PANIC?
BATTLESTATIONS?
All of the above?
Week 2 for most of you poses some interesting questions as the TOUR shifts to Honolulu.
You’ll find some clues below!
2022 One and Done
WELCOME BACK!
As I wrote last week, and will leave in here for a couple more, the title of the column has changed as 2021 is in the rear view mirror and the slate has been wiped clean! I wish I was taking my $3-something million with me into the new season but rules are rules!
The good news is I’ll have a full complement of players at my disposal to make a run at winning @A340Spotter’s game. That’s where I play and if you want to get in, you better tweet him for instructions before they tee off tomorrow! Plenty of FAYMISS GOLF GLITTERAZZI play and plenty of guys get paid out. Better hurry!
The purpose of this column is to free my mind and have some fun all while trying to find some winners. From a transparency standpoint, most of my recent years are below so you can take it or leave.
The price is the same as last year but my Venmo is @Mike-Glasscott if you would like to donate. You might even get your name on the column!
Sometimes we gotta look back before we look forward so I’ll post my thoughts from last week before breaking down the field this week.
Last Time – Sentry Tournament of Champions
Looks like I had another pretty good idea of how things were going to work again this year with the exception of the most important pick, MINE!!!
Of the 15 selections below 12 cashed in the T15 or better.
I gave you the podium (Smith, Rahm and Jones) and five other top 10s.
Please, hold your applause until the end of the season.
You know what that means this week, right???
DUCK AND COVER!!!
THE CHOICE: Marc Leishman – T10
Plenty of experience here as he’ll make his fifth appearance so that angle is covered. He’ll look to add his name to the list of Aussies who have run riot here since the move to Kapalua in 1999. Stuart Appleby (three wins) and Geoff Ogilvy (back-to-back) wins set the bar and no international player has won since Ogilvy in 2010. Leishman has the class, wind game and putter to handle this field and course.
Anytime you can rack up a top 10 in this game is a victory I keep telling myself…
Imagine racking up 27 birdies against just four bogeys, hitting T2 GIR and just signing for T10! That’s exactly what the Aussie did as he picked up another top 10 payday on Maui and another top 10 payday on the new season. Posting 5-under on Sunday is usually great except when 34-under is the winning total! Sad!
Warm Blankets: The guys who should. Safe selections that will help maintain leads. Opinions on why or why not for this event or save for later.
Justin Thomas: Again, I’m not gonna talk you out of him and he has plenty of class to win more than once a season. Only multiple winner in the field. Imagine posting 12-under in one round and not even hitting the podium! Well, being last after 18 holes didn’t help either. That’s the beauty and beast of this game. Another top five for Mr. Automatic here! T5
Jordan Spieth: We forget because he hasn’t been here for a hot minute. His record on this track speaks for itself and there’s plenty of room to ease into it off the tee and into the green. T21 as it seemed all the momentum for the week went out of the balloon with a double on the final hole of Round 1. He made ONE BOGEY in his last 54 holes but couldn’t crack the top 20!
Xander Schauffele: Three straight in the top five including a win and playoff loss where he led after 36 and 54 holes. Very difficult lay down for me but I have bigger plans for him this year in this game. Worst round was 4-under and was solo 12th. First time outside the top five in four tries!
Jon Rahm: Because he’s entered. That’s the tweet. Made one bogey, tied the course record on 12-under, circled 32 birdies and one eagle AND FINISHED SOLO SECOND.
Spicy: This might be a week for sending out an “unknown” and saving a start. You just might get lucky. Or MC.
Collin Morikawa: The question is never the game tee-to-green but what happens on it. The biggest greens on TOUR and the biggest fairways would appear to nullify his advantage so the next step will be taking dead aim. The putter will be the key and so will burying losing a 5-shot lead at the Hero last time out. Short game and the putter was the letdown after hitting the top 4 in Fairways and GIR. Still T5 hahahaha.
Cameron Smith: Summer time, time to shine, and has won Sony. His record here is off-putting but plenty of pop and scrambles should help. How we lookin? 34-under. One shot winner after knocking off Rahm heads-up over the weekend? Is that any good???? Course form didn’t bother him one bit!
Patrick Reed: Super record here and plenty of room to spray it. Short game solves all of the problems. Too many T20-somethings to hit the category above. Played the weekend 21-under for T15 after disappointing T-last after Round 1 (74). Just reinforces how good JT was as he played his final 54 holes 24-under!
Hideki Matsuyama: Massive course horse, minus a win; Won last time out in Japan. T13 with all four rounds in the 60s after his ZOZO victory.
Sungjae Im: Showed you everything you needed to know on debut here last year. Couldn’t care less about the field, track or anything else. Just golfs his ball and makes buckets of birdies. Sunday was the worst day to post his worst round of the week (69) as posting 4-under in the final round DROPPED HIM FOUR PLACES FROM T4 TO T8 hahaha. Another top 10 and bucket full of birdies and just three bogeys!
3 AM at the Blackjack Table: Caution is thrown to the wind. Maybe not the best for this format but what the hell, right? Might throw these in if you’re in need of a miracle.
Jason Kokrak – LAST, Si Woo Kim – T23, Cam Davis – T10, Matt Jones – 3rd, Talor Gooch – T15
Spotter’s Game 2022
| 2022 Events | Golfer | Place | Total $$ |
| Sentry Tournament of Champions | Marc Leishman | T10 | 188,000 |
| Total Events: 1 | Top 10: 1 | MC: 0 | $188,000 |
This Week – Sony Open in Hawaii
Please read Horses for Courses and Expert Picks if you need more ideas!
