I’ve only MC three times this year.
That and $1 will get you any size soft drink at McDonald’s daily.
Sigh.
Plenty of water this week but birds like water. You’ll need plenty of birdies as well.
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 |
| RBC Heritage | Kevin Kisner | MC | 0 |
| Valspar Championship | Patrick Reed | MC | 0 |
| Wells Fargo Championship | Corey Conners | T43 | 25,069 |
| AT&T Byron Nelson | Ryan Palmer | T47 | 20,958 |
| PGA Championship | Viktor Hovland | T30 | 59,750 |
| Charles Schwab Challenge | Brian Harman | T8 | 198,875 |
| Memorial Tournament | Collin Morikawa | P2 | 1,013,700 |
| Palmetto Championship | Matt Fitzpatrick | T10 | 177,025 |
| 121st United States Open | Brooks Koepka | T4 | 498,176 |
| Travelers Championship | Paul Casey | T36 | 30,743 |
| Rocket Mortgage Classic | Sungjae Im | T8 | 211,875 |
| John Deere Classic | Zach Johnson | T34 | 30,955 |
| The Open Championship | Louis Oosthuizen | T3 | 682,500 |
| Total Events: 40 | Top 10: 13 | MC: 3 | $6,918,972 |
Last Week – The Open Championship
For the second time in his FIRST EIGHT MAJORS Collin Morikawa picked up the trophy. Yep, that’s an all-timer in the modern game so cheers to him. I’ll also point out he’s capitalized in the easiest final round in PGA Championship history and the easiest Open Championship on record. His game is way too good tee to green to have soft greens, marine layer and Mother Nature on his side. This isn’t a knock on Morikawa, far from it as he’s an absolute stud, but posting double digit scores in his first two major championship victories is a bit silly. Especially from a guy who ranks in the 170s Strokes-Gained: Putting. Greens running 10 on the Stimp doesn’t scream “challenge” to me. Hell, THREE guys posted all four rounds in the 60s last week including Mackenzie Holmes while four players were 10-under or better.
Blaming Mother Nature’s absence or lack of influence isn’t cutting it.
Make major golf harder already.
Again, this isn’t a knock on Morikawa. He’s a stud and beat 155 people at the PGA and 155 more last week. Same amount of MC as wins on TOUR, 4 each.
THE CHOICE: Louis Oosthuizen – T3
Make it three straight majors on the podium and three straight majors where he had a chance to add to his 2010 Claret Jug and came up short. Opening with 63 and leading until the 7th hole on Sunday, the South African picked the wrong day to post 1-over 71 to close.
I’ve missed 3 cuts in 40 starts and have 13 top 10s and am NOWHERE near the money. This finish from Oosthuizen is fitting for the season I’ve had.
Funny thing is I’ll probably use him in this event next year as it returns to St Andrews where he’s won in 2010 and lost a playoff in 2015.
BRING ME ALL OF THE PAIN AND SUFFERING.
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 or don’t perhaps “fit” to this event.
Jon Rahm: Imagine if he starts playing well and firing on all cylinders? Save for his first round 71, he played the final 54 holes 12-under for T3. Make it five straight majors in the top 10.
Brooks Koepka: He hates the course. Bryson is bugging him. He was snubbed in his 3-ball. Perfect. Sitting pretty until 72 on Saturday killed his chances. Sporty 65 on Sunday helped ease the pain (T6).
Jordan Spieth: Sneaky if you saved him this long but you probably didn’t. If you did save him, bravo, as he picked up his second-best finish next to winning at Valero. Looks like the Golden Child is back to his best again and that’s great for the game. Solo Second.
Rory McIlroy: I saw enough at Torrey Pines to load up on him this week. His record after MC is something. I love when the guys who finish T40-something moan that the course was too easy. I happen to agree with him. Still trying to figure out where he’s going. T46.
