106th PGA Championship

My old Kentucky home.

Well, not mine, but you get the point

via @PGAChampionship on x

106th PGA Championship

Valhalla Golf Club

Louisville, Kentucky

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Quick Links:

Odds OutlookDFS ReportHorses for Courses/Stats SuggestExpert Picks

Thoughts on Chalk (odds via Bet365.com)

Scottie Scheffler (4/1): I’ve said this before golf is not played in a vacuum. These are human beings dealing with human being stuff. Just ask Jon Rahm! A new baby, new way of life, and new responsibilities change people. Winning the press conference this week is easier than winning the golf tournament. I don’t think he misses the cut, but I’m playing this cautiously, if at all, because there’s no value in getting it right.

Rory McIlroy (7/1): Real life is also happening in the McIlroy camp as well. Multiple outlets reported he filed for divorce TWO DAYS AGO in Palm Beach County, Florida. The winner of his last two events played on TOUR has obviously not been bothered on the golf course by this impending decision. The timing is nothing short of interesting. The reigning champion from 2014 made Valhalla his third win in a row. I’m expecting history to repeat this week.

Brooks Koepka (14/1): After T40-whocares at the Masters, I read about how he couldn’t make anything, he was not scoring, the whole bit. Then he won two weeks ago. The 2023 champ would join Tiger Woods in winning this event FOUR times with a victory this week. He would also join Woods in defending the title twice. The longer, wetter, and more demanding the layout, his value increases. It’s him or McIlroy for me this week.

Xander Schauffele (14/1): Through 54 holes last week, I thought the drought from the summer of 2022 was old news. Nope. There’s no shame in getting beaten by McIlroy on the back nine on Sunday. I wasn’t expecting Rory to have a SEVEN SHOT LEAD on the 18th tee box. Take his top 10 price, up the ante, and you should be fine again this week.

Jon Rahm (16/1): The Masters told me everything I needed to know about this version. Pass.

Ludvig Aberg (18/1): If his knee doesn’t bother him, the tight driving conditions and big ballpark will not either. After running solo second at Augusta, I can’t look away. Running 18/1, there’s little value in hoping he begins his major career with back-to-back top-10 paydays.

Bryson DeChambeau (25/1): It’s not Winged Foot, and it’s not Oak Hill, but Valhalla is similar. A previous winner at Muirfield Village GC, another Nicklaus design, I won’t talk you out of him.

Max Homa (25/1): I love the Quail Hollow Club warm-up for him. Big vibes this week after T8 at WFC. Cashing T3 at Augusta National and T10 at Royal Liverpool in his last two majors, his confidence will be sky-high. I’ll write another top-10 ticket for him this week.

Collin Morikawa (28/1): Remember, his two major championships are on courses that are less than 7,300 yards. The wetter, the worse for wear, I believe, this week. A previous winner at MVGC, his super iron play will be his superpower again this week.

Players to consider for Top 10, Top 20, or Top 40 action:

Tommy Fleetwood (35/1): If I had a win ticket on him last week in Charlotte and he cashed T13, surely I can’t abandon him this week. Finishing T13, T3, and T7 on 7,438 yards or better in three of his last four starts, I will run him out again to grind out another top 10 and top 20 finish.

Justin Thomas (50/1): No way I’m leaving the hometown star off my ticket. This number is fantastic for a recent TWO-TIME WINNER of this event. He’s flashed just enough (T21, T5) in his last two outings to inspire.

Sahith Theegala (60/1): Over the last 18 months, he’s shown the goods on every kind of grass in every kind of event. It might not be this week, but he needs to be on the radar for the biggest events. Don’t let one round of 82 last week sour his chances this week.

Shane Lowry (90/1): Too many recent big results in this event to ignore. The tougher the driving, the tougher he gets.

Corey Conners (90/1): Ran well at Kiawah Island and was in the final two groups on Sunday last year at Oak Hill. Hasn’t MC since the U.S. Open last summer.

Denny McCarthy (100/1): Beaten in a playoff at MVGC last year and defeated in a playoff last month at VTO. Never missed in four previous.

Akshay Bhatia (110/1): Won the 2018 Junior PGA Championship here.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout (150/1): Lovely top 10 and top 20 chance.

NOW PLAYING:

Host CourseValhalla Golf Club
Yards (per official scorecard):7,609.
Par:71 (35-36).
Greens:T-1 Bentgrass; 5,000 square feet (third smallest on TOUR 2024).
Stimpmeter:13 feet. Sub-Air system in use.
Rough:Tall fescue and Bluegrass at four inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play62/5/7.
Architect(s):Jack Nicklaus.
Defending Champion (event):Brooks Koepka
Defending Champion (course):Rory McIlroy (2014).
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:Tiger Woods (4), Brooks Koepka (3), Justin Thomas (2), Phil Mickelson (2), and Rory McIlroy (2).
18-hole Record (majors)62; Branden Grace (The Open)
Course Record (latest):63; Jose-Maria Olazabal, 2000.
72 Hole Tournament Record:268 (Par-71); Rory McIlroy (2014). 270 (Par-72); Tiger Woods & Bob May (2000).
Facts of the Week:Valhalla is hosting the PGA Championship for the fourth time. Only Southern Hills in Tulsa has hosted more championships (5).

Valhalla Golf Club

Hosting the PGA Championship for the fourth time, Valhalla crowned champions in 2014 (Rory McIlroy), 2000 (Tiger Woods), and 1996 (Mark Brooks). The club has also hosted the 2008 Ryder Cup and the 2011 and 2004 Senior PGA Championship.

The Jack Nicklaus design, opened in 1986, originally played to a Par-72 at 7,144 for the 1996 championship.

The 2014 edition featured T-1 Bentgrass greens, shifted to Par-71 (35-36), and was extended to 7,458 yards.

For 2024, four tee boxes were extended (Nos. 1, 12, 14, and 18), and the course added 151 yards.

Zeon Zoysia fairways and tee boxes debuted in 2021. Valhalla becomes the third PGA Championship to feature Zoysiagrass fairways (2018 Bellerive, 2011 Atlanta Athletic Club). With only 23 acres of fairway snaking around doglegs that turn right and left, the four inches of tall fescue and Bluegrass will see plenty of action.

Forced carries into perched and protected greens will test shot-making and decision-making. With only 5,000 square feet to aim for, the putting surfaces, on average, ranked third smallest on TOUR behind Harbour Town and Pebble Beach.

The second major championship of the season will also test putting acumen on pure Bentgrass greens. TPC Craig Ranch is the only TOUR event this season that has featured Bentgrass surfaces on the greens.

Torrey Pines (South) and Corales (Corales Puntacana) are the only courses used this season that measure longer. Featuring six Par-4 holes that extend 472 yards or more, the four Par-3 holes range between 190 and 254 yards. The three Par-5 holes range between 570 and 597 yards.

Sub-Air systems will control the speeds on the greens.

Hazards include 62 bunkers and five water penalty areas in play across seven holes.

The 2014 championship produced the third-fewest rounds over par in PGA Championship history.

Jose-Maria Olazabal posted the tournament course record with 63 in 2000.

Tiger Woods and Bob May own the Par-72 scoring record of 270 (-18).

Rory McIlroy owns the Par-71 scoring record of 268 (-16).

Recent Winners

2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen
Butterfield BermudaCamilo Villegas
The RSM ClassicLudvig Aberg

2024 Season Winners

EventWinner
The SentryChris Kirk
Sony Open in HawaiiGrayson Murray
The American ExpressNick Dunlap (a)
Farmers Insurance OpenMatthieu Pavon (rookie)
AT&T Pebble BeachWyndham Clark (54 holes)
WM Phoenix OpenNick Taylor
The Genesis InvitationalHideki Matsuyama
Mexico Open at VidantaJake Knapp (rookie)
Cognizant ClassicAustin Eckroat (first time)
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipPeter Malnati
Texas Children’s Houston OpenStephan Jaeger (first time)
Valero Texas OpenAkshay Bhatia
88th Masters TournamentScottie Scheffler (3)
RBC HeritageScottie Scheffler (4)
Zurich ClassicRory McIlroy & Shane Lowry
THE CJ CUP Byron NelsonTaylor Pendrith (first time)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipRory McIlroy (2)

106th PGA Championship

The PGA Championship moved to May for the 2019 edition and beyond.

The fourth PGA Championship at Valhalla will be the first one played in May.

Jack Nicklaus (5), Tiger Woods (4), and Brooks Koepka (3) have won the most stroke-play championships. Other multiple winners in the field this week include Louisville native Justin Thomas (2022, 2017), the oldest major champion, Phil Mickelson (2021, 2005), and reigning Valhalla champion from 2014, Rory McIlroy (2014, 2012).

The only all-professional major championship, the field of 156 players includes 20 PGA Club professionals and 98 of the top 100 players in the Official World Golf Rankings.

The PGA Championship evolved to stroke play for the 40th edition in 1958. The top 70 players and ties after 36 holes will advance to the final two rounds.

In the last five championships, only Collin Morikawa has won a major championship for the first time.

The last seven championships have been won by four different players. Koepka (3), Thomas (2), Mickelson, and Morikawa.

Koepka, the last player to successfully defend the championship (2018-19), also is the last player to win in wire-to-wire fashion (2019).

The only players to win on debut this century are Shaun Micheel (2003), Keegan Bradley (2011), and Collin Morikawa (2020).

Winning the 2012 edition at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, McIlroy set the record for margin of victory, eight shots.

Mickelson won the 2021 playing at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island at age 51, the oldest player to win a major championship.

The field consists of 16 former champions and 34 players who teed it up in the 2014 event.

The winner will take home 750 FedExCup points.

The purse will be announced during the tournament.

Recent Winners – PGA Championship

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2023Brooks Koepka (-9)Closed with three rounds in the 60s at Oak Hill to win by two and claim his third Wanamaker Trophy.
2022Justin Thomas (-5)Equaled the largest come-from-behind victory (7 shots) to force and win a playoff at Southern Hills over Will Zalatoris.
2021Phil Mickelson (-6)Held off Koepka by two shots at Kiawah Island to become the oldest major champion at 51 years old.
2020Collin Morikawa (-13)Joined Keegan Bradley (2011) and Shaun Micheel (2003) as the only winners on debut in recent history.
2019Brooks Koepka (-8)Held off Tiger Woods while seting the 36-hole scoring record (63-65) and easily defended his 2018 title at Bethpage Black.
2018Brooks Koepka (-16)Posted 264 (-16) at Bellerive to set the majors scoring record.
2017Justin Thomas (-8)Made up two shots on Sunday at Quail Hollow Club to win by two and claim his first major championship.
2016Jimmy Walker (-14)The Texan won his only major on a soggy Baltusrol and kept Jason Day from defending the title.
2015Jason Day (-20)Set the PGA scoring record to par at a calm Whistling Straits for his only major championship.

One and Done

I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…

35 events.

1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee Thursday).

1 use per year.

Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!

EventSelectionEarnings
The SentryCollin Morikawa690,500
Sony Open in HawaiiCorey Conners18,592
The American ExpressAdam Hadwin310,800
Farmers Insurance OpenJason Day0
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmJordan Spieth70,125
WM Phoenix OpenMatt Fitzpatrick156,200
The Genesis InvitationalMax Homa329,000
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau145,125
Cognizant ClassicRussell Henley32,850
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler4,000,000
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipWill Zalatoris0
Valspar ChampionshipSam Burns0
Texas Children’s Houston OpenWyndham Clark54,418
Valero Texas OpenC Bezuidenhout67,735
88th Masters TournamentRory McIlroy175,500
RBC HeritagePatrick Cantlay1,160,000
Zurich ClassicNick Taylor122,375
THE CJ CUP Byron NelsonStephan Jaeger112,100
Myrtle Beach ClassicDaniel Berger20,350
Wells Fargo ChampionshipSahith Theegala47,000
   
Total Winnings: 7,512,670

His game has more fun stuff to it. Reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@frontier.com for more details and to join.

Recapping Last Week – Wells Fargo Championship

MY CHOICE: Sahith Theegala – T52

Sat T7 after a wonderful 65 in Round 2.

Shot 82 in Round 3.

I mean, shit.

This Week – 106th PGA Championship

MY CHOICE: Brooks Koepka

I’m going to strike while the iron is hot. A winner recently, that’s all I need to see. I had earmarked Justin Thomas for this spot for almost the entire spring, but it is this week or Pinehurst in THIS FORMAT for Koepka. I’m riding the heat.

Others to Consider:

Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, and Justin Thomas.

Look at the winners above. There is absolutely no angle to stray from the chalk this week. I will point out that the recent champions at Muirfield Village, another Jack Nicklaus design in use in two weeks, are Viktor Hovland, Billy Horschel, Patrick Cantlay (2), and Bryson DeChambeau.

LIV guys are in consideration because they will only be at the next two major championships and are essentially freerolls.

A victory for Jordan Spieth would see him join the club of players who have won the career Grand Slam.

Good luck! You’ll need it!

THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson

Year four at TPC Craig Ranch in the Dallas suburb of McKinney.

THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson

TPC Craig Ranch

McKinney, Texas

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Quick Links:

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Eyes On (odds via Bet365.com)

Jordan Spieth (16/1): The highest-ranked player in the field, the Dallas native missed the 2023 edition with a nagging wrist injury. Opening the week at 14/1, his odds have inflated since Monday. The shift to TPC Craig Ranch has produced solo second and T9 from two visits, the best two results from any tournaments he’s played under the Byron Nelson moniker. Sleeping in his own bed won’t help his nagging wrist, but he’s in the field, and that’s the first step.

Si Woo Kim (18/1): The 2023 co-runner-up has glided through 2024. Never missing a cut, he has popped five straight T30 or better with the best of the bunch coming at TPC Sawgrass (T6). Terrorizing tracks tee to green, I will need the putter to show up on the weekend to pick up win No. 5 on TOUR.

Jason Day (20/1): Defending a title is nothing new for the Australian. Neither is winning in the Dallas area. K.H. Lee showed the way to successfully defend the title in 2022. With 13 wins to his name, including two at this event, he’s impossible to overlook.

Adam Scott (25/1): Posting T8 at TPC Scottsdale, Weiskopf’s other design used on TOUR, the Australian bagged his best finish of the season. Last year, he opened and closed with 63 for 19-under (T8) and is 35-under in two visits.

Alex Noren (25/1): First-time winners on TOUR this year have lifted the trophy five times from 17 events. If the Swede closes the deal this week, he makes it six from 18. Do the 40-somethings have enough in the tank to make enough birdies to keep up? Ranking second in bogey avoidance, he won’t needlessly throw away shots. I’m hoping he continues to pepper the first page of the leaderboard, but this time on Sunday.

Sungjae Im (28/1): This is a super exercise in restraint or paint. His strength is finding fairways, yet everyone will enjoy that angle this week. In his last six starts, he’s cashed as many times as he’s checked out early, but T12 at RBC Heritage is his best since T5 to open the season at Kapalua. Too many questions.

Min Woo Lee (28/1): Taking three weeks off after T22 at the Masters, the Australian jumps back in an event where there’s no time to be rusty. Sitting No. 2 in Total Driving does not hurt, but his iron game and putter have not risen to the level to pay it off. The metrics are not his friend this week.

Byeong Hun An (28/1): The metrics are the Korean’s friend! Ranking 14th in Total Driving and 18th in GIR, he also registered second in Proximity. Making his 192nd start on TOUR the only metric missing is a win.

Tom Kim (28/1): Known for games around town with Scottie Scheffler, the Dallas resident is looking to get back into contention in his backyard. Without a top 10 since his repeat victory at the Shriners in October the birdie machine needs a bit of oiling. I’d prefer him as a countermeasure in other formats.

Players to consider for Top 10, Top 20, or Top 40 action:

Stephan Jaeger (33/1): Already a winner in Texas in Houston in March, the only man to beat Scottie Scheffler in a month is making bunches of birdies and enjoying a career-best season. 

Tom Hoge (33/1): Big targets off the tee will give his superior irons more chances to get it close again this week. Only Scheffler is better on approach. Sits seventh in Birdie or Better Percentage.

Seamus Power (60/1): The only player in the field to cash T19 or better in all three events.

Sam Stevens (80/1): The Fort Worth native can really move it off the tee and is a noted wind player (T3 Corales 2023; 2nd Valero Texas Open 2023).