The third oldest course used on TOUR after Colonial and Pebble, you bet course form is important this week!
Or is it.
Brendan Steele would argue it doesn’t. Neither would Russell Henley. But those are exceptions to the rule so my focus is veterans outside the usual stable of studs.
Winners here are 30 or older with the exception of Smith, Thomas and Henley. That’s it. That’s the list for this century.
Par-70 with tough fairways to hit brings in plenty of short, smart knockers who can be patient.
Big Bermuda greens will make sure the putter rolls. Perfect weather will suggest another 20-under or better winning total!
Now comes the difficult part.
This time of year everyone is hot and bothered to get going and stack that paper. Those who didn’t hit last week aren’t going to make that mistake again! Those who did want to keep the momentum rolling.
Sounds intense!
It is.
Here’s my theory early days of the season:
Relax.
Most of us have 30-odd events to go.
I have no problem of starting hot and finding guys down the stretch to fill in the blanks. There will be PLENTY of choices in the majors (think Euros) and big field events where the premium players usually rake.
I also have no problem with being conservative when shoot outs are breaking out. Here’s my proof:
Other than JT and Jimmy Walker ONNA HEATER were “obvious” selections.
Careful! It’s a long season!
THE CHOICE: Keith Mitchell
Wait what????
Yeah, I thought the same.
Throw out the terrible weather of 2020 and he’s 38-under over three visits with all paydays in the top 25. He played the middle rounds here 62-63 last year and had another 63 in 2019. His form (T3 Summit, T12 RSM) to close last year isn’t scaring me off either. He’s 30-something and is making his 5th consecutive visit.
Dice rolled.
Warm Blankets: The guys who should. Safe selections that will help maintain leads. Opinions on why or why not for this event or save for later.
Cameron Smith: Well, yeah, since he won last week and won here two years ago, I won’t argue! Remember, it’s ONE and done. Not once a month or once a major. If you have big plans for Smith (see: Augusta) I don’t blame you. Great players are more than able to ball out more than 2 weeks a year!
Webb Simpson: The Sony Open is the Wyndham of the West, minus a victory. He’s never MC and is on a streak of seven straight T20 or better including a streak of T4-3rd-T4. Loves Bermuda but didn’t name his daughter Sony…
Marc Leishman: Can I play him AGAIN this week? The Aussie has never MC here either. Top four in two of his last three and played well last week.
Sungjae Im: Didn’t do anything negatively last week to shake my confidence. Three bogeys won’t do that!
Charles Howell III: The safest of all of the safe safety. Never missed in 20 and 14 have gone for T25 or better. It’s almost like not making a decision!
Spicy: This might be a week for sending out an “unknown” and saving a start. You just might get lucky. Or MC.
Kevin Na: Has absolutely no cares in the world and that’s a good thing. He won’t mind defending either. Too many birdies to ignore.
Billy Horschel: Returned here last year for the first time since 2017 and cashed T7 with 1 bogey. I guess he forgot how much he liked it as he’s back again. #Clues.
Russell Henley: Of his last 12 he’s cashed T25 or better in eight from 11 paydays. T11 last year was his best since 2013 maiden voyage and victory.
Kevin Kisner: Man, if I had a dollar over the last few years on how many times I’ve stuck him in on Bermuda courses at 7,000 yards… Well, he cashed a top 10 (T8) on almost 7,600 yards last week. Giddy up.
Matt Jones: Massive week last week included an outrageous 62-61 weekend. Play the heat!?!? Can’t find many examples recently of Jonesy going back-to-back top 10s so fire you are playing with my friends!
3 AM at the Blackjack Table: Caution is thrown to the wind. Maybe not the best for this format but what the hell, right? Might throw these in if you’re in need of a miracle.
Brendan Steele, Cameron Davis, Tom Hoge, Denny McCarthy, Takumi Kanaya
History Channeled:
Final Silly Season Totals:
| 2021-2022 Events | Golfer | Place | Total $$ |
| Fortinet Championship | Kevin Na | MC | 0 |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Will Zalatoris | T14 | 127,750 |
| Shriners Children’s Open | Cameron Tringale | T56 | 15,820 |
| CJ CUP @ SUMMIT | Viktor Hovland | T18 | 116,331 |
| ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP | Hideki Matsuyama | WIN | 1,791,000 |
| Bermuda Championship | Russell Knox | T12 | 129,025 |
| Mayakoba Championship | Abraham Ancer | T7 | 218,700 |
| Hewlett Packard Houston Open | Scottie Scheffler | T2 | 667,500 |
| The RSM Classic | Russell Knox | T40 | 27,000 |
| Total Events: 9 | Top 10: 3 | MC: 1 | $3,093,126 |
| 2020-2021 Events | Golfer | 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 | 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 |
| Barbasol Championship | Charl Schwartzel | T26 | 26,075 |
| 3M Open | Robert MacIntyre | MC | 0 |
| Barracuda Championship | Ryan Armour | MC | 0 |
| WGC – FESJI | Dustin Johnson | T10 | 220,000 |
| Wyndham Championship | Webb Simpson | T7 | 201,666 |
| THE NORTHERN TRUST | Harris English | T31 | 48,925 |
| BMW Championship | Bryson DeChambeau | P2 | 1,026,000 |
| Total Events: 50 | Top 10: 16 | MC: 6 | $8,441,638 |
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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