Pick your Pro is one of those games in which you hunker down for a couple of days and try to organize yourself in picking one pro at one event. The game could start either this week or after the Super Bowl. Some games start on the Florida swing, and others start at the Masters. No matter what, we have done the work in organizing things for you in making your choice. This is very hard to do, but with some help of GOLFstats you will find this a big time saver for you.
Remember the rules, you can choose a player just once over the course of the season, so if your Pick Your Pro starts this week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, you have to pick 39 different players (Zurich is no longer counted due to new team format). The cardinal rule, if you chose a player and he doesn’t play, you get zero so make sure and do your best to make sure that you have 40 chances by picking players that will participate in events.
Last year in my pick your pro picks for the 39 events I was in the money 29 times (same # as in 2016) with winnings of $3,948,921 ($1,321,626 less than the $5,270,547 that I won in 2016). My big disappointment was that I didn’t pick a winner last year, in 2016 I had two Hideki Matsuyama at the Phoenix Open and Charley Hoffman at the Valero Texas Open. I got off to a great start with a 2nd place finish at the SBS Tournament of Champions with Hideki Matsuyama, along with Webb Simpson at the Wyndham they would be my only top-three finishes.
In the 39 events I had nine top-ten finishes, one better than 2016 and of the 29 picks, I had 18 top-25 finishes, three less than the 21 I had in 2016. Something that I want to do better this year is in the majors. Last year by best finish was 7th at the Masters thanks to Rory McIlroy, but at the U.S. Open Jordan Spieth finished T-35th, Sergio Garcia finished T-37th at the British Open, and Phil Mickelson missed the cut at the PGA Championship.
One other goal of 2018, I will be looking to be more consistent over the course of the year, remember the big money comes with the majors, WGC and FedEx Cup playoffs.
One big tip in making your list, lot’s of you will go down the list of tournaments and put players in. That is wrong, especially in West Coast swing events that don’t give out as much money as the majors, WGC and FedEx Cup playoffs. So work your way from the bottom of the schedule working your way up, first with the majors, then FedEx Cup and WGC events. By doing this, you will get off to a slow start but if done right, by the time the U.S. Open rolls around you will not have used your big guns, and you will find yourself climbing those rankings very quickly. Remember this tip, of the first 25 events only 4 have purse’s over $10 million (WGC-Mexico, WGC-Dell Match Play, Masters & Players). But in the last 16 events, 4 of them are over $10 million (U.S. Open, British Open, WGC-Bridgestone and PGA Championship) and there are 4 events (the FedEx Playoff tournaments) that are $9 million.
Also, it’s important to look at a PGA Tour schedule with the purse of each tournament. This list from PGA Tour will help.
You want to pick your marquee guys in events that pay over $7 million dollars. You have to be careful with an event like the Sentry Tournament of Champions that has a $6.3 million purse. The same with most of the west coast and Florida swings. Yes, the Phoenix and Honda events have a good amount of money, but with purses of $6.9 million and $6.6 million it only hurts to waste a big player like Jordan Spieth or Rickie Fowler at the Phoenix that is worth $6.9 million giving out $1,206,000 for first place. Same with the Honda, with a purse of $6.6 million and first place of $1,152,000 don’t waste a Justin Thomas or a Dustin Johnson. It’s better to take all of these marquee players at the major, a WGC event or a FedEx Playoff event in which 2nd place pays almost as much as the winner at the Honda gets. One thing in this philosophy, I picked Jordan Spieth at the Tournament of Champions, a low purse event. Reason for that, it has a limited field so you need to use a marquee player who has a better chance of finishing high. Another thing to think about and that is the Tiger Woods factor. We have written him off the last couple of years, but he is healthy again and you never know, he could play a factor again which means it’s best to pick him in one low money event.
Also watch who you pick, guys like Jimmy Walker, Phil Mickelson, Ryan Palmer, Graeme McDowell, Hunter Mahan and Jim Furyk who were for years top players have seen their worth go down and may not be great picks in 2018. Also watch some winners in the last two years like Ryan Armour, Fabian Gomez, David Lingmerth, Cody Gribble, Jim Herman, Peter Malnati, Smylie Kaufman and Grayson Murray. Yes, they may have won, but other than that win they haven’t played that great so you should disregard them. On the other end of the spectrum, guys like Patrick Cantlay, Peter Uihlein, Jon Rham, Si Woo Kim, Wesley Bryan weren’t on many radar screens and should have been. The most prominent surprise of last year had to be Xander Schauffele who won the Tour Championship, but I bet not many folks penciled him in for a tournament last year. It’s easy to see those that made it off the Web.Com Tour last year, but the challenge is to figure out which events they will play in. It’s crucial not to pick a player in a tournament he won’t play in. Last year I did it five times, this is a cardinal sin to do.
One last thing, make sure that you have no multiple picks, it’s easy to do and you will feel terrible when that multiple player wins that second event, and you get nothing because you used the pick for an earlier tournament.
We have organized this into two parts, first is all 39 events that you have to pick a player. We give you some short keys for the event, then give three, four or more choices. Then I offer my key choice for that tournament.
The second part is a list of players, off of the most recent (Monday, Dec 26th) World Rankings. We list our choice of tournament that player should do well in and give out different alternatives. To make things easier, we have full links to eight-year glances for each tournament and player, this will save you hours of work in organizing your picks.
Now many will wonder, why haven’t you pick up and coming players along with rookies. We also are care in players like Wesley Bryan, Grayson Murray or a Jonathan Randolph who has played on the PGA Tour before. It’s hard to figure out which events they will play in and which they will do well in. So we have stuck with players that have a track record in the tournament in helping you figure it out.
Hope this is helpful and saves you some time
I will be updating the results of my picks each week to see how they did:
Sentry Tournament of Champions – Jordan Spieth (2) Finished 9th – $185,000
Sony Open in Hawaii – Zach Johnson (47) Finished T-14th – $108,500
CareerBuilder Challenge – Bud Cauley (107) Finished T-14th – $106,200
Farmers Insurance Open – Charles Howell III (65) Finished T-6th – $239,775
Waste Management Phoenix Open – Kyle Stanley (48) Missed Cut – $0
AT&T Pebble Beach – Brandt Snedeker (57) Finished T-20th – $70,167
Genesis Open – Tiger Woods (644) Missed Cut – $0
Honda Classic – Adam Scott (31) Finished T-13th – $123,750
WGC-Mexico Championship – Rory McIlory (10) Is not playing (an unfortunate piece of bad luck for me)
Puerto Rico Open – Sam Saunders (260) Event not played
Valspar Championship – Charl Schwartzel (32) Finished T-49th – $15,431
Arnold Palmer Invitational – Francesco Molinari (21) Finished T-26th – $59,319
World Golf Championship Dell Match Play – Paul Casey (14) Finished T-17th – $97,917
Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship – Tyler Duncan (385) Did Not Play – $0
Houston Open – Daniel Berger (28) Finished T-18th – $88,200
Masters – Dustin Johnson (1) Finished T-10th – $286,000
RBC Heritage – Luke Donald (140) Missed Cut – $0
Valero Texas Open – Brendan Steele (45) Finished T-30th – $37,665
Wells Fargo Championship – Rickie Fowler (7) Finished T-21st – $77,000
The Players – Alex Noren (18) Finished T-17th – $147,867
AT&T Byron Nelson Championship – Byeong Hun An (96) Did Not Play – $0
Fort Worth Invitational – Jon Rahm (4) Finished T-5th – $259,150
Memorial Tournament – Hideki Matsuyama (5) Finished T-13th – $139,018
FedEx St. Jude Classic – Billy Horschel (70) Finished T-51st – $15,919
U.S. Open – Jason Day (12) Missed Cut – $0
Travelers Championship – Xander Schauffele (25) Missed Cut – $0
Quicken Loans National – Marc Leishman (13) Finished T-13th – $133,125
The Greenbrier Classic – Russell Henley (46) Finished 10th – $197,100
John Deere Classic – Wesley Bryan (67) Missed Cut – $0
British Open – Sergio Garcia (11) Missed Cut – $0
Barbasol Championship – Aaron Baddeley (212) Missed Cut – $0
RBC Canadian Open – Charley Hoffman (23) Finished T-29th – $37,743
WGC Bridgestone Invitational – Justin Rose (6) Withdrew due to injury – $0
Barracuda Championship – Ben Martin (250) Did Not Play – $0
PGA Championship – Brooks Koepka (8) Won – $1,980,000
Wyndham Championship – Webb Simpson (43) Finished T-2nd – $528,000
The Northern Trust – Matt Kuchar (15) Finished T-60th – $18,990
Dell Technologies Championship – Patrick Reed (24) Finished T-35th – $41,569
BMW Championship – Patrick Cantley (40) Finished T-55th – $20,520
Tour Championship – Justin Thomas (3) Finished T-7th – $279,900
Total won for the year $5,293,825
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Look at each tournament on the PGA Tour in 2018
(each tournament heading has a link to events 8-year glance, each player name has link to 8-year glance)
Sentry Tournament of Champions
Purse: $6.3 million
First Place: $1,220,000
The event has been played on the Plantation Course at the Kapalua Resort since 1999. It’s one of the easiest events to pick since you know who the field is since it’s winners only from the last year. The only problem in picking a player is a lot of players don’t play the event year in and year out, so it’s wide open to picking a player. Also, a shame that some players that do well at Kapalua like Patrick Reed won’t be in the field. Also just because players like Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose have qualified doesn’t mean they will play, lot’s of European players skip this event, Garcia, Stenson, and Rose have skipped this event in the past and right now this event isn’t on the schedule for Garcia and Stenson so they are probably not playing
On the surface many think that the Plantation course is a bombers course, yes players can rear back and hit it hard not having to worry about missing fairways since the fairways are so large a 747 can land on them. But don’t look for the long hitters. Since Kapalua has the biggest greens on the PGA Tour, good putters are the ones that always do very well in this event. Key stat is those that make lot’s of putts inside ten feet, especially considering that with big greens players are left with lot’s of putts in the 3 to 6-foot range for pars. One other item that is important is playing in high winds since Kapalua is on the side of a mountain overlooking the Pacific, it does get windy.
