BlogThe Barclays Preview and Picks

The Barclays

August 22 – 25, 2013

Liberty National G.C.

Jersey City N.J.

Par: 71 / Yardage: 7,419

Purse: $8 million

with $1.4 million to the winner

Defending Champion:
Nick Watney

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

This week’s field includes:

The field includes 37 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings, with all top-ten in the field: The ones not in the field are #13 Steve Stricker (playing limited schedule), #21 Louis Oosthuizen (hurt), #24 Zach Johnson (attending brothers wedding), #28 Hideki Matsuyama, #29 Matteo Manassero, #30 Peter Hanson, #31 Branden Grace, #35 Richard Sterne, #41 Jamie Donaldson, #42 Francesco Molinari, #44 Thorbjorn Olesen, Nicolas Colsaerts & #48 Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (all non-PGA Tour members).

The field includes 23 of the Top 25 on this year’s PGA Tour money list:  Those players not in the field include Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson.

The field includes 5 past champions: Nick Watney (2012), Dustin Johnson (2011), Matt Kuchar (2010), Sergio Garcia (2004 & ’01) and Ernie Els (1997 & ’96).

The field includes 26 players that have won on the PGA Tour this year: Dustin Johnson (Hyundai Tournament of Champions), Russell Henley (Sony Open), Brian Gay (Humana Challenge), Phil Mickelson (WM Phoenix Open, British Open), Tiger Woods (Farmers Insurance, WGC Cadillac, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players Championship & WGC-Bridgestone), Brandt Snedeker (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, RBC Canadian Open), John Merrick (Northern Trust Open), Matt Kuchar (WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, the Memorial Tournament), Michael Thompson (Honda Classic), Kevin Streelman (Tampa Bay), D.A. Points (Shell Houston), Martin Laird (Valero Texas), Adam Scott (Masters), Graeme McDowell (RBC Heritage), Billy Horschel (Zurich Classic), Sang-Moon Bae (HP Byron Nelson Championship), Derek Ernst (Wells Fargo Championship), Boo Weekley (Crowne Plaza Colonial), Harris English (FedEx St. Jude), Justin Rose (U.S. Open). Ken Duke (Travelers), Bill Haas (AT&T National), Jonas Bilxt (Greenbrier), Gary Woodland (Reno-Tahoe), Jason Dufner (PGA Championship) and Patrick Reed (Wyndham).

The only winner of the year not in the field is Woody Austin (Sanderson Farms) who finished 137 in the FedEx rankings)

A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the The Barclays field is our performance chart listed by average finish. One last way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at The Barclays in the last five years or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the The Barclays.

A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.

Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.

Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:

Who’s Hot in the field for the The Barclays

Player Wyndham Championship PGA Championship WGC-Bridgestone Reno-Tahoe Open Canadian Open British Open Sanderson Farms Scottish Open John Deere French Open Greenbrier Classic The Irish Open AT&T National
Henrik Stenson
(523.33 pts)
DNP
 
3
(180)
T2
(150)
DNP
 
DNP
 
2
(133.33)
DNP
 
T3
(60)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Jason Dufner
(416 pts)
DNP
 
Win
(264)
T4
(120)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T26
(32)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Adam Scott
(314 pts)
DNP
 
T5
(140)
T14
(54)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T3
(120)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T57
(0)
Phil Mickelson
(304.17 pts)
DNP
 
T72
(0)
T21
(43.5)
DNP
 
DNP
 
Win
(176)
DNP
 
Win
(88)
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
Tiger Woods
(298 pts)
DNP
 
T40
(20)
Win
(198)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T6
(80)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Jim Furyk
(286.17 pts)
DNP
 
2
(200)
T9
(67.5)
DNP
 
T9
(30)
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T44
(2)
Keegan Bradley
(258.67 pts)
DNP
 
T19
(62)
T2
(150)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T15
(46.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T61
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Jonas Blixt
(226 pts)
DNP
 
4
(160)
T59
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T26
(32)
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
Win
(44)
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)
Dustin Johnson
(216.17 pts)
DNP
 
