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!