The big question for this week, do you take a marquee player in an event that doesn’t pay that well? Answer is easy, field is so limited and some play well here, take them with the hope that they either win or finish 2nd and get you off to a great start
Jordan Spieth – In three starts has a win, a runner-up and third place finish. He is the best putter in the field and should be the favorite
Justin Thomas – Good last year, can see him again winning.
Hideki Matsuyama – Was T-3rd in 2016 and runner-up last year, the only problem with him is his putting which isn’t a key part of his game, so it’s down to his superb ball striking.
Dustin Johnson – Always finds his way to get into contention.
Rickie Fowler – Has played well in two Kapalua starts, the only question can he be good enough to win? One key in picking him, he finished 2nd in strokes gained putting last year.
Xander Schauffele – Could be a good pick her since he is such a good putter
My Choice – Jordan Spieth
Sony Open in Hawaii
Purse: $6.2 million
First Place: $1,080,000
The event has been played since 1965 on the same course. Accuracy means a lot this week; ball striking also is key on this old style course. Drastic changes were made to course after 1998 making it harder for the pros. They turned two short and very easy par 5s (1 & 13) into very tough par 4s which help make the course very challenging. Looking for a key stat 15 of the last 16 winners have been in the top-12 in greens hit with 8 of them in the top-five.
Charles Howell III – Has nine top-tens and been under par 45 of 60 rounds. Makes sense of him playing well since he hits a lot of greens, was 52nd in that stat last year on Tour. The only problem, he has never been considered a winner despite finishing runner-up twice.
Zach Johnson – Likes and plays well at Waialae has been in the top-ten in three of the last four Sony’s. In those 16 rounds is 42 under par and was over par just twice.
Marc Leishman – Does hit lot’s of greens, was 50th in that greens hit last year. Was in contention in 2014 and 2013, has a career 67.59 scoring average at Waialae
Russell Henley – Past champion was 55th on tour in strokes gained tee to green, has been under par in 15 of 18 rounds at Waialae.
My Choice – Zach Johnson
CareerBuilder Challenge
Purse: $6.2 million
First Place: $1,080,000
The event went through a lot of change two years ago with a new home course along with another new course for the first three rounds. The key to playing well is making a lot of birdies and eagles, so look for players that tend to do well in Par Breakers. Also look for guys that have a good track record in playing desert golf courses. One disadvantage this event has it’s played the same week at Abu Dhabi on the European Tour and Singapore on the Asian Tour so some will play overseas:
Bill Haas – Always seems to play well in the Coachella Valley, in 58 rounds in this event been under par 52 of them.
Bud Cauley – TPC Stadium Course was right up his alley playing it in 12 under for his last 4 rounds on the course. Also 35 under in his last two starts.
Phil Mickelson – Another guy that does well in the Coachella Valley, he almost won this event in 2016 the first year it was at the Stadium course.
Adam Hadwin – In 12 rounds has only been over par once, in those rounds is 51 under so yes he makes a lot of birdies and eagles.
Grayson Murray– Finished T-12th last year, he was 18th last year in Par Breakers and is 43rd this year. The guy is a excellent longshot for the week.
My Choice – Bud Cauley
Farmers Insurance Open
Purse: $6.9 million
First Place: $1,206,000
The event has lost some of its luster over the years with some marquee players playing in the middle east, but for this year it’s up against Dubai which is the weaker of the three desert swing events on the European Tour. Three rounds are played on the tough South Course with one on the easy North Course, a course that you have to go low to win. But with major changes to the North Course which has had a severe facelift will make that course a lot harder than any other year. Luck plays a factor in tee times since Torrey Pines is above the Pacific weather can be different any time in the day, some could have calm conditions in the morning and then in the afternoon winds will make the course tougher. Hard to find a key for a winner, on the whole, it takes good all-around playing to do well in this event.
Brandt Snedeker – Winner in 2012 and 2016 has had an impressive run between 2010 and last year were he won once and was runner-up twice, so he does play well on these courses. Was T-9th last year.
Jon Rahm – Have to like him after his great win last year, look for him to contend again.
Pat Perez – Was runner-up in 2014, Pat grew up on this course. The game was solid in the fall, so you have to think he will be one of the favorites.
Charles Howell III – Has always played well in this event, in 15 starts has made ever cut with seven top-tens and three runner-ups including last year.
Tony Finau – Has the length to do well in this event, has gotten better in each of his starts.
Tiger Woods – Just remember he has won this event seven times and you just don’t know if this will help his confidence.
My Choice – Charles Howell III
Waste Management Phoenix Open
Purse: $6.9 million
First Place: $1,206,000
Just like all the other desert courses, making lot’s of birdies is important. But making this course a bit special, it’s not a course for bombers, you need to show some shotmaking to play well. Putting is important on this course. With perfect greens means making lot’s of putts inside of ten feet, so looking for good putters to do well. But that isn’t the key to win this event, hitting greens is the key when you see that the last nine winners have been in the top-ten in this stat with four of those winners leading that stat:
Hideki Matsuyama – Has proven to be the best in this event, in four starts is 59 under par as he has broken par 15 of 16 rounds.
Kyle Stanley – Winner in 2012, he was 2nd in greens hit last year and 5th this year.
Webb Simpson – This guy always plays well in this event, has been in the top-ten in four of his last five starts including a runner-up last year.
Rickie Fowler – Loves playing in this event was runner-up in 2016 and 2010, was T-4th last year.
Zach Johnson – Always finds a way to content in this event.
Jon Rahm – Was T-5th in his only start as an amateur in 2015 and T-16th last year.
Paul Casey – Leap of faith picking him since he has never played in this event. Since this event doesn’t happen the same time as the desert events on the European Tour, I think he will realize that TPC Scottsdale is perfect for his game and he should play.
My Choice – Kyle Stanley
AT&T Pebble Beach
Purse: $7.4 million
First Place: $1,296,000
The AT&T Pebble Beach brings on some special problems; it takes a lot of patience to endure this week with amateur partners. Another problem is the luck of the draw; someone could be playing at Spyglass that is tree lined on the back nine and may not get the brute of a heavy wind that some player’s encounter at Pebble Beach and Monterey Peninsula. For some that play in the late afternoon, the conditions of the greens get dicey, especially since Poa Annua greens get bumpy and hard to predict. So it takes a special breed of player to endure this. Stats are meaningless in this event, just have to pick someone that has a track record in this event:
Dustin Johnson – The guy seems to own this place, in nine starts, has been in the top-ten seven times including two wins.
Brandt Snedeker – Another player that has won twice at Pebble, was 4th last year.
Jordan Spieth – Broke out and won last year, so he will always be a favorite
Jason Day – Another guy that seems to find a way to contend, he is 52 under in his 20 rounds in this event.
Patrick Reed – He is ready to break out, been 48 under par in just 20 rounds played.
Phil Mickelson – Came close two years ago, past champion that has found a way of playing well in this event year in, year out.
My Choice – Brandt Snedeker
Genesis Open
Purse: $7.2 million
First Place: $1,260,000
In thinking about Riviera, the myth is that it’s this classic course for great ball-striking and precision driving. That’s not true, of the last 21 winners at Riviera only six have finished in the top-25 in driving accuracy (Last year’s winner Dustin Johnson was T-45th). In greens hit in the last 21 years only six winners have been in the top-five for the week while eight have been out of the top-ten (Johnson led in greens hit last year). The key to winning at Riviera is not ball-striking but making lots of putts. Since 2003, Riviera is always in the top-ten in most putts made from ten feet and in (led it in 2015, was 2nd in 2016 and 7th last year). In that period, all of those that have played at Riviera made 85.41% of those putts while the last 15 winners average making 88.97% of their putts from ten feet in. Last year Johnson was 6th making 92.54% of the putts from ten feet in.
Dustin Johnson – Seemed to own this place with his win last year, T-2nd in 2014 & ’15, T-3rd in 2010 and 4th in 2012 & ’16.
Adam Scott – Four top-tens including a T-11th last year. Yes, he isn’t that great of a putter, but his tee to green game defeats the odds for doing well at Riviera.
Justin Rose– Shows that his game is well suited for Riviera he was T-4th last year.
Paul Casey – Look for him to do well on this course that he was runner-up on in 2015.
Tiger Woods – Have to think he will turn things around this year, this is the course that he played his first event on as a teenager Was runner-up twice but has never won, and with 11 starts that makes this tournament the most he has ever played in without a win. Hasn’t played at the Genesis since he withdrew in 2006.
My Choice – Tiger Woods
Honda Classic
Purse: $6.6 million
First Place: $1,152,000
At the Honda and PGA National, historically all of the winners have some connection to playing well on Bermuda by either being born in Florida, South Africa or Australia or having moved to the Southeast. Last year was no exception as Jupiter, Florida resident Rickie Fowler won. Hitting greens is very important, since moving to PGA National in 2007 seven of the 11 winners and 11 of the 17 runner-ups at Champions were ranked in the top-ten in greens hit. Also, guys that have grown up and played fairways with thick Bermuda rough as important, the bottom line anyone that has roots outside of the southeast United States shouldn’t expect to win.
Justin Thomas – Despite missing the cut last year still think he will contend.
Rickie Fowler – Showed last year that this is the type of course he can win on.
Graeme McDowell – Loves playing near a body of water and with the wind, has four top-10s in 9 starts including T-14th place finish last year.
Ian Poulter – He has the game to do well here and almost won in 2015.
Adam Scott – Makes sense his win, he does hit a lot of greens and has played well in this event.
