Back-to-back podiums give me just enough false hope that I will catch lightning in a bottle and roar back up the leaderboard.
With three majors and a WGC left, plus two FedExCup Playoff events left, it’s not impossible.
But it’s gotta be reeeeeeeeeeel close to it.
2020-2021 OAD
50 events, the most since the mid-70s, will give us plenty of time for strategy, strength and disaster.
Remember, if you don’t like it, you get DOUBLE YOUR MONEY BACK!
| 2020-2021 Events | Golfers | Place | Total $$ |
| Safeway Open | Brendan Steele | T29 | 41,391 |
| 120th United States Open | Jon Rahm | T23 | 101,797 |
| Corales Punta Cana | Pat Perez | T21 | 39,000 |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Doc Redman | T28 | 46,200 |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children | Patrick Cantlay | T8 | 190,750 |
| CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK | Matthew Wolff | 73rd | 16,575 |
| ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP | Tyrrell Hatton | T28 | 50,137 |
| Bermuda Championship | Will Zalatoris | T16 | 61,000 |
| Vivint Houston Open | Tony Finau | T24 | 58,450 |
| 84th Masters Tournament | Justin Thomas | 4th | 552,000 |
| The RSM Classic | Russell Henley | T30 | 39,552 |
| Mayakoba Golf Classic | Abraham Ancer | T12 | 147,600 |
| Sentry TOC | Cameron Smith | T24 | 63,200 |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Daniel Berger | T7 | 200,475 |
| The American Express | Scottie Scheffler | MC | 0 |
| Farmers Insurance Open | Marc Leishman | T18 | 80,761 |
| Waste Management WMPO | Hideki Matsuyama | T42 | 23,852 |
| AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | Jason Day | T7 | 228,930 |
| The Genesis Invitational | Adam Scott | T38 | 40,455 |
| WGC- Championship (Concession) | Xander Schauffele | T39 | 55,000 |
| Puerto Rico Open | Emiliano Grillo | T11 | 72,750 |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | Rory McIlroy | T10 | 195,300 |
| THE PLAYERS Championship | Tommy Fleetwood | MC | 0 |
| The Honda Classic | Joaquin Niemann | T25 | 54,950 |
| WGC- Dell Technologies Match Play | Jason Kokrak | T42 | 47,571 |
| Corales Puntacana | Thomas Pieters | T13 | 55,350 |
| Valero Texas Open | Charley Hoffman | 2nd | 839,300 |
| 85th Masters Tournament | Jordan Spieth | T3 | 667,000 |
| Total Events: 28 | Top 10: 7 | MC: 2 | $3,969,346 |
Last Week – 85th Masters Tournament
Old man Justin Rose went out the first 36.
Hideki Matsuyama took care of the last 36.
Amazing to see to players on essentially zero form pop up on the toughest greens under the most pressure and mow down the field.
Kudos to those of you, the very few by the look of the sports book returns, who had the foresight to break Matsuyama out of his slump or post up Zalatoris, in his first Masters, that highly.
Augusta National does magical things. Too bad we have to wait until next April to enjoy it again!
Roll on Harbour Town!
Read Horses for Courses for more stuff
THE CHOICE: Jordan Spieth – T3
Treble from the trees on No. 9. Thursday.
Double over the back on No. 7 Saturday.
Lost by three.
Par or better for all four rounds but not the payoff like the folks got at Valero.
Load him back up at Colonial and the Masters might be the worst of the three!
Can’t be upset. This was the plan once he started heating up in February. Nobody plays this course better besides Woods.
Annual selection until further notice.
Safety Dance:
Players in here will appear obvious until I explain why they might not be. Remember “one” means ONCE, not again down the road.
Jon Rahm: Baby is here, clear mind, no worries, freedom. Nothing better than a backdoor T5. Or a front door T5. Or a side door T5. Only one that sucks is the TRAP DOOR T5. Four straight in the top 10 here. Noted.
Dustin Johnson: Won’t care or remember what happened in November. He doesn’t work that way; he just cashes big checks in big events. MC was -4000 so you’re not the only one surprised. Hey, that’s why they call it gambling!
