New course, limited field, you know the rules!

One and Done

If “Fosters” is Australian for beer, what’s Australian for “crap OAD picks”?

Marc Leishman and his T43 in an 78-man event is worse than MC. I’d give back the 30 grand if Spotter let me. DON’T ANSWER THAT, SPOTTER.

Every time I think I have him figured out he goes and throws a clunker in the mix.

I hope he wins this week so I can quit writing this column and quit OAD forever.

Event	Golfer	Place	$$
The Greenbrier	Scottie Scheffler	T7	235,625
CIMB Classic	Sungjae Im	P2	719,400
Safeway Open	Byeong-Hun An	MC	0
Shriners Hospitals for Children	Scott Piercy	MC	0
Houston Open	Henrik Stenson	MC	0
CJ CUP AT NINE BRIDGES	Marc Leishman	T43	31,785
Total Events: 5	Top 10: 2	MC: 3	986,810

LAST WEEK – CJ CUP AT NINE BRIDGES

Justin Thomas went HAM and won easily as he defeated Danny Lee by two shots.

THE PICK

Marc Leishman – T43

Is it true that the toilets rotate counter-clockwise in Australia or am I misremembering a Simpson’s episode? I went for a log ride last week…

Safety Dance Garbage:

Brooks Koepka – WD. It wasn’t a major so hopefully not many were burned here.

Tommy Fleetwood – T20. Never in it but his 67 on Sunday suggests his game finally cleared customs.

Rafa Cabrera Bello – T26. Another player I should never endorse anywhere.

Spicy:

Cameron Smith – T3. Make it three straight years in the top 10 but I liked Leishman more. Of course I did.

Tyrrell Hatton – T6. Used the momentum he found late here last year (T14) to barge his way into the top 10.

Sungjae Im – T39. Opened with 68 and then it all went to hell. Still beat Leishman!

Viktor Hovland – T31. The streak came to an end with 74 in Round 3. If you’re not sure what streak I’m referring to I bet you’re not doing to well at this. Also beat Leishman.

3AM at the Blackjack Table:

Pat Perez – T31.

Collin Morikawa – T36.

Jordan Spieth – T8 (second in birdies).

EVERY SINGLE PLAYER BESIDES KOEPKA BEAT MY PICK.

 

THIS WEEK – ZOZO Championship

The TOUR shifts from Korea to Japan for another 78-man field and another $1.755 million on the line for the winner.

The first PGATOUR event in Japan will break in a “new” track as not many, if any, have played here in competition prior to this week.

The “newer” course (it was built in 1965) will give the elite players even more of an advantage this week as they have the shortest learning curves.

Par-70 tracks that don’t stretch 7,100 yards should be eviscerated by the top players and I would expect those results this week.

With no cut, everyone will make money as long as they finish but I’m almost positive we won’t see a “surprise” winner.

THE PICK

Hideki Matsuyama

Yep, taking the Hollywood angle and running with it. His last victory was at a tree-lined, Par-70 Firestone CC in Akron, Ohio. This track is 300 yards shorter. Closing with 65 at Nine Bridges suggests he’s ready to pop.

Safety Dance:

Gary Woodland, Adam Scott, Justin Thomas

Spicy:

Tony Finau, Jordan Spieth, Kevin Kisner

3AM at the Blackjack Table:

Ben An, Emiliano Grillo, Adam Hadwin

This is a cornucopia of all shapes and sizes! If you’re wondering why I didn’t stick McIlroy in here, good question. I’m saving him for later. You and I could both make the argument that he should be in this list every time he tees it up. This week, with all of his commercial engagements, I’m not sure how locked in he is.

Good luck!

 

History Channeled:

2018-19

My majors contributions and PLAYERS selection were worse than bad so to still break the $10 million mark with those awful results was encouraging.

Another valuable lesson learned is that the Playoffs are for the big boys. Now, WHICH big boys makes this more and more difficult and that’s why it’s enjoyable and maddening all at the same time. Only McIlroy and Woods have won the FedExCup twice so start there.

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
Wells Fargo Championship	Phil Mickelson	MC	0
AT&T Byron Nelson	Keith Mitchell	T59	17,301
PGA Championship	Brooks Koepka	WIN	1,980,000
Charles Schwab Challenge	Jordan Spieth	T8	197,100
Memorial	Tony Finau	MC	0
RBC Canadian Open	Jim Furyk	T27	55,100
U.S. Open	Tiger Woods	T21	117,598
Travelers Championship	Bubba Watson	T54	16,560
Rocket Mortgage Classic	Sungjae Im	T21	68,528
3M Open	Bryson DeChambeau	T2	563,200
John Deere Classic	Collin Morikawa	T4	264,000
The Open Championship	Rafa Cabrera Bello	MC	0
Barbasol Championship	Denny McCarthy	T11	77,000
WGC-FESJI	Dustin Johnson	T20	113,500
Barracuda Championship	Martin Laird	T7	105,437
Wyndham Championship	Webb Simpson	2nd	669,600
THE NORTHERN TRUST	Tommy Fleetwood	T43	27,565
BMW Championship	Brandt Snedeker	T5	351,500
Total Events: 45	Top 10s: 14	MC: 10	$10,024,685

 

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!