My Choice – Adam Scott
WGC-Mexico Championship
Purse: $10 million
First Place: $1,660,000
In a big change, this event moved last year from Doral to Mexico and the Club de Golf Chapultepec. The course did favor long hitters, but many were surprised to see a short hitter like Tommy Fleetwood, Ross Fisher, and Thomas Pieters do well. The course did demand players hitting lot’s of greens has winner Dustin Johnson and runner-up Tommy Fleetwood were 5th in greens hit. Another important element was doing well on the par 5s; Johnson was ten under on them.
No matter what any history from Doral is, (site of this event from 2007 to ’16) it won’t help pick a winner for this week.
Dustin Johnson – Played well last year, great from tee to green and that could be good enough to win again. Also, course is similar to Riviera a venue he does well on.
Jordan Spieth – Best putter on tour, he can handle any kind of course
Rory McIlory – If he is putting well he is impossible to beat.
Jon Rahm – Showed that his game can play well on this course.
Justin Thomas – Have to think that he will be better now that he knows the course better
My Choice – Rory McIlory
Purse: $3 million
First Place: $540,000
(We just found out that this won’t be an official event on the PGA Tour. Since there is no news yet on what is going to happen we have included this tournament with this rest, but it may not count)
Still, don’t know if the course or even Puerto Rico will be ready for this event. The course is open, but the PGA Tour hasn’t issued an update so anything could happen. Possibly a move so have to be very careful on your choice so that they are ok for any venue. Played opposite of the WGC-Mexico Championship, it’s important that you chose a player that won’t be in the top-75 of the world rankings. There is no rhyme or reason to winning this event. Since it’s a second-tier event, it’s a combination of a PGA Tour and a Web.Com tour stop. So there are no real favorites because there are no true marquee players that you know of. One thing of the past winners, none of them achieved great success on the PGA Tour, so this is for many just a stepping stone to get full-time access to the PGA Tour. Still, it’s important to find the players with the best record in this event.
Sam Saunders – Has come close in this event twice in the three times he has played it.
Retief Goosen – Was runner-up last year, still has some good golf left in him and could win.
Scott Brown – Four top-tens including winning this in 2013, seems to always play well here with 19 of his 24 rounds being played under par. Was T-17th last year.
Rafael Campos – Seems to like this event and course, was T-8th in 2016 and T-10th last year.
My Choice – Sam Saunders
Valspar Championship
Purse: $6.5 million
First Place: $1,134,000
This event is one of the hidden gems on the PGA Tour. Accuracy is more of a premium at Copperhead than length; so don’t look for players to overpower it. Course average of all drives in 2017 was 4th lowest on PGA Tour since 2005 been in bottom eight every year. Look at all Valspar champions; only long drivers were Gary Woodland in 2011 and Vijay Singh in 2004. Others were in the middle to bottom of the pack in average driving distance, so this is the one course that short hitters can do well on. The last eight winners have gone on to have great seasons as they have finished the year of their win inside the top-30 in FedEx Cup standings, a perfect example was 2015 winner Jordan Spieth went on to win two majors, win the FedEx Cup playoffs and ended the year the number one player of the year. Last year’s winner Adam Hadwin went on to finish 26th in FedEx Cup standings and won over 3.4 million dollars.
Charl Schwartzel – Has taken a liking to this event winning it in 2016 and finishing 5th last year.
Patrick Cantlay – This is where his success on the PGA Tour first started last year.
Justin Thomas – Plays well on tough courses, this is one that he can do well on
Patrick Reed – Another that has found this event to his liking
Henrik Stenson – Guy loves to play the Coppperhead course, in three tries is T-11th, T-7th and 4th with a 69.50 average on the copperhead course
Jordan Spieth – A total of 15 under in his 16 rounds, he knows how to play the course. The big question will be if he returns to this event.
Luke Donald – Four top-six’s in last six starts, his game seems well suited for the Copperhead course.
My Choice – Charl Schwartzel
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Purse: $8.9 million
First Place: $1,566,000
Making Bay Hill tough is the high Bermuda rough. In the stat “Rough Proximity,” over the last eight years Bay Hill ranked 3rd last year, 1st in 2016, T6th in 2015, 3rd in 2014, 1st in 2013, 6th in 2012, 3rd in 2011 and 2nd in 2010. So what does this mean? There is a penalty for hitting drives into the rough. When you do it’s hard to get your ball close to the hole. So in looking for a player that does well at Bay Hill you want to find one that not only hits lot’s of greens and close to the hole, but players that can handle rough by getting the ball closer to the holes than others. There is no real rhyme or reason on who wins, since 1979, 12 of the winners either became first-time winners or had only won once before, just like Matt Every winning for the first time at Bay Hill in 2014 and then winning again in 2015. Last year’s winner Marc Leishman claimed his second PGA Tour win.
Justin Rose – Makes sense that a U.S. Open champion would do well in this event
Francesco Molinari – Loves Bay Hill, has three top-tens in five starts, he is 35 under in his 20 rounds played
Henrik Stenson – Until he missed the cut last year was the guy to beat as it seemed that his game got better each year he played Bay Hill. Between 2013 and 2016 he was T-8th, T-5th, T-3rd, and runner-up in 2015 so it seems as if he is destined to win here
Kevin Chappell – He is very prolific in rough proximity, one of the reasons for being runner-up in 2016.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat – Been T-6th in his last two starts
My Choice – Francesco Molinari
World Golf Championship Dell Match Play
Purse: $10 million
First Place: $1,660,000
The event has drastically changed, two years ago it moved to Austin Country Club which seems to be a perfect course for Match Play. You have to position shots perfectly, it’s also a good test in risk and reward, a trait that makes the course wonderful for this format. No matter what, Match Play is a different format which eliminates a good portion of those that play on the PGA Tour, so look for those that have a good record in this event plus play well in the Ryder and Presidents Cup:
Dustin Johnson – He seems to play well in Austin; it’s hard to beat him mono-a-mono.
Paul Casey – Good track record in match play makes him one of our favorites.
Jason Day – Has an excellent match play record and has played on the weekend three of the last five years
Rory McIlory – Can’t go wrong with this past champion, but he has gone down early in five of his nine starts so its a toss-up on how he will do.
Bill Haas – Don’t count this guy out in this format, has made it to the weekend the last two events played in Austin
Louis Oosthuizen – Has been good three of the previous four years, has been beaten by Jason Day twice in Day’s two wins.
Jon Rahm – Showed a lot with his runner-up finish last year
My Choice – Paul Casey
Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship
Purse: $3 million
First Place: $540,000
New event played opposite of the Match Play; it’s important that you chose a player that won’t be in the top-64 of the world rankings. Is a new event at the PGA Tour, played on the Puntacana Resort & Club a Tom Fazio course that opened in 2010. The course has several holes that play along the Caribbean Sea. The good news, for the last two years the event has been a Web.Com Tour event, so we have plenty of information on how players have done on it. Since it’s a second-tier event many of those that played in that event will be in the field. The won thing that you can bank on, lot’s of birdies and eagles are needed to play well, in 2016 Dominic Bozzelli was 4 under in his win, last year Nate Lashley won at 20 under par.
Sam Ryder – Only player to have played the event twice and been in the top-12 most times. Was T-2nd in 2016 and T-12th last year
Tyler Duncan – Played great last year finishing T-3rd, was T-33rd in 2016.
Josh Teater – Has played twice finishing T-41st last year and T-11th in 2016, he was 27 under in those events breaking par in 7 of his 8 rounds.
Jeff Gove – Also had was under par in 7 of 8 rounds, was T-5th in 2016 and T-53rd last year.
Eric Axley – Has been under par in all 8 rounds, was T-19th in 2016 and T-16th last year.
My Choice – Tyler Duncan
Houston Open
Purse: $7 million
First Place: $1,260,000
Interesting to note that since the Golf Club of Houston was first used in 2006, results show that the course is in the top 25% in length of drives while in driving accuracy it’s in the middle of all the other courses used on the PGA Tour. What this means is that longer hitters that don’t hit fairways have a slight advantage over straight, short hitters. That is why the list of champions at Golf Club of Houston included long hitters as Adam Scott, Paul Casey, Anthony Kim, Phil Mickelson and J.B. Holmes. Last year Russell Henley. One big secret, of the last six winners they all were in the top-ten in greens hit.
Russell Hunley – Been 57 under in his 20 rounds, finally won last year after coming close to winning in his previous three starts.
Daniel Berger – Has been fifth in his last two starts.
Rickie Fowler – Has been in the top-ten in 3 of his last four starts including finishing T-3rd last year.
Cameron Tringale – Three top-tens in last five starts, in last five starts is 46 under par. Has shot under par in 12 of his last 15 rounds.
Henrik Stenson – Another course he plays well on, was runner-up in 2013 and ’16.
Dustin Johnson – Has played well in two of this three starts but you don’t want to waste him this week.
My Choice – Daniel Berger
Masters
Purse: $11 million (last year)
First Place: $1,980,000 (last year)
There are a few things that all winners at the Masters have in common. First, it’s precise ball striking, like a Ben Hogan, length and power like Tiger Woods, deft touch with a putter on the steeply contoured greens like a Ben Crenshaw and the mind and wisdom of a Jack Nicklaus. All of these are what it takes to win the Masters. The key stat of all the Champions of the Masters since 1995 is hitting greens. Of those 22 Champions since, only four were not in the top-ten in hitting greens, while six of them have led that stat.
Jordan Spieth – Can’t go wrong since in four starts has won, finished runner-up twice and T-11th once.
Dustin Johnson – Plays well at Riviera which is always a barometer for playing well at Augusta, he was forced to withdraw last year but did finish T-4th in 2016 and T-6th in 2015.
Rory McIlroy – Has the game to win at the Masters, but can he endure the pressure of this being the one major he hasn’t won?
Justin Rose – The guy always does well at Augusta, has been runner-up two of the last three wins in his last 7 starts hasn’t finished higher than 25th and been in the top-ten, in 4 of these events.
