Month: August 2018

OAD — 100th PGA Championship

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The last major of the season!

Where does the time go???

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
Zurich Classic Bud Cauley MC 0
Wells Fargo Championship Bryson DeChambeau 4th 369,600

 
THE PLAYERS Francesco Molinari MC 0
AT&T Byron Nelson Jimmy Walker T6 257,950
Fort Worth Invitational Adam Scott T52 16,472
Memorial Tiger Woods T23 76,985
FESJC Henrik Stenson T26 50,820
US Open Justin Rose T10 270,151
FESJC Xander Schauffele MC 0
Quicken Loans National Kyle Stanley T32 36,841
A Military Tribute Bubba Watson T13 121,632
John Deere Classic Zach Johnson T16 81,366
British Open Rory McIlroy T2 694,250
RBC Canadian Open Charley Hoffman T29 37,743
Barracuda Martin Laird T15 51,000
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational  

Rickie Fowler

  

T17

  

104,250
 

Total Events: 39

 

 Top 10s: 12 MC: 7 $7,237,049

Last week:

Don’t even get me started.

My dude OPENED with 63 and added a 65 and didn’t hit the top 10.

FML.

It’s even worse that my other three choices were Thomas (WIN), Koepka (5th) and Day (T10). The good news is that Bellerive resembles Firestone. More on that in The Confidence Factor linked here.

It was a tough pill to swallow for those of you saving Woods for one final crack at the South Course and even tougher for the McIlroy fans that never saw the charge on Sunday. Matsuyama opened with 67 and disappeared in defense of his title from last year. That’s bad news for his investors that were looking for any late-season signs of life. Anybody who’s used Dustin Johnson anywhere but Carnoustie the last two months has been happy while some of us can’t catch a break!

My Choice: Rickie Fowler – T17

Picks for Leaders: Rory McIlroy – T6, Tiger Woods – T31

Picks for Chasers: Dustin Johnson – T3, Hideki Matsuyama – T39, Brooks Koepka – 5th

Picks for Dreamers: Matt Kuchar – T14, Xander Schauffele – 3rd DFL, Kevin Chappell – T39

Picks for Noses: Sergio Garcia – T39, Phil Mickelson – T24, Henrik Stenson – T39

Six Beers In: Luke List – T24, Russell Knox – T48, Thorbjorn Olesen – T3

 

This week:

The final time for the PGA Championship in August takes the 100th edition to Bellerive Country Club in the western suburbs of St. Louis. Rain, burned out greens, Robert Trent Jones, gnarly rough, tiered greens and hot and humid temperatures will be all the talk this week.

Notice I didn’t mention the term “grand slam”.

Well, Jordan Spieth can win that with a victory this week.

Justin Thomas defends his title won last year at Quail Hollow Club that was in less-than-perfect shape so he won’t be bothered.

With $10.5 million on the line ($1.89 winner) and 98 of the top 100 OWGR in the field there will be plenty of action happening. This course hasn’t been used on TOUR since the 2008 BMW Championship so course history isn’t of much use. Unlike last week there’s a cut with the 156-man field to the top 70 and ties after Round 2.

There’s no mystery again to who is going to win/contend this week. The reason you save them this long is to use them now or in the Playoffs in two weeks. When there’s no course history it’s time to put the big boys to bat and let them do their thing.

 

My Choice: Brooks Koepka

Picks for Leaders: Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose

Picks for Chasers: Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, Tony Finau

Picks for Dreamers: Jordan Spieth, Kyle Stanley, Patrick Cantlay

Picks for Noses: Sergio Garcia, Hideki Matsuyama, Henrik Stenson

Six Beers In: Branden Grace, Keegan Bradley, Gary Woodland

 

My Life

For the second Sunday in a row I had my guy in position to get paid with a decent final round. Charley Hoffman went from T13 to T29 in Canada and Rickie Fowler after 63-74-65 to get to T7 threw up 73 to cash T17. Gotta #PlayAll72.

As Al Czervik once said: I should have stayed home and played with myself!

Five to go:

Wyndham Championship (Donald Ross course): Kevin Na, Ollie Schniederjans, OTHERS.

NORTHERN TRUST OPEN: Matt Kuchar will be the only winner in the field at Ridgewood Country Club (2010). He was also T5 in 2014.

Dell Technologies TPC Boston: Past winners include Thomas, McIlroy (2x), Stenson, Fowler, Simpson and Hoffman. Gil Hanse began renovations in 2006 so no point going beyond.

BMW Championship (Donald Ross course): Aronimink is the host and Rose (2010) and Nick Watney (2011) are the only two winners on TOUR here.

The TOUR Championship (Donald Ross course): There has never been a repeat champion or anyone who has won multiple FedExCup titles so whoever is left! A rookie won for the first time last year (Schauffele) so it’s not impossible!

Good luck!

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!

 

Emergency 9: World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational

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Find all my daily recaps in here.

Round 1

There’s no cut this week so strategy will differ in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Game. I know I’m not moving Fleetwood anywhere!

Round 2

Round 3

At least Fowler recovered!