C.T. Pan (80/1): Posted a career-best round of 62 in Round 4 here last year to finish fourth.

Chan Kim (80/1): Cashed eight straight on his own ball and nine consecutive starts overall including T28 last week at Zurich. The last two on his own ball were T6 at Corales and T14 at Valero. Toss in T8 at Vidanta, and this event is right up his alley.

Peter Kuest (90/1): The Monday qualifier at Valero cashed T10 and followed with T9. The only way to get more starts is to perform!

Joseph Bramlett (125/1): Proven track record here offsets an inconsistent 2024.

Vincent Norrman (125/1): Won a shootout at the Barbasol in the summer of 2023 and backed it up with a win at the Horizon Irish Open eight weeks later. The 2024 results? Right, nothing but a sprinkle here.

Ryan Palmer (140/1): Cashing in the top 10 in the last two editions, the Colleyville resident shared the 36-hole lead in 2022 and the 54-hole lead in 2023.

Wesley Bryan (250/1): Running solo second in Corales, he missed catching Billy Horschel but has cashed in four of his last five on TOUR.

NOW PLAYING:

Host CourseTPC Craig Ranch
Yards (per official scorecard):7,414.
Par:71 (36-35).
Greens:Bentgrass (TifEagle Bermuda); 6,778 square feet.
Stimpmeter:11.5 feet.
Rough:Bermudagrass at 2.75 inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play83/4/13.
Architect(s):Tom Weiskopf (2004).
Defending Champion (event):Jason Day (-23).
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:K.H. Lee (TPC Craig Ranch), Jason Day (TPC Craig Ranch, TPC Four Seasons).
Course Record (latest):60; S.Y. Noh (alternate this week; Round 1, 2023).
72 Hole Tournament Record:26-under 262; K.H. Lee, 2022.
Facts of the Week:The event moved to TPC Craig Ranch for the 2021 edition. The results from previous years (Trinity Forest and TPC Four Seasons) are not for course historians.

TPC Craig Ranch

Serving as the host for the fourth consecutive season, TPC Craig Ranch in the Dallas suburb of McKinney, Texas, hosts the event. 

The second of two Tom Weiskopf designs (TPC Scottsdale) used on TOUR this season will play a standard Par-71 and tip at 7,414 yards for the second consecutive year. The first two editions played as a Par-72 at 7,468 yards.

One of the most scoreable tracks in play, the rolling hills northeast of Dallas provide massive landing areas off the tees and green complexes averaging 6,800 square feet. The wind is a way of life in Texas, and the big targets off the tees and into the greens allow for big gusts and breezes.

With plenty of room to work the ball, 83 bunkers, and water penalty areas on 13 holes should be avoided. Rowlett Creek runs through the land and crosses Holes Nos. 14 and 18. 

Bentgrass putting surfaces cover the greens and will be on offer for the first time for any who didn’t play in the Masters last month. The green speeds are a very tame 11.5 feet on the Stimpmeter because of the constant winds that blow.

The stock Par-71 features three Par-5 holes, and none of the trio extends more than 564 yards. The four Par-3 holes are all 216 yards or better except No. 17, which measures only 147 yards.  

With the course sitting right in front of the players, the scoring reflects the quick learning curve. The winning scores have been 23-under, 25-under, and 26-under, and four-round totals of 10-under par or better are the norm. Ranking in the top five easiest courses on TOUR the first three seasons, I wouldn’t expect anything but more birdies for the 2024 edition.

Defending champion Jason Day has won this event on two different courses. 

Tournament record holder K.H. Lee won the first two events at TPC Craig Ranch. Setting the tournament record in 2021 with 25-under-par, he posted one better in defense. 

With usually soft conditions, low scores are required, not expected. The course record, 60, has been set twice in the last two editions.

The 2022 edition produced the most birdies and eagles of any TOUR stop that season. The 2023 version ranked third in most birdies circled.

Recent Winners

2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen
Butterfield BermudaCamilo Villegas
The RSM ClassicLudvig Aberg

2024 Season Winners

EventWinner
The SentryChris Kirk
Sony Open in HawaiiGrayson Murray
The American ExpressNick Dunlap (a)
Farmers Insurance OpenMatthieu Pavon (rookie)
AT&T Pebble BeachWyndham Clark (54 holes)
WM Phoenix OpenNick Taylor
The Genesis InvitationalHideki Matsuyama
Mexico Open at VidantaJake Knapp (rookie)
Cognizant ClassicAustin Eckroat (first time)
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipPeter Malnati
Texas Children’s Houston OpenStephan Jaeger (first time)
Valero Texas OpenAkshay Bhatia
88th Masters TournamentScottie Scheffler (3)
RBC HeritageScottie Scheffler (4)
Zurich ClassicRory McIlroy & Shane Lowry

THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson

Formerly the AT&T Byron Nelson, the event has shifted from TPC Four Seasons to Trinity Forest to TPC Craig Ranch over the last decade.

The third of four events in Texas, the TOUR will return the week after the PGA Championship to Irving and Colonial Country Club for the Charles Schwab Challenge.

This is the first full-field event since the Valero Texas Open led into the Masters.

The field of 156 players includes 10 of the top 50 from the Official World Golf Rankings and will be cut to the top 65 and ties for the final 36 holes.

Internationals have won the three events. 

Winning by three shots in the inaugural event at TPC Craig Ranch, K.H. Lee owns the margin of victory mark.

Adam Scott is the only player on TOUR to have won all four stroke-play events in the Lone Star State. 

The winner will take home 500 FedExCup points and $1.71 million of the $9.5 million purse.

Players not already qualified for the Wells Fargo Championship next week have one final opportunity to force themselves into the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5. Those who fall short will tee it up in the brand-new event, the Myrtle Beach Classic, in South Carolina.

Recent Winners – THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2023Jason Day (-23)Closed with 62 to win for the first time since 2018 on TOUR and the second time at this event in Dallas (2011).
2022K.H. Lee (-26)Closing with 63, he beat the tournament scoring record he established with his 2022 win.
2021K.H.  Lee (-25)Cruised to a three-shot victory in the inaugural PGA TOUR event at TPC Craig Ranch.
2020No Event 

One and Done

I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…

35 events.

1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee Thursday).

1 use per year.

Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!

EventSelectionEarnings
The SentryCollin Morikawa690,500
Sony Open in HawaiiCorey Conners18,592
The American ExpressAdam Hadwin310,800
Farmers Insurance OpenJason Day0
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmJordan Spieth70,125
WM Phoenix OpenMatt Fitzpatrick156,200
The Genesis InvitationalMax Homa329,000
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau145,125
Cognizant ClassicRussell Henley32,850
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler4,000,000
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipWill Zalatoris0
Valspar ChampionshipSam Burns0
Texas Children’s Houston OpenWyndham Clark54,418
Valero Texas OpenC Bezuidenhout67,735
88th Masters TournamentRory McIlroy175,500
RBC HeritagePatrick Cantlay1,160,000
Zurich ClassicNick Taylor122,375
   
Total Winnings: 7,333,220

His game has more fun stuff to it. Reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@frontier.com for more details and to join.

Recapping Last Week – Zurich Classic of New Orleans

MY CHOICE: Nick Taylor – 10th

They didn’t do what the Irish did.

Fitting.

Others to Consider:

Sahith Theegala: Shit-hot fire for months, I don’t believe Zalatoris as his partner is going to suddenly cool him off. I’m not using him this week because I’m saving him for a bigger purse. Missed the cut and his partner isn’t going to play this week because of flare-up in his back. Good swerve!

Shane Lowry: I’m getting the feeling we missed the Florida window to play him. BUT, you get a free double shot of McIlroy if you go this route. Now, who’s gonna make some putts? Maybe that feeling is me sucking at this game? Left a million on the table! Sad! WINNER

Rasmus Hojgaard: The DP World Tour member won’t play many over here so this is a free roll if you believe in TWINS. Missed the cut.

Alex Fitzpatrick: See above minus TWINS. T11, cashing for the second consecutive year.

Joel Dahmen: Comes with Keith Mitchell, batteries not included. They might hit every fairway and every green, but Dahmen is 181st in SG: Putting and Mitchell is 142nd. T28.

Matt NeSmith: Comes with Taylor Moore, who has made a million cuts in a row, and they have finished T4 the last two years. The last two years NeSmith has not played this poorly leading into the event. I’d prefer a top 20 ticket over OAD. Missed the weekend by a shot, ending the T4-T4 streak.

Tyson Alexander: Comes with Billy Horschel, two-time winner here since 2013 and victor last week at Puntacana. MC by three. Not. Even. Close. Bud.

This Week – THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson

MY CHOICE: Stephan Jaeger

With a victory already in Houston, the German birdie machine has nothing to worry about this spring. Tee it up, go make a ton of birdies, and keep cashing checks. Closing 65-63 here last year, he’s making his third visit and will add to his 33-under aggregate and join the list of international winners.

Others to Consider:

Byeong Hun An: Hitting it great all season, the Bentgrass greens will provide the perfect pace and balance for racking up birdies. Looking for his first win on TOUR, he would join countrymen Sangmoon Bae, Sung Kang, and K.H. Lee as winners of this event.

Si Woo Kim: There’s no guarantee he’ll play the Wyndham Championship in August where he’s a former champion. Ran second here last year.

Alex Noren: The safest play on the board, the Swede hasn’t missed a cut this year and is constantly in the top 25. Like An, he’s never won.

K.H. Lee: Self-explanatory.

Tom Hoge: Only Scheffler is better on approach.

Good luck! You’ll need it!

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

@Zurich_Classic

The two best friends that anyone could have!

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

TPC Louisiana

Avondale, Louisiana

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Quick Links:

Odds OutlookDFS ReportHorses for Courses/Stats SuggestExpert Picks

Eyes On (odds via Bet365.com)

Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele (4/1): Teammates too many times to count in international competitions, the California duo makes their fourth consecutive appearance in New Orleans. The buddies have cashed T4-WIN-T11 and are more than comfortable on this course and at this event. Both players rank in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings, the only team who can claim that. Cantlay picked up his annual podium at Harbor Town last week and Schauffele has cashed in the top 10 in eight of his last 11 starts.

Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry (15/2): Making their Zurich Classic debut, the international Ryder Cup teammates pair up for the first time on TOUR. The Florida neighbors are looking for the spark this spring to shift them into gear for the PGA Championship next month in Louisville. They won’t miss many fairways and greens, but two-putting every green won’t work in this cut-throat birdie-fest.

Sahith Theegala & Will Zalatoris (15/2): Running second to Scheffler last week, Theegala added another big finish to his last eight months on TOUR. The winner at Fortinet last fall has five top-10 paydays in 11 starts this season. Zalatoris, who cashed T4 with Nick Hardy in 2022 before missing last season with back surgery, has also been hot on TOUR. Picking up three paydays in his last six starts, the best of the bunch is T2 at The Genesis Invitational at Riviera. First appearance together.

Collin Morikawa & Kurt Kitayama (12/1): Back-to-back top-10 paychecks the last two weeks have turned the spotlight back on the two-time major champion. Partnerships with Hovland and Homa haven’t cracked the code so he’s trying his neighbor in Las Vegas. Kitayama has only missed one cut this season but has never missed the weekend in two trips to the Big Easy. Another pair that will need at least one putter to get Creole hot!

Nicolai Hojgaard & Rasmus Hojgaard (20/1): TWINS! After cashing T16 on his first visit to the Masters, the higher-rated Dane missed the cut at Corales. Playing four weeks in a row, he will be energized with his brother joining the action. Rasmus is playing for the first time since WD at the Hero Indian Open four weeks ago. There’s no time to be rusty when the cut usually requires 7-under or better to see the weekend.

Tom Hoge & Maverick McNealy (25/1): Too bad this event isn’t at Pebble Beach! Feasting on small greens, TPC Louisiana will provide slightly bigger targets than the famous coastal links. Hoge has never missed a start here since his 2015 debut. Missing the cut in two of the last three editions, this is the fourth consecutive year he’s used a different partner. McNealy, who missed twice with Joseph Bramlett, is the next man up. Cashing in eight straight, he navigated TPC Sawgrass for T9. Dating back to last fall, Hoge has rattled off 12-straight weekends and would have had another top 10 save for a NINE on the final hole at Harbour Town. Super ball-striker meets super short-gamer.

Nick Taylor & Adam Hadwin (25/1): Beginning the week 33/1, the Canadian duo has moved up the board the last two days. Already a winner this season at TPC Scottsdale, Taylor knows he’s auditioning with Hadwin this week for International Captain Mike Weir and the 2024 Presidents Cup in Montreal this September. Cashing in five straight events, Hadwin has produced three top-10 paydays in his last eight tournaments. Cashing T13 on debut in 2022, the runners-up from 2023 posted 63 in Foursomes in the final round, tying the record in that format. I’m expecting another big week.

Billy Horschel & Tyson Alexander (33/1): Teacher and pupil. The University of Florida Gators should be comfortable in the swamp. Winning last week in the Dominican Republic will just add to the fire for Horschel. Alexander has quietly cashed in his last three and six of eight.

Taylor Moore & Matt NeSmith (45/1): The first two times they partnered up, they shared fourth place each time. Opening with 60 in 2022, they returned last year to post 26-under, a score that would have won four of the six previous editions.

Davis Thompson & Andrew Novak (45/1): The birdie machine, Thompson, pairs up with the SG: Approach machine, Novak. The Sea Island pals have been piling up the top-25 results individually in early 2024.

Kevin Yu & C.T. Pan (70/1): Trying to prove to Mike Weir that they should be included in the Presidents Cup, the duo from Taiwan will rely on tight ball-striking to give the putters plenty of chances to heat up. The top 10 results have dried up since the calendar changed to March. Countrymen coming together should inspire.

Pierceson Coody & Parker Coody (80/1): The twins from Texas both found the top 20 last week in the Dominican Republic. Pierceson signed for T18, and Parker cashed his best finish on TOUR with T6. Pushing each other, they won’t need any impetus to get it going in the bayou this week.

Charley Hoffman & Nick Watney (300/1): One of only two teams to play in the previous six events, the veteran duo will rely on the recent form of Hoffman. The Southern California native ran second in Phoenix and shared fourth last week at Corales. Watney’s best days are possibly behind him, but if there’s one final charge, this tournament may provide it.

NOW PLAYING:

Host CourseTPC Louisiana
Yards (per official scorecard):7,425.
Par:72 (36-36).
Greens:Poa Trivialis overseed (TifEagle Bermuda); 5,225 square feet.
Stimpmeter:12.5 feet.
Second Cut:Ryegrass Overseed at 2 inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play106/7/8.
Architect(s):Pete Dye (2004).
Defending Champion (event):Nick Hardy & Davis Riley (-30)
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:No team has won twice.
Course Record (latest):59; Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele (2022, Round 1).
72 Hole Tournament Record (April):258; Nick Hardy and Davis Riley.
Fact of the Week:All six winning totals have been 20-under par or better.

TPC Louisiana

The fourth Pete Dye design of the season and second course in back-to-back weeks, TPC Louisiana opened in 2004.

Hosting the Zurich Classic of New Orleans every year save two since 2005, no other course has hosted the team event since the 2017 inception. Every edition of the team game has played at Par-72 and 7,425 yards.

Carved through the swamps of the bayou, 106 bunkers, eight holes with water penalty areas, and two inches of TifSport Bermuda rough complement the risk-reward concept.

Fairways are not generous and the putting surfaces rank inside the top five of smallest on TOUR, averaging just 5,225 square feet.

Poa Trivialis putting surfaces, common this time of year before the TifEagle takes over, will run at 12 feet.

Registering 30-under and 29-under to win in the last two editions, four of the six winning totals have been 26-under or better. The best way to factor in a shootout is pummel fairways and greens and convert those attempts into birdies. Making birdies and avoiding bogeys is the formula for success.

The stock Par-72 comes with four Par-5 holes that measure less than 590 yards. Cutting corners and doglegs plus handling forced carries will provide the temptations and reward the bold who execute.

The pressure of performing for the teammate will enter all decisions made.

Set in 2023 by Nick Hardy and Davis Riley, the tournament scoring record is 30-under-par.