Paul Casey – Guy has been in contention going into the final round in his last three starts. Just wonder if he will finally get a break
Tiger Woods – If there is a major for him to win it’s probably this one
My Choice – Dustin Johnson
RBC Heritage
Purse: $7 million
First Place: $1,260,000
Harbour Town is one of the best courses in America; it’s a totally different experience in which ball placement is utmost over power. Hitting it hard and far doesn’t work at this venue so look for a precision player to win.
Luke Donald – Has played the most consistent in this event over any other PGA Tour event. Can’t go wrong with a guy that finishes 2nd five times (including last two starts) and third twice.
Russell Knox – Was runner-up in 2016 and T-11th last year, his game is suited for Harbor Town.
Branden Grace – Guy has 3 top-11 finishes in 3 starts including a win in 2016. For his 12 rounds has beaten par in 10 of those.
Patrick Cantlay – Showed his precision ball striking with his T-3rd finish last year.
Matt Kuchar – Another guy you can’t go wrong with, in last 4 starts has been in the top-11 including a win in 2014.
My Choice – Luke Donald
Valero Texas Open
Purse: $6.2 million
First Place: $1,116,000
Since TPC San Antonio joined the PGA Tour in 2010, it has never been out of the top-20 of toughest courses on tour and been in the top-ten five of the last seven years. Last year it was the 10th hardest course on the PGA Tour playing to a 72.85 average. The reason that TPC San Antonio is so hard is getting it on the greens, in 2015 the course had the 2nd hardest greens to hit on the PGA Tour as only 51.73% of them were hit. That has been the norm of the course, in its eight years on the PGA Tour the course has never been above 15th ranked in greens hit (last year, ranked 3rd).
Charley Hoffman – In 12 starts had only had two finishes higher than T-13th last year being the worst when he was T-40th. Won in 2016 and was runnerup in 2011. Finished T-3rd in 2014. He has played in every event played at TPC San Antonio and in 32 rounds is 41 under, the best of anyone that has played on this course.
Brooks Koepka – Was runner-up last year, it figures that a U.S. Open champion would do well on a course like this.
Brendan Steele – Guy is 2nd this year in Greens in Regulation and 42nd last year, watch him the past champion will be an excellent pick for the week.
Ryan Palmer – Has been great in this event since it moved to TPC San Antonio. Just in his last three starts was T-6th in 2015, T-4th in 2016 and T-6th last year. In those 12 rounds is 18 under par
Billy Horschel – Has a pair of third place finishes in the last four years, was T-4th in 2016.
Daniel Summerhays – Finished T-4th in 2015, T-2nd in 2014 and T-7th in 2013.
Tony Finau – Was T-3rd last year, was 17th in greens hit last year.
My Choice – Brendan Steele
Since the format is a team affair this won’t be counted in pick your pro
Wells Fargo Championship
Purse: $7.7 million
First Place: $1,350,000
Wells Fargo returns to Quail Hollow after it hosted the PGA Championship. Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, North Carolina was a good venue and may see more duty in the future, but for now, it’s back to Quail Hollow and back to normal again.
The course isn’t going to be any different than it was last year for the PGA Championship expect the rough won’t to be as tough as last year. The fairways at Quail Hollow are hard to hit (6th hardest on tour in 2016, 3rd the year before and no higher than 8th last 13 years) but it’s been hard getting it close to the hole on shots into the green. Last year at the PGA Championship the proximity to the hole was 44 feet, 3 inches making it the hardest course on tour in getting it close. This stat is the norm for Quail Hollow, it was 6th in 2015, 2nd in 2014 & 2013, 3rd in 2012 and 1st in 2011 & ’10. So looking for a good choice look for those that lead the strokes gained from tee to green category.
Justin Thomas – Won the PGA and should do well again this year
Rory McIlroy – Has always played well at Quail Hollow, last year was not good at the PGA, but he wasn’t in the right frame of mind. Think he will be back to normal and in control again.
Rickie Fowler – Has good history at Quail Hollow including a win in 2012 and T-5th last year at the PGA Championship.
Hideki Matsuyama – His type of course, he played great last year in the PGA until the weekend, will be looking to get back this year.
Justin Rose – He may have missed the cut in the PGA last year but was 3rd at Quail Hollow in 2016 and 5th in 2014.
My Choice – Rickie Fowler
The Players
Purse: $10.5 million
First Place: $1,890,000
The most important stat for players who what to win, hitting greens. Going back to 2000, every winner but seven have been in the top-10 of greens hit as five have led (Sergio Garcia-2008, Stephen Ames-2006, Fred Funk-2005, Adam Scott-2004, Hal Sutton-2000). In 2012 Matt Kuchar was T3rd, hitting 53 of the 72 greens, in 2013 Tiger Woods was also T3rd hitting 55 of 72 greens. In 2014 Martin Kaymer also finished 3rd, hitting 54 of 72 greens, in 2015 Rickie Fowler ruined the momentum as he hit only 45 of 72 greens which ranked T-51st, the worst performance in greens hit for champions since 1997. In 2016 Jason Day also didn’t get into the top-ten as he only hit 52 of 72 greens, which ranked T-15th. The same last year as SiWoo Kim hit 45 of 72 greens and ranked T-37th. So does that mean that hitting greens doesn’t matter anymore? While the last three winners didn’t do well in greens hit, they ranked in the top-three in putting stats. So what has caused this change? Possibly the fact that the greens were redone in the summer of 2013 and again after the 2016 event. So we now have to put putting back on the list of importance at The Players.
Francesco Molinari – Has had a great run on this course finishing T-6th in 2014, not playing in 2015, T-7th in 2016 and T-6th last year. He seems to have a great run going
Adam Scott – Past champion, he plays well on this course and in Florida.
Alex Noren – Finished T-10th last year including finishing 1st in greens hit, could of found a course that is good for him.
Sergio Garcia – The guy always hits lots of greens and that’s probably why he has won this event and was runner-up in 2015.
Henrik Stenson – Does hit lot’s of greens, showed it with his win in 2009. Yes he missed the cut in 2016 but don’t let that bother you.
Matt Kuchar – Lot’s of good finishes in this event including a win in 2012
My Choice – Alex Noren
AT&T Byron Nelson Championship
Purse: $7.7 million
First Place: $1,350,000
For the last 36 years this event was played at the TPC Four Seasons, a course that many players didn’t like, one of the reasons for transient and non-marquee fields. For this year they will go to the other side of Dallas and to the Trinity Forest Golf Club, a course built by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The course, built on an old garbage dump, it resembles a links-style course with dramatic features making it like an old Northeast style course. The land is flat and looks like a rolling meadow that has tall native grasses and big bunkering and green complexes. We don’t know who this course favors; it will be a par 72 that stretches to 7,450. Those that have played it are mixed in their reaction saying that many pros will love it but many will also hate a lot of features. One thing that is certain the course will play fast, and with big greens, putting will be important. Some also see a lot of the features of the Plantation Course at Kapalua, with the exception that Trinity Forest is flat while Kapalua moves up and down hills. Have to think that the tradition in which 9 of the past 13 champions didn’t have a top-20 in the month before the Nelson continue so look for an underdog winner this year.
Charley Hoffman – Very loyal to this event he has four top-tens including a runner-up in 2015.
Dustin Johnson – Always seems to get a top-ten when he plays in this event, only thing he never really has been in contention at the end. Big question will be if he plays and how he handles the course
Bud Cauley – Was T-5th last year and T-4th in 2016.
Byeong Hun An – Always plays well on new type of courses that have Scottish feel like TPC Scottsdale, Eagle Point, Club at Nine Bridges and TPC Louisiana. Look for him to bust out this week.
Sergio Garcia – Possibilites are good on this links course.
Tony Finau – His overpowering style of golf could be perfect for Trinity Forest.
My Choice – Byeong Hun An
Purse: $7.1 million
First Place: $1,242,000
Colonial Country Club is a relic of a bygone era. Accuracy off the tee, precision iron play, and scrambling prowess are keys to success. The most important stat, total driving since the course has doglegs on 12 of the 14 driving holes, ones in which drivers just don’t work. Good putters always seem to do well. So you can see this is also a course that short hitters do well on.
Jordan Spieth – Not surprising that he won in 2016 and was runner-up last year, his putting plays a big part in this event. He could win two, three who knows four more titles at Colonial.
Jon Rahm – Was 3rd in strokes gained Tee-to-Green last year so Colonial is perfect for him. He was T-2nd last year and will take the knowledge that he did well at Colonial in his rookie start on the course.
Webb Simpson – Guy is perfect for this course, has played the last two years and in 8 rounds is 21 under par.
Kevin Chappell – After the first eight events in 2018 he is 2nd in Strokes gained Tee-to-Green.
Chris Kirk – Always finds a way to find himself in contention every year.
Brandt Snedeker – He is excellent from tee to green, was runner-up in 2016.
My Choice – Jon Rahm
Memorial Tournament
Purse: $8.9 million
First Place: $1,566,000
Muirfield Village has the same characteristics seen on most U.S. Open courses. It’s PGA Tour folklore that Muirfield Village could hold a U.S. Open any time of the year. It has the length, tight, tree line fairways with three-inch plus rough and fast undulating greens. So it’s not surprising that of it’s 32 different champions, 16 have won 66 major championships
Hideki Matsuyama – A perfect place for him, yes he missed the cut in 2016 and was T-45th last year but don’t let that be a problem because he will contend in most years at the Memorial.
Justin Rose – Has a very inconsistent record in this event, but the bottom line is he should content every time he plays in it, he has been in the top-10 in 8 of his 11 starts
Justin Thomas – Showed a linking to this event and course last year when he finished T-4th
Matt Kuchar – Guy has been in the top-ten in 5 of his last 7 Memorial starts including a win in 2013. In those 7 events, he is 70 under par.
Tiger Woods – Remember he has won this event five times.
Bill Haas – This is a guy that you can count doing well anytime on this course, was T-4th in 2013.