Sergio Garcia: Checks all the boxes of experience, nous, and doesn’t have to chase the first major win. Smooooothly rolling in under the radar on three straight T20 or better plus it’s his best major, minus the win, on paper. Nice 66 on Sunday rallied him to T19 after 73 on Sunday extinguished any chances of top 10 dreams.
Spicy:
Viktor Hovland: Let’s hope he doesn’t get any sand in his eye on a links course! Gives ZERO f#cks. T12. Where’s the first tee, what’s the course record.
Robert MacIntyre: Wasn’t much bothered at Royal Portrush on debut (T6) and has been excellent in 2021. Excellence continues as he closed 65-67 for his second straight top 10 (T8) Open payday.
Tony Finau: Ringing up Open top 10s at Royal Portrush and Carnoustie is nothing to sneeze at. T15 with two rounds of 70 or worse.
Tommy Fleetwood: Trending at this event and will have plenty of support. Starting to feel like the English Fowler…T33.
Branden Grace: Tell him it’s Birkdale! Rolls in 4th Memorial, T7 US Open and MC at Aberdeen last week. Bugs out and so is the jet lag. Added another MC for good measure. Bah.
Shane Lowry: Fantastic season and is always up for the big events. Now, going back-to-back… T12 for a proper defense. Made nothing after top five in fairways AND greens.
Ian Poulter: If this event requires a grind and excellent short game, he might Darren Clarke this… Nope, T26. 70 majors and counting for Poults.
3 AM at the Blackjack Table:
Phi Mickelson – MC by a mile, Kevin Kisner – 73rd, Andy Sullivan – T26, Erik van Rooyen – MC, Rickie Fowler – T53, Padraig Harrington – 72nd
This Week – 3M Open
Read more in Horses for Courses
TPC Twin Cities is a birdie fiesta and a fantastic come-down from those grinding last weekend at a major championship.
This event has produced two very interesting winners over the last two seasons.
Young stud Matthew Wolff outdueled two other young studs in 2019. He won in his third event as a pro.
Michael Thompson, 35, held off 30-something Adam Long, stud Tony Finau and about nine other guys to win for just the second time in 250-odd starts.
What does it tell us?
EVERYONE has a chance this week!
So, those of you who have earned the right to play the chalk and not care, please do so.
Those of you forced to make a move, let’s go pan for some gold!
THE CHOICE: Robert MacIntyre
Big lefty coming to the States will land on the softest of soft landings. Nothing like having to swing it tee to green and make birdie putts and the field isn’t going to bother him either.
Not using him anywhere plus his season in Europe has been fantastic.
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 or don’t perhaps “fit” to this event.
Tony Finau: He’s very comfortable here with T3 and T23 in two visits.
Louis Oosthuizen: I know I used him last week. Half of his last 10 starts are top 10s. For those of you stubborn enough to have left him out he’s playing too well to omit.
Sergio Garcia: T20 or better in four straight including T19 last week after closing with 66.
Spicy: If you’re chasing…
Matthew Wolff: He’s a billion under here in two starts but there are also a billion questions.
Bubba Watson: Not one to show up and blow everyone out but he does return here this season after MC last year. Hmmmmmm…
Lucas Herbert: Red hot before not having his best at The Open. Tough to ignore a win and T4 on the links before Royal St George’s. I wouldn’t have thought Hebert would have beaten Hebert last week but I digress.
Patrick Rodgers: We’ve been waiting for the breakout for a while. His last six have been very solid including T5 at Barbasol.
Ryan Moore: Signs of life at JDC so it wouldn’t surprise me at another TPC outfit. Went on vacation last week instead of The Open so his mind, and game, should be right.
Emiliano Grillo: Wonderfully all-or-nothing it seems. Perfect for this format hahaha.
3 AM at the Blackjack Table:
Mito Pereira, Charles Howell III, Bo Hoag, Brice Garnett, Adam Schenk, Brian Stuard.
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!
