I’ll never tire of these pictures.

Nothing better than watching prime-time golf with snow on the ground!

2019-2020 One and Done

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
ZOZO Championship	Hideki Matsuyama	2nd	1,053,000
WGC-HSBC Champions	Xander Schauffele	2nd	1,095,000
Bermuda Championship	Denny McCarthy	T15	51,750
OHL Mayakoba Classic	Russell Knox	T33	36,810
The RSM Classic	Harris English	MC	0
Total Events: 11	Top 10: 4	MC: 4	3,223,370

Welcome aboard!

Oh come all ye faithful or something like that.

Big shout out to my man Rob Bolton for pointing the new folks in my direction.

I have only two rules here:

Have fun and accept reality.

That’s it.

As you new folks can see, I have ZERO WINNERS on the year and as many MC as Top-10 paydays.

Fantasy golf is hard.

I’ll do my best to give you angles I think are pertinent each week but I don’t have a crystal ball.

So please save the question for “who do you like in the Masters, etc.” for that week. If DJ falls down the stairs again and hurts his back, how would any of us known that ahead of time? Remember when McIlroy broke his ankle playing soccer and missed a couple of majors? Yeah, shit happens so we all need to be flexible.

Rob has a weekly column for MAJOR QUALIFIERS that I suggest you bookmark for future reference.

Now, for my other “issue”!

As you can see above, my OAD season with A340 Spotter began with the TOUR season in September.

Luckily for all, I’ve joined a 2020 season with my man Gino Pilato so I’ll need to be current in that season as well.

If you’re looking for a weekly game other than OAD find Joe Book on Twitter as he has something brewing as well.

Essentially I’ll be writing two columns a week: One for Spotter’s league and one for you 2020 players.

Thankfully there won’t be too much crossover and both should read similarly as the heat from the first part of the season, for my money, has subsided.

And into 2020 we go!

LAST WEEK – RSM Classic

THE PICK

Harris English – MC

After churning out four top-10 paydays in his last five, his 140 MC wiped out plenty of gamers riding the heat wave. I’ve remarked more than once that the RSM is impossible to handicap and Tyler Duncan proved that point again this year. I wasn’t saving English for down the road so it’s a drop in the bucket moving forward. I guess Brendon Todd (T4) after back-to-back wins was just too obvious for my liking!

Safety Dance:

Usually in this section I’ll point out the obvious and the why and why-not. This is usually for those leading or keeping within touching distance of the money.

Spicy:

There’s a reason this game is hard. Those who tend to win can’t ride chalk each week and frankly chalk won’t win 40-something events. This section will contain those just outside the realm of obvious but aren’t for the timid. I’d refer to this section for those who need to make up ground in the standings.

3AM at the Blackjack Table:

The picks will reflect all good ideas that come from the above setting. Use them liberally, not at all or as deep long shots in other formats. I have had a few beauties in here over time, I’m not gonna lie, but they are few and far between, just like all super-long shots.

 

This Week – Sentry Tournament of Champions

The name says it all, folks! Winners only from calendar 2019 on TOUR tee it up for the first shot at a few buck and FedExCup points in the new calendar year.

Get Horsed for Coursed HERE.

With only 34 scheduled to tee it up, our job is a difficult one this week from a couple of angles:

The limited field has been bossed by premium players since 1999 with very few exceptions so I’ll start there.

Everyone who completes 72 holes this week gets a paycheck so not even I can MC this week.

The conundrum is a simple one. If you’re going with a premium player, you better pick the right one!

If you’re going off the beaten path, you can save a big-name player for down the road and still have a chance at a decent payday.

Quick math suggests hitting a top 10 in WGC events (bigger prize pool) > this week but the field is deeper.

Nobody said this would be easy!

THE PICK

Rickie Fowler

For those who have followed me over the years, I thank you. I’ve had nothing but trouble with The Rick over the years so the sooner I can bong him off, the better. The good news is he plays well at multiple events and this is one of them. His pedigree fits and his previous results suggest the wind and elevation don’t bother him much either.

 

Safety Dance:

Jon Rahm: I’m not using him this week but I’m not stopping YOU from doing so. I don’t think his new nuptials will bother his golf game but when I’m not sure, I’m out. Do I think he can win EVERY time he tees it up? Yes.

Justin Thomas: He’s won twice in his last six worldwide and has won and finished third here in four tries. Last time there was big wind (2018) he was T22.

Xander Schauffele: Only two players have defended here (Appleby and Ogilvy) since the move here in 1999. Schauffele has a habit of being VERY GAME in title defenses (see East Lake, WGC-HSBC) and has no problems in limited-field events.

 

Spicy:

Dustin Johnson: The Course Horse is coming off knee surgery and walking the elevation for four days might bother him. I’m not sure ANYTHING bothers DJ to be fair and would be shocked to see him out of the top 10 on a course where he rakes. I won’t blame you for saving him down the road because when he gets hot, he gets boiling hot!

Patrick Reed: Speaking of a guy who isn’t bothered by anything, Reed should enjoy comfortable surroundings this week on a track where he’s won and finished second. Not being a serial winner moves him down here and T26 with no rounds in the 60s last year is also noted.

Gary Woodland: Plenty will ride the unfinished business angle and rightfully so. Woodland also doesn’t have that “save me for down the road” spot so he fits for me.

Yes, I haven’t strayed far from the chalk. Good observation!

 

3AM at the Blackjack Table:

Ryan Palmer, Keith Mitchell, Matthew Wolff

 

Check out my previous results below if you need a history lesson:

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 make 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!