My Choice – Hideki Matsuyama
FedEx St. Jude Classic
Purse: $6.6 million
First Place: $1,152,000
TPC Southwind is a course that can be overpowered. It doesn’t mean the course is a rollover since it ranked 7th on the PGA Tour in 2016 in accuracy and T-11th last year. There is thick rough to contend with, but again those that hit it accurately will score low this week. The course is hard in hitting greens as last year, and in 2016 it was the 6th hardest greens to hit on tour. In 2015 it was 7th hardest, in 2014 it was 6th and in 2013 it was the 2nd hardest. Since 1989, only six champions (Dicky Pride in 1994, Notah Begay III in 2000, Dustin Johnson in 2012, Harris English in 2013 and Daniel Berger in 2016 and last year) were younger than 30. Six of them were over 40, the oldest being Woody Austin in 2007 at 43 years, 4 months, Greg Norman in 1997 at 42 years, 4 months and 2006 winner Maggert who was 42 years, 3 months. Last year’s winner Daniel Berger was the third youngest winner of the FedEx St. Jude at 24 years, 2 months and 6 days old and the second youngest in 2016..
Billy Horschel – Has shown a liking to this course finishing in the top-ten the last four years he played there.
Brooks Koepka – Has shown that he likes the course with his T-3rd in 2015 and T-2nd in 2016.
Daniel Berger – Is two for two in this event, with winning score of 23 under the last two years.
Dustin Johnson – Another place he does well at but we are saving him for an event with a big purse.
Phil Mickelson – Has a great record in this event for the last five years finishing in the top-11, 5 times and runner-up, twice.
My Choice – Billy Horschel
U.S. Open
Purse: $12 million
First Place: $2,160,000
The Open goes to another iconic course Shinnecock Hills on Long Island. The lore of the course is that it’s one of the rare seaside links course that holds a tournament in the United States. For the second year in a row the USGA will be generous in landing zones, probably not as generous as they were at Erin Hills but still enough to make it interesting. Last year it turned into a bombers delight, but I don’t see that happening this year. Shinnecock demands great shotmaking, some of the reasons that the last three winners, Retief Goosen, Corey Pavin and Raymond Floyd fit the bill. So look for this event to be a lot like the Masters with a limited about of players that will win.
Justin Thomas – Has the right combination of hitting it long and straight along with being able to hit lot’s of greens
Jason Day – This course could be tailor-made for Jason, it plays perfectly for all of his strong suits including putting.
Jordan Spieth – Proved that he can win at Chambers Bay, Shinnecock Hills has a lot of the same characteristics and with his great putting can’t think of anyone better
Hideki Matsuyama – Great tee to green he is the best, so I think he will contend.
Dustin Johnson – His game should be perfect for Shinnecock Hills if he can putt halfway decent their is nobody better to win this event than Johnson
Rory McIlroy – A modern day Tiger Woods in being able to think his way around a course.
Xander Schauffele – He was a big surprise last year and could do some of the same. Remember that he won the Tour Championship, a course that demanded great ball striking so don’t count him out.
Tiger Woods – Another player that know how to play shotmaking courses.
Phil Mickelson – It’s going to take a person with a lot of imagination to win at Shinnecock Hills and is there anyone better suited than Mickelson? Also, remember he almost won in 2004 at Shinnecock.
My Choice – Jason Day
Travelers Championship
Purse: $7 million
First Place: $1,224,000
The TPC at River Highlands is a different type of TPC course. It was a reconfiguration of a traditional, old style course, but still has some of that flavor. Most of the greens are small, raised or crowned, making it a scrambler’s delight. The tournament is well supported in the community — as many as 80,000 spectators could be in attendance on any given day — so the timid need not apply. The tournament is notorious for having close finishes, since 1983, 25 of the 32 tournaments have been decided by either a shot or a playoff, including last year when Jordan Spieth beat Daniel Berger in a playoff.
Jordan Spieth – Showed last year that this is another course he can play well on could do it again.
Daniel Berger – Has played here twice and finished T-5th and runner-up, could very easily win.
Charley Hoffman – Has three top-tens including a T-3rd last year and runner-up in 2012.
Paul Casey – Showed how well he can play the course with his runner-up finish, this is a course he can win on.
Xander Schauffele – Course is perfect for him can see him win here.
Kevin Streelman – Has a bit of a Jeckell & Hyde way in this event, along with missing the cut three times in the last seven years has also been in the top-ten, 3 times including a win in 2014.
Marc Leishman – Another player that we can’t forget in this event, won in 2012.
My Choice – Xander Schauffele
The National
Purse: $7.1 million
First Place: $1,278,000
This is a tournament with no sponsor and as of mid-December when this was written no course. Originally suppose to be played at Congressional for 2018 and ’19, with no sponsor that went away. The odds are the National returns to TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, the site of last years tournament when it was a big success from both player and fan opinion. Too bad that it found a good home for future years but many believe 2017 will be the last time this event will be played with changes coming to the schedule in 2019. The key from last year was hitting greens; winner Kyle Stanley led that stat while runner-up Charles Howell III, who lost in a playoff was T-10th. Another important element is scrambling, those that did well was Charles Howell III who was 4th in that stat.
Kyle Stanley – Played good last year, showed that his ball striking not only would prevail but showed that his game is perfect for the course.
Charles Howell III – Another close call but shows that this is a course he can play well on
Marc Leishman – Another who played well last year and hits enough greens to do well
Keegan Bradley – On a course that played tough, Bradley played tough.
Bill Haas– Not a surprise that he would do well on this course, it’s a lot like other TPC courses that he does well on.
My Choice – Marc Leishman
The Greenbrier Classic
Purse: $7.3 million
First Place: $1,314,000
The event has been played seven times, but the tournament still hasn’t seen a winner who led after either the first, second or the third rounds. It’s been a come-from-behind haven for this event, with no 54-hole leader yet able to close the deal on the final day. Three of the seven winners have come from at least four shots back; Jonas Blixt (2013), Ted Potter Jr. (2012) and Stuart Appleby (2010) while 2011 winner Scott Stallings was one back of Anthony Kim, Cabrera was two shots back in 2014 and Danny Lee was a shot back in 2015. Last year Xander Schauffele was three back going into the final round The course is great but short under modern standers and you will see a lot of birdies made.
Robert Streb – In 16 rounds has only been over par twice as he is 26 under. Has been runner-up the last two times this event has been played.
Xander Schauffele – Showed how he liked this course last year.
Russell Henley – Has been fifth the last two times this event has been played, this is a good course for him.
David Lingmerth – 25 under in 16 rounds, been under par 11 times.
My Choice – Russell Henley
John Deere Classic
Purse: $5.8 million
First Place: $1,008,000
Talk about a course for those that like to go low, TPC Deere Run is the place to score low on the PGA Tour. Last year the course played to a 69.75 average making it the 13th easiest course on the PGA Tour. So what makes it so easy? Last year 40 eagles and 1,805 birdies were produced, both being some of the lowest numbers of any course on the PGA Tour in 2017. 12 of the 18 holes played under par, with the par 4, 14th hole being the easiest par 4 with a 3.602 average meaning that 46% of those that played it made either eagle or birdie. The event is the week before the British Open which is ok since there is a special charter to take players to Scotland, so the field is usually good.
Zach Johnson – This guy seems to own this event, he has a total of seven top-tens, in the last seven years he has a win, a pair of seconds and a pair of thirds and last year a T-5th.
Wesley Bryan – Has shown a liking to this course, in two starts was T8th in 2016 and T-3rd last year.
Steve Stricker – Can’t go wrong with this guy since he has eight top-tens including three straight wins in 2009, ’10 & ’11. Was T-5th last year.
Daniel Berger – Another course he likes, played it for the first time last year and finished T-5th.
Bud Cauley – Was T-8 in 2016 and T-12th last year.
Patrick Rodgers – Was runner-up last year.
My Choice – Wesley Bryan
British Open
Purse: $10.25 million
First Place: $1,845,000
The ability to adjust to the elements, especially with wind and rain, is often crucial at The Open. To many Carnoustie is the hardest course in the world and the elements make it even harder. Through the years, Carnoustie has produced some hard finishes with Frenchman Jean Van de Velde blowing it in 1999 and Sergio Garcia blowing it in 2007. Again the elements are what will dictate who wins, the last two Opens at Carnoustie in 1999 and 2007 saw nasty weather which drove the scores up.
Sergio Garcia – Is it time for him to finally win a British Open This course is right up his alley, if the weather doesn’t get too bad I can see him in contention going into the last day.
Jordan Spieth – Showed a lot last year when he won at Birkdale, he is a scrambling type of player that will do well at Carnoustie.
Rory McIlroy – He has learned how to play well on Open courses and feel Carnoustie is right up his alley.
Henrik Stenson – Have to always look at him as a contender in the Open Championship.
Dustin Johnson – Another major that he has shown he can play well in and he could muscle his away to a victory at Carnoustie.
Tiger Woods – Played well in 2007 and was in contention in both 1999 and 2007, he has the type of game and patience to do well.
My Choice – Sergio Garcia
Barbasol Championship
Purse: $3.5 million
First Place: $630,000
An alternative event for the British Open, the tournament is played on the Grand National course of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Opelika, Alabama. In looking at the stats from the first three events played shows that hitting lot’s of greens is important along with hitting the ball far. Last year winner Grayson Murray was 3rd in both driving distance, and green hit. Hard tournament to gauge because a lot of guys that would be playing in this event seem to qualify in the month before.
Ricky Barnes – A player that we can see winning, he finished T-3rd in 2015, T-35th in 2016 and T-15th last year.
Luke List – Is 13th in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green last year, he was T-20th in 2016
Robert Garrigus – Had been 10th last year and T-11th in 2016, was 34th last year in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green.
Aaron Baddeley – Has taken a liking to this event winning it in 2016 and finishing T-10th in 2015.