T8
(100)
T33
(25.5)
DNP
 
T2
(66.67)
T32
(24)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Bill Haas
(208.17 pts)
T20
(30)
T25
(50)
T7
(82.5)
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T9
(15)
DNP
 
Win
(44)
Jordan Spieth
(205 pts)
2
(100)
CUT
(-20)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T44
(8)
DNP
 
DNP
 
Win
(88)
DNP
 
T23
(9)
DNP
 
6
(20)
Matt Kuchar
(204.17 pts)
DNP
 
T22
(56)
T27
(34.5)
DNP
 
T2
(66.67)
T15
(46.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T49
(0.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Patrick Reed
(200.67 pts)
Win
(132)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T9
(30)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T7
(36.67)
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
 
T34
(5.33)
Ian Poulter
(174.83 pts)
DNP
 
T61
(0)
T19
(46.5)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T3
(120)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T25
(8.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Brandt Snedeker
(172.17 pts)
CUT
(-10)
T66
(0)
T33
(25.5)
DNP
 
Win
(88)
T11
(52)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T8
(16.67)
Lee Westwood
(169 pts)
DNP
 
T33
(34)
T40
(15)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T3
(120)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Martin Kaymer
(167.83 pts)
T20
(30)
T33
(34)
T9
(67.5)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T32
(24)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T13
(12.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Matt Jones
(160 pts)
T5
(70)
T40
(20)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T7
(36.67)
DNP
 
T2
(33.33)
DNP
 
T64
(0)
Rory Sabbatini
(159 pts)
T8
(50)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T7
(55)
T12
(25.33)
DNP
 
T17
(22)
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
T9
(15)
DNP
 
WD
(-1.67)
Webb Simpson
(146 pts)
T11
(39)
T25
(50)
T14
(54)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T64
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T41
(3)
DNP
 
DNP
 
Gary Woodland
(144.67 pts)
DNP
 
74
(0)
DNP
 
Win
(132)
T61
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T48
(1.33)
DNP
 
T62
(0)
DNP
 
T16
(11.33)
Roberto Castro
(136 pts)
CUT
(-10)
T12
(76)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T6
(40)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T68
(0)
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
 
2
(33.33)
Jason Day
(133.67 pts)
DNP
 
T8
(100)
T53
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T32
(24)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T21
(9.67)
Graeme McDowell
(131.67 pts)
DNP
 
T12
(76)
T40
(15)
DNP
 
74
(0)
T58
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Win
(44)
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
 
Harris English
(129.33 pts)
DNP
 
T61
(0)
T14
(54)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T15
(46.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T15
(23.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T34
(5.33)

How Player Rankings are Computed

Who’s Not Hot in the field for the The Barclays

Player Wyndham Championship PGA Championship WGC-Bridgestone Reno-Tahoe Open Canadian Open British Open Sanderson Farms Scottish Open John Deere French Open Greenbrier Classic The Irish Open AT&T National
Derek Ernst
(-41.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-20)
T57
(0)
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T44
(2)
Carl Pettersson
(-30 pts)
CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-20)
70
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T54
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T54
(0)
DNP
 
68
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
Lucas Glover
(-23.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-20)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T15
(23.33)
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
 
T57
(0)
Brian Gay
(-23.33 pts)
DNP
 
CUT
(-20)
T63
(0)
DNP
 
73
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T61
(0)
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
Scott Stallings
(-21 pts)
DNP
 
T55
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
T23
(9)
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)
Ben Crane
(-19 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T49
(1)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
T77
(0)
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)
Scott Brown
(-18 pts)
DNP
 
CUT
(-20)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T61
(0)
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T22
(18.67)
DNP
 
T72
(0)
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)
Kyle Stanley
(-18 pts)
DNP
 
CUT
(-20)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T12
(25.33)
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
Billy Horschel
(-17.67 pts)
DNP
 
CUT
(-20)
T44
(9)
DNP
 
T68
(0)
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T30
(6.67)
DNP
 
T61
(0)
Freddie Jacobson
(-15.33 pts)
DNP
 
CUT
(-20)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T44
(8)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-3.33)

How Player Rankings are Computed

The Buzz:

It’s the homestretch of the 2013 PGA Tour season.  After 33 weeks for many their season is over.  Guys like Seung-Yul Noh, Bud Cauley and Tom Gillis who had memorable season last year getting to the BMW Championship find themselves not only out of the playoffs, but having to play for their 2014 PGA Tour cards in the Web.Com playoffs.

