The rash of recent winners covers the entire spectrum of insanity.
You have the NO DOUBTER, the brand-new rookie, the journeyman and a Pete Dye expert!
Great to see La Quinta return for a record 50th appearance and great to have the pro-am back as well.
2022 One and Done
WELCOME BACK!
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 listed below so you can check how I’ve performed.
The price is the same as last year, ZERO, 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 – Sony Open in Hawaii
Apologies about the warm blankets at Sony.
After last week I thought a correction just might be on the cards.
For the second week in a row I did give you 2nd and T3 plus another top 10 with my selection so please save your angst for a week when I completely shit the bed.
Please!
THE CHOICE: Keith Mitchell – T7
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.
Only winner Hideki Matsuyama played the weekend better than his 65-63! Fair play to Matsuyama as he led the field in SG: PUTTING for the first time in his career. Can’t believe it took him NOYNE TOYMES to hit the top 10 here but he did it in style closing 63-63. I had him at ZOZO but sadly that doesn’t count in my NOW game.
Mitchell makes it three from three for 63 or better when the weather is perfect here.
He made exactly one bogey for the week to lead the field.
Final round 63 was T-lowest of the day. All that for T7!
What a world.
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! Made 10 birdies in 36 holes but also had six bogeys and a double. MC
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… Made the cut on the number (-5) and played the weekend Even. T61. Streak broken.
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. Four rounds of 68 or better (-11) got him a share of T36.
Sungjae Im: Didn’t do anything negatively last week to shake my confidence. Three bogeys won’t do that! MC. His best result here in four starts is just T16. I picked the wrong guy to break out here this week!
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! After 63 in Round 2 I thought he’d be on his way. 71-66 weekend was good for T36.
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. Gotta a little excited after 61 to open, didn’t you? T20 in defense ain’t bad but not great for this exercise.
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. Can’t post 70-anything here! T36.
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.Had a five shot lead with 9 holes to go before cashing 800k plus after losing the playoff. Brutal.
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. This is was my REGRET pick of the week. I wrote GIDDY UP. Why don’t I listen to me? T3
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! I tried to steer you away! MC
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 – MC, Cameron Davis – T27, Tom Hoge – MC, Denny McCarthy – T48, Takumi Kanaya – MC
Spotter’s Game 2022
2022 Events | Golfer | Place | Total $$ |
Sentry Tournament of Champions | Marc Leishman | T10 | 188,000 |
Sony Open in Hawaii | Keith Mitchell | T7 | 227,812 |
Total Events: 1 | Top 10: 2 | MC: 0 | $415,812 |
This Week – The American Express
Please read Horses for Courses and Expert Picks if you need more ideas!
Quick! Name the last three winners from this event!
Phil, Ancer, Rahm, Scheffler or Hadwin?
Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.
Oh wait, Cantlay, right?
Nope.
THE CHOICE: Seamus Power
He’s throwing up low rounds and rounds in the 60s for fun recently. He’s 54-under over his last 12 rounds so I won’t be worrying about any rust as he hits the desert. Every time he makes the cut in the new season it’s T25 or better and his last three are T3-T15-T4 on tracks that require low numbers.
To be frank, or Glass, or whatever, I’m firing a guy at the top of his form and not worrying about where to save him down the road. The converse to this argument is there are only 35 events remaining and there are 35 players better than Power at the moment.
You sure?
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.
Patrick Cantlay: Just on fire and playing with supreme confidence. Could easily be No. 1 in any format this week as he checks every box on and off the course. The massive conundrum is when to pull the trigger this season. As I write EVERY WEEK, great players are capable of winning more than once a season but in this format you gotta guess the right week! No rust at Kapalua to speak of either!
Matthew Wolff: Hard to lay him down after his excellent bounce-back last fall. Last time he was in the desert he was second in Las Vegas and followed that up with 61 and T5 at Mayakoba. Hasn’t played since mid November is my only concern.
Scottie Scheffler: Played in the final group with Andrew Landry two years ago from 21-under and was beaten by three shots. Last year he MC. He’s close as posted 63 to open at RSM and was second at Hero closing 66-66.
Corey Conners: Just pummels courses tee to green. Made nothing last week but opened and closed with 64. Greens and pins this week won’t provide much defense.
Spicy: This might be a week for sending out an “unknown” and saving a start. You just might get lucky. Or MC.
Abraham Ancer: He loves the Stadium Course so that’s not the issue. It’s believing that he used the last two weeks to get ALL of the bad juju out of his bag.
Sungjae Im: Nobody makes more birdies than this kid yet his best finish the last three here is just T10. THAT should give concern as to how wide open this event can be. MC last week won’t bother him at all.
Rickie Fowler: Yep, I went there. He’s 29-under the last two years but I’m more interested that he’s starting his season here for the third year running. That suggests he’s comfortable here.
Adam Hadwin: Mr. 59 at La Quinta joined an ominous club that week. Not everyone who has shot 59 in an event has won. Heck 58 from Jim Furyk didn’t even secure victory that week! Last time he was in the desert he scratched out T6 in Las Vegas and his record here is impossible to ignore. #HFC.
Brian Harman: Ok, I’ll strettttttttttttttch for one more. Lefty is the tournament host and this lefty loves the new rotation. Not too much to bite off tee-to-green and can get hot with the flat stick.
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.
Michael Thompson, Luke List, Andrew Landry, Adam Svensson, Henrik Norlander
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!