The Four-balls (Best Ball) record is 59, produced by Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele in Round 1 of 2022.

The Foursomes (Alternate Shot) record is 63, last accomplished by Nick Taylor & Adam Hadwin in Round 4 in 2023. Cantlay & Schauffele also matched this mark in 2023 in Round 2.

Recent Winners

2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen
Butterfield BermudaCamilo Villegas
The RSM ClassicLudvig Aberg

2024 Season Winners

EventWinner
The SentryChris Kirk
Sony Open in HawaiiGrayson Murray
The American ExpressNick Dunlap (a)
Farmers Insurance OpenMatthieu Pavon (rookie)
AT&T Pebble BeachWyndham Clark (54 holes)
WM Phoenix OpenNick Taylor
The Genesis InvitationalHideki Matsuyama
Mexico Open at VidantaJake Knapp (rookie)
Cognizant ClassicAustin Eckroat (first time)
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipPeter Malnati
Texas Children’s Houston OpenStephan Jaeger (first time)
Valero Texas OpenAkshay Bhatia
88th Masters TournamentScottie Scheffler (3)
RBC HeritageScottie Scheffler (4)

Zurich Classic

After a major championship and a Signature Event, the partner’s game makes it three weeks in a row with a completely different vibe.

The field of 160 players divided into two-man teams includes 15 of the top 50 from the Official World Golf Rankings and 27 players who teed it up last week at Harbour Town, another Pete Dye track.

Defending champions Hardy & Riley join Cantlay & Schauffele as the only previous team champions in the field.

Billy Horschel, paired with Tyson Alexander this week, is the only player in the field to win the team title (2018 with Scott Piercy) and the individual stroke play title (2013), his first victory on TOUR.

Nick Watney (2007), playing with Charley Hoffman, and Jason Dufner (2012), playing with Kevin Chappell, are the only other players in the field to win the individual title.

Scott Piercy (2018), playing with Harry Hall, and Ryan Palmer (2019), playing with Zach Johnson have won the team titles with different partners. Winning by three shots in 2019, Palmer has the record for margin of victory.

After one round of Four-balls (Best Ball) and one round of Foursomes (Alternate Shot), the field will be cut to the top 33 teams and ties.

The final two rounds will be Four-balls followed by Foursomes.

The winners will each take home 400 FedExCup points and $1.268 million of the $8.9 million purse.

This is the second of three events (Corales, Zurich, and CJ Cup) that will count towards the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 for the Wells Fargo Championship in two weeks.

Recent Winners – Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2023Nick Hardy & Davis Riley (-30)First win on TOUR for both players in their first partnership. Defeated Canadians Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin by two shots.
2022Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele   (-29)Posted 29-under thru 54 holes to win comfortably.
2021Marc Leishman & Cameron Smith (-20)Needed a playoff to defeat South African duo Schwartzel and Oosthuizen. Highest winning total.
2020No Event 
2019Ryan Palmer & Jon Rahm (-26)Winning by three shots over Tommy Fleewtood & Sergio Garcia set the event record for margin of victory.
2018Billy Horschel & Scott Piercy (-22)Not even two double bogeys, the most by a winning team to date, could slow down this pair. Horschel has won both the team and stroke play events here.
2017Jonas Blixt & Cam Smith (-27)Defeated Kevin Kisner & Scott Brown in a playoff to win the first edition.

One and Done

I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…

35 events.

1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee Thursday).

1 use per year.

Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!

EventSelectionEarnings
The SentryCollin Morikawa690,500
Sony Open in HawaiiCorey Conners18,592
The American ExpressAdam Hadwin310,800
Farmers Insurance OpenJason Day0
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmJordan Spieth70,125
WM Phoenix OpenMatt Fitzpatrick156,200
The Genesis InvitationalMax Homa329,000
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau145,125
Cognizant ClassicRussell Henley32,850
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler4,000,000
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipWill Zalatoris0
Valspar ChampionshipSam Burns0
Texas Children’s Houston OpenWyndham Clark54,418
Valero Texas OpenC Bezuidenhout67,735
88th Masters TournamentRory McIlroy175,500
RBC HeritagePatrick Cantlay1,160,000
   
Total Winnings: 7,210,845

His game has more fun stuff to it. Reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@frontier.com for more details and to join.

Recapping Last Week – RBC Heritage

MY CHOICE: Patrick Cantlay – T3

I love it when a plan goes according to, well the plan.

Moving forward, I might have to shift him to AUTO PICK for this event, especially if it remains a Signature Event. Always nice to catch a million plus without having to win.

Onward!

Others to Consider:

Matt Fitzpatrick: Other than what I wrote above, this is his spiritual home on TOUR. T28 as the spirit did not move him this time around, sadly.

Scottie Scheffler: Save your money for the majors or Augusta North (Muirfield Village Golf Club). Those of you who didn’t listen, congratulations. Those of you who have just not timed this correctly, be patient, I think he’ll win again. Let’s just hope it’s another BIG BOI event!

Jordan Spieth: Colonial instead. He suggested at the Masters that his wrist will need looking after at some point. T39.

Shane Lowry: Please, fire away. It was Cantlay or bust for me. Literally whiffed on everything else on Hilton Head. T64 in a 69-person field.

Cameron Davis: I cannot get off him this week so fade accordingly. Tried to save you from me. T49.

This Week – Zurich Classic of New Orleans

MY CHOICE: Nick Taylor

The NHL Playoffs are here. The Presidents Cup is coming soon. Whoa, Canada!

Taylor and partner Adam Hadwin ran second in 2023 and are playing well on TOUR.

This format does not require the best player to win. It requires the best team. I’m relying on the countrymen from the Great White North to get it over the finish line.

Others to Consider:

Sahith Theegala: Shit-hot fire for months, I don’t believe Zalatoris will be the cooler to his heat. I’m not using him this week because I’m saving him for a bigger purse.

Shane Lowry: I’m getting that feeling we missed the Florida window to play him. BUT, you get a free double shot of McIlroy if you go this route. Now, who’s gonna make some putts?

Rasmus Hojgaard: The DP World Tour member won’t play many over here so this is a free roll if you believe in TWINS.

Alex Fitzpatrick: See above minus TWINS.

Joel Dahmen: Comes with Keith Mitchell, batteries not included. They might hit every fairway and every green, but Dahmen is 181st in SG: Putting and Mitchell is 142nd.

Matt NeSmith: Comes with Taylor Moore, who has made a million cuts in a row, and they have finished T4 the last two years. In the last two years, NeSmith has not played this poorly leading into the event. I’d prefer a top-20 ticket over OAD.

Tyson Alexander: Comes with Billy Horschel, a two-time winner here since 2013 and victor last week at Puntacana.

Good luck! You’ll need it!

88th Masters Tournament

A tradition unlike any other, this preview.

Relax.

Play the Par-3, get ready for tomorrow.

88th Masters Tournament

Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta, Georgia

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Quick Links:

Odds OutlookDFS ReportHorses for Courses/Stats SuggestExpert Picks

Quick Fire Thoughts (odds via Bet365.com)

Scottie Scheffler (4/1): Do you remember the last time the betting favorite won? It was 19 years ago.

Rory McIlroy (10/1): The career grand slam makes its 10th appearance.

Jon Rahm (10/1): Champions have repeated three times in history. Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods. Big club.

Xander Schauffele (14/1): I’d read my good friend Ben Everill.

Hideki Matsuyama (16/1): Winner here in 2021, winner at Riviera, and playing well.

Brooks Koepka (18/1): This is one of four times a year where he cannot be ignored. The five-time major champion has *THAT* switch.

Jordan Spieth (20/1): This is the place. Kids, a balky wrist, and a DQ earlier this season makes for a full bingo card. Calm in the chaos.

Ludvig Aberg (25/1): He won’t win, no first-timer has since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, but he should not be dismissed with his tee-to-green power.

Joaquin Niemann (25/1): Rumor has it he’s been hot. You do you.

Wyndham Clark (28/1): The 2023 U.S. Open winner has produced the goods over the last 11 months, including winning the Signature Event at Pebble Beach and running second to Scheffler at Bay Hill and THE PLAYERS Championship. First appearance at ANGC.

Viktor Hovland (30/1): New swing, new coach, and the results have not followed. The 2023 FedExCup champion hasn’t bothered a leaderboard on Sunday in 2024.

Matt Fitzpatrick (30/1): Back-to-back top-10 paydays on TOUR and T10-T14 here on the last two visits. I’m in.

Patrick Cantlay (33/1): I wish I had evidence suggesting this would be the week. Hey it’s not Florida, so that will help, but the major championships have not been his strong suit. Super contrarian play based on sheer ability.

Bryson DeChambeau (33/1): Not my cup of tea. I prefer the artist over the guy running the jackhammer.

Will Zalatoris (35/1): Two starts, two top-six finishes at ANGC. In his last two starts TOUR he’s produced MC (THE PLAYERS) and T74 (Valspar). I think I tipped him in both of those! I’ll let you lead this week.

Justin Thomas (35/1): Dropping a veteran caddy who has won three times at this event the week before the Masters is something. So is a T64-MC-T12-MC run in his last four. See you in Louisville.

Tony Finau (35/1): His best two paydays of 2024 are from courses he annually enjoys. Making his seventh start, he’s never missed the weekend and has three top 10s. I’ll bite.

Tommy Fleetwood (35/1): One of the safest plays on the board. Cashed in six straight events, but his best result is T14.

Shane Lowry (35/1): Super Florida Swing should fill him with the confidence he needs. Already a major champion, I don’t have to worry about him on Sunday. He should be on your card.

Collin Morikawa (40/1): If he is above 30/1, he’s an autobet, right Jay?

Max Homa (55/1) and Sam Burns (55/1): You’re buying talent, not recent results, or course form. That’s why it’s called gambling.

Russell Henley (55/1): T4s are wild. Get some.

Patrick Reed (66/1): The 2018 winner has three top-10 paydays since including T4 last year.

Thorbjorn Olesen (125/1): No stranger to the former Fruitland Nurseries property, the Dane posted T6 on debut in 2013 and T21 on his last visit in 2019. A winner in January in the Middle East, he broke a three-event streak of missing the cut with T14 last week in San Antonio.

Taylor Moore (250/1): The 2023 winner at a difficult Valspar Championship posted T12 in defense this season and missed a playoff in Houston by a shot. Sat T20 after three rounds last year. Load him in.

NOW PLAYING:

Host CourseAugusta National Golf Club
Yards (per official scorecard):7,555.
Par:72 (36-36).
Greens:A1-Penn Bentgrass; 6,486 square feet.
Stimpmeter:Tournament Speed – 13 feet and up.
Second Cut:Ryegrass Overseed at 1.375 inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play44/6/5
Architect(s):Dr. Alister Mackenzie & Bobby Jones (1933).
Defending Champion (event):Jon Rahm (-12).
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:Plenty. Tiger Woods (5), Phil Mickelson (3), lead the way.
Course Record (latest):63; Greg Norman (1996); Nick Price (1986).
72 Hole Tournament Record (Spring):270 (-18); Jordan Spieth (2015) and Tiger Woods (1997).
Fact of the Week:The Par-3 contest winner has never won the 72-hole event.

Augusta National Golf Club

Contested on the former grounds of the Fruitland Nurseries, the Masters Tournament is the first major championship of the season. Purchased by Bobby Jones in 1931, he hired Dr. Alister Mackenzie to create his vision for a course that would host and challenge the best in the game.

The Augusta National Invitational Tournament debuted in 1934, setting the bar for future events. The 88th edition, now the Masters Tournament, will play 7,555 yards to Par-72 with all the modern bells and whistles.

The annual April examination requires power, precision, and putting to don the Green Jacket at the end of 72 holes. 

Finding fairways is the first requirement, but escaping less-than-perfect tee balls is possible. Tree limbs won’t interfere with errant drives, but uneven lies, pine straw, and patrons lining the second cut do not always result in optimum second-shot chances. The art of finding the sprinkler line in the middle of the fairways guarantees nothing but full concentration for approach shots. 

The pure A1- Penn Bentgrass putting surfaces are the best in the business. Powered by Sub-Air systems, the targets, averaging 6,486 square feet, can be managed to run at tournament speed. Undulating and difficult to read, experience reading greens matters. Elite players will play away from danger to avoid difficult up-and-downs. Skilled iron players know the proper trajectory and spin required to get it close. Keeping the ball below the hole is the beginning of most winning plans.

A new tee box on No. 2 provides the extra yardage for 2024. Holes Nos. 2, 4, and 6 have been reshaped, softened, and flattened on the putting surfaces to add flexibility for hole locations and shot selection. 

Par-5 scoring captures the headlines but saving shots on the Par-4 holes will carry the momentum of the rounds. Hammering Greens in Regulation is the recipe for success, but resolving errant approaches is necessary. Scrambling to save pars from tight lies and bunkers is required. 

There will be bogeys this week. Taking advantage of the proper number from the fairway will need to be paid off on the greens.

Major championship golf should be difficult. 

The five water penalty areas are located on the inward nine holes add to the challenge of Holes No. 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16.

Greg Norman (1996) and Nick Price (1986) share the course record with 63 (-9). Neither man won that season or any other season.

The April tournament scoring record was last set by Jordan Spieth (270, 2015) after Tiger Woods posted that total in 1997. 

The November scoring record is 20-under 268, set by Dustin Johnson in 2020.

2023 Season Winners

2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen
Butterfield BermudaCamilo Villegas
The RSM ClassicLudvig Aberg

2024 Season Winners

EventWinner
The SentryChris Kirk
Sony Open in HawaiiGrayson Murray
The American ExpressNick Dunlap (a)
Farmers Insurance OpenMatthieu Pavon (rookie)
AT&T Pebble BeachWyndham Clark (54 holes)
WM Phoenix OpenNick Taylor
The Genesis InvitationalHideki Matsuyama
Mexico Open at VidantaJake Knapp (rookie)
Cognizant ClassicAustin Eckroat (first time)
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipPeter Malnati
Texas Children’s Houston OpenStephan Jaeger (first time)
Valero Texas OpenAkshay Bhatia

The 88th Masters Tournament

The field of 89 players includes the top 50 from the Official World Golf Rankings.

The final player to gain entrance into the event was Akshay Bhatia, the winner at the Valero Texas Open last week.

Winning the 2019 edition, Tiger Woods is the most decorated player in the field with five victories. Phil Mickelson, the winner in the 2004, 2006, and 2010 editions, is also competing.

Winning a record sixth Green Jacket, Jack Nicklaus became the oldest winner in 1986.

The average age of winners is around 33 years old. The last three champions had not reached birthday No. 30.

The only player (post-1945) to win on debut was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

The youngest champion was Tiger Woods (21 years old) in 1997.

Since 2000, three players have won on their second attempt: Charl Schwartzel (2011), Jordan Spieth (2015), and Danny Willett (2016).

The last wire-to-wire was Spieth, becoming just the fifth player in history to lead after all four rounds.

Only three players have successfully defended the title. Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Sir Nick Faldo (1989-1990), and Tiger Woods (2001-2002) are the members of this exclusive club.

Only three players ranked No. 1 in the OWGR went on to win: Tiger Woods (2007), Dustin Johnson (2020), and Scottie Scheffler (2022).

Adam Scott is the only Australian winner.

Hideki Matsuyama is the only Asian winner.

Gary Player (three times) is the only African winner.

Sergio Garcia was the last winner to need a playoff. Defeating Justin Rose, the Spaniard won his first Green Jacket in his 19th attempt, the record for a first-time winner.

Mark O’Meara, aged 41 in 1998, is the oldest first-time winner.

Raymond Floyd, aged 49 in 1992, is the oldest runner-up.

The field will be cut to the top 50 and ties after two rounds.

The winner this week will take home 750 FedExCup points.

The purse and winner’s share will be announced later this week.

Recent Winners – Masters Tournament

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2023Jon Rahm (-12)Sat two off the lead of Brooks Koepka before closing with 69 to win by four shots. Second major, first Green Jacket.
2022Scottie Scheffler (-10)Only player to post all four rounds under par. Wins his first major comfortably by three shots over Rory McIlroy.
2021Hideki Matsuyama   (-10)Sat four shots clear after 54 holes and won his first major by one over Will Zalatoris.
2020Dustin Johnson (-20)Moved to November, the soft, overseeded layout was shredded by Johnson to set the scoring record. Won by five.
2019Tiger Woods (-13)The only player to win from outside of the top 10 after Round 1. He’s done that twice and won the tournament FIVE times.