Justin Thomas: I don’t know how the Tiger absence helps but if he’s winning one for The Gipper… T21 isn’t the expectation but I think not having LARGE CAT around didn’t help.
Cameron Smith: Big bump this week. He’s lightly raced and should be fresh. He’s hit the top five here in April and November so like DJ, he shouldn’t be bothered. Plenty of pop and a fantastic short game. T10 with two rounds OVER par shows you it wasn’t easy this week. Back-to-back top 10 paydays and third overall at the event.
Spicy:
Rory McIlroy: PRESSURE? WHAT PRESSURE???? This will be attempt No. 7 at the career grand slam. This isn’t the place for him in THIS FORMAT – MC.
Paul Casey: Form is outstanding and has plenty of great memories walking around here. T26- Wrong plus 40 Englishman! Only round under par was Sunday.
Xander Schauffele: I love him on fast and firm. His FORM is the concern. T2 and was the only player Sunday to give Matsuyama something to think about. Another top 6 in major golf. It’s coming.
Patrick Reed: Probably should be higher up the list as he’s in form and has one jacket already in the closet. One of just four players who played both weekend rounds in the red, Reed moved into the top 10 (T8) with 69 Sunday. His comfort level here is off the charts now.
Sergio Garcia: Comfortable in his own skin and life, I saw what I needed to see at TPC Sawgrass. MC on the number.
Patrick Cantlay: All the tools in the tool box and was one who briefly held the lead last time in Spring. Add him to DJ and Rory and keep scratchin’ yer head.
3 AM at the Blackjack Table:
Jason Kokrak – 49th, Gary Woodland – T40, Jason Day – MC, Marc Leishman – T5
Good Luck!
This Week – 53rd RBC Heritage
THE CHOICE: Kevin Kisner
Time to get bold.
This is feast or famine written all over it but I’m going with the local who has contended here before.
He’s close and some home cookin’ might be exactly what he needs, in addition to some putts falling, to jump right back into the conversation.
Those of you who follow this column religiously, both of you, know I love Kisner when:
1.) It’s his preferred putting surface, Bermuda.
2.) The course plays less than 7,200 yards so he believes he has a chance.
He was P2 at RSM in December in this part of the world, and probably should have won that.
He’ll look to join Wesley Bryan as the only South Carolinians to win the event so that pressure won’t hang over him.
Safety Dance:
Players in here will appear obvious until I explain why they might not be. Remember “one” means ONCE, not again down the road.
Webb Simpson: Notice he has not named one of his daughters RBC. BUT IF HE HAS ANOTHER ONE…His record here was quite impressive before his 22-under course record in June. Different conditions but he’s also made eight straight in April.
Patrick Cantlay: His worst finish from three starts in April is T7. His other two are T3s. Didn’t play in June last year so doesn’t have to recalibrate either.
Matthew Fitzpatrick: Solid seaside player who can hole putts and hit tons of fairways. Never “save” him for anywhere anyway.
Matt Kuchar: Past history here is as safe as it gets. He’s done the business in all sorts of weather in April.
Spicy:
Brian Harman: Making cuts for fun but just doesn’t have the pile of victories to point to over the years.
Corey Conners: Interesting to see how he handles a navigator’s track.
Tyrrell Hatton: Got over the hump at the Masters and has no problem playing in the breezes.
Si Woo Kim: Pete Dye player and will feel this place owes him one after 2018.
Chris Kirk: When hot form meets garbage course form…
3 AM at the Blackjack Table:
Branden Grace, JT Poston, Michael Thompson, Stewart Cink, Matthew NeSmith
Check out my previous results below if you need a history lesson.
History Channeled:
2019-2020
| 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 |
| WGC-FESJ Invitational | Brooks Koepka | T2 | 695,000 |
| Barracuda | Brendan Steele | T53 | 8,277 |
| PGA Championship | Jon Rahm | T13 | 192,207 |
| Wyndham Championship | Webb Simpson | T3 | 312,400 |
| THE NORTHERN TRUST | Jason Day | MC | 0 |
| BMW Championship | Collin Morikawa | T20 | 106780 |
| Total Events: 36 | Top 10: 14 | MC: 11 | 0 |
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 | $0 |
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!
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