Here is a list of the top-50 from last year’s FedEx cup list that have fallen from grace, going from FedEx glory last year to out of the playoffs this year:

Player                              Last year position          This year’s standings

Louis Oosthuizen                    7th              154th (hurt)

Vijay Singh                               33rd                                145th

Seung-Yul Noh                        37th                               160th

Bud Cauley                               38th                                132nd

Tom Gillis                               40th                                  152nd

Ben Curtis                                41st                                   153rd

Padraig Harrington             43rd                                   130th

Troy Matteson                       45th                                    167th

J.B. Homes                             48th                                  236th

On the other end of the spectrum, for 125 players they can enjoy some added glory along with putting a few more dollars in their pockets through the FedEx Cup bonus pool.

Of course the PGA Tour will talk about how much everyone has a chance, the reality of this is for players who are 100 in the rankings like Jeff Overton to Ben Crane who is in the 125th position, they have to run the table and win at least once and be in the top-five just to make it into the Tour Championship.  Still the points are more in their favor than the first couple of years when the rankings favored the leader.

Just look at this chart of past winners of the FedEx Cup standings, and you can see that Brandt Snedeker is the highest ranked player at the start of the playoffs that won it.

Year – FedEx winner                position going into playoffs

2012 – Brandt Snedeker                             19th

2011 – Bill Haas                                          15th

2010 – Jim Furyk                                         3rd

2009 – Tiger Woods                                   1st

2008 – Vijay Singh                                    7th

2007 – Tiger Woods                                   1st

 

So the reality is that you have to be in the top-20 to win this race.  For many that is fair, you have to realize that Ben Crane had just as good of a chance as Tiger Woods had, so it’s not about the next four weeks.  For more on the scenarios of what could happen, the PGA Tour has done a great chart to help those figure it out.

One thing for sure, the PGA Tour has the format down to a fair system and we will have a great four weeks of golf.

 

A look at Liberty National:

Located on the western shores of New York Harbor, just 1,000 yards from the Statue of Liberty, Liberty National, designed by Bob Cupp and Tom Kite, opened in 2006. Built at a cost of $250 million, it sits on a formerly contaminated site on the Jersey City waterfront with spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. The course and high-end golf club which has an initiation fee of $450,000 to join, were developed by former Reebok CEO Paul Fireman and his son Dan. Three million cubic yards of earth were brought in during course construction because there could be no digging on the site and everything had to be built up. The resulting course is still relatively flat, with many holes having the feel of a Florida layout, with water hazards, and others of a links course, with fescue grasses. Its course rating and slope are among the highest in the New York metropolitan area.

The course will be totally different than previous Barclay’s courses, Westchester, Plainfield and Ridgewood because those venues were traditional courses with lot’s of mature trees on them.  Liberty National is more links style and could have wind play a part of the week since there is a lack of wind.  The greens aren’t that big at 6,300 square feet and there is 90 bunkers with 12 holes being effected by water.

The course was not very popular among many of the players when the Barclays was held on it in 2009.  Last year the course made some small design changes to 14 of the 18 holes to help ease some of the criticism.  The thought that between these tweaks and four additional years of maturity will make the course play better and get some good words from the players themselves. Weather will have a lot to do with things, if it gets too windy, which does happen in the late afternoon, it could produce some player complaints.