One and Done

I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…

35 events.

1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee Thursday).

1 use per year.

Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!

EventSelectionEarnings
The SentryCollin Morikawa690,500
Sony Open in HawaiiCorey Conners18,592
The American ExpressAdam Hadwin310,800
Farmers Insurance OpenJason Day0
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmJordan Spieth70,125
WM Phoenix OpenMatt Fitzpatrick156,200
The Genesis InvitationalMax Homa329,000
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau145,125
Cognizant ClassicRussell Henley32,850
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler4,000,000
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipWill Zalatoris0
Valspar ChampionshipSam Burns0
Texas Children’s Houston OpenWyndham Clark54,418
Valero Texas OpenC Bezuidenhout67,735
,  
Total Winnings: 5,875,345

His game has more fun stuff to it. Reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@frontier.com for more details and to join.

Recapping Last Week – Valero Texas Open

MY CHOICE: Christiaan Bezuidenhout – T25

Would have rather gone with a LONESTAR LONGSHOT.

Other to Consider:

Corey Conners: The “Finau” effect will rush over most of you this week. I don’t blame you. Sometimes, I have to fade myself. Same T25 as my pick! I guess I have him for the Canadian Open…Weird to see him T73 in Fairways.

Ludvig Aberg: Not a care in the world as he keeps producing big finishes and is prepping for his first major. Playing four years in Lubbock in the wind will have him prepped for another big finish. Why am I not playing HIM this week? T14. Don’t be surprised when you see him on the leaderboard this weekend. T7 Fairways AND Greens at VTO. Now, about that putter…

Billy Horschel: Winner in Dallas and Austin, the proof is on in the trophy cabinet. With his excellent form and past excellent course form, he will be tempting for some. 75-73, MC.

Charley Hoffman: The all-time leading money winner at the Oaks Course already has a podium finish this season in Phoenix but has MC in his last three. San Antonio is chicken soup for his game. T69, nice. Big pair of hockey sticks on Saturday killed any chances of him cashing a big check.

Harris English: Another consistent performer, you might want to save him for Bermuda greens in the summer. 72-77 MC. Getting them right on the wrong end also counts!

Lone Star Longshots:

Akshay Bhatia: The windier, the better. His only finishes this season are in the top 20. WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER. #UrWelcome. Can’t believe I took him out of my lineup at the PGA TOUR Experts game.

Aaron Rai: Off T7 last week, did you think I would leave him out? I should have! T58.

Matt Kuchar: Never missed and is T3-T2-T12-T7 in the last four years. You will have to check his current form…Current form wins again, MC.

Lanto Griffin: Veteran knows how to get it around if the breeze picks up. T51.

This Week – 88th Masters Tournament

MY CHOICE: Rory McIlroy

It’s time. Tiger Woods gave his blessing on Tuesday. He closed with 66 last Sunday. Making his 16th appearance, nothing is holding him back. Sergio Garcia owns the record for most attempts with 19.

Other to Consider:

Xander Schauffele: Never wins enough, does he? Fantastic 2024 form, minus a trophy.

Scottie Scheffler: If you believe in the numbers, you save him for down the road. If you have watched him play, I don’t see how you can.

Hideki Matsuyama: Stay healthy, my friend!

Brooks Koepka: Limited chances in this game to use him.

Jon Rahm: See above with Scheffler and Koepka.

Jordan Spieth: He’s home.

Valero Texas Open Preview

The stars at night

Are big and bright

Deep in the heart of Texas

Valero Texas Open

TPC San Antonio

Oaks Course

San Antonio, Texas

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Odds OutlookDFS ReportHorses for Courses/Stats SuggestExpert Picks

Bet365: Top of the Board  

Rory McIlroy (10/1): The only victory that matters is the first one at Augusta National next week. The OWGR No. 2 has found the winner’s circle multiple times before major championships, so he’s not an automatic fade this week. Cashing T19 at THE PLAYERS for his best finish in the States in five events suggests investing elsewhere.

Ludvig Aberg (12/1): Too young to have a “plan” knocking over another field before his first major championship would not surprise anyone reading this column. With four years of college experience in the wind of Lubbock, Texas, he will not be bothered by any of Mother Nature’s challenges. Heading to the Masters next week, his only concern this week is winning. Sign me up.

Hideki Matsuyama (20/1): The 2021 Masters champion has produced the goods in his last three starts (T16-T12-WIN). The goal this week is getting dialed in tee-to-green, and everything else is gravy. If he is in contention on Sunday, he’s not going to back down. If he’s not in contention on Sunday, do not be surprised if he saves on fuel for next week.

Jordan Spieth (22/1): Picking up his trophy boots after the 2021 edition before heading to his favorite event, the Dallas native needs a pick-me-up before returning to Augusta in 2024. A pair of early weekend exits and a DQ for an incorrect scorecard muted his strong start after Kapalua (3rd) and TPC Scottsdale (T6). A big weekend at the Oaks Course wouldn’t surprise me. Neither would a quiet one. Sigh.

Max Homa (25/1): The more demanding the track, the more focus the Californian brings. Wins at Qual Hollow, Torrey Pines, and Riviera accentuate that theory. Strangely, his success at Augusta National is almost non-existent. Picking up this event tells me he needs to find some confidence before next week. Making his first visit to the Oaks Course since 2019 suggests he has left it late.

Corey Conners (25/1): Not many enjoy a horse for a course more than I do. Two wins, 16 rounds in the red, and nothing worse than T35 over five starts will not push me away. 

Matt Fitzpatrick (28/1): Teeing it up for the first time in Hill Country, the Englishman is riding high off solo fifth in the last outing at TPC Sawgrass. Gaining strokes tee-to-green isn’t an issue; neither is chipping and putting. Tough laydown this week.

Players to consider for Top 10, Top 20, or Top 40 action:

Billy Horschel (33/1): I will pair his current form with his experience at the Oaks Course. A winner up the road in Austin at the WGC-Match Play in 2021, he should be excited to return to a happy hunting ground. The Florida native has cashed T11 or better in five of his last eight visits.

Harris English (35/1): Pure heat. Not missing a cut in 2024, he has cashed out T21 or better in his last four starts.

Byeong Hun An (40/1): With three top-10 paydays in his first seven starts in 2024, I’m hoping a missed cut at THE PLAYERS kicks a few off the scent. He’s comfortable where he’s comfortable. Producing two top-seven paydays in his last three visits suggest he’s comfortable outside San Antonio.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout (50/1): Running as my second choice at Valspar, he produced T9 and his best result of the season. I can’t leave him out at an event that has crowned plenty of first-time winners. All aboard!

Akshay Bhatia (60/1): Collecting T17 at Valspar is his worst paycheck from five weekends (nine starts) in the new season. Sitting one shot off the lead at the halfway point at Memorial Park last Sunday, he knows the only way to Augusta is winning THIS week.

Lee Hodges (90/1): Posted 12-under over his last 54 holes here last year. Not overthinking this the week before a major! 

Charley Hoffman (125/1): The horse for the course. The 2016 winner has 10 paydays of T22 or better, including three seconds/T2.

Matti Schmid (125/1): Always looking to add a hot runner to the stable, the German, no doubt inspired by Jaeger’s win last week, has run his streak to T26 or better in the last four weeks. I should add him above for a Top 20 just in case!

Matt Kuchar (140/1): Never missing the weekend in 11 starts, he returns after a four-year run of T3-T2-T12-T7. While his current form hasn’t produced a top-30 payday in 2024, maybe the Fountain of Youth is by way of the Alamo.

Aaron Baddeley (175/1): The Australian has cashed T30 or better in eight of nine. Never missing the cut, he makes his first visit since T18 2022.

Sam Stevens (250/1): Missed a playoff by a shot last year. Wind doesn’t bother him. Top 40 to start.

Peter Kuest (400/1): Monday qualifier with absolutely nothing to lose, he registered last year in Par-5 scoring and Putting: Birdie or Better Percentage over 15 events. Everyone needs a long shot to find the weekend.

Mike Glasscott: Valero Texas Open tips

OUTRIGHT – Christiaan Bezuidenhout (50/1)  

TOP 10 – Ludvig Aberg (8/5), Billy Horschel (15/4)

TOP 20 – Corey Conners (29/20), Charley Hoffman (17/4)

NOW PLAYING:

Host CourseTPC San Antonio – Oaks Course
Yards (per official scorecard):7,438.
Par:72 (36-36).
Greens:Poa Trivialis; 6,400 square feet.
Stimpmeter:11 feet.
Rough:Overseeded Rye and Fescue at 2.25 inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play64/3/3
Architect(s):Greg Norman (2010).
Defending Champion (event):Corey Conners (-15).
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:Corey Conners (2023, 2019).
Course Record (latest):62; Trey Mullinax (2018, Round 3).
72 Hole Tournament Record268; Corey Conners (2019).
Fact of the Week:There has never been a playoff since the Oaks Course became the host (2010).
Fact of the Week II:The winner this week, if not already qualified, will take the final place in the field at the Masters.

TPC San Antonio – Oaks Course

The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, designed in 2010 by Greg Norman, plays as a stock Par-72 and can reach 7,438 yards. 

The ball-striking examination includes surviving missed fairways and greens. The recipe for success includes avoiding the big misses that come with big penalties. The rough this week will be only 2 ¼ inches, but the bunker count is 64, and there are water penalty areas on three holes. The breezes that blow in this part of the world will require a commitment to tee shots and irons.

Perched greens, 6,400 square feet on average, require quality shots for scoring opportunities. Poorly struck shots will drift into heavy bunkering or down closely mown areas. Running at 11 feet on the Stimpmeter, the pros will not have to worry about getting putts to the hole or the wind blowing their approaches off the putting surfaces.

Each nine has a pair of Par-5 holes. Together, the quartet annually ranks inside the top 12 most difficult on TOUR. If the wind cooperates, the first two, measuring over 600 yards, should play downwind. The remaining two on the inward nine, including the 591-yard finish hole with water, should provide drama coming home.

Paying off greens in regulation with birdie putts, scoring on the Par-5 holes, and getting up and down are the challenges presented in the Texas Hill Country.

In 13 previous editions, the Oaks Course ranked in the bottom half one time (2019). The 2022 edition was the only other event to play four rounds UNDER par.

The course record (62) was set in 2018 by Trey Mullinax (Round 3). 

Reigning and two-time champion Corey Conners produced the tournament scoring record in a benign 2019 edition on 20-under par 268.

Valero Texas Open

The Texas two-step of late March/early April is the first of two trips to the Lone Star state and the final tune-up for 30 players heading to the first major of the season next week.

Every year since 1923, San Antonio has hosted a professional event, and it is the longest-serving city hosting an event on the PGA TOUR.

Highlighted by World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, the field of 156 players includes 21 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings. 

Sitting at No. 47 in the OWGR is Canadian Corey Conners, the only multiple winner from 13 previous events at the Oaks Course. The tournament record holder from 2019 returned last season and posted 15-under to win by a shot.

Joining the Canadian as past champions in the field this week are J.J. Spaun (2022), Jordan Spieth (2021), Andrew Landry (2018), Kevin Chappell (2017), Charley Hoffman (2016), local Jimmy Walker (2015), Martin Laird (2013), and inaugural winner Adam Scott (2010).

Spieth, Landry, and Walker are the only native Texans to win at the Oaks Course.

The last rookie to win this event was in 2006 at another course.

The last player to win on debut was the 2012 champion, Ben Crane.

In 13 events, six first-time PGA TOUR winners have been crowned, including four of the last six (bold above), including Conners in 2019.

The field will be cut to the top 65 and ties after two rounds.

On the line is a purse of $9.1 million, with the winner taking home $1.658 million and collecting 500 FedExCup points.

Most importantly, if the winner is not qualified, he will take the final spot in the field at the 88th Masters next week in the first major championship of 2024.

2023 Season Winners

2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen
Butterfield BermudaCamilo Villegas
The RSM ClassicLudvig Aberg

2024 Season Winners

EventWinner
The SentryChris Kirk
Sony Open in HawaiiGrayson Murray
The American ExpressNick Dunlap (a)
Farmers Insurance OpenMatthieu Pavon (rookie)
AT&T Pebble BeachWyndham Clark (54 holes)
WM Phoenix OpenNick Taylor
The Genesis InvitationalHideki Matsuyama
Mexico Open at VidantaJake Knapp (rookie)
Cognizant ClassicAustin Eckroat (first time)
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipPeter Malnati
Texas Children’s Houston OpenStephan Jaeger (first time)

Recent Winners – Valero Texas Open

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2023Corey Conners (-15)Held off Sam Stevens by a shot to become the first multiple winner at the Oaks Course.
2022J.J. Spaun (-13)Winning by two shots over Matt Kuchar, he picked up his first win on TOUR.
2021Jordan Spieth (-18)Defeated “The Mayor” Charley Hoffman by two shots.
2020No event 
2019Corey Conners (-20)Defeated “The Mayor” Charley Hoffman by two shots.
2018Andrew Landry (-17)Winning by two shots, picked up his first victory on TOUR.
2017Kevin Chappell (-12)Held off Brooks Koepka by a shot.
2016Charley Hoffman      (-12)Finally paid off his hot run in San Antonio.
2015Jimmy Walker (-11)Boerne, Texas, local resident became the first of three Texans to win (Landry and Spieth) at the Oaks Course.

One and Done

I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…

35 events.

1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee Thursday).

1 use per year.

Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!

EventSelectionEarnings
The SentryCollin Morikawa690,500
Sony Open in HawaiiCorey Conners18,592
The American ExpressAdam Hadwin310,800
Farmers Insurance OpenJason Day0
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmJordan Spieth70,125
WM Phoenix OpenMatt Fitzpatrick156,200
The Genesis InvitationalMax Homa329,000
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau145,125
Cognizant ClassicRussell Henley32,850
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler4,000,000
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipWill Zalatoris0
Valspar ChampionshipSam Burns0
Texas Children’s Houston OpenWyndham Clark54,418
   
Total Winnings: 5,807,610

His game has more fun stuff to it. Reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@frontier.com for more details and to join.

Recapping Last Week – Texas Children’s Houston Open

MY CHOICE: Wyndham Clark – T31

Beware the injured golfer is only a phrase people use when they don’t take the injured golfer and he plays well.

After cashing behind Scheffler in the last two events, the U.S. Open champion stayed true to form as he cashed behind Scheffler again, but this time 29 extra places.

It would have been so easy just to take reigning champion Tony Finau, but there’s nothing easy about this game to me.

Whatever.

Other to Consider:

Sahith Theegala: I had trouble getting off of him this week and I might change it up before the bell sounds. Top-10 paydays from his last two events, a full bag, and he’s impossible not to like. T28 with four rounds of 70 or better. I don’t think throwing out the first pitch for opening day helped with the golf. At all. Especially for a guy who has never thrown a baseball, his words, not mine.

Tony Finau: I’ll wait until later in the summer when he finds some more. T2 sounds MUCH MUCH MUCH worse than what it “really” was. He shared second with, checks notes, FIVE OTHER DUDES. Instead of a nice payday, essentially he took home really good fourth-placed money. Win some, lose some, and meh some.

Jason Day: Proven record in Texas comes with a perfect 3-3 here. Burned me already this season on a course he loves at Torrey Pines. How can we dance when our beds are burning? Midnight Oil might have a better angle on trying to solve Day than I do. Is there another baby on the way? Is he hurt again? His last three events on tracks he’s played well over his career he hasn’t found the top 30. Glad I had him MC at Torrey Pines, just like you guys who had him this week.

Tom Hoge: TCU man has been produced a steady stream of results in 2024. Nobody made more feet of putts at TPC Sawgrass. Not many made more doubles or worse. Less water = mo money!  T14 and closed with three rounds in the 60s to continue his excellent start to 2024.

Lone Star Longshots:

Alex Noren: Ran T4 here in 2022 but has never lifted a trophy on TOUR. T11 after closing 66-65.

Aaron Rai: There’s no need, in this format at least, to drift down here, but some of you gotta ketchup. And catch up you did, T7.

