torch par fives.

With only 65 guys in the field, I’d suggest about half are legitimate contenders. There are 45 of the top 50 playing this week so to say it’s a bit top heavy would be an understatement. This isn’t the week, for me, to break a guy out of a slump or “hope” he starts playing better.

My Choice: Tommy Fleetwood

Close Second: Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson

Outliers: Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Thomas Pieters

Gut Shot(s): Paul Casey, Xander Schauffele

Rank Outsider(s): Dylan Frittelli, Webb Simpson, Chez Reavie

 

Key Questions this Week:

Fade or follow, I’m not worried either way!

ONLY big names?

Check the top 20 from last year and get back to me. The only player with the “who’s that factor” was T12 Fabrizio Zanotti. He entered the week 76th in the world.

The only multiple WGC winners in the field this week at Dustin Johnson (4), Justin Rose (2) and Phil Mickelson (2). These are hard to win and even harder to handicap.

Don’t forget to check Rob Bolton’s Twitter feed for all the PGATOUR.COM/Fantasy info!

Argue? Disagree? Whatever is clever!

You do you.

I’ll do me.

We can learn from each other.

 

History Channeled:

2015-16 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 total: $6,533,509 45 events

• Wins: 1
• Seconds: 1
• Thirds: 1
• Top 10s: 12
• Top 25s: 20
• 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).

 

Thanks for reading!