 

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the Baclays:

Key stat for the winner:

Liberty National is a unique style of golf course. The owners have put in 5000 trees, but they aren’t very mature and right now there are some holes which give it parkland feel but on the majority of the holes the course as a Scottish links feel.  Liberty National does feature undulating fairways well protected by bunkers, long wispy bluegrass rough in places and small greens with multiple run off areas.

 

Here are some more key stats to look to for this week:

  • The Barclay’s has always been a test of survival and maybe that’s why in the 46 year history of the event it’s 39 champions have won 63 majors.
  • There is a lack of trees on a number of holes at Liberty National but with thick rough the emphasis will still be on driving, look for the winner to be very accurate off the tee.
  •  Hitting greens in regulation will be paramount. The tight venue will require good ball control, which will result in hitting lots of greens. Look for the winner to hit a plethera of greens in regulation this week. Here is a look at the box score from the 2009 Barclays played at Liberty Nationals so you can see who the top players were.
  •  The three par fives and the drivable 16th are all key scoring holes with players expecting to make birdies and eagles.</li>
  • The course was built to run dry and fast, just like a links course.  But there has been a lot of rain in the last month so this has left the course soft and the greens more likely to hold.  I still think a major key on links courses is the ability to get up and down on holes that the green has been missed.  WInner Heath Slocum was 5th in scrambling in 2009 while runner-up Ernie Els was 29th, Steve Stricker was 6th, Padraig Harrington was 4th and Tiger Woods was 2nd.  So study the PGA Tour list of top scramblers for 2013.
  • The weather may not be pretty for Thursday and Friday, with afternoon thurderstorms and light rain showers but they are calling for perfect weather over the weekend.

 

Is there any rhyme or reason for a player to win this week?

Wisdom says that a player with a lot of experience will win but since this course is a unknown entity a newcomer could do well.  But there is one player that has played a lot of golf at Liberty National, Phil Mickelson.  He plays a lot of corporate outings on the course and calls it one of the favorite courses, so think about him as being a player that could do very well this week.  In 2009 Mickelson finished T52nd so who knows, maybe this is nothing but myth.

 

Who to watch for at the The Barclays

Best Bets:

Henrik Stenson

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
T54 CUT

Playing the best golf of his life, in his last four starts he has finished T3rd, 2nd, T2nd and 3rd. He loves links courses and will be the big favorite of the week.

Tiger Woods

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
T38 T12 T2 T13 T16

What can you say, it’s been a Jeckel and Hyde season in which he has won five PGA Tour events and fallen flat in the majors. With this being a PGA Tour event you have to think that he will do well, also a good omen of him finishing T2nd in 2009 Barclays at Liberty Corner.

Ian Poulter

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
T36 T18 T15 T9 CUT T9 T9

We always think of him for match play but rarely in these events. But he is playing good and comes to a course that he finished T9th in 2009 so look for him to do well.

Brandt Snedeker

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
2 T3 CUT T12 T68 CUT CUT

Forgot about his missed cut at Wyndham, he would really like to win the FedEx Cup for a second straight year and he is playing good enough to get the job done.

Best of the rest:

Phil Mickelson

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
T38 T43 CUT T52 T19 T7 T18 T16 T25

The big question is “what will Phil do next?” Many think that he could be spent from his great play in Scotland, but Phil would really love to win a FedEx Cup series and the money race, he has a great shot at it if he could find his game in the next month. Loves Liberty National, has played a lot of corporate golf on it so he will figure out a way to play good this week.

Adam Scott

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
62 T67 T9 T58 CUT T14 2 T32 T79

You have to think he will be one of the favorites, has played well all year and does fine on links courses so he could be in the running this week.

Dustin Johnson

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
T3 Win T9 T15 CUT

Watch him, his game is coming around with a T8th at the PGA and T2nd at Canadian Open.

Jordan Spieth

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
First time playing in this event

May of lost playoff at Wyndham, but showed that his game is still sharp and ready to strike again.

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
First time playing in this event

Solid contenders

Rory McIlroy

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
T24 T56

Has made great strides in getting his game in shape over the last month. Look for him to strike early and hang on as he will be in contention on Sunday.