Mackenzie Hughes: Less trouble off the tee, the better. Big week last week as well. T14 as he stormed home with 65 on Sunday. Hey, lock the back door then!

Cameron Champ/Chandler Phillips: Gig ‘em. I guess “gig ‘em” is Texan for T45.

Anybody with the last name Coody: Texas lads. Big jeans. Big genes. Pierceson T57, Parker MC.

This Week – Valero Texas Open

MY CHOICE: Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Too many good ones to ignore recently (T9, T13)! Hitting it great and full of confidence, there’s nothing to reset or reload after a week off. Already has a “victory” this year after Nick Dunlap won in Palm Springs, but he’d like one of his own!

Other to Consider:

Corey Conners: The “Finau” effect will rush over most of you this week. I don’t blame you. Sometimes, I have to fade myself.

Ludvig Aberg: Not a care in the world as he keeps producing big finishes and is prepping for his first major. Playing four years in Lubbock in the wind will prepare him for another big finish. Why am I not playing HIM this week?

Billy Horschel: Winner in Dallas and Austin, the proof is on in the trophy cabinet. With his excellent form and past excellent course form, he will be tempting for some.

Charley Hoffman: The all-time leading money winner at the Oaks Course already has a podium finish this season in Phoenix but has MC in his last three. San Antonio is chicken soup for his game.

Harris English: Another consistent performer, you might want to save him for Bermuda greens in the summer.

Lone Star Longshots:

Akshay Bhatia: The windier, the better. His only finishes this season are in the top 20.

Aaron Rai: Off T7 last week, did you think I would leave him out?

Matt Kuchar: Never missed and is T3-T2-T12-T7 in the last four years. You will have to check his current form…

Lanto Griffin: Veteran knows how to get it round if the breeze picks up.

Texas Children’s Houston Open

The first of four this spring in the Lone Star state takes us to the muni at Memorial Park.

Texas Children’s Houston Open

Memorial Park Golf Course

Houston, Texas

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Odds OutlookDFS ReportHorses for Courses/Stats SuggestExpert Picks

Bet365: Top of the Board  

Scottie Scheffler (11/4): Trying to become the first player to defend the title at THE PLAYERS Championship, the Dallas resident is no stranger to making recent history. No player has won three straight entered events since Dustin Johnson in early 2017, but Scheffler has course history to rely upon here as well. Finishing T9 in 2022 came after holding the 54-hole lead in the 2021 tournament and finishing tied for second. Ball-Striking is a major factor this week, and nobody is doing it better on TOUR than the only multiple winner of 2024. Fade him at your own discretion.

Wyndham Clark (12/1) has been the bridesmaid to Scheffler in his previous two victories. Already a winner this season at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the 2023 U.S. Open champion lipped out a putt at THE PLAYERS Championship to force extra holes with the eventual champion. Cashing T16 on his last visit, he will not be flying blind this week.

Sahith Theegala (18/1) lives in the north suburb of Spring, Texas, and already has four top-10 paydays to his name in 2024, including his last two starts at Bay Hill and TPC Sawgrass. Breaking through winning the Fortinet Championship last September, the former Pepperdine man has not slowed down. This time last year, he was gearing up for his first appearance at the Masters, where he finished ninth on debut. With the rough down and trouble off the tee minimal, I would expect a big week from him.

Will Zalatoris (20/1) grew up in Dallas, so a bit of breeze will hardly bother his tee-to-green prowess. Making his tournament debut, he won’t have to navigate a point of reference from the previous fall editions. I know, I know, I tipped him at THE PLAYERS, and he easily missed the weekend. Taking on a new event to tune up for Augusta suggests he’s happy with where his game is, regardless of the result at TPC Sawgrass. Big, breezy, deep tracks (Torrey Pines, Southern Hills, Augusta National) rarely bothered him.

With three trophies from the state of Texas already on his mantle, Jason Day (22/1) returns to Memorial Park for the fourth time in search of another piece of hardware. Another who handles big tracks well (two-time winner at Torrey Pines), the Australian’s power and short game should line up nicely again this year. Never missing the cut in his first four visits, he’s posted eight of 12 rounds in the red.

Reigning champion Tony Finau (25/1) has only hit the top 10 once this season, and it was at one of his favorite stops, Torrey Pines GC. Missing the cut last week at Valspar after T45 at THE PLAYERS suggests he’s looking for a spark before the first major of the season in two weeks. The big hitter made over 415 feet of putts to win by four shots in 2022. Repeating that number would be a feat. I’ll pass.

Players to consider for Top 10, Top 20, or Top 40 action:

Keith Mitchell (35/1) provides a quandary this week. Are we getting the back nine 31 on Saturday at Valspar or the 77 from the final group on Sunday? A superb driver of the golf ball, his short game will need a quick fix to contend again this week.

Mackenzie Hughes (50/1) won’t mind another week on big greens where his putter can get hot and stay hot. Like many this week, having big targets off the tee boxes and into the greens should grab his attention. Hitting the podium last week, he will remember this time last year when he was in the final eight of the WGC-Match Play up the street in Austin.

Tom Hoge (50/1) has been cruising along, under the radar for most of 2024. Outstanding with his iron play, he will have plenty of opportunities to pay them off on these big greens. Posting T28 or better in five straight before T54 at THE PLAYERS, five of his last eight resulted in T17 or better.

Jake Knapp (55/1) won at Vidanta Vallarta on Paspalum for his first TOUR victory. The Greg Norman layout didn’t have penal rough and featured huge greens. Oh, and he was on the podium at Torrey Pines. Dots connected.

Andrew Novak (100/1) continues to stripe it on approach, and that will travel again this week. After three straight top-10 paydays halted at THE PLAYERS, he ranked in the top 10 in SG: Approach last week and added T17 at Valspar to his impressive start to the season.

Playing college golf in the area at Texas A&M, Cameron Champ (110/1) should be comfortable in this part of the world. Bundle him with another Aggie, Chandler Phillips (140/1), who picked up his career-best payday of T3 last week at Valspar playing with Champ, and off to the window you go.

Robert MacIntyre (110/1) grabbed T6 at Vidanta Vallarta. Let’s see if the theory plays again this week. Missing the cut just once (THE PLAYERS) in his last five, he’s heating up with the weather.

Dylan Wu (175/1) has picked off T26, T19, and T24 in three of his last four. The best finish of the bunch was at THE PLAYERS Championship.

NOW PLAYING:

Host CourseMemorial Park Golf Course
Yards (per official scorecard):7,435.
Par:70 (35-35).
Greens:Poa Trivialis; 7,000 square feet.
Stimpmeter:12 feet.
Rough:Overseeded Rye barely over an inch.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play21/2/4.
Architect(s):John Bredemus (1934); Tom Doak (2019).
Defending Champion (event):Tony Finau (-16).
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:None.
Course Record (latest):62; Tony Finau (Round 2, 2022); Scottie Scheffler (Round 2, 2021).
72 Hole Tournament Record (March):First event at Memorial Park in March.
72 Hole Tournament Record264; Tony Finau (2022).
Fact of the Week:First event at Memorial Park since November of 2022.
Fact of the Week II:The second of three municipal courses used on TOUR (Torrey Pines South & North) this season.

Memorial Park Golf Course

The eyes of Texas and the PGA TOUR are on the municipal Memorial Park Golf Course. Making the first of four stops in the Lone Star state, the Texas Children’s Houston Open will host for the fourth time since 2020.

Joining Torrey Pines Golf Club as the only other municipal tracks used on TOUR, the 2019 Tom Doak redesign plays to Par-70 and has plenty of meat on the bone. Everything is bigger in Texas, and at 7,435 yards tipped out, Memorial Park qualifies.

The yardage from the tips will be different for the third time in four events. The common denominator is all four events played over 7,400 yards.

Sporting five Par-3 holes and three Par-5 holes, the Par-70 also provides three Par-4 holes 490 yards or more. The trio of Par-5 holes was the most difficult on TOUR for the 2020-21 season and ranked T2 for the 2021-2022 year.

Adding four bunkers and expanding and shifting the tee box 23 yards on Hole No. 17 are the cosmetic changes for 2024.

Water penalty areas are in play on only four holes, a welcome respite from wet and sandy Florida.

The most significant alteration for 2024 is moving the event from November to March. The firm and fast Bermuda gives way to Ryegrass overseed on the fairways and rough. Mowing the rough barely over an inch, down from 2.25 inches in 2022, provides more opportunities to attack hole locations from off the fairway.

The Poa Trivialis greens, checking in as some of the largest on TOUR at 7,000 square feet on average, will be on display for the first time. Missing the big targets will come with closely mown areas that repel mishit shots.

With the rough not as penal and the course playing softer than the fall editions big hitters and ball-strikers should thrive. Ranking in the top 11 in the most difficult tracks in the three previous editions, the average winning score is 13-under-par.

Tony Finau owns the tournament scoring record of 16-under, set in November of 2022. Posting 62 in Round, he joined Scottie Scheffler as the co-course record holder.

Texas Children’s Houston Open

Hosting for the fourth time, TCHO returns to its traditional late March/early April spot on the calendar.

Highlighted by World No. 1, the field of 144 players includes 10 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Finau, who led or shared the lead after 18, 36, and 54 holes is the only previous winner at Memorial Park in the field.

The defending champion ran his total to 19-under before coming home in 38 (+3).

The field will be cut to the top 65 and ties after two rounds.

On the line is a purse of $8.4 million, with the winner taking home $1.512 million, collecting 500 FedExCup points, and an invitation to the Masters in three weeks.

This is the last week to qualify for the Masters through the OWGR Top 50.

Season Winners

2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen
Butterfield BermudaCamilo Villegas
The RSM ClassicLudvig Aberg

2024 Season Winners

EventWinner
The SentryChris Kirk
Sony Open in HawaiiGrayson Murray
The American ExpressNick Dunlap (a)
Farmers Insurance OpenMatthieu Pavon (rookie)
AT&T Pebble BeachWyndham Clark (54 holes)
WM Phoenix OpenNick Taylor
The Genesis InvitationalHideki Matsuyama
Mexico Open at VidantaJake Knapp (rookie)
Cognizant ClassicAustin Eckroat
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipPeter Malnati

Recent Winners – Texas Children’s Houston Open

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2023No eventNo event in since November 2022.
2022Tony Finau (-16)Went as low as 19-under before closing with 38. Won by four shots.
2021Jason Kokrak (-10)Scottie Scheffler shot 69 on Sunday with the 54-hole lead, but couldn’t close for his first TOUR victory.
2020Carlos Ortiz (-13)Played the week before the Masters in November, Oritz was just one of three players 10-under or better.

One and Done

I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…

35 events.

1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee Thursday).

1 use per year.

Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!

EventSelectionEarnings
The SentryCollin Morikawa690,500
Sony Open in HawaiiCorey Conners18,592
The American ExpressAdam Hadwin310,800
Farmers Insurance OpenJason Day0
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmJordan Spieth70,125
WM Phoenix OpenMatt Fitzpatrick156,200
The Genesis InvitationalMax Homa329,000
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau145,125
Cognizant ClassicRussell Henley32,850
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler4,000,000
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipWill Zalatoris0
Valspar ChampionshipSam Burns0
   
Total Winnings: 5,753,192

Recapping Last Week – Valspar Championship

MY CHOICE: Sam Burns – MC

After missing the cut at the most lucrative event of the season, I decided to dumb it down to get back to business at Palm Harbor.

Entering the 2024 event on solo sixth, win, and win, I believed Sam Burns to be the safest of the safe.

I was the wrongest of the wrong.

The kick in the nuts? Bogey at the last to miss when the lead was only 7-under. Anyone who made the cut last week had a legit chance to catch fire on the weekend.

Nope.

We move on, salty AF.

Other to Consider:

Brian Harman: Odd track record here, but the way he’s played in the last two big boy events, I can’t see the angle to fade him. MC 70-74.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout: Each week appears to be more comfortable. Cashing T24 at Riviera and T13 at TPC Sawgrass is my proof. Three more rounds in the 60s on a tough layout for T9.

Justin Thomas: Coming off a missed cut, he should be raring to go. His talent suggests using him for a bigger purse. He can also get hot and stay hot. My Old Kentucky home is in two months. Birdied the first hole on Saturday to tie the lead and then played the final 17 holes in NINE OVER. Sorry to those of you who were on board. T64.

Longshots

Adam Schenk – T33

Adam Hadwin – T5

Adam PacMan Jones

Adam West

Adam Viniateri

Taylor Montgomery – MC

This Week – Texas Children’s Houston Open

MY CHOICE: Wyndham Clark

Third time the charm? He’s one lip-out away from potentially having two wins on the season. Instead, he’s barely mentioned because of the man who has beaten him. I don’t have to worry about form, and I’m excited to see how he reacts this week. Surely, he can make the cut!!!

Or am I the “new Chadders”?

Stay tuned!

Other to Consider:

Sahith Theegala: I had trouble getting off of him this week and I might change it up before the bell sounds. Top-10 paydays from his last two events, a full bag, and he’s impossible not to like.

Tony Finau: I’ll wait until later in the summer when he finds some more.

Jason Day: Proven record in Texas comes with a perfect 3-3 here. Burned me already this season on a course he loves at Torrey Pines.

Tom Hoge: TCU man has produced a steady stream of results in 2024. Nobody made more feet of putts at TPC Sawgrass. Not many made more doubles or worse. Less water = mo money!

Lone Star Longshots:

Alex Noren: Ran T4 here in 2022 but never lifted a trophy on TOUR.

Aaron Rai: There’s no need, in this format at least, to drift down here, but some of you gotta ketchup.

Mackenzie Hughes: Less trouble off the tee, the better. Big week last week as well.

Cameron Champ/Phillips: Gig ‘em.

Anybody with the last name Coody: Texas lads. Big jeans. Big genes.

THE PLAYERS Championship Preview

Nifty No. 50!

I was there on business in October, things were just a bit different:

THE PLAYERS Championship

THE PLAYERS Stadium Course

TPC Sawgrass

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

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Bet365: Top of the Board  

Entering the week as World No. 1 and FedExCup No. 1, Scottie Scheffler (11/2) has already made history. His next chapter, becoming the first player to defend the title successfully, would not surprise many. Hitting it great, as usual, last week, his putter showed up on Sunday. Leading the field in SG: Putting in Round 4, the Texan blew away the field by five shots at a blustery Bay Hill. Not many win back-to-back weeks against fields of this magnitude. Not many have the game Scheffler has. Investors do not receive any premium to overcome these hurdles.

Rory McIlroy (12/1): As the season rolls on, I’m buying in more and more than the Masters is the ultimate goal. Playing Captial One’s The Match and participating in the Seminole Pro-Member, I’m not surprised he wasn’t dialed in last week at Bay Hill. I am surprised he hasn’t cracked the top 10 in four events in the U.S. this season.

The 2021 winner, Justin Thomas (18/1), will have to break the trend of the last four champions ranking in the OWGR top 10. Cashing T12 or better in eight of his last nine starts worldwide, I don’t have to rely on a massive change in form this week. He’s a proven commodity in Florida and on tough, ball-striking courses. Add him.

Xander Schauffele (22/1) flashed his best on debut in 2018. Sharing second miles behind Simpson, he made his second cut from five tries last year (T19). There’s no questioning the depth of his bag and the big-time results he’s posted in large events. The only winners from California this century are Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler, and Phil Mickelson.

Like Scheffler, Viktor Hovland (22/1) has not needed many reps to draw attention to his play at this quirky set-up. After missing the cut on his first visit, he rebounded with T3 and T9 in the last two seasons. Admittedly struggling to put all the pieces together in 2024, his best finish of the new season is T19. There are always exceptions to rules, but I find it unrealistic to put it all together or “find it” on a layout like this one.

Patrick Cantlay (22/1) has played three weekends from six visits to Ponte Vedra Beach. Cashing T19 last year, he ended a streak of three consecutive missed cuts in March. Like most in the top 10, his full bag allows him to contend weekly. Like most in the top 10, his record here is less than inspiring.

Max Homa (22/1) is the Californian I will turn my attention to again this week after banging a top-10 winner last week at Bay Hill. After missing at the WM Phoenix Open, he didn’t fire at Riviera (T16) but added to his recent run of solid play at Bay Hill with T8. Riding that momentum up the coast, the Californian will look to build on T6 and T13 the last two seasons at TPC Sawgrass.

