One and Done

Each week I’ll throw in my thoughts on the field plus those to back and avoid in this wonderful format.

Let’s get 2019 started off on the right foot!

Everything you need in one post!

2018-19:

Event	Golfer	Place	$$
Safeway Open	Brendan Steele	T53	14,610
CIMB Classic	Ryan Moore	T66	12,740
CJ CUP @ 9 BRIDGES	Gary Woodland	2nd	1,026,000
WGC-HSBC Champions	Ian Poulter	21st	93,500
Sanderson Farms	Cameron Davis	MC	0
Shriners	Aaron Wise	T15	101,675
Mayakoba Golf Classic	Charles Howell III	MC	0
The RSM Classic	J.J. Spaun	MC	0
Sentry TOC
Sony Open
CareerBuilder Challenge
Farmers Insurance
WMPO
-AT&T Pebble Beach
Genesis Open
Honda Classic
WGC-Mexico
Valspar Championship
Arnold Palmer
WGC-Match Play
Corales Puntacana
Houston Open
Masters
RBC Heritage
Valero Texas Open
Zurich Classic
Wells Fargo Championship
THE PLAYERS
Ft. Worth Invitational
AT&T Byron Nelson
Memorial
FESJC
US Open
FESJC
Quicken Loans National
A Military Tribute
John Deere Classic
British Open
RBC Canadian Open
Barracuda
WGC-Bridgestone Invite
PGA Championship
Wyndham
THE NORTHERN TRUST
Dell Technologies
BMW Championship
TOUR Championship
Total Events: 8	Top 10s: 1	MC: 3	$1,248,525

 

2017-18:

• 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 to his season after that.

 

Last Time: The RSM Classic

My selection for the Mayakoba Golf Classic was Charles Howell III.

Yes, that’s the same Charles Howell III who won for the first time since 2007 to wrap up the 2018 portion of the season the last time we spoke.

If you’re wondering how my season is going, there’s your first clue.

I think I had everyone in the top 10 or MC this week except THE GUY I PICKED.

Unbelievable.

I hope you had better luck!

My Choice: J.J. Spaun (T37)

Safety Dance: Kevin Kisner (T7), Charles Howell III (WIN), Russell Henley (MC)

Spicy: Harold Varner III (T23), C.T. Pan (MC), Cameron Champ (6th), Bud Cauley (MC)

Picks for Dreamers: Jim Furyk (MC), Peter Uihlein (T7), Kramer Hickok (MC)

Picks for Noses: Webb Simpson (3rd), Zach Johnson (T7)

Six Beers In: Lucas Glover (T11), Trey Mullinax (T65), Patrick Rodgers (2nd)

 

This Week

Read about all the details in The Confidence Factor.

A field of 34 in paradise that is locked and loaded.

As the case every week, gamers must decide which week is THE WEEK to unleash.

In a no-cut event everyone is going to collect so that removes some of the pressure.

With seven of the top 10 and 10 of the top 15 OWGR, the choices become tougher.

Even though DJ’s record here is immaculate, I’m probably going to ride him at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach on the tiny, tiny greens.

McIlroy has never played here so why “hope” this week is the week?

There are plenty of contrarian plays because nothing is guaranteed down the road.

The issue is the field is severely top-heavy and there isn’t a cut.

Nobody said this would be easy and the weather the first two days won’t help either.

My Choice: Jon Rahm

The Spaniard has no natural landing spot in this format so I’m banging this drum off his win at the Hero.

Safety Dance: Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau, Marc Leishman

Spicy: Xander Schauffele, Charles Howell III, Aaron Wise

Picks for Dreamers: Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar, Cameron Champ

Picks for Noses: Any first-timer not named McIlroy

 Six Beers In: Scott Piercy, Billy Horschel

 

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

 

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).

 

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)

 

Thanks for reading!