Matt Kuchar

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
T38 2 Win T28 CUT T35 CUT T43 CUT

Usually when Ridgewood or Plainfield are used, he would be a top pick. Not the best on links courses but you never know when he will strike.

Ernie Els

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
T54 T32 71 T2 CUT T4 T16 T11 T39

It hasn’t been a great year for him but he could change things this week. Was T2nd on this course in 2009 so the good memories could help him this year.

Jason Day

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
T24 T13 T5 T12 T31

Watch him, he was T8th at the PGA and could shine on this course

Long shots that could come through:

Patrick Reed

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
First time playing in this event

He is probably spent from winning at Wyndham but he could still have some left in the tank to contend in the early rounds.

Freddie Jacobson

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
T67 T32 CUT T6 CUT T54 T5 T61 8 T36

Finished T6th in 2009 so he likes the course, you never know when he will strike.

Brian Harman

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
T5

Was T3rd at Wyndham last week and 5th at Barclays last year.

Rory Sabbatini

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
CUT T18 T5 CUT T24 3 CUT WD T2 T43 CUT

A name i rarely talk about, hard to root for him but he has finished T8th at Wyndham and T7th at Reno-Tahoe so his game could be coming into form.

Not this week:

Jason Dufner

2012 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02 ’01
CUT CUT CUT T25 CUT

No I am not picking on Jason, I would love to see him win again he is good for the game. Yes he was on this list of the PGA and proved me wrong and hopefully can do the same this week, but I just think he is spent from winning the PGA Championship.

Comments

  1. Eric Simon says

    One week late on Patrick Reed Sal, was very surprised he wasn’t on your radar last week. I had him in my pool, only two people out of 500 took him. Curious what you’re thoughts are on Matt Jones this week, I think he’s about to break through but so many stars this week might make that tougher than last week

  2. Eric,
    There are about 50 Patrick Reed’s on the PGA Tour and you never know when they are going to strike. That’s one of the reasons the PGA Tour is so great, lot’s of talent.
    Another thing, look at his record for 2013:
    https://www.golfstats.com/search/?yr=2013&tournament=&player=Patrick+Reed&tour=&submit=go
    He did show signs of playing well with a T7th at John Deere and T9th in Canada, but with so many big events it was hard to pick up on Reed’s good play.

    As for Matt Jones, look at his record for 2013:
    https://www.golfstats.com/search/?yr=2013&tournament=&player=Matt+Jones&tour=&submit=go

    He too is showing signs of breaking through but historically longshots like Jones don’t pan out in the FedEx Cup playoffs. I can see him getting a top-ten, possibly a top-five but he is not the type of player that can win this week, the talent pool is too hard this week.

    Sal

  3. Eric Simon says

    Thanks for the insights, and I think I agree, much easier to break through when the top players are low in attendance. Another theory of mine is that the best players in the world, if they do show up for a smaller event like Greensboro or John Deere, tend to play down to the competition. I picked Adam Scott this year when he was the only top 10 player and he barely makes the cut, then of course he top 10s it in every major. Anyway, keep the picks and data coming, love the new site and appreciate the work you put in

  4. Eric,
    You are right about marquee players that don’t seem to play hard in small events.
    I find it very strange that all of the top marquee names missed the cut at Wyndham, it’s like they were forced to play in something they really didn’t want to work hard to play well at. Guys like Snedeker missing the cut there was very weird with the way he was playing.
    That was the great thing about the old Tiger, when he teed it up you always knew that he would be in contention and get at least a top-ten because he never played someplace that he didn’t want to play in. Can’t say the same for the new Tiger, he kind of goes were the money is.

  5. Eric Simon says

    Reminds me a survey PGA Tour pros I recently saw in either Golf or Golf Digest, they asked them if they ever intentionally missed a cut. Ballsy question, 5% said yes but I think the number is much higher. I knew Snedeker was going to mail it in after Thursday’s round. He hadn’t been home in a month and the entire FedEx cup coming up, not sure why he even showed up in the first place.

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