Will Zalatoris (25/1) is on a three-event bender, and I’m here for it to continue. Dropping him in here a week early, he led late on Saturday at Bay Hill before dropping to T4 after Sunday. He led the field in Fairways, was second in Scrambling, and posted his third consecutive T13 or better across three difficult courses. All aboard again.

Lighting up the stat board this season, Jordan Spieth (25/1) ranks fourth in SG: Total. The three-time major champion wouldn’t mind being handed the trophy from his buddy from Dallas, but he’ll need to translate his recent form to a course that has not fit his eye on most previous visits. Missing the cut in five of his last seven before T19 last year, the former Longhorn has been “Sawgrassed” too many times for his liking. Relying on creativity and feel, he’ll need to dial in his tee-to-green game this week.

Making his fourth start, Collin Morikawa (28/1) should have the clues to unlocking Dye’s puzzle. A superior approach player, the two-time major winner enters the week missing two of his last four cuts. Slick Poa Trivialis greens will determine even more concentration with his flat stick. Posting just two rounds in the 60s from his previous 10 loops, he will need to double that total this week to contend and win.

Players to consider for Top 10, Top 20, or Top 40 action:

Hideki Matsuyama (30/1): When he gets going, he can get going. The winner at The Riviera Country Club was lingering in the top 5 last week at Bay Hill before fading to T12. With top 10 visits in two of his last three to TPC Sawgrass, he’s lined up and ready to go. So am I.

Wyndham Clark (35/1): I’ve ignored him too long. His last 10 months have been fantastic. The winner at Pebble Beach ran second last week at Bay Hill, extending his run of big finishes in big events.

Jason Day (45/1): Ending a run of top-10 paydays at Bay Hill with T36, he should have knocked off the rust after missing two weeks. Adding another top 10 to his ledger this season and at THE PLAYERS would not surprise me.

Tom Hoge (66/1): When course history intersects with current form, I’m in. The course record holder rolls into town with T28 or better in six of his last seven, including two top-10 paydays. Never missing the cut in five tries, it’s clear this layout fits his eye.

Adam Hadwin (90/1): I can’t overlook T4 at Riviera plus, he’s hit the top 10 two more times in his last eight starts. Cheekily, he’s run off T13-T9-T29 in the last seasons. Quiet, please.

Chris Kirk (100/1): The Bermuda ball-striking test for The Sentry winner should fit nicely. Absolutely no pressure.

Erik van Rooyen (110/1): Cashing T25 or better from six of eight starts, the South African has won and collected T2 in his last nine on TOUR. Time to take the next step.

Doug Ghim (110/1): T16 or better in his last four starts on TOUR, he has blown incredibly hot and cold at TPC Sawgrass. I hope 80-74 MC from last year scares a few off.

Taylor Pendrith (200/1): Each year, a player from left field runs to the top of the leaderboard. I’ll take my chances on the Canadian who secured T13 on debut in 2022 and T69 last year. Top 40.

NOW PLAYING:

Host CourseTHE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass
Yards (per official scorecard):7,275
Par:72 (36-36).
Greens:Poa Trivialis; 5,500 square feet.
Stimpmeter:13 feet.
Rough:Overseeded Rye at three and a half inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play95/18/18
Architect(s):Pete Dye (1980); Steve Wenzloff (2016).
Defending Champion (event):Scottie Scheffler (-17).
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:None.
Course Record:62; Tom Hoge (Round 3, 2023).
72 Hole Tournament Record (March):271; Scottie Scheffler (2023).
72 Hole Tournament Record264; Greg Norman (1994). Made one bogey.
Fact of the Week:No champion has successfully defended.
Fact of the Week II:Only two players have won on debut. Hal Sutton (1983 – second event at the course) and Craig Perks (2002).

THE PLAYERS Stadium Course

Following the fourth Signature Event of the season, THE PLAYERS Championship celebrates its 50th edition this week at the THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

The third stop of four on the Florida Swing brings Pete Dye’s genius to the forefront for the 42nd consecutive edition. Stretching to 7,275 yards, the Par-72 matches the scorecard from the 2023 tournament.

Testing the full range of clubs, shots, and mental toughness, the course, while not ranking as overly difficult is far from overly easy. Since returning to March for the 2019 edition the average winning score is 15-under-par, but only 15 players have posted 10-under or better in the last three editions.

Providing multiple dog legs, tree canopies, waste bunkers, and water penalty areas, there’s no way to fake it tee to green. Narrow fairways and cramped putting surfaces require concentration on every shot. The last four winners have ranked in the top six in SG: Approach.

Water is plentiful and in play on almost every field shot. Over 90 bunkers, including waste sand areas, plus three and a half inches of overseeded ryegrass force the pros to pick their poison. Getting it close requires a sturdy decision-making process when faced with the mounds, swales, and closely mown areas around the greens.

Hole locations on humps, bumps, or lying in bowls will test short-game acumen and the flat stick. Running at 13 feet on the Stimpmeter, the overseeded Poa Trivialis will provide a slick putting surface.

Pushing shot shapes to the edge will result in fantastic opportunities to score, or the most direct path to pitching out. Or finding the drop zone. Bailout areas don’t exist for power players this week.

Taking advantage of the short Par-4 holes and the three short Par-5 holes (out of four) will help the scoring and the mood of the world’s best players.

THE PLAYERS Championship

The event was established in 1974 and moved to TPC Sawgrass and the Pete Dye Stadium Course in 1982.

The field of 144 players includes 47 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings. No amateurs or club pros are eligible.

Only four qualified players are not entered this week (Tiger Woods, Will Gordon, David Lingmerth, and Danny Willett). 

Scottie Scheffler won on his third attempt last year. Only 2017 champion Si Woo Kim, the youngest winner in history, needed fewer attempts. Craig Perks, the 2002 champion, was only the second winner on debut after Hal Sutton in 1983, the second year of the event at TPC Sawgrass.

After 2006, the event was moved from March to May. Following the 2018 edition, won easily by Webb Simpson, the event returned to its March roots. The 2020 edition was abandoned after Round 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was declared null and void.

The four March winners have all ranked inside the top 10 of the OWGR at the time of victory.

Over the previous 41 editions at TPC Sawgrass, only five players have won the event twice. None are playing this week.

Fred Funk, 48 in the 2005 edition, became the oldest winner.

Led by World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, nine previous champions are in the field. Justin Thomas (2021), Rory McIlroy (2019), Webb Simpson (2018), Si Woo Kim (2017), Jason Day (2016), Rickie Fowler (2015), Matt Kuchar (2012), and Adam Scott (2004).

All four March winners were 29 or younger at the time of victory.

Scottie Scheffler posted 17-under last year, the lowest winning total since returning to March.

Tom Hoge set the course record in Round 3 last year. Posting 62, the North Dakotan highlighted the easiest scoring round (any round) in the history of the event (69.573).

The field of 144 includes players representing 22 countries and 23 debutants. The field will be cut to the top 65 and ties after two rounds.

On the line is a purse of $25 million, with the winner taking home $4.5 million. THE PLAYERS Championship is the first of five events this season that will award 750 FedExCup points to the winner.

Season Winners

2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen
Butterfield BermudaCamilo Villegas
The RSM ClassicLudvig Aberg

2024 Season Winners

EventWinner
The SentryChris Kirk
Sony Open in HawaiiGrayson Murray
The American ExpressNick Dunlap (a)
Farmers Insurance OpenMatthieu Pavon (rookie)
AT&T Pebble BeachWyndham Clark (54 holes – weather)
WM Phoenix OpenNick Taylor
The Genesis InvitationalHideki Matsuyama
Mexico Open at VidantaJake Knapp (rookie)
Cognizant ClassicAustin Eckroat
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler

Recent Winners – THE PLAYERS Championship

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2023Scottie Scheffler (-17)Blasted the field by five, the largest winning margin since 2006 (Stephen Ames – 6 shots).
2022Cam Smith (-13)Closing with 66, the Australian finished Round 3 and won the event on Monday.
2021Justin Thomas (-14)Fired 64-68 to set the closing 36-hole record.
2020Cancelled 
2019Rory McIlroy (-16)Held off Jim Furyk by a shot in the return to March.

One and Done

I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…

35 events.

1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee Thursday).

1 use per year.

Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!

EventSelectionEarnings
The SentryCollin Morikawa690,500
Sony Open in HawaiiCorey Conners18,592
The American ExpressAdam Hadwin310,800
Farmers Insurance OpenJason Day0
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmJordan Spieth70,125
WM Phoenix OpenMatt Fitzpatrick156,200
The Genesis InvitationalMax Homa329,000
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau145,125
Cognizant ClassicRussell Henley32,850
Arnold Palmer InvitationalScottie Scheffler4,000,000
   
Total Winnings: 5,753,192

His game has more fun stuff to it. Reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@frontier.com for more details and to join.

Recapping Last Week – Arnold Palmer Invitational

Sometimes, shit just happens like we all expect it to happen. Except for the people who didn’t pick the winner.

Celebrate ALL VICTORIES, kids. Life is hard. Fantasy golf is harder.

Other than THE WINNER, which is obviously the most important in THIS game, I hardly put a foot right. Disastrous performance, except for having the THE WINNER.

MY CHOICE: Scottie Scheffler – WON

I wouldn’t be too disappointed if you were not on board last week. There is this week, four majors, and four more Signature Events. Lotta time there.

Other to Consider:

Rory McIlroy: I posted the stat on Twitter yesterday where he has had the most top-10 paydays since 2016. He’s six from nine here. His form puts me off. Another week, another finish outside the top 20. Bizarre. T21.

Viktor Hovland: Another who is not firing on all cylinders, the Norwegian led after 36 holes in 2022 and played in the final group last year. And another who didn’t fire. T36 after 75-75 weekend.

Ludvig Aberg: Phased by absolutely nothing. T24 on debut last year as an amateur. T25 this season.

Tommy Fleetwood: The tougher, the better, and his three top-10 paydays provide the evidence. Annnnnnnnnnd a MC. I’m the Fleetwood barometer. If I think he’s the right play, go the other way! Sad!

Jason Day: Enters on back-to-back top-10s and has won here. T36.

Sam Burns: Tough to ignore four straight in the top 10 on TOUR. Smooth 68 to open. And 78 to close. T30.

Longshots

Chris Kirk – T44

Corey Conners – T18

Justin Rose – MC

This Week – THE PLAYERS Championship

MY CHOICE: Will Zalatoris

His game is in excellent shape (T4, T2, and T13 last three) and he’s never missed in three March events. Pounding Fairways and GIR is his strength and that’s the foundation this week. I’ll worry about the putter like I did with Scheffler when I need to worry about the putter.

Other to Consider:

Hideki Matsuyama – Healthy, confident, and playing well. The Genesis Invitational winner and Masters champion won’t be bothered with all the happenings going on. It was him or Zalatoris.

Jusitn Thomas – I’m saving him for my Old Kentucky Home in May. You gotta do you. Hell, he’s good enough to win both.

Brian Harman – Tough laydown, but I’ll find other uses for him.

Scottie Scheffler – I included him for those of you considering using him. Winning the week before this event has happened like three times and Tiger Woods and Ray Floyd are the two of the names. I’m glad I’m not butting heads with the history the Texan faces this week. Can he? Of course. If he does, it’s an all-time result.

Longshots

Tom Hoge

Sahith Theegala

Harris English

Garrick Higgo

Arnold Palmer Invitational Preview

Read more: Arnold Palmer Invitational Preview

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard

Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Orlando, Florida

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Bet365: Top of the Board  

Scottie Scheffler (13/2): I’m not one to usually support favorites, but I’m making an exception this week. Cashing T4 in defense of his 2022 victory, he knows elite putting is not required this week. With 19 top-three-paydays to his name since the 2021-2022 season, place him where you feel most comfortable. He’s the first name on my ticket.

Rory McIlroy (9/1): In the last 10 days, he’s played Captial One’s The Match, four rounds at the Cognizant Classic (T21), and the Seminole Pro-Member. He wanted reps before Augusta. He’s getting reps before Augusta! A true course horse, the 2018 winner is a constant in the top 10 outside Orlando. The finish line is the Masters, not Bay Hill.

Sitting as third choice, Viktor Hovland (14/1) is still searching for his first top 10 of 2024. The Norwegian has been lurking the last two seasons at the top of the leaderboard outside Orlando. Playing in the final group last year, he shot 76 to drift to T10. The 36-hole leader in 2022 closed 75-74 for T2.

Xander Schauffele (16/1) has yet to find the key to success at Bay Hill. The West Coast wizard started hot, but he’s never cracked the code in Florida. Supporters this week will hope the third time is the first time inside the top 20.

Patrick Cantlay (16/1) adapted quickly on debut last season. Posting three rounds below par, he finished T4 after his first four loops. Cashing T4 at Riviera and T11 at Pebble Beach in his last two outings, taking that form to Florida will be necessary again.

Granted a sponsor’s exemption as an amateur as a college senior last spring, Ludvig Aberg (18/1) is now one of the favorites in a Signature Event in his first full season on TOUR. Posting nothing worse than 73, the amateur cashed T24 against one of the best fields in golf. Cashing his last three on TOUR inside the top 20, he will enjoy another ball-striking challenge this week.

Sharing fourth in his first two visits at Bay Hill, Jordan Spieth (20/1) makes his third visit in the last four years. Leading on the back nine on Sunday last year, the Texan ran out of gas at the finish line. Cashing T6 or better in his last three visits on Bermuda, his last victory was on the same surface at Harbour Town in 2022.

Players to consider for Top 10, Top 20, or Top 40 action:

Max Homa (25/1): Wins at Quail Hollow, Torrey Pines, and Riviera suggest 7,466 yards isn’t out of the question. Making his fifth start, he’s cashed T24 or better in the previous four. Invest.

Will Zalatoris (30/1): Making his fourth appearance, the former Wake Forest Deamon Deacon roars into Bay Hill after finishing second at The Genesis Challenge. The return to familiar grass should bring familiar results.

Jason Day (33/1): The red-hot Aussie bumps into my purview due to his previous history at Bay Hill. The 2016 champion, and former resident of Lake Nona ran T10 last year and rolls into town after back-to-back top-10 paydays on the West Coast Swing.

Adam Scott (50/1): Every lineup/card/ticket needs a safety dance. The Australian, a sponsor’s exemption this week, will not want to embarrass those who shoved him into the field. All aboard! Posting T20 or better in his last three on TOUR, he’s not a novelty act.

Corey Conners (55/1): Putting is not an afterthought this week, but I’ll side with the guys who will hit the most greens. Keeping it out of the water and bunkers will produce more scoring chances.

Keegan Bradley (55/1): Cashing in 11 straight at Arnold’s place, his last three here are T10-T11-T10.

Justin Rose (110/1): Formerly a resident, the Englishman has experienced plenty of reps around Bay Hill. Comfortably flying beneath the radar, let’s hope his allergies don’t get the best of him!

Taylor Moore (200/1): Defending in three weeks at Innisbrook, this is another track that requires concentration for each shot. Cashing in his last nine on TOUR, I’ll embrace this number for either a Top 20 or Top 40.

NOW PLAYING:

Host CourseBay Hill Club & Lodge
Yards (per official scorecard):7,466
Par:72 (36-36).
Greens:TifEagle Bermuda; 7,500 square feet.
Stimpmeter:12 feet.
Rough:Overseeded Rye at three inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play85/8/9
Architect(s):Dick Wilson & Joe Lee; Arnold Palmer.
Defending Champion (event):Kurt Kitayama (-9).
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:None.
Course Record:64; Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley since the change to TifEagle in 2016.
72 Hole Tournament Record270; Rory McIlroy 2018 after the change to TifEagle.
Fact of the Week:Second of four weeks in Florida and TifEagle.
Fact of the Week II:Fourth of eight Signature Events for 2024.

Bay Hill Club & Lodge

The halfway point of the Florida Swing is also the halfway point of eight Signature Events on the 2024 calendar.

Known as one of the most difficult tests on TOUR, the Par-72, stretching 7,466 yards, nothing comes easy this week. 

Ranking in the top 10 most difficult tracks used on TOUR in six of the last seven seasons, Bay Hill has not played under par since the 2016 edition, the first with brand-new TifEagle Bermuda greens. The 2020 tournament played two shots over par; the most difficult venue used during that season.

