One of the lighter fields of the early part of 2022 makes my decision an easy one this week.
Survive and advance is part of the strategy. No need to get cute with only 30-odd events remaining.
2022 One and Done
Thanks for reading!
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 – The Genesis Invitational
Oh, hey, the winner! T2! T4! Solo 6th and a pair of T10s!
I couldn’t have picked any worse for me but I’ve made the cut.
The $64,000 question should have been who else I should have selected besides Cantlay!
THE CHOICE: Patrick Cantlay – T33
The entire range of emotions beset me Thursday and Friday as the hottest golfer on the planet needed two birdies on his last three holes to even have a chance on the weekend. His 66 on Saturday filled me with false hope but his 71 on Sunday killed any hopes of a back door top 10.
Folks, this is what we call PANIC BUYING.
A guy that is so hot, in his hometown, you can’t possibly get it wrong!
Well, I did.
The two most difficult angles of gaming are deciding when to jump ON and when to jump OFF. Cantlay was playing effortlessly and the argument was he just needed to finally put it all together.
Nope, not this week and now, not this YEAR for me either.
Imagine if I would have flipped McNealy and Cantlay…
Nothing better than second guessing!
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.
Dustin Johnson: He is THE course horse this week. Loves hanging with the in-laws but loves The Riv even more. He can fall out of bed and contend here. Or he could get caught up in the jet wash of a competing league with the PGATOUR and MC.
Hideki Matsuyama: I’ve seen nothing to suggest he’s slowing down or getting off track. I like him more on Poa/Bent than Bermuda. T39 as Riviera punishes slightly off.
Xander Schauffele: SoCal loves SoCal and his bounce back last week at WMPO suggests he’s about to turn it up. T13 isn’t terrible but I’m glad I still have him for later.
Justin Thomas: Should feel he’s owed one here after 2019. Only finish outside the top 10 recently was at Torrey, a place he rarely plays. Another top 10, solo 6th, as he posted all four rounds 70 or better.
Jon Rahm: I’ll put him in every week because he commands that respect. T21 thanks to 65 on Sunday!
Spicy: This might be a week for sending out an “unknown” and saving a start. You just might get lucky. Or MC.
Collin Morikawa: When he’s a choice down here you know it’s a deeeeeep field! Hasn’t cracked the code here just yet but it shouldn’t take many more loops. Code cracked! All four rounds in the 60s including 65 on Sunday to rocket to T2.
Adam Scott: All time money leader at the event still has plenty of pop in his bat. Knocked the jet lag off last week at WMPO and should be ready for a big week in the Santa Monica canyon. T4 with 65 in Round 2 and 66 on Sunday.
Rory McIlroy: If I knew he was playing Bay Hill, I might do that instead. I know he’s playing TPC Sawgrass so I might do that also. T10 as he continues his excellent 2022.
Matt Fitzpatrick: Hard to knock a guy off who enters on back to back top 10s. No problem finding the sprinkler line and putting on Poa. PRE TOURNEY WD – ILLNESS
Max Homa: It’s his Masters, his Open, whatever you want to put in here. Backed up his T5 in 2020 with a victory last year and found something last week at WMPO. If the pressure didn’t get to him last year… Should have been my OAD…T10.
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.
Thomas Pieters – MC, Cameron Tringale – T13, Joaquin Niemann – WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER, Talor Gooch – MC, Francesco Molinari -T55
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 |
The American Express | Seamus Power | T14 | 119,700 |
Farmers Insurance Open | Jon Rahm | T3 | 445,200 |
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | Maverick McNealy | T33 | 43,548 |
WM Phoenix Open | Hideki Matsuyama | T8 | 248,050 |
The Genesis Invitational | Patrick Cantlay | T33 | 64,000 |
Total Events: 7 | Top 10: 4 | MC: 0 | $1,336,310 |
This Week – The Honda Classic
Please read Horses for Courses and Expert Picks if you need more ideas!
THE CHOICE: Sungjae Im
In a field this shallow I don’t have a problem rolling with the favorite. I’m not married to the South Korean anywhere down the road so I’ll release him on a track where he’s claimed his first TOUR win and backed it up with T8 last year.
He took two weeks off before Riviera and knocked the rust off with T33. If he’s chosen to knock the rust off at Riviera, I have no issues with anything he’s gonna do this week! Jetlag won’t bother him at his age! Returning to the place of his first win should be more than inspiring this week.
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.
Daniel Berger: Home game so that should help. I wasn’t crazy about his MC at TPC Scottsdale but he won’t mind any breeze or Bermuda. He’s won twice in Memphis so I’m considering that as well.
Tommy Fleetwood: There’s a reason he’s playing this week. He had a chance to force a playoff with Im in 2020 and was T4 in 2019. T8 in the Saudi desert his last time out suggests he’s a firm alternative.
Shane Lowry: Flying along on whatever they call the European Tour, he’s never missed in four starts here.
Billy Horschel: I like him because he’s Florida and rested. His record here isn’t as outstanding as some other venues but his recent form suggests he’s ready.
Spicy: This might be a week for sending out an “unknown” and saving a start. You just might get lucky. Or MC.
Keith Mitchell: Nothing is bothering him lately as he rolls up T12 or better finishes for fun. Another who returns to the site of win No. 1 on TOUR as he outdueled Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler on Sunday should provide decent memories! Not much happening here before or after his win though.
Gary Woodland: Never MC in eight tries but his recent form has him firmly SPICY.
Matthew Wolff: Feel like the switch can flip at anytime. Didn’t play Riviera after a trip to the Middle East so he should be fueled and ready for takeoff.
Brian Harman: Too many solid results in 2022 plus holds a piece of the course record. Nobody shows up at this event if they don’t like it!
Lucas Glover: If I’ve endorsed him in the PGATOUR Game, I’ll endorse him here. He’s in decent nick and already has a T5 on Bermuda (Sony) this year.
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.
Denny McCarthy, Jhonattan Vegas, Lucas Herbert, Sam Ryder, Sepp Straka, Kevin Tway
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 Henley | T40 | 27,000 |
Total Events: 9 | Top 10: 3 | MC: 1 | $3,093,126 |
2020-2021
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!
More of a question than a comment. In a year long fantasy golf league, would you rather have Aaron Wise or Cameron Young?
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Fantastic question! Cameron Young has had a fantastic five weeks or so and I’m interested to see if he can keep it going. I wasn’t thrilled when I saw Wise putting with the broom stick at Riviera. That’s not a positive in my opinion. Wise can flush it but if he can’t pay it off, yikes. Young has had an amazing 9 months so I’d ride the hot guy instead of hoping Wise heats up.
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