Teams of two on the bayou.

Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt defend their title against 79 other teams.

Many hazards to deal with this week but hopefully not in the OAD department!

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
Masters	Jordan Spieth	3rd	748,000
RBC Heritage	Cameron Smith	T32	35,510
Valero Texas Open	Billy Horschel	T11	136,400
Total Events: 25	Top 10s: 8	MC: 4	$5,067,989

Last week:

Horschel’s T11 pushed me over the $5 million mark as we turn and head for home. I should have gained a few bucks on the field but it wasn’t the podium cash that would have been real nice.

It was great to see Jimmy Walker put four rounds together including an impressive 67-67 weekend that saw him cash the fourth-place check. That’s a massive result for those who went with the local favorite.

My Choice: Billy Horschel — T11

Picks for Leaders: Charley Hoffman — T64, Brendan Steele — T30

Picks for Chasers: Luke List MC, Ryan Palmer MC, Pat Perez MC

Picks for Dreamers: Beau Hossler — T51, Kevin Chappell — T30, Kevin Streelman — T8

Picks for Noses: Sergio Garcia MC (THE PLAYERS), Satoshi Kodaira DNS, Jimmy Walker — 4th

Six Beers In: Brian Gay MC or Trey Mullinax — T2

Drop-Dead Pick: Charley Hoffman — T64

 

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: Bud Cauley

Picks for Leaders: Billy Horschel, Wesley Bryan, Sean O’Hair

Picks for Chasers: Ryan Palmer, Ryan Ruffels, Chesson Hadley,

Picks for Dreamers: Sam Burns, Keith Mitchell, Byeong-Hun An

Picks for Noses: Scott Brown, Pat Perez, Rafael Cabrera-Bello

Six Beers In: Aaron Wise, Cameron Percy, Chris Kirk

Drop-Dead Pick: Bud Cauley

 

Key Questions this Week:

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

Explain Yourself!?!?

It’s not a hard concept to follow this week, I hope. Pick the other half of the dynamic duo so you don’t waste a start! Since it’s a partner’s game, every team will get the same amount of points/cash for the week so save a start!

This format is impossible to pick to a degree. Read The Confidence Factor to see how many SUPER TEAMS didn’t even make the cut of seven-under-par last year.

This year should favor the premium teams making the cut but after that, you’re on your own.

I’m leaning on pairings that have worked in the past and guys on form.

Does course history matter this week?

Of course it does, pun intended. Pete Dye always has a few tricks up his sleeve and guys who know where to miss it should have an advantage. It’s not massive factor like Augusta obviously and the winning scores indicate it’s a quick study. Camaraderie, ball-striking and making birdies are more important. Too bad the former is immeasurable!

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!