Fairways and greens are challenging targets to acquire. Arnold Palmer’s design has ranked in the top five during the last five seasons in SG: Tee to Green. Errant tee shots and approaches could find three inches of overseeded (rye) Bermuda, 84 bunkers, or water penalty areas (nine holes).

Putting the TifEagle Bermuda greens, the fourth largest on TOUR at 7,500 square feet on average, challenge matching line and speed at 12 feet on the Stimpmeter.

Arnold Palmer Invitational

Debuting as host in 1979, Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club has anchored the late winter/early spring schedule on TOUR.

2023 champion Kurt Kitayama joins 1990 winner Robert Gamez as the only player to win on debut.

After changing the greens from Bentgrass to TifEagle Bermuda after the 2015 edition, international players won the next five editions.

Attaining elevated status in 2021, American players have won the last three at Bay Hill.

Winning as a 21-year-old in 1990, Robert Gamez is the youngest champion by three years.

The last four winners ranged from 26 to 30 years old. Only two of the last eight have been older than 30.

The tournament scoring record, produced in perfect scoring conditions by Rory McIlroy during the 2018 edition, is 270 (-18).

McIlroy and Keegan Bradley have posted 64, the lowest single-round total since 2016.

The field of 69, including 44 of the Official World Golf Ranking Top 50, will be cut to the top 50 and ties, plus any player within 10 shots of the lead, after 36 holes.

On the line is a purse of $20 million, with the winner taking home $4 million plus 700 FedExCup points.

Season Winners

2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen
Butterfield BermudaCamilo Villegas
The RSM ClassicLudvig Aberg

2024 Season Winners

EventWinner
The SentryChris Kirk
Sony Open in HawaiiGrayson Murray
The American ExpressNick Dunlap (a)
Farmers Insurance OpenMatthieu Pavon (rookie)
AT&T Pebble BeachWyndham Clark (54 holes – weather)
WM Phoenix OpenNick Taylor
The Genesis InvitationalHideki Matsuyama
Mexico Open at VidantaJake Knapp (rookie)
Cognizant ClassicAustin Eckroat

Recent Winners – Arnold Palmer Invitational

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2023Kurt Kitayama (-9)Overcame a triple bogey in the final round to hold off McIlroy, English, Spieth, and Scheffler.
2022Scottie Scheffler (-5)Trailing by eight after 36 holes, he won in his second appearance.
2021Bryson DeChambeau (-11)Held off Lee Westwood by a shot.
2020Tyrrell Hatton (-4)Brutal conditions. Only four players broke par.
2019Francesco Molinari   (-12)Closed with 64 to beat Matt Fitzpatrick by two.
2018Rory McIlroy (-18)Closed 67-64 in perfect conditions to win by three.
2017Marc Leishman (-11)Won by a shot.
2016Jason Day (-17)First winner after the change to TifEagle greens. Soft conditions.

One and Done

I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…

35 events.

1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee Thursday).

1 use per year.

Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!

EventSelectionEarnings
The SentryCollin Morikawa690,500
Sony Open in HawaiiCorey Conners18,592
The American ExpressAdam Hadwin310,800
Farmers Insurance OpenJason Day0
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmJordan Spieth70,125
WM Phoenix OpenMatt Fitzpatrick156,200
The Genesis InvitationalMax Homa329,000
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau145,125
Cognizant ClassicRussell Henley32,850
   
Total Winnings: 1,753,192

Recapping Last Week – Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches

Another week, another choice nobody had on the radar.

We slog on.

MY CHOICE: Russell Henley – T41

Super 65 on Saturday set up a chance to move into the top five and pick up some real cash. Instead, he shot 72 and joined about a dozen players who couldn’t break par in ideal scoring conditions and dropped 30 spots.

Other to Consider:

Stephan Jaeger: Knock. Knock. Knock. T14 here last year. MC.

Eric Cole: Sure, he plays just about every week, but he didn’t last week! The Florida native can’t be outside the top three choices. Never take another week off. MC.

Shane Lowry: Never missed in six tries. T5-2nd last two years. T4. Brutal ride on Monday. Roller coaster town.

Sepp Straka: Streak is four straight. T5-WIN last two years. MC.

Keith Mitchell: If you don’t catch him this week, don’t worry, his big, bad driver might work even better at the big, bad Bay Hill layout. T9 but didn’t qualify for Bay Hill.

Rory McIlroy: You gotta do you. The angle this year is to play more to ramp it up and peak at the Masters. The Ulsterman gets many chances to get it right. We get ONE. T21.

Longshots

Daniel Berger: Making just his third start from injury, the local will have plenty of folks in his corner again if he’s in the mix on Sunday. Missed the cut.

Byeong Hun An: Not sure he’s “graduated” to the OAD level, but this field makes more sense than others. T21.

Sam Ryder: Native with two top-10 paydays in his last two visits here. Not for the faint of heart. T21.

Luke List: JT got him in a playoff back in 2018, but he’s found his way since. MC.

This Week – Arnold Palmer Invitational

Kurt Kitayama showed steel nerves last year down the stretch and kickstarted the last 12 months of “Wow, that guy won?”. No offense to any of these great players, but how many of you had Clark at the U.S. Open? How about Harman at The Open? What about Glover in Memphis? Kirk at Sentry? Clark again at Pebble Beach.

Sigh.

MY CHOICE: Scottie Scheffler

I don’t like Pinehurst for him, not with those greens. Nobody defends at THE PLAYERS. Masters field will be intense. I’m going in this week. He knows this place well enough and he’s been in Top-10 mode recently.

Let’s go.

Others to Consider:

Rory McIlroy: I posted the stat on Twitter yesterday that showed the most top-10 paydays since 2016. He’s six from nine here. His form puts me off.

Viktor Hovland: Another who is not firing on all cylinders, the Norwegian led after 36 holes in 2022 and played in the final group last year.

Ludvig Aberg: Phased by absolutely nothing. T24 on debut last year as an amateur.

Tommy Fleetwood: The tougher, the better, and his three top-10 paydays provide the evidence.

Jason Day: Enters on back-to-back top-10s and has won here.

Sam Burns: Tough to ignore four straight in the top 10 on TOUR.

Longshots

Chris Kirk – Corey Conners – Justin Rose

Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches

Spring Break begins with four consecutive weeks in The Sunshine State. Formerly The Honda Classic, the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches takes up the reins for this week and after.

Read more: Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches

Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches

PGA National Resort

Champion Course

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

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Quick Links:

Odds OutlookDFS ReportHorses for Courses/Stats SuggestExpert Picks

Bet365: Top of the Board  

Sitting at the top of the board for his North American home game is Rory McIlroy (8/1). Fresh off his win at Captial One’s The Match on Monday, he returns to the Champion Course for the first time since T59 in 2018. The 2012 winner was eliminated in a four-man-playoff in 2014, his last top 10 at the event. I’m not into favorites outside of Signature Events and major championships, so I’ll patiently wait until next week.

Cameron Young (22/1) will note that three of the last five winners have won for the first time on TOUR. Playing in his 57th TOUR start, the big-hitting youngster will look to continue his solid form from the West Coast. Cashing T8 at TPC Scottsdale and T16 at Riviera suggests he’s ready for another demanding course.

I’m starting my card with Russell Henley (25/1) on top. Bermuda and ball-striking is a fantastic combination this week. The Georgia native cashed T3 and T8 in his previous two visits to add to his 2014 victory. He was the first of four Georgia Bulldogs to win in the last 10 events. I’m leaning on him to keep the tradition alive.

Floridian Eric Cole (25/1) would also like to add his name to the list of first-time victors. Setting the tournament scoring record with Chris Kirk (40/1) last year on 14-under, the 2023 rookie finished second on debut after falling in a playoff. In seven events this season, he’s hit the top 14 in four of them, including two on Bermuda in Hawaii. Load it up.

Winning for the first time won’t be on the agenda for 21-year-old Tom Kim (28/1). Making his tournament debut, he will look to join his countryman and 2020 winner Sungjae Im as the youngest winner. A winner three times on TOUR, the Korean will need a better debut than his T45 at The Sentry to open 2024.

Matt Fitzpatrick (28/1) won on Champion Bermuda/TifEagle Bermuda last season at Harbour Town for his second victory on TOUR. One to keep an eye on next week at Bay Hill, the Englishman makes his first appearance since 2017 (T68). Grinding doesn’t bother him; neither will a challenge off the tee or on/around the greens.

Byeong Hun An (28/1) paved his return to the PGA TOUR via his win at the LECOM Classic on the KFT in 2022. Winning on Bermuda on the West Coast of Florida, the Orlando native has enjoyed his previous visits to PGA National. Making the cut in four of his five starts, the Korean has hit the top five twice, including T4 in 2020, his best of the lot.

Joining Tom Kim as a former winner at the Wyndham Championship, North Carolina native J.T. Poston (33/1) enjoys a challenge on Bermuda. Cashing T5 at The Sentry followed by a solo sixth at Sony, both on Bermuda, I have no problem overlooking his lack of success at PGA National. His full bag suggests fitting him in if the choices above do not move the meter.

Players to consider for Top 10, Top 20, or Top 40 action:

Stephan Jaeger (35/1): I left him alone LAST week because I thought this difficult test would fit his eye even better.

Daniel Berger (35/1): A home game for the life-long resident should evoke fantastic memories of three top-four paydays, including his last two visits.

Denny McCarthy (55/1): When presented with the choice of region vs form, I’m going to rely on Bermuda fans from youth. It’s not an absolute science, but more of a tiebreaker.

Doug Ghim (66/1): Back for more! I’m riding the heat of T8-T12-T13 from his last three on TOUR.

Akshat Bhatia (80/1): If it’s time to put the ball in play off the tee and into the greens, I’m leaning on the noted wind player. I’ll take my chances with the long putter on the perfect greens.

Gary Woodland (125/1): Never missing the cut in nine starts, I’m latching on.

Greyson Sigg (150/1): Another Georgia Bulldog with a top finish? This dawg only made five bogeys last week.

Sam Ryder (200/1): OK, I’ll bite. Opening with 69-63 in 2021, he claimed T8. In the 2022 edition, his third consecutive cut made at the event, he pocketed another top-10 finish with T9. Florida natives will be the long shots of choice this week and the next three.

Matt NeSmith (250/1): Making his fourth visit, he’s cashed T38 or better in his first three. Giddy up.

Bud Cauley (350/1): Stretching a bit, but if you can find him for Top 40, I’d take a shot. Gambling, right?

NOW PLAYING:

Host CoursePGA National Resort – Champion Course
Yards (per official scorecard):7,147
Par:71 (35-36).
Greens:TifEagle Bermuda; 7,000 square feet.
Stimpmeter:12 feet.
Rough:Celebration Bermuda at 2.25 inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play65/15/15
Architect(s):Tom and George Fazio (1980); Jack Nicklaus (2000 and beyond).
Defending Champion (event):Chris Kirk (-14).
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:No multiple winners from the 17 previous events.
Course Record:61; Matt Jones (not entered) last to do it, 2021.
72 Hole Tournament Record266; Chris Kirk and Eric Cole, 2023.
Fact of the Week:First of four weeks of The Florida Swing.
Fact of the Week II:First of four weeks on TifEagle Bermuda Greens and Celebration Bermuda.

Returning to the USA, the Florida Swing begins at Jack Nicklaus’ PGA National Champion Course.

Formerly known as The Honda Open, the Champion Course remains the host for the 18th consecutive season. After playing Par-70 to 7,125 for the last six years, the new sponsorship will play Par-71 (35-36) over 7,147 yards. 

Previously playing 505 yards and playing to a Par-4, Hole No. 10 has added 25 yards, shifted left eight yards, and will now play as a Par-5. Players will no longer have to wait 14 holes until No. 18 to get another Par-5 opportunity.

Don’t let the word “resort” fool you. For the last 10 years, the track has ranked in the top seven most difficult seven times, including five of the previous six seasons.

The coastal breezes, bunkers, and water being in play on 15 of the 18 holes provide a physical and mental challenge. Rating annually as a top-five three-hole-stretch on TOUR, the holes Nos 15 through 17, known as “The Bear Trap”, will give the professionals plenty of food for thought coming home. In better news, the cut of the rough this season will barely exceed two inches, and the fairways have expanded by an acre.

The return to Bermudagrass will be a welcome sight for those who grew up and live in this part of the world. Celebration Bermuda is on the menu until 7,000 square feet (on average) of TifEagle Bermuda welcomes the players on the putting surfaces. Running at a manageable 12 feet on the Stimpmeter, the greens will not be cut as short as last year due to poor winter conditions.

Ranking in the top five on TOUR in balls in the water since 2003, I’ll remind you PGA National did not host its first TOUR event until 2007.

Cognizant Classic at the Palm Beaches (Event)

The ninth event of the PGA TOUR season returns to a familiar part of Florida. Hosting a TOUR event since 1972, the Palm Beaches have only missed one event (1976) in 43 years.

Ranking in the top five for balls in the water on TOUR since 2003, PGA National did not start hosting the event until 2007.

No player has won at the Champion Course more than once.

No winner has lifted the trophy in consecutive seasons.

Winning the 2020 edition, Sungjae Im became the youngest champion at 21.

Padraig Harrington, also in the field this week, has won the event twice. The PGA TOUR Champions star won the 2005 event at Mirasol and the 2015 event, becoming the oldest winner at 43, in a playoff over Daniel Berger.

2013 champion Michael Thompson (not entered) is the only winner who does not have multiple TOUR victories.

The last five winners have produced three first-time champions.

None of the 17 past champions won on debut.

There have been zero wire-to-wire winners at PGA National.

Defending champion Chris Kirk ousted first-timer Eric Cole in a playoff last year. Both players set the tournament scoring record on 14-under par. The course record, 61, was last accomplished in the 2021 edition by Matt Jones.

The field of 144, including 19 of the Official World Golf Ranking Top 50, will have chances to gain eligibility into the Arnold Palmer Invitational. After the 72 holes at PGA National, the Aon Next 10 and the Aon Swing 5 will determine who advances to Bay Hill.

On the line is a purse of $9 million, with the winner taking home $1.62 million plus 500 FedExCup points.

Season Winners

2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen
Butterfield BermudaCamilo Villegas
The RSM ClassicLudvig Aberg

2024 Season Winners

EventWinner
The SentryChris Kirk
Sony Open in HawaiiGrayson Murray
The American ExpressNick Dunlap (a)
Farmers Insurance OpenMatthieu Pavon (rookie)
AT&T Pebble BeachWyndham Clark (54 holes – weather)
WM Phoenix OpenNick Taylor
The Genesis InvitationalHideki Matsuyama
Mexico Open at VidantaJake Knapp (rookie)

Recent Winners – Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2023Chris Kirik (-14)*Defeated rookie Eric Cole in a playoff. Both set the tournament scoring record on 14-under. Played his college golf at Georgia.
2022Sepp Straka (-10)Won for the first time on TOUR. Played his college golf at Georgia.
2021Matt Jones (-12)Won by five in tough conditions.
2020Sungjae Im (-6)Won for the first time on TOUR; Youngest event winner at 21.
2019Keith Mitchell (-9)Won for the first time on TOUR holding off Rickie Fowler and Brooks Koepka. Played his college golf at Georgia.
2018Jusitn Thomas (-8)Knocked out Luke List in a playoff.
2017Rickie Fowler (-12)Cruised to a four-shot win over Gary Woodland.
2016Adam Scott (-9)Won despite a TRIPLE in the final round.
2015Padraig Harrington  (-6)Taught young Daniel Berger a lesson in a playoff to become the oldest winner.
2014Russell Henley (-8)Started the Georgia run winning a four-man playoff.

Angles

The eighth event of the 2024 PGA TOUR season will be the first of two in Mexico this year. El Cardonal in Los Cabos will return in the fall to host for the second time.

The combination of a Greg Norman track and Mexico was in play at Mayakoba on the Yucatan Peninsula from 2007 through 2022.

Paspalum is a common playing surface in the resorts of the Caribbean and Mexico. PGA TOUR events played recently on Paspalum include El Cardonal, Puerto Rico Open, Corales Punta Cana, and Mayakoba. Korn Ferry Tour players have experienced this surface in two events in the Bahamas.