My Choice – Aaron Baddeley
RBC Canadian Open
Purse: $6.2 million
First Place: $1,080,000
The event returns to Glen Abbey for the fourth straight year; this will be the 29th time Canadian Open has been contested at the course. Greens are contoured and well bunkered which means that those that scramble will do very well. Over the years Glen Abbey got a reputation as a long hitters kind of course, but if you look at all of the champions since 1990 all but Greg Norman, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh were short hitters. Another thing, most of the winners at Glen Abbey fade the ball, that makes sense since five of the six holes that bend go to the right, a Jack Nicklaus design trait. This event will probably suffer again being wedged in the schedule between the British Open and the WGC Bridgeston along with the PGA Championship, so don’t be surprised if many stars skip this week.
Matt Kuchar – Has played well at Glen Abbey, was T-9th 2016, T-7th in 2015, T-4th in 2014 and T-2nd in 2013.
Charley Hoffman – Another of those that have taken a liking to Glen Abbey he lost a playoff last year and was T-7th in 2015. In 16 rounds played at Glen Abbey is 48 under par
Jhonattan Vegas – Can’t say that he doesn’t like the course since he is 33 under and won the last two times.
Ian Poulter – Was 3rd last year in his only Canadian Open start, would have to think he will play in this event again.
Jon Rahm – Was runner-up in 2016 so he likes the place
Dustin Johnson – has shown a liking to the course after finishing T-8th last year and runner-up in 2016.
Ricky Barnes – Another that has shown a liking to playing well at Glen Abbey was T-5th in 2016.
My Choice – Charley Hoffman
WGC Bridgestone Invitational
Purse: $10 million
First Place: $1,660,000
Firestone is one of the most respected courses on the PGA Tour. The par-70 layout plays over 7,400 yards and if there is a key to the course its the long par 3s and par 4s. Three of the par 3s play over 200 yards while eight par 4s play over 440 yards. You have to be accurate with your drives (Course was 2nd in driving accuracy last year and 1st in 2016 & ’15), as the fairways are very well bunkered and bordered with high rough. Shots into the greens, usually with long irons, have to be precise (course ranked 2nd last year on the PGA Tour and 1st in 2016) and if the players do get a break its in the greens, they are pretty flat with very little undulations (Course ranked 38th out of 53 courses in overall putting average last year). Bad news this may be the last time that a PGA Tour will be played at Firestone after holding a tournament once a year every year since 1954 with the exception of just missing two years (1976 course wasn’t in shape, sister North course was used and 2002)
Hideki Matsuyama – Course right up his alley, if he is putting well he is unbeatable.
Adam Scott – Always does well on this course, he won it in 2011 and was T-10th in 2016 and T-13th last year.
Kevin Chappell – Another of those surprise players who was T-3rd in 2016 and T-13th last year.
Rickie Fowler – A course he does well on, he was runner-up in 2011 and was 9th last year, been in the top-ten the last four visits to Firestone.
Justin Rose – Has five top-ten finishes, best was 3rd in 2015 and T-2nd in 2007. If he is healthy, he will play well.
David Lingmerth – Was great in his two starts, 6th in 2015 and T-7th in 2016, only problem he is a long way out of getting into this tournament as of the start of 2018.
Bubba Watson – Never played well in this event until he finished 2nd in 2015 and was T-14th in 2016 and T-17th last year, this could mean he has figured out this course
My Choice – Justin Rose
Barracuda Championship
Purse: $3.4 million
First Place: $594,000
Aggressive play, that’s the name of the game this week at the Barracuda Championship. This will be the 7th year that the Barracuda has been played with the Stableford scoring system making it one of the most distinctive events on the PGA Tour. Along with the Dell Match play, the two are the only tournaments on tour that aren’t stroke play events. The modified version of the Stableford method is one that makes for a lot of excitement as points are awarded for low scoring and points taken away for poor scoring. Nothing is given for par, with 2 points given for a birdie, 5 points given for an eagle and for the rare double-eagle, 8 points. For those that make a bogey they have to subtract 1 point and for a double bogey or worst 3 points are deducted. So instead of the lowest number of strokes winning the tournament like the rest of the tour stops, the player making the most points wins. One last thing, you want to make sure on your choice because it’s opposite the Bridgestone, so don’t pick anyone in the top-75 of the World Rankings.
Brendan Steele – He is long and makes lot’s of birdies, finished T-5th last year, he has four top-tens in his last five starts. The only problem, he could qualify for the Bridgestone.
J.B. Holmes – Another that hits it long and could do well, was T-12th in his only Barracuda start in 2012
Martin Laird – Was T-7th in 2016 and T-6th in 2014.
Ben Martin – Guy is an excellent pick, in three starts was T-6th in 2011, T-7th in 2016 and 14th last year
Greg Owen – Makes a lot of birdies and showed a command of this format with his runner-up finish last year.
Sam Saunders – Seems to have a grasp of this format, was 9th last year and T-9th in 2016.
My Choice – Ben Martin
PGA Championship
Purse: $10.5 million
First Place: $1,890,000
The PGA goes to Bellerive C.C. outside of St. Louis; this course held the PGA Championship back in 1992 and the BMW Championship in 2007. Bellerive was built around a large creek that comes into play on nine of the holes; the course will have six par 4s that will play over 450 years. Again just like any other major driving and hitting greens will be a premium along with good putting. The greens don’t have much in the way of undulation, so those that putt well from 8 to 15 feet will do well. The course will play a lot like TPC courses at Deere Run, Louisiana, Scottsdale, San Antonio and Southwind.
Brooks Koepka – Has played well on at TPC Louisiana, TPC Southwind and TPC Scottsdale he also plays best this time of year and has a good record in the PGA Championship. He does hit it long and should do ok on the greens.
Jordan Spieth – Again will have a lot of pressure on him trying to complete the grand slam, his putting should help him on the greens at Bellerive.
Rory McIlroy – Have to think that he will have a field day on this course, great from tee to green.
Justin Thomas – Will be an excellent defending champion that will find a way to contend.
Dustin Johnson – Another who will be able to overpower this course, he does hit it straight and far.
Hideki Matsuyama – Always good on shotmaker type of courses.
Phil Mickelson – Has a way of playing well in the PGA Championship.
My Choice – Brooks Koepka
Wyndham Championship
Purse: $6 million
First Place: $1,044,000
Sedgefield is a very versatile course. Length is not critical because the course plays at about 7,127 yards, just a notch below average for a PGA Tour event. With length not being a factor, players are afforded the opportunity to use either driver or long iron off the tee. The most-critical thing for the field is to manage the slope of the course. To do that, ball control and accuracy are key. Look for the winner to be someone who doesn’t like to muscle up with the driver, and just settle for using a long iron for control. Past winners of the event are some of the best iron players on tour. The likes of Sergio Garcia, Webb Simpson, Mark O’Meara, Davis Love III, and Steve Elkington have hoisted the trophy. Look for the winner to be able to manage the surroundings, as the undulations are the most difficult part of the golf course.
Bill Haas – While we are talking about under par figures at Sedgefield, Haas is 86 under in his rounds played at Sedgefield since 2008, the best of any player since the tournament moved to the course in 2008. His best finish was T-2nd in 2014.
Webb Simpson – Past champion who seems to play his best at Sedgefield, is he is 96 under for his 34 rounds played.
Ryan Moore – Has played this event ten times and has been in the top-ten, 3 times and has been under par in 28 of his 36 rounds. Won in 2009, he has only been over par twice at Sedgefield.
Brandt Snedeker – Has four top-tens at Sedgefield, most of anyone along with Bill Haas and Carl Petterson. Was T-3rd last year.
Luke Donald – Another of those shotmakers that does well at Sedgefield.
Kevin Kisner – Guy who also plays well at Sedgefield, he has been 33 under in his last 12 rounds.
My Choice – Webb Simpson
The Northern Trust
Purse: $9 million
First Place: $1,575,000
Ridgewood Country Club will be hosting this event for the fourth time since first used in 2008. The club has 27 holes, so a composite course (seven holes from Ridgewood’s East Course, six from its West Course and five from the Central Course) will be utilized that measures 7,319 yards and play to a par of 71. With only three par 5s, the course will play tough. Of the 11 par 4s, only two of them are under 400 yards, the 1st, and the 5th. The first is 380 yards while the 5th is a driveable par 4 of 291. After that, the 14th hole is the shortest at 412 yards. Even the par 3s are bears with one being 155 yards, one at 190 and the other two over 217 yards. One of the big hazards of missing fairways and greens are the bunkering at Ridgewood. There are 78 of them, and they aren’t the ones that pros are use to, flat, easy to get out of kind. These are very steep banked, even in the fairway and take the best of bunker players to maneuver through. Players are used to hitting into bunkers and having an easy up and down, that won’t happen this week.
Jason Day – Has played at Ridgewood three times and was T-2nd in 2014, T-5th in 2010 and T-31st in 2008.
Matt Kuchar – Guy has won at Ridgewood (2010) and was T-5th in 2014. Always plays well on these U.S. Open type of courses.
Dustin Johnson – Past champion of this event, he won at Ridgewood in 2011 and was T-9th in 2014. Guy drives it far and straight something that is what is needed to win on this course.
Justin Rose – Plays U.S. Open type courses well, at Ridgewood he is 10 under in the 8 rounds he has played it.
Adam Scott – Another that has had success at Ridgewood, he was T-15th in 2014, T-9th in 2010.
My Choice – Matt Kuchar
Dell Technologies Championship
Purse: $9 million
First Place: $1,575,000
TPC Boston is a course that long players have dominated. The fairways are easy to hit, each year it ranks high in fairways hit, last year 65.66 of the fairways were hit. So players can rear back and overpower the course as some of the longest hitters in golf have won the Deutsche Bank. Another secret to playing well is dominating the par 4s, the scoring average was 3.97 on par 4s. Looking at the stats from its 14-year history, look for those with sharp iron games to produce the best score. Look for a smart player that doesn’t attack the holes but plays placement golf to win. Of the 14 winners, three led the greens hit category (winner Henrik Stenson led in 2013) while the first eight of ten winners were in the top-ten. Last year’s champion Justin Thomas was T-13th in greens hit. The chances are good that this will be the last time this event is played, sponsorship ends at the end of this year and the tour is looking to trim the playoffs to three and get the season to end three weeks earlier.
