Of the top 50 players in the world just No. 10 Brooks Koepka is missing this week (injury).

There are no less than 10 guys in my opinion that could win.

Selecting THE ONE is going to be difficult. Good luck!

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
WGC-Mexico	Tommy Fleetwood	T14	126,500
Valspar Championship	Ryan Moore	MC	0
Arnold Palmer	Tyrell Hatton	T69	18,067
WGC-Match Play	Patrick Reed	T9	163,000
Corales Puntacana	Patrick Rodgers	T22	27,850
Houston Open	Luke List	T24	54,162
Total Events: 22	Top 10s: 7	MC: 4	$4,148,079

Last week:

The top 13 was nothing but interesting in the sense that it was littered with non-household names minus Poulter, Spieth, Stenson and Kuchar. If this is the last time around at GCH, so be it. This event has always been a nightmare for gamers and I’d prefer a new challenge.

Remember when Luke List was T4 after 68-68? Yeah, me neither. Gotta play ’em all but I’ll take T24 with List as opposed to what Mickelson and Fowler did. Those of you who went with Spieth and Henley received a super back-door Sunday surprise but that’s part of doing business. They all count. Henley and Stenson are the two guys who do NOT want this tournament to move.

My Choice: Luke List – T24

Leaders: Russell Henley T-8, Phil Mickelson T-24, Daniel Berger -T18, RCB – MC

Chasers: Henrik Stenson T-6, Rickie Fowler T-43

Dreamers: Luke List (shut up) T-24, Jason Kokrak MDF, Harris English MC

Drop-Dead Pick: Russell Henley’s track record here trumps everything else.

 

This week:

I’m changing this column around since we’re almost halfway through the season.

If you don’t like it, I don’t care.

And I’m changing it again this week.

If you need info on the course or deeper dives, head arrow down:

Check The Confidence Factor for all other details.

My Choice: Jordan Spieth

Picks for Leaders: Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy

Picks for Chasers: Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Hideki Matsuyama

Picks for Dreamers: Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Alex Noren

Picks for Noses: Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel

Six Beers In: Xander Schauffele, Daniel Berger, Patrick Cantlay, LET’S BREAK THE INTERNET GO TIGER!!!

Drop-Dead Pick: Tiger Woods

 

Key Questions this Week:

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

Explain Yourself!?!?

Ok, I’m riding with Spieth because there’s nobody that has played this course better the last four years. Yeah, McIlroy has four top 10’s in the last four years but Spieth is T2, WIN, T2 and T11. COMEONPEOPLEWITHYOURSTATS.

Rose has been fantastic here, there and everywhere and should be right in the fight. If he loses to Spieth in a playoff or vice-versa, we’ll all have a giggle. (ed. removed putting grip story as I can’t find my source).

McIlroy is boss. What’s the question again??

For those leading, this should be a week where you hold serve and move on. There are plenty of choices here for the chasers while the leaders trot out the heaviest of hitters. Well done, you’ve earned it. For those chasing, it will take a big week from the 1B group to gain on the points/$$$.

Where is DJ/JT??

I can’t take all of them! I like DJ more than JT this week but I like DJ every week. I just don’t like him here. If I did, I wouldn’t have burned him already in a event he’s dominated. If JT wins back-to-back majors, wow, that would be something!

Why is Matsuyama Listed?

T11 or better the last three years with two grandstand finishes suggests he doesn’t mail it in. Coming off his wrist bother, he hasn’t fired on all cylinders and I would think he wouldn’t be a popular choice in many formats. You know your game/format better than I do!

What would be the bigger story this week?

A.) Career Grand Slam for Rory

B.) Tiger Winning

(psst: it’s not even close as the career grand slam won’t even bend the internet)

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!