A field of 132, down from previous years due to the early season start and reduced February daylight, will be cut to the top 65 and ties after two rounds.

Defending champion Tony Finau highlights a field of just four players in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking. At No. 24, he is the highest-ranked player teeing it up this week.

Set during his victory last year, Tony Finau owns the course record on 24-under. The course record of 61, set by Jon Rahm (not entered), was posted in Round 3 of 2023. The cut in the first two editions was 2-under par.

One and Done

I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…

35 events.

1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee Thursday).

1 use per year.

Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!

EventSelectionEarnings
The SentryCollin Morikawa690,500
Sony Open in HawaiiCorey Conners18,592
The American ExpressAdam Hadwin310,800
Farmers Insurance OpenJason Day0
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmJordan Spieth70,125
WM Phoenix OpenMatt Fitzpatrick156,200
The Genesis InvitationalMax Homa329,000
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau145,125
   
Total Winnings: 1,720,342

His game has more fun stuff to it so reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@frontier.com for more details and to join.

Recapping Last Week – Mexico Open at Vidanta

Favorites need not apply. Jake Knapp at 40/1 becomes the shortest winner of the season and that includes Hideki Matsuyama.

MY CHOICE: Tony Finau – T13

Defending titles isn’t as easy as Scottie Scheffler made it look last year. Finau didn’t play poorly, and to be fair, he had the best finish from the favorites outside Stephan Jaeger (T3). Only HFC Patrick Rodgers (T6) made any other sense.

Other to Consider:

Thorbjorn Olesen: Won in the Middle East in his last outing. Former Ryder Cupper plays all four corners of the world, and his game follows. T46 after 71-71 on the weekend.

Cameron Champ: Yep, that’s where we’re at this week. Hitting the top 10 twice in the first two years matches nicely. T24 after not being able to put consecutive rounds under par together.

Emiliano Grillo: Broke his drought at Colonial last spring. Safest pick on the board. Heading into Sunday on 10-under, posting 73 didn’t help anyone.

Thomas Detry: Too many top 25 paydays in thin fields and on Paspalum to ignore. MC. I’m not really sure what happened on Thursday (78), but he returned Friday with 69, nice.

Longshots

Brandon Wu: Testing the limits of Horses for Courses! T13, not bad!

Patrick Rodgers: Same! T6, even better!

Mackenzie Hughes: Flashed for two rounds last week before fading on the weekend. MC as the momentum he had at Riviera didn’t make it through customs.

Charley Hoffman: Previous winner at Mayakoba, should feel right at home. MC.

This Week – Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches

A better field this week, but a reminder that NEXT WEEK is the big bucks at Bay Hill.

Captain Kirk slowed the streak of first-time winners last year, barely.

With too many moving parts, I’m going to rely on an old favorite.

MY CHOICE: Russell Henley

The only reason he didn’t play the last two seasons was fixture congestion.

Had to be.

He was T3 and T8 in his previous two visits and won in 2014.

Streaking with four straight T24 or better, it’s an easy choice for me on Bermuda this week.

Other to Consider:

Stephan Jaeger: Knock. Knock. Knock. T14 here last year.

Eric Cole: Sure, he plays just about every week, but he didn’t last week! The Florida native can’t be outside the top three choices.

Shane Lowry: Never missed in six tries. T5-2nd last two years.

Sepp Straka: Streak is four straight. T5-WIN last two years.

Keith Mitchell: If you don’t catch him this week, don’t worry, his big, bad driver might work even better at the big, bad Bay Hill layout.

Rory McIlroy: You gotta do you. The angle this year is to play more to ramp it up and peak at the Masters. The Ulsterman gets many chances to get it right. We get ONE.

Longshots

Daniel Berger: Making just his third start from injury the local will have plenty of folks in his corner again if he’s in the mix on Sunday.

Byeong Hun An: Not sure he’s “graduated” to OAD level, but this field makes more sense than others.

Sam Ryder: Native with two top-10 paydays in his last two visits here. Not for the timid, or those in the lead!

Luke List: JT got him in a playoff back in 2018 but he’s found his way since.

The Genesis Invitational

Tiger Woods hosts the third of eight Signature Events on the 2024 calendar.

Read more: The Genesis Invitational

The Genesis Invitational

The Riviera Country Club

Pacific Palisades, California

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Odds OutlookDFS ReportHorses for Courses/Stats SuggestExpert Picks – Bet365.com Preview

Bet365: Top of the Board  

Sitting No. 1 in the OWGR, Scottie Scheffler (7/1) will look to add his name to the winners at The Genesis Invitational who have also won the Masters. Cashing T12 and T7 the last two seasons suggests he’s closing in on joining that club. I don’t need to remind you about his numbers in the Strokes-Gained department from last year or last week. The only question that follows the Texan is WHEN he will return to the winner’s circle.

Making his eighth start in Tinsel Town, Rory McIlroy (10/1) attempts to return to the form he used to start 2024 (WIN-T2). Pebble Beach wasn’t the soft landing he anticipated, and T66 wasn’t the payday he expected to take home. Rested after skipping WM Phoenix Open last week, the Ulsterman will look to add to his bounty of T29 or better in six of seven starts, including three top-10 paydays in Southern California.

A slow start from Norwegian superstar Viktor Hovland (14/1) has turned heads for the wrong reasons. Unable to breach the top 20 in Maui and not firing during the Pro-Am at Pebble Beach (T58), he was a late withdraw before the WM Phoenix Open last week. Cashing a pair of top-five paydays from three starts in Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Canyon might provide the tonic needed to swing his game into gear. The last two winners were in their 20s, but none were from a decade before. I’ll wait.

Xander Schauffele (16/1) leads the California contingent this week, even though he’s only painted the top 10 once from six starts. Running in the red to start the season, the San Diego native ran into the wind and weather of Pebble Beach (T54) and withdrew just before the WM Phoenix Open. Cashing four of his last six T15 or better, I’d lean into the top 20 (-170) as insurance.

Justin Thomas (18/1) embraced the tough conditions at Pebble Beach (T6) and was not deterred by the weather delays at TPC Scottsdale (T12). Since missing the cut at the 3M Open last summer, the two-time major champion has produced T12 or better paydays in seven consecutive starts on TOUR. The “new” swing changes have been replaced with the old, familiar action, and the results have followed.

Long Beach native Patrick Cantlay (18/1) pushed onto the podium last year with solo third. In the early days of 2024, he struggled to put all four rounds together, especially on Sunday. Sitting T11 after three rounds at Pebble Beach, he did not have a chance to wash away the difficult fourth-round mojo that had been following him to start the year. Cashing T17 or better in five of his last six here, hitching to a top 20 or top 10 might be the prudent play.

If there’s a track that will play Max Homa (18/1) into winning shape, I would point to this week. The 2021 winner, runner-up last year, has peeled off four straight paydays inside the top 10 and has not missed a weekend in five years. Cashing T13 in his defense at Torrey Pines, the Burbank native, born 20 miles up the street, didn’t fire at Pebble Beach (T66) and missed the cut last week in Scottsdale. A home game is just what the doctor ordered! Remember, four of his six wins on TOUR have come in his home state.

Ludvig Aberg (20/1) continues to produce results on premium courses against premium fields. The elements of Pebble Beach, the wind, weather, and Pro-Am, could not slow him down as he cashed solo second. Playing almost 7,800 yards, Torrey Pines kept him at T9. Experience is a must-have for most, but the Swedish star has been writing his own rules since last June.

Collin Morikawa (20/1) is another local who will be making noise this week. Finishing T2 in 2022 and cashing T6 in 2023, the La Canada-Flintridge native enjoys most ball-striking challenges. Sitting second behind Scheffler in SG: Approach the Green and fourth in SG: Tee to Green, he embraces tough layouts. A disappointing missed cut at Torrey Pines might distract investors. Not me.

Players to consider for Top 10, Top 20, or Top 40 action:

Adam Scott (30/1): The 2020 champ is the all-time leading money winner at the event and has produced top 20 or better results worldwide over the last three months. Lovely convergence.

Cameron Young (40/1): Backed up a solo third from the Middle East with his second top-10 in three starts with T8 last week in Phoenix. Tying for second on debut in 2022, he posted 62 in Round 2. Last year, he returned for T20.

Will Zalatoris (50/1): Riding into Hollywood on a sponsor’s exemption, just like Scott, he will look forward to repaying the faith shown in him by his host. Running fourth here last year, he closed with 64, his best round in four appearances.

Emiliano Grillo (110/1): Playing for the sixth time in seven weeks, the Argentine has produced T22 or better in his last four starts. The winner at Colonial, the other Hogan’s Alley, last spring can work it tee to green.

Tom Hoge (125/1): Making his seventh consecutive start to begin 2024, I’ll back the free roll. Hitting 28 of 36 GIR on the weekend in Phoenix, he cashed T17 for the second time in three starts on TOUR. The other payday was T6 at Pebble Beach.

NOW PLAYING:

Host CourseThe Riviera Country Club
Yards (per official scorecard):7,322
Par:71 (35-36).
Greens:Poa annua; 7,500 square feet on average.
Stimpmeter:12 feet and up.
Rough:Kikuyu grass at two inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play58/0/0
Architect(s):George C. Thomas (1926).
Defending Champion (event):Jon Rahm -17
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:Adam Scott (2020, 2005).
Course Record:61; Ted Tryba (1999).
72 Hole Tournament Record264; Lanny Wadkins (1985).
Fact of the Week:Before the last two editions, all of the winners from 2008 through 2021 were 30 or older.
Fact of the Week II:Adam Scott was the last player to win on debut. His 36-hole victory in 2005 was unofficial.

One of the classic American golf courses, The Riviera Country Club, designed by George C. Thomas, opened for business in 1927.

Hosting the former Los Angeles Open for the 62nd time, the Par-71 layout has stretched 7,322 yards since the 2016 edition.

The West Coast swing ends with another week on Poa annua greens. Running at 12.5 feet on the Stimpmeter, the large putting surfaces, averaging 7,500 square feet, rank in the top five largest on TOUR.

There’s no water on the course that runs through the Santa Monica Canyon. Kikuyu grass cut at two inches will provide nest-y, uneven lies off the fairways and around the greens. The bunkers, 58 of them, are penal. The Riviera Country Club ranks as one of the toughest tracks on the calendar when it comes to getting up and down out of the sand or, getting it close.

Taming Riviera requires a full array of shots, including a cooperative flat stick. Grinding out pars on the Par-4 holes, attacking the scorable Par-5 chances, and surviving the all-encompassing Par-3 holes will produce a worthy champion.

“Hogan’s Alley” has hosted the U.S. Open, won by Ben Hogan in 1948, plus two PGA Championships. The historical record includes a U.S. Senior Open and the U.S. Amateur, plus the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open and 2028 Summer Olympics yet to come.

Notes:

  • Field of 70.
  • The cut will be made after 36 holes. The top 50 and ties, plus anyone within 10 shots of the lead plays the weekend.
  • The OWGR is represented by 41 of the top 50.
  • $20 million – $4 million – 700 FedExCup points – Sentry, PLAYERS, and Masters ticket punched.

Season Winners

2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen
Butterfield BermudaCamilo Villegas
The RSM ClassicLudvig Aberg

2024 Season Winners

EventWinner
The SentryChris Kirk
Sony Open in HawaiiGrayson Murray
The American ExpressNick Dunlap (a)
Farmers Insurance OpenMatthieu Pavon (rookie)
AT&T Pebble BeachWyndham Clark (54 holes – weather)
WM Phoenix OpenNick Taylor
The Genesis Invitational 

Recent Winners – The Genesis Invitational

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2023Jon Rahm (-17)Held off 2021 winner Max Homa by two shots.
2022Joaquin Niemann     (-19)Became just the fourth wire-to-wire winner in event history.
2021Max Homa (-12)Defeated Tony Finau in a playoff.
2020Adam Scott (-11)Held off Matt Kuchar and two others by two shots.
2019J.B. Holmes (-14)Justin Thomas was 18-under with 17 holes to go. He finished 13-under and in second place.
2018Bubba Watson (-12)Won for the third time holding off Finau by two shots.

Angles

Since 2007, every winner was 30 years or older until the 2022 and 2023 editions, when the winners were 23 and 28.

Masters champions have won this event 11 times since the turn of the century.

The last eight winners needed four or more starts before raising the trophy.

The last player to win on debut was Adam Scott in 2005. The victory was unofficial as the event, canceled due to weather, was only 36 holes.

The trio of Par-5 holes are some of the friendliest on TOUR.

The Par-4 holes are not.

Gaining strokes off the tee and into the greens will go a long way to determining the winner.

Bunkers this week are penal. Getting it close is rare. Getting it up and down is a struggle.

The fifth consecutive week on Poa annua greens will require concentration from outside the leather again. Look for the speed on the green to be the quickest yet on TOUR this season.

One and Done

I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…

35 events.

1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee on Thursday).

1 use per year.

Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!

EventSelectionEarnings
The SentryCollin Morikawa690,500
Sony Open in HawaiiCorey Conners18,592
The American ExpressAdam Hadwin310,800
Farmers Insurance OpenJason Day0
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmJordan Spieth70,125
WM Phoenix OpenMatt Fitzpatrick156,200
   
Total Winnings: 1,246,217

His game has more fun stuff to it so reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@frontier.com for more details and to join.

Recapping Last Week – WM Phoenix Open

Nick Taylor or Charley Hoffman was going to be a triple-digit long-shot winner.

Again.

Whatever.

MY CHOICE: Matt Fitzpatrick – T15 but 10 shots off the lead.

Other to Consider:

Scottie Scheffler: If I am going to use him once and only once, thems the rules, I’m going down in an event with BIG BUCKS on the table. Wonderful attempt for a three-peat. T3 is great, except when you put it next to what T3 this week pays.

Justin Thomas: Current heat mixes nicely with course form. At this point, I can’t talk myself out of him at Valhalla. You do you. T12 after a quiet Saturday round of 70.

Hideki Matsuyama: Legit course horse. T22 adds another top-25 payday to his career total here.

Max Homa: No, thanks. Next week. MC

Wyndham Clark: Following up a round of 60 in victory seems a bit of a stretch.  Tough ask. T41.

Byeong Hun An: The putter isn’t the answer, but he won’t miss many Fairways and GIR. Crowd got under his skin. T66.

Longshots

Keith Mitchell – T17

Corey Conners – T28

Vincent Norrman – MC

Victor Perez – MC

This Week – The Genesis Invitational

West Coast players have feasted here over the years. Only Joaquin Niemann, who is ineligible this week, sticks out like a sore thumb from the list of recent winners. All he did was set the 36-hole and 54-hole scoring record in perfect conditions.

The third of eight Signature Events requires a show of nerves. Either you’re picking an ultra-premium player or you’re hoping to continue to stretch of winners outside 60-1.

With only 40-odd events to choose from, there is absolutely no need to go fishing this week. Save that for next week in Mexico when the field will lighten significantly.

MY CHOICE: Max Homa

It’s his major championship. It’s in his backyard. He’s won it and finished second in the last three editions. The streak of top-10 paydays is four.

No more overthinking.

Some would suggest I don’t think at all!

Who’s arguing?!?!?

With four of his six wins in his home state of California, I expect a bounce back after missing the cut last week. He’s fresh and ready to go.

Happy Valentine’s Day, you filthy animals.

Other to Consider:

Scottie Scheffler: I will not talk you out of him this week. This is not a putting contest and that will help him between the ears from the word go.

Collin Morikawa: I’d probably run him out before Scheffler. I like the grass match.

Adam Scott: I don’t think I need to dip to 50-1 this week. Might pop in a field with less lumber down the road.

Rory McIlroy: I’m good. See him in Florida or when the weather gets warmer.

Justin Thomas: T12 or better in every event over the last four months. I’m still holding out for Valhalla.

Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele: If you’re not sold on Cantlay’s form, save him for Memorial. Schauffele is an auto-play at any major, especially a U.S. Open. If your game uses The TOUR Championship, that works as well.

Tiger Woods: Come on. Just no. He’s +320 to hit the top 20. Go there. Win there. Maybe.

Longshots

Sahith Theegala

Cameron Young

Will Zalatoris

Adam Schenk

Emiliano Grillo