WFC used to be the tune up for THE PLAYERS but with the new schedule comes a different field.

Bogeys will be made this week and it sounds like Mother Nature will be making an appearance.

And you thought it was long before the rain…

I am undeterred.

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
Genesis Open	Justin Thomas	2nd	799,200
WGC-Mexico Champ	Xander Schauffele	T14	128,000
Puerto Rico Open	Graeme McDowell	T42	10,500
The Honda Classic	Adam Scott	MC	0
Arnold Palmer Invitational	Rickie Fowler	T40	35,490
THE PLAYERS Championship	Sergio Garcia	T22	125,000
Valspar Championship	Patrick Reed	MC	0
Corales Punta Cana	Trey Mullinax	T61	6,450
WGC-Match Play	Paul Casey	T9	167,000
Valero Texas Open	Billy Horschel	MC	0
Masters	Rory McIlroy	T21	107,956
RBC Heritage	Matt Kuchar	2nd	745,200
Zurich Classic	Ryan Palmer	WIN	1,051,200
Total Events: 27	Top 10s: 8	MC: 7	$5,400,696

Last Time: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

My Choice: Ryan Palmer

BOOM. CHICKEN DINNER.

After going close with Kuchar last week it was nice to get one in the barn, FINALLY, in 2018-19.

Too bad it didn’t count in Spotter’s game but whatever! I hope it counted in yours!

Palmer is the Couples Whisperer as he’s now WON and grabbed a T5 with a top 15 player in the world. I wonder who he’ll recruit next year from his stable of studs!

As usual, some were disastrous but I gave you three long shots that made the cut, including a T5 plus the winner.

WRITE YOUR OWN COLUMN!

Safety Dancing: In Order

Patricks: I’m sure glad I was out of uses on both! Killer for those who weren’t as lucky as I was (MC).

Kyle Stanley: Finau-fatigue is settling in (MC).

Defending Champs: T13 as my order of “safety” was quite backwards. I really don’t care since I did find the winner.

J.B. Holmes: Looking good thru 54 holes, the old pairing from 2017 crashed and burned with 75 in the final round to drop to T34.

Spicy:

Picks that should click but have more element of risk

Scott Brown: If there is any squad that must be evaluated every year it’s Brown and Kisner. Add this year’s T5 to T13 and P2 and form be damned.

South Africa I: Not even a partnership among the oldest of friends could shake Schwartzel of the funk (MC).

Picks for Dreamers:

Breakout performance from this group will get gamers back into contention

Knox/Stuard: Promising (-19) until Sunday when 75 killed everything. Stuard still hasn’t MC in three events here (T22).

Kokrak/Stroud: Steady but nothing spectacular (T22).

Hoffman/Watney: Every year. Every format (T9).

Picks for Noses:

Save them for another time. Each week I usually have a couple of these hit the top 10 so BUYER BEWARE!

Adam Scott/Jason Day: Too good to be true, right? Right. MC.

Six Beers In: 

Julian Etulain/Andres Romero (T32), Austin Cook/Andrew Landry (T22) and David Hearn/Seamus Power (T5).

 

This Week

If you like to read about trends, stats and the players I have rated, I have you covered in The Confidence Factor Preview.

If you like to read about big-time players in Charlotte, I have the main players at The Confidence Factor Horses for Courses.

My Choice: Phil Mickelson

His form isn’t singing but at his age he’s going to pick and choose his spots. Even though he hasn’t won here eight top-five paydays more than has my attention. After WIN and 2nd in the last two weeks, I’m not going to grind my gears too much on this selection.

Safety Dancing: In Order

Rory McIlroy: There’s nobody else who comes close to his domination on this track. He’s the only two-time winner and his bad finishes (T22, T16) aren’t even that bad. The CONTRARIAN argument this week is simple: He’s not hit the top 10 in his last two and he’s more valuable in a major or the FedExCup Playoffs. With one major, THE PLAYERS and three of four WGC events in the books, it won’t be difficult to map the rest.

Rickie Fowler: The site of his first TOUR win should bring good vibrations and pleasant memories. If you’re “saving” Fowler for a major, Bethpage Black might be the one. He led the FedExCup event there thru 36 and 54 holes in 2016. He’s also had success at TPC Southwind.

Paul Casey: Perfect fit where a big week ball-striking doesn’t have to be paired with a white-hot putter. My butt is still stinging from the 81 on Thursday at the Masters.

Spicy:

Picks that should click but have more element of risk

Webb Simpson: I know there’s somebody out there who knows exactly how many times a guy has won at a course where he’s a member. That pressure must be immense. Posting 64 at Augusta and 65 the following week at HTGL should command attention.

Lucas Glover: He’s already won here and his game fits perfectly on this layout.

Jason Kokrak: Hard for me to lead with a guy who’s never closed the deal before but his form is beyond excellent.

Picks for Dreamers:

Breakout performance from this group will get gamers back into contention

Kevin Streelman: Top six in his last two on his own ball plus three top 10s in his last six visits.

Jason Day: McIlroy is the only defending champion to finish inside the top 20 so history isn’t on his side. He has the class and the chops to break trends.

Keith Mitchell: He won’t have the burden of having a life-changing experience as he’s already won at Honda, another difficult venue.

J.B. Holmes: Hang on with both hands but he joins Hahn as Riviera/Quail winners.

Picks for Noses:

Save them for another time. Each week I usually have a couple of these hit the top 10 so BUYER BEWARE!

Hideki Matsuyama: I’m torn on him this week as I think he’ll be a better value at Memorial where there’s more room to swing driver.

Patrick Reed: He’s trending in the right direction on the property but his last top 10 was in October.

Six Beers In: 

J.T. Poston, Roberto Castro, Daniel Berger

 

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!