Sigh…

OAD — World Golf Championships – Bridgestone Invitational

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The big run begins this week!

WGC-MAJOR-Wyndham-FECI, FECII, FECIII and The TOUR Championship are the only events left after this double-header week.

For those of you who took the chance and waited…

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
Zurich Classic Bud Cauley MC 0
Wells Fargo Championship Bryson DeChambeau 4th 369,600

 
THE PLAYERS Francesco Molinari MC 0
AT&T Byron Nelson Jimmy Walker T6 257,950
Fort Worth Invitational Adam Scott T52 16,472
Memorial Tiger Woods T23 76,985
FESJC Henrik Stenson T26 50,820
US Open Justin Rose T10 270,151
FESJC Xander Schauffele MC 0
Quicken Loans National Kyle Stanley T32 36,841
A Military Tribute Bubba Watson T13 121,632
John Deere Classic Zach Johnson T16 81,366
British Open Rory McIlroy T2 694,250
RBC Canadian Open Charley Hoffman T29 37,743
       
Total Events: 38

 

 Top 10s: 12 MC: 7 $7,134,799

Last week:

Dustin Johnson blew away the field as the Korean duo of Byeong-Hun An and Whee Kim couldn’t keep up. Keegan Bradley poked his head up again with solo fourth while Joel Dahmen cashed his third top 10 in his last four starts. Yep, I had him when he was T15 at Keane Trace…

It was a tough week for leaders if they didn’t have DJ or Fleetwood (T6) to choose from. Finau and Hoffman self-destructed on Sunday to the dismay of many but that’s fantasy golf. Gotta #Play72.

My Choice: Charley Hoffman – T29

Picks for Leaders: Tony Finau – T37, Matt Kuchar – MC

Picks for Chasers: Dustin Johnson – WIN, Bubba Watson – MC

Picks for Dreamers: Joaquin Niemann – T37,Brandt Snedeker – T8

Picks for Noses: Sergio Garcia – MC, Kevin Kisner – MC

Six Molsons In: Tom Lovelady – MC, Billy Horschel – MC, Harold Varner III – T17

 

This week:

The WGC-BI cash grab for the final time at the South Course at Firestone Country Club will provide a proper warm-up event, as usual, for the PGA Championship next week in St. Louis at Bellerive Country Club.

The world’s top 50, minus Wednesday WD’s Adam Hadwin and Justin Rose, will battle it out for $1.7 million and 550 FEC points to the winner. Regardless of your game, it’s go time. This week, next week and the four Playoff events will put nails into the coffin or cause a grand-stand finish. Remember, with NO CUT this week you will collect $$$/Points regardless. That will NOT be the case next week or the first two Playoff events.

Firestone South has hosted every time minus one of the last 20 so course history is real and spectacular. There are some who just can’t figure it out here and a few that can’t miss. At 7,400 yards and Par-70 the key this week is finding GIR and keeping bogeys to a minimum. The list of winners over the last decade is littered with big, bad ball-strikers so I’d start there.

My Choice: Rickie Fowler

Picks for Leaders: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods

Picks for Chasers: Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka

Picks for Dreamers: Matt Kuchar, Xander Schauffele, Kevin Chappell

Picks for Noses: Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson

Six Beers In: Luke List, Russell Knox, Thorbjorn Olesen

 

20th Barracuda Championship

Another week, another Nicklaus course that will take low scores and an experienced winner.

Here are 10 guys to look at this week:

Martin Laird: Four starts here, his worst payday is T7.

Kevin Streelman: Checks the boxes in too many categories to omit.

Joel Dahmen: Top 10’s in three of his last four

Robert Garrigus: T38 in his last seven here; T6 last year best of the bunch.

Mackenzie Hughes: Form of 2018 included T13 LW.

J.J. Henry: He’s won this twice in the last four years.

Graeme McDowell: The altitude will help him greatly and so will his pedigree.

Andrew Putnam: He’ll fill up the GIR stat and that never hurts when scoring is needed.

Kevin Tway: Gave it a sniff last week but couldn’t close the deal. Soft landing for a big bounce back.

 

 My Life

Hoffman’s crash and burn from T13 to T29 on Sunday didn’t help the cause and neither did DJ winning. This is my last “iffy play of the year and the no-cut is the main reason.

I go into plenty of detail in The Confidence Factor, so please read that!

Here’s my tentative plan:

PGA Championship: First-time venue Bellerive Country Club will suggest a top 10 OWGR player. Jason Day, Koepka and Thomas are obvious choices.

Wyndham Championship: Kevin Na, Ollie Schniederjans

NORTHERN TRUST OPEN: Matt Kuchar will be the only winner in the field at Ridgewood Country Club (2010). He was also T5 in 2014.

Dell Technologies TPC Boston: Leftovers from PGA choices.

BMW Championship: Aronomink is the host and Rose (2010) and Nick Watney (2011) are the only two winners on TOUR here (Donald Ross course).

The TOUR Championship: There has never been a repeat champion or anyone who has won multiple FedExCup titles so whoever is left! A rookie won for the first time last year (Schauffele) so it’s not impossible!

Good luck!

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!