It’s early so I’m trying to balance my attack with 40-some events still to go.

Here are some angles and guys I’m looking at this week.

This Year:

I hit the winner’s circle three times and the two late victories pushed me into the top 10 of Spotter’s game.

All four majors selections hit the top 10.

Seven MC were dire but the most punishing one was Francesco Molinari at THE PLAYERS. We know what happened after that.

My Life

I have been given a fantastic opportunity at PGATOUR.COM to join their experts game so I better make the most of it.

Check PGATOUR.COM/Fantasy later this afternoon for details.

Coming Soon

Did you enjoy the off-season? I had just enough time to acquaint myself with the 49 newbies (barely) from the Web.com plus evaluate all the 150 on the FedExCup points list.

As usual, I’ll have my rankings* out between Thanksgiving and New Year so you can see what I think entering the meat of the 2019 season.

*I don’t do rankings. I evaluate every player and you can put them in a certain order. I’ll point out strengths and weaknesses plus hints on when to jump on board.

 

Last Week: WGC-HSBC Champions

 My Choice: Ian Poulter -21st ($93,500)

This isn’t the greatest pick I’ve ever made but since it is a no-cut event and a course that can get prickly, the Postman is the man for the job. His T10 last week playing from the final group should piss him off just enough to turn it up to 11 this week.

Bad weekend for Poults as a pair of 74’s wiped him out of the top 10 and alone in 21st. I don’t think I’ll lose much ground as Schauffele shouldn’t have been a heavy selection this week. After two BIG BOY prize pools (CJ CUP, WGC-HSBC) and pocketing over $1.1 million, I can’t be upset. Also, there’s not an event that screams USE POULTER outside of the Ryder Cup. There was no chance I was using Rose and I whiffed on Finau so I’m not terribly upset.

Safety Dance: Francesco Molinari – T43, Tommy Fleetwood – T7, Tyrrell Hatton – T22

Spicy: Rafa Cabrera-Bello – T14, Eddie Pepperell – WD, Matthew Fitzpatrick -T54 (with two rounds in the 80’s)

Picks for Dreamers: Lucas Bjerregaard – T69, Haotong Li – T11, Andrea Pavan – T22

Picks for Noses: Rory McIlroy – T54, Jon Rahm – T22

Six Beers In: Cameron Smith – T54, Adam Scott -T18, Pat Perez – T37

 

Sanderson Farms Championship

My Choice: Cameron Davis – MC

Why Not? Adam Schenk (T14 or better in his last four including three Web.com playoff events). T7

Perhaps: Denny McCarthy (Web.com champ) – T7, Peter Malnati (form and previous winner) – MC, Curtis Luck (three top 10’s in his last six) – T50.

Dawgs: Lucas Glover -T14, Aaron Baddeley – MC, Ryan Armour – T54, Vaughn Taylor – T26.

 

 

This Week

Read about all the details in The Confidence Factor.

Youngsters who aren’t afraid, veterans who get hot with the putter and just about everyone else will be in the mix this week!

The worst winning score outside of last year is 16-under so we’ll be hunting for guys who embrace going low.

My Choice: Aaron Wise

Safety Dance: Gary Woodland, Ryan Moore, Tony Finau

Spicy: Scott Piercy, Austin Cook, Kevin Na, Chesson Hadley

Picks for Dreamers: Alex Cejka, Adam Schenk, Anders Albertson,

Picks for Noses: Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler — I’m using them other places where the elements match up better.

Six Beers In: Russell Henley, Denny McCarthy

 

 

History Channeled:

2017-18 Thermometer: FINAL

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
Ft. Worth Invitational	Adam Scott	T52	16,472
AT&T Byron Nelson	Jimmy Walker	T6	257,950
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 Invite	Rickie Fowler	T17	104,250
PGA Championship	Brooks Koepka	WIN	1,980,000
Wyndham	Brandt Snedeker	WIN	1,080,000
THE NORTHERN TRUST	Jason Day	T20	101,160
Dell Technologies	Marc Leishman	T21	100,800
BMW Championship	Gary Woodland	T12	189,000
TOUR Championship	Justin Thomas	T7	279,900
Total Events: 47	Top 10s: 15	MC: 7	$10,967,909

 

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!