Jason Day – Has played well on this course, in last eight starts only finished outside the top-25 once and been in the top-156 times including a T-3rd in 2011 and a runner-up in 2010.
Adam Scott – Has six top-10s, most of anyone including a win in 2003. Was 4th in 2016 but missed the cut last year.
Rickie Fowler – Came out of nowhere to win in 2015, seems to have learned how to play this course but since was T-46th in 2016 and T-13th last year.
Henrik Stenson – Was runner-up in 2015, T-26th in 2014 and won in 2013.
Patrick Reed – Has played the best on this course the last three years, with a T-4th in 2015, T-5th in 2016 and T-6th last year. In those 12 rounds is 29 under par, his been in the 60s in 8 of those rounds
Tiger Woods – Use to be automatic in this event, he may be a good longshot
My Choice – Patrick Reed
BMW Championship
Purse: $9 million
First Place: $1,575,000
Event moves to Aronimink G.C. just outside of Philadelphia. The club has hosted the 1962 PGA Championship, the 1977 U.S. Amateur, and the 2003 Senior PGA Championship and will hold another PGA Championship on it in 2017. It was also the home of the AT&T National in 2010 and ’11. The club purchased 300 acres of land in 1926 and brought in Donald Ross to build them a new course. Folklore had it that Ross was not very happy that another Philadelphia club rejected his design and so he wanted to make Aronimink the best course in the area. The course opened in 1928 to great acclaim and even Ross didn’t realize it’s greatness until a visit back in 1948 when right before his death he came back and said that he did build a masterpiece. The course has been tinkered by the likes of A.W. Tillinghast, Dick Wilson, and Robert Trent Jones over the years and in 2002 before the Senior PGA championship Ron Prichard completely restore the course to its original design. With 75 bunkers and numerous slopes, valleys, and doglegs, the course tests a player’s patience and endurance. Ross meant Aronimink to be a “supreme test” for the best golfers. From the championship tees, Aronimink’s course is 7,237 yards long and plays to a par of 70. With the restoration in 2002, Donald Ross’ Aronimink plays as he intended it to. As he said in 1948, two decades after the course opened, “I intended to make this my masterpiece, but not until today did I realize I built better than I knew.”
Looking at the stats from the AT&T in 2010 & ’11, the one thing that comes out is that the winners Justin Rose (2010) & Nick Watney (2011) along with the others that finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th had a tough time hitting greens. Rose ranked 10th in greens hit and was the only player to finish in the top-three for both years to finish in the top-ten in greens hit. On the other side of the shoe, putting was very important as all of those putters not only putted well but did great in scrambling. Rose was 3rd in scrambling in ’10 while Watney was T-23th. So keys will be hitting fairways, and greens and for those that, can’t do that you better be a Harry Houdini on chipping and putting.
Here are some links to help you look at how players did when they played the AT&T National at Aronimink in 2010 & 2011.
Justin Rose – Of all those that played at the National when it was played at Aronimink in 2010 (won) & ’11, he played the best.
Dustin Johnson – You have to always think of him as a favorite on any course. (at Aronimink missed the cut in 2010 & didn’t play in 2011)
Matt Kuchar – He is one of the guys that you always think of on tight, U.S. Open type of courses. (never played at Aronimink)
Patrick Cantley – Was T-10th in this event last year but I like how well he plays on tough, Donald Ross type of courses
Daniel Berger – Was runner-up in 2015 and T-10th in 2015.
Rory McIlroy – Can’t go wrong with this guy, plays well on difficult courses. (never played at Aronimink)
Rickie Fowler – Has a record of playing well on old fashion, Northeast style golf courses (at Aronimink missed the cut in 2010 & was T-13th in 2011)
My Choice – Patrick Cantley
Tour Championship
Purse: $9 million
First Place: $1,575,000
As was proven in past six Championships played at East Lake, it favors those that hit lots of greens. In the 14 played since 2004, seven of the champions including Henrik Stenson (2013) and Billy Horschel (2014) led the greens in regulation stat with only one champion not being in the top-ten. in 2015 Jordan Spieth was T-9th, hitting 47 of 72 greens, in 2016 Rory McIlroy was 2nd, hitting 56 of 72 greens and last year’s winner Xander Schauffele was T-6th hitting 51 of 72 greens. One of the key items of this event is the tournament inside the tournament, and since this is the last event for the FedEx Cup, it’s always an important item. Experience and having a good year especially coming into the event is also a factor. Just look at the winners over the years. Rory McIlroy in 2016, Jordan Spieth in 2015, Henrik Stenson in 2013, Brandt Snedker in 2012, Jim Furyk in 2010, Phil Mickelson the year before. Now last year was a change of pace as Xander Schauffele won, becoming the first rookie to win this event.
Justin Rose – Always finds his way to the top-ten, in last 5 starts at East Lake is 2nd, 6th, T-4th, T-2nd and T-10th last year.
Justin Thomas – Has played great in his only two starts, almost won last year but thanks to his runner-up finish won the FedEx Cup playoffs
Jordan Spieth – Won in 2015 and was T-2nd in 2013, the only problem he has struggled at this event since.
Paul Casey – Only played four times, T-4th in 2010, T-5th in 2015, 4th in 2016 and 5th last year, so he always is in contention.
Dustin Johnson – Most of the time does well at East Lake and I like that the biggest favorite of the year ends my pick you pro season.
My Choice – Justin Thomas
——————————————————————————————–
Part Two of this, the players. The order is off the World Rankings as of Monday, December 18th. The first column is their rank, player name. The next column is my key choice for a player in a particular event, and the other key events are for those that I like in a tournament. For those that I have picked for a particular championship, it will be listed as My Pick your Pro pick, with the tournament I picked him for
Again, you can only pick one player.
(Clicking the player’s name links to his 8-year glance).
#1 – Dustin Johnson
Key Choice: AT&T Pebble Beach, Genesis Open, WGC-Mexico Championship, World Golf Championship Dell Match Play, Masters, U.S. Open, The Northern Trust
Other Key Picks: Tournament of Champions, Houston Open, AT&T Byron Nelson Championship, FedEx St. Jude Classic, British Open, RBC Canadian Open, PGA Championship, BMW Championship,Tour Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Masters
#2 – Jordan Spieth
Key Choice: Sentry Tournament of Champions, WGC-Mexico Championship, Valspar Championship, Masters, U.S. Open, Travelers Championship, British Open
Other Key Picks: AT&T Pebble Beach, Valspar Championship, Dean & Deluca Invitational, PGA Championship, Tour Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Sentry Tournament of Champions
#3 – Justin Thomas
Key Choice: Sentry Tournament of Champions, Honda Classic, WGC-Mexico Championship, Wells Fargo Championship, Tour Championship
Other Key Picks: Sony Open in Hawaii, Valspar Championship, Memorial Tournament, U.S. Open, PGA Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Tour Championship
#4 – Jon Rahm
Key Choice: WGC-Mexico Championship, World Golf Championship Dell Match Play, Dean & Deluca Invitational,
Other Key Picks: Farmers Insurance Open, Waste Management Phoenix Open, RBC Canadian Open
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Dean & Deluca Invitational
#5 – Hideki Matsuyama
Key Choice: Sentry Tournament of Champions, Waste Management Phoenix Open, Memorial Tournament, U.S. Open,
Other Key Picks: Wells Fargo Championship, WGC Bridgestone Invitational, PGA Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Memorial Tournament
#6 – Justin Rose
Key Choice: Genesis Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Masters, Memorial Tournament, WGC Bridgestone Invitational, BMW Championship
Other Key Picks: Wells Fargo Championship, The Northern Trust, Tour Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: WGC Bridgestone Invitational
#7 – Rickie Fowler
Key Choice: Waste Management Phoenix Open, Honda Classic, Wells Fargo Championship
Other Key Picks: Houston Open, WGC Bridgestone Invitational, Dell Technologies Championship, BMW Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Wells Fargo Championship
#8 – Brooks Koepka
Key Choice: Valero Texas Open, FedEx St. Jude Classic, PGA Championship
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: PGA Championship
#9 – Henrik Stenson
Key Choice: Valspar Championship, The Players, British Open,
Other Key Picks: Arnold Palmer Invitational, Houston Open, Dell Technologies Championship
#10 – Rory McIlroy
Key Choice: WGC-Mexico Championship, World Golf Championship Dell Match Play, Masters, Wells Fargo Championship, British Open
Other Key Picks: U.S. Open, PGA Championship, BMW Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: WGC-Mexico Championship
#11 – Sergio Garcia
Key Choice: The Players, AT&T Byron Nelson Championship, British Open
Other Key Picks: Masters
Was my 2018 pick for this event: British Open
#12 – Jason Day
Key Choice: World Golf Championship Dell Match Play, The Northern Trust,
Other Key Picks: AT&T Pebble Beach
Was my 2018 pick for this event: U.S. Open
#13 – Marc Leishman
Key Choice: Travelers Championship, The National,
Other Key Picks: Sony Open in Hawaii
Was my 2018 pick for this event: The National
