The Riviera Country Club can chew ’em up and spit ’em out.

For my money, this isn’t the week for guys to get healthy.

My selections should reflect this.

One and Done

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

This Year:

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	Jon Rahm	T8	191,000
Sony Open	Marc Leishman	T3	307,200
60th Desert Classic	Andrew Putnam	T34	29,975
Farmers Insurance	Patrick Cantlay	MC	0
WMPO	Hideki Matsuyama	T15	113,600
AT&T Pebble Beach	Jason Day	T4	334,400
Total Events: 14	Top 10s: 4	MC: 3	$2,224,700

Last Time: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Close, but no cigar or bake of any kind!

Bunch of 30-something course historians found their way back into the top 10 (Casey, Day, Stallings, Streelman). A couple of 40-somethings (Mickelson and Gay) reinforced that less than 7,000 yards and Par-72 can open a few doors. Mickelson was magnificent in his storm-from-behind win over two days. His fifth title might be the sweetest yet and congrats to all of you who were on board.

My Choice: Jason Day – T4

Safety Dance: Brandt Snedeker – MC, Phil Mickelson – WIN, Dustin Johnson – T45

Spicy: Jordan Spieth – T45, Patrick Reed – T22, Tommy Fleetwood – T45

Picks for Dreamers: Shane Lowry – MC, Chez Reavie – T38, Tony Finau – T38

Picks for Noses: Any rookie (T28 was the best), Any non-winner (nope) on TOUR, Any player under 30 (nope) who isn’t a prominent world player

 Six Beers In: Matt Jones – T53, Adam Hadwin – T18, Jimmy Walker – MC

 

This Week

Read about all the details in The Confidence Factor.

Nasty weather will affect Thursday with delays or the elimination of golf altogether so you better pay attention. I have no problem waiting until the very last minute before making a decision because of the weather. For practical purposes here, I’m playing Justin Thomas. He begins late on Thursday so he’ll have to play catch up over the weekend but he’ll miss the proper nasty on Thursday.

Bubba Watson’s record here is impeccable but I’m not a huge fan when he has to deal with weather and conditions. He’ll have plenty of uses down the road (Travelers, Match Play, Masters) where I’m not forced to burn him right this minute.

I will NOT violate my new policy of Dustin Johnson at the U.S. Open although the WGC-FESJC might have something to say about it. If you’re wondering, DJ is paired with Bubba early doors tomorrow.

My Choice: Justin Thomas

The answer to your question is: YES. Any week. Any track. He’s taken it to the level that we are now surprised when he’s not contending.

Safety Dance: Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Paul Casey

Spicy: Cameron Smith, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Hadwin,

Picks for Dreamers: Jason Kokrak Scott Stallings, Sung Kang,

Picks for Noses: Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Charles Howell III

 Six Beers In: Kevin Na, Luke List, J.T. Poston

 

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!