Northwestern Mutual World Challenge
This is Tiger Woods tournament that has been a staple on the PGA Tour since January of 2000. This is the 14th and unfortunately the last time it’s being played at Sherwood Country Club, next year it’s moving to Orlando.
The field is always good, this year the highest rank player in the world ranking is #30 Hunter Mahan. With Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker and Jason Day there are five top-ten players in the field. There are also 10 of the top-20 of last year’s FedEx Cup standings are in the field.
There is nothing really serious at stake this week, other than the fact that the winner gets a million dollars and for those that finish 18th that player will get $120,000, enough for a few Christmas presents.
Since this event is not official it’s not in our Golfstats database.
So here is a combination list of my picks along with the records of everyone that is in the field.
Happy Holidays for all as we bring a close to the 2013 season.
Check out our video picks of the Northwestern Mutual Preview
http://youtu.be/-ktYlxMxZqg
Our picks and performance chart for the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge
(in 2000 was played twice, once in January and then it moved to it’s December date)
BEST BETS
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Rory McIlroy 4
Has turned the corner with his first win since PGA Championship, look for him to go on a tear in 2014
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Tiger Woods T4 Win 2 Win Win T14 Win 2 2 Win 2 10
Five wins at Sherwood and four runner-ups, he will always contend. The big question is if he is playing well right now which has been a issue since his Players victory six months ago
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Graeme McDowell Win Win 2
The man likes Sherwood, he is close to unbeatable on this course
BEST OF THE REST
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Zach Johnson 18 2 T9 T5 2
Been a pleasant surprise in 2012, I think It’s just a touch of what he can do in 2014
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Hunter Mahan T9 T4 5 T3
A bit weird on how each year he seems to get worst, still think that the course is great for him and he can do very well this year.
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Jason Day T15 15
Remarkable win in Australia with all of the anguish of what happened to his family in the Philippines. Not a very good record at Sherwood but all of that could change.
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Jason Dufner T15
Think that he is a totally different person than he was last year and will have a great week
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Keegan Bradley 2 17
Last year showed how well he can do on this course, look for another great week out of him
SOLID CONTENDERS
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Jim Furyk T4 T6 11 Win T5 3 T9 6 6 15
Has a knack of always in the running, this will help us guage how 2014 will be for him.
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Ian Poulter 17 T6 T5
You never know when he will get motivated and play well, this could be a good week for him but still think he will probably finish in the middle of the pack
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Matt Kuchar T11 T4 18
Strange that he has never played better in this event, time of year could be poor for him.
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Webb Simpson 7 T13
Finally won again in Vegas in October, look for him to continue his good play this week
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Bubba Watson T9 T6 T14
You would think with his length he would do better, maybe Sherwood is not his kind of course.
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Jordan Speith
Only player in the field with no prior experience in this event, still look for him to play very well and contend this week.
LONGSHOTS AT BEST
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Steve Stricker 8 16 12 10 2 T5
All year has proven that less play is better for his overall performance, still think his mind is more on hunting and enjoying himself this time of year instead of playing in this event.
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Bill Haas T13
Just don’t think this week is in his wheelhouse.
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Lee Westwood T3 4 T11
His 2013 year reminds me of a baseball player turning 38 and in the sunset years of his career
Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000
Dustin Johnson T13 T16
Course is not his cup of tea, this could be one of those places he just can’t do well at