#14 – Paul Casey
Key Choice: Genesis Open, Masters, Travelers Championship, Tour Championship
Other Key Picks: Waste Management Phoenix Open
Was my 2018 pick for this event: World Golf Championship Dell Match Play
#15 – Matt Kuchar
Key Choice: RBC Heritage, The Players, Memorial Tournament, RBC Canadian Open, The Northern Trust
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: The Northern Trust
#16 – Tyrrell Hatton
Key Choice: Honda, Arnold Palmer
Other Key Picks: no pick
#17 – Tommy Fleetwood
Key Choice: Arnold Palmer
Other Key Picks: no pick
#18 – Alex Noren
Key Choice: The Players,
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: The Players
#19 – Pat Perez
Key Choice: Farmers Insurance Open,
Other Key Picks: Sony Open in Hawaii
#20 – Rafael Cabrera-Bello
Key Choice: The Players
Other Key Picks: FedEx St. Jude
#21 – Francesco Molinari
Key Choice: Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Arnold Palmer Invitational
#22 – Louis Oosthuizen
Key Choice: World Golf Championship Dell Match Play,
Other Key Picks: no pick
#23 – Charley Hoffman
Key Choice: Valero Texas Open, AT&T Byron Nelson Championship,
Other Key Picks: Travelers Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: RBC Canadian Open
#24 – Patrick Reed
Key Choice: AT&T Pebble Beach, Valspar Championship, Dell Technologies Championship
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Dell Technologies Championship
#25 – Xander Schauffele
Key Choice: U.S. Open, Travelers Championship, The Greenbrier Classic,
Other Key Picks: Sentry Tournament of Champions
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Travelers Championship
#26 – Kevin Kisner
Key Choice: Wyndham Championship
Other Key Picks: no pick
#27 – Brian Harman
Key Choice: CareerBuilder Challenge, John Deere
Other Key Picks: Dean & DeLuca
#28 – Daniel Berger
Key Choice: Houston Open, Travelers Championship, John Deere Classic,
Other Key Picks: FedEx St. Jude Classic, BMW Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Houston Open
#29 – Matthew Fitzpatrick
Key Choice: Arnold Palmer
Other Key Picks: no pick
#30 – Branden Grace
Key Choice: RBC Heritage, Valero Texas Open
Other Key Picks: no pick
#31 – Adam Scott
Key Choice: Genesis Open, Honda Classic, The Players
Other Key Picks: WGC Bridgestone Invitational, The Northern Trust
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Honda Classic
#32 – Charl Schwartzel
Key Choice: Valspar Championship,
Other Key Picks: Memorial
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Valspar Championship
#33 – Ross Fisher
Key Choice: WGC-Mexico Championship
Other Key Picks: no pick
#34 – Kevin Chappell
Key Choice: Arnold Palmer Invitational, WGC Bridgestone Invitational,
Other Key Picks: Dean & Deluca Invitational,
#35 – Thomas Pieters
Key Choice: WGC-Bridgestone
Other Key Picks: Genesis Open, Masters
#36 – Phil Mickelson
Key Choice: CareerBuilder Challenge, FedEx St. Jude Classic,
Other Key Picks: AT&T Pebble Beach, U.S. Open, PGA Championship,
#37 – Yuta Ikeda
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#38 – Bernd Wiesberger
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#39 – Jason Dufner
Key Choice: Valspar Championship, Dean & DeLuca
Other Key Picks: WGC-Mexico
#40 – Patrick Cantlay
Key Choice: Valspar Championship, RBC Heritage, BMW Championship
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: BMW Championship
#41 – Tony Finau
Key Choice: Valero Texas Open, AT&T Byron Nelson Championship,
Other Key Picks: Farmers Insurance Open,
#42 – Siwoo Kim
Key Choice: Wyndham
Other Key Picks: no pick
#43 – Webb Simpson
Key Choice: Waste Management Phoenix Open, Dean & Deluca Invitational, Wyndham Championship,
Other Key Picks: Wells Fargo Championshi
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Wyndham Championship
#44 – Jhonattan Vegas
Key Choice: RBC Canadian Open,
Other Key Picks: Farmers Insurance Open, Honda Classic
#45 – Brendan Steele
Key Choice: Barracuda Championship, Valero Texas Open,
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Valero Texas Open
#46 – Russell Henley
Key Choice: The Greenbrier Classic,
Other Key Picks: Sony Open in Hawaii
Was my 2018 pick for this event: The Greenbrier Classic
#47 – Zach Johnson
Key Choice: Sony Open in Hawaii, John Deere Classic,
Other Key Picks: Waste Management Phoenix Open
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Sony Open in Hawaii
#48 – Kyle Stanley
Key Choice: Waste Management Phoenix Open, The National,
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Waste Management Phoenix Open
#50 – Peter Uihlein
Key Choice: Puerto Rico
Other Key Picks: no pick
#51 – Kiradech Aphibarnrat
Key Choice: Arnold Palmer Invitational,
Other Key Picks: no pick
#53 – Ian Poulter
Key Choice: Honda Classic, RBC Canadian Open,
Other Key Picks: no pick
#55 – Gary Woodland
Key Choice: Sony Open in Hawaii
Other Key Picks: Honda Classic, RBC Canadian Open
#56 – Bill Haas
Key Choice: CareerBuilder Challenge, World Golf Championship Dell Match Play, Wyndham Championship,
Other Key Picks: Memorial Tournament, The National,
#57 – Brandt Snedeker
Key Choice: Farmers Insurance Open, AT&T Pebble Beach, Wyndham Championship,
Other Key Picks: Dean & Deluca Invitational
Was my 2018 pick for this event: AT&T Pebble Beach
#58 – Ryan Moore
Key Choice: Wyndham Championship,
Other Key Picks: no pick
#60 – Adam Hadwin
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: CareerBuilder Challenge,
#61 – Shane Lowry
Key Choice: Farmers Insurance Open
Other Key Picks: Waste Management Phoenix Open
#62 – Cameron Smith
Key Choice: Valero Texas Open
Other Key Picks: U.S. Open
#63 – Julian Suri
#64 – Lee Westwood
#65 – Charles Howell III
Key Choice: Sony Open in Hawaii, Farmers Insurance Open,
Other Key Picks: CareerBuilder Challenge, Valspar, Houston Open, The National
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Farmers Insurance Open
#66 – Jimmy Walker
Key Choice: AT&T Pebble Beach
Other Key Picks: Sony Open in Hawaii, Dell Technologies
#67 – Wesley Bryan
Key Choice: John Deere Classic,
Other Key Picks: Genesis Open, Honda Classic, RBC Heritage
Was my 2018 pick for this event: John Deere Classic
#69 – Anirban Lahiri
Key Choice: Memorial
Other Key Picks: Honda Classic
#70 – Billy Horschel
Key Choice: Valero Texas Open, FedEx St. Jude Classic,
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: FedEx St. Jude Classic
#71 – Emiliano Grillo
Key Choice: Arnold Palmer
Other Key Picks: Puerto Rico
#72 – Martin Kaymer
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#73 – Keegan Bradley
Key Choice: The National,
Other Key Picks: Houston Open
#74 – Alexander Levy
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#75 – Russell Knox
Key Choice: RBC Heritage,
Other Key Picks: Honda Classic
#79 – Chesson Hadley
Key Choice: Barbasol Championship
Other Key Picks: no pick
#80 – J.B. Holmes
Key Choice: Barracuda Championship,
Other Key Picks: Farmers Insurance Open, Waste Management Phoenix Open, AT&T Pebble Beach
#82 – Sunghoon Kang
Key Choice: Valero Texas Open
Other Key Picks: Waste Management Phoenix Open, Houston Open, The National
#84 – Bubba Watson
Key Choice: Waste Management Phoenix Open, WGC Bridgestone Invitational,
Other Key Picks: Genesis Open, Masters
#85 – James Hahn
Key Choice: RBC Canadian Open
Other Key Picks: no pick
#86 – William McGirt
Key Choice: RBC Heritage
Other Key Picks: no pick
#88 – Kevin Na
Key Choice: Waste Management Phoenix Open, Wyndham Championship
Other Key Picks: no pick
#89 – Lucas Glover
Key Choice: Arnold Palmer
Other Key Picks: no pick
#93 – Jamie Lovemark
Key Choice: Sony Open
Other Key Picks: Arnold Palmer
#94 – Hudson Swafford
Key Choice: Sony Open in Hawaii
Other Key Picks: Arnold Palmer
#95 – Sean O’Hair
Key Choice: Honda Classic
Other Key Picks: AT&T Byron Nelson
#96 – Byeong Hun An
Key Choice: AT&T Byron Nelson Championship,
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: AT&T Byron Nelson Championship
#97 – Chez Reavie
Key Choice: FedEx St. Jude Classic
Other Key Picks: no pick
#98 – Bryson DeChambeau
Key Choice: Puerto RIco
Other Key Picks: The National
#107 – Bud Cauley
Key Choice: CareerBuilder Challenge, AT&T Byron Nelson Championship,
Other Key Picks: John Deere Classic
Was my 2018 pick for this event: CareerBuilder Challenge
#109 – Steve Stricker
Key Choice: John Deere Classic,
Other Key Picks: no pick
#110 – Danny Lee
Key Choice: Wells Fargo, Greenbrier Classic
Other Key Picks: no pick
#111 – Scott Brown
Key Choice: Puerto Rico Open,
Other Key Picks: Genesis Open
#113 – Graham Delaet
Key Choice: Waste Management Phoenix Open, Honda Classic
Other Key Picks: no pick
#114 – Meenwhee Kim
Key Choice: FedEx St. Jude Classic
Other Key Picks: no pick
#115 – Martin Laird
Key Choice: Barracuda Championship
Other Key Picks: Genesis Open, The National
#117 – Scott Piercy
Key Choice: Sony Open in Hawaii
Other Key Picks: no pick
#118 – Grayson Murray
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: CareerBuilder Challenge,
#119 – Ollie Schniederjans
Key Choice: Wyndham Championship
Other Key Picks: no pick
#120 – J.J Spaun
Key Choice: Waste Management Phoenix Open
Other Key Picks: no pick
#122 – Patton Kizzire
Key Choice: Barracuda Championship
Other Key Picks: no pick
#126 – Michael Hendry
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#127 – David Lingmerth
Key Choice: The Greenbrier Classic, WGC Bridgestone Invitational
Other Key Picks: CareerBuilder Challenge
#130 – Jason Kokrak
Key Choice: Genesis Open
Other Key Picks: no pick
#139 – Luke List
Key Choice: Barbasol Championship,
Other Key Picks: CareerBuilder Challenge
#140 – Luke Donald
Key Choice: Valspar Championship, