This man defends his title this week.

There will be 77 other trying to grab a World Golf Championship and big ol’ prize purse.

2019-2020 One and Done

Event	Golfer	Place	$$
The Greenbrier	Scottie Scheffler	T7	235,625
Sanderson Farms	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
Sentry TOC	Rickie Fowler	T5	285,000
Sony Open	Charles Howell III	T12	116,500
The American Express	Phil Mickelson	MC	0
Farmers Insurance Open	Tony Finau	T6	253,125
Waste Management Phoenix	Bubba Watson	T3	386,900
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am	Brandt Snedeker	MC	0
Genesis Invitational	Justin Thomas	MC	0
Puerto Rico Open	Viktor Hovland	WIN	540,000
WGC-Mexico Championship	Dustin Johnson	T48	45,500
The Honda Classic	Daniel Berger	T4	280,000
Arnold Palmer Invitational	Tommy Fleetwood	MC	0
THE PLAYERS Championship	Abandoned	No Result	0
Charles Schwab Challenge	Jordan Spieth	T10	181,875
RBC Heritage	Patrick Reed	MC	0
Travelers Championship	Bryson DeChambeau	T6	233,470
Rocket Mortgage Classic	Tyrrell Hatton	T4	300,000
Workday Charity Open	Justin Rose	MC	0
Memorial	Patrick Cantlay	T32	51,925
3M Open	Will Gordon	MC	0
Total Events: 29	Top 10: 12	MC: 10	5,897,665

Welcome aboard!

If you need more explanations, please go back and read last week or the week of Sentry. I’m trying to streamline this for the degenerates who want the pick NOW NOW NOW.

 

Last Time — 3M Open

I made inquiries to all the OAD games I’m in to try and get Finau into the lineup but to no avail. The irony is he shared third with 2084983 other dudes and collected $250K. That was less than he collected for T6 at FIO where I used him earlier this year.

What a world we live in.

The tightening of the screws in year No. 2 didn’t have a much effect as plenty still went low in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

At least there was drama on the back nine on Sunday so I give it 4 pints out of a best 5 on my scale.

 

THE PICK – Will Gordon – MC

I thought it would be someone from off-the-beaten path that would arrive on Sunday. Will Gordon it was not. If Michael Thompson and Adam Long weren’t in your plans this week, I doubt anyone made up ground. The backlog from T3 to T18 was immense and two shots were separated by 175k.

Thankfully I didn’t have to worry as I was at the bar* Friday night with the trunk firmly slammed.

*back deck

 

Safety Dance:

Dustin Johnson: WD was the official. MC was going to be the result unless he shot 60 on Friday. Nothing safe about him moving forward? Keep reading.

Tommy Fleetwood: So much of playing the classics as preparation. I saw him miss a handful of putts from inside five feet to MC. Maybe the slick Bermuda will help this week!

Paul Casey: I keep forgetting that guys like him, Rose, Kuchar, etc., are 40 or getting close. Time to start adjusting expectations if you haven’t already.  He’s rolling T32-MC-MC at the moment..

Spicy:

Troy Merritt: MC

Lucas Glover: MC

Sam Burns: T32 feels like a winner with this bunch of scallywags.

Richy Werenski: Only guy to post 70 in the top 30 but still finished T3. Slept on the 54-hole lead for the first time. That’s how you get experience.

 

3 AM at the Blackjack Table:

Tom Hoge – T46, Denny McCarthy – T32 after beginning Sunday in the top six, Keith Mitchell – MC, Seamus Power – MC

 

Remaining Events:

PGA Championship (TPC Harding Park, San Francisco) — Koepka will look to make it three straight after claiming the title in 2018 at Bellerive in St. Louis and the 2019 edition at Bethpage Black on Long Island. Hopefully by the first weekend in August the entire international contingent will be able to make this field the deepest, as usual, in history.

Wyndham Championship (Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, NC) — The Webb Simpson Open welcomes back defending champion JT Poston who won last year’s event without squaring a bogey on his card. First time that’s happened for the winner since a long time ago (1974). Simpson was second.

FedEx Cup I – THE NORTHERN TRUST (TPC Boston) — Not even a pandemic can turn off the CAPS LOCK button, sadly. Back to TPC Boston after they were removed from the FedExCup Playoffs schedule last year when the number of events was reduced from four to three. Past winners include Bryson DeChambeau (2018), Justin Thomas (2017), Rory McIlroy (2016, 2012), Rickie Fowler (2015), Webb Simpson (2011) and Phil and Tiger in the “old” days.

FedEx Cup II – BMW Championship (Olympia Fields – North Course, Chicago) — Jim Furyk won the 2003 U.S. Open here.

FedEx Cup III – The TOUR Championship (East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta) — Rory McIlroy will defend his playoff crown. Make sure you know how your league is handling the FedExCup Playoffs!

 

This Week – WGC FESJ Invitational

Get Horsed for Coursed HERE.

Well, that was fun but it’s back to big boy golf with tight fairways and small greens.

TPC Southwind hosts the WGC Invitational for the second year running after 29 years as a TOUR stop. Since 2007 FESJC was the tune-up for the U.S. Open so that should answer most of your questions on how hard/easy this track can play.

Last year the course was SOAKED but that’s not the case this time around.

Yet.

Rain is in the forecast all week so that will make EVERYONE ANGRY including the 78 guys teeing it up. Nobody likes prepping for a major in the rain when they could be doing that at home. Now, they’ll have to dodge Mother Nature Thursday and Friday (no cut) while surviving into the calmer weekend.

The winners at these events are loaded and rarely feature coming-out parties for the lesser known.

A massive $1.82 million winner’s check, the biggest of the season to date, awaits the low man this week so choose correctly!

THE PICK – Brooks Koepka

I essentially have to win out in all of my picks to cash in any of my games so whatever.

The list of who is left in my stable shouldn’t be that deep in this condensed season so it’s left me few decent choices. I’m going with the unhurt version who didn’t WD last week to turn it around in his title defense.

Are there BETTER selections? Based on my record above, OF COURSE THERE ARE.

Should you choose differently?

PERHAPS.

Gotta get this week and next right, plus hit the first two Playoff events.

Easy. Fecking. Peasy.

 

Safety Dance:

Matthew Fitzpatrick: Had a week to reflect on his magnificent 68 to close on the podium at MVGC. Won’t hurt that he was the 36-hole leader here last year before cashing T4.

Rory McIlroy: He’s been playing like shit but the big money is on the table and that should have his attention. Also would like another bite of TPC Southwind after he couldn’t close the door last year with the 54-hole lead. If not this week, definitely next at TPC Harding Park. CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG OR IS IT???

Daniel Berger: The two-time champ won in his first two visits but hasn’t played since 2018 (MC). His recent form combined with Bermuda and the softest of landings makes him a real threat again this week.

 

Spicy:

Dustin Johnson: If he’s not hurt, minus the pride part, and you’re trailing, you might want to hit and hope. The other angle is saving him for Olympia Fields, another US Open track.

Billy Horschel: Five top 10s in his last six visits but has never barged his way into the winner’s circle.

Tyrrell Hatton: Wouldn’t think many of you have him left but there’s nothing I’ve seen from him that suggests a letdown.

Rafa Cabrera Bello: His two trips have been T12 and T4. Great contrarian pick this week and saves a “bigger” name for down the road.

Tommy Fleetwood: Rust busted and only a few chances left to use him. If you value guys who destroy it Tee to Green, he fits. T4 last year.

 

3 AM at the Blackjack Table:

Chez Reavie, Sungjae Im, Abraham Ancer, Matt Jones, Christiaan Bezuidenhout

 

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

History Channeled:

2018-19

My contributions for the major championships 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

 

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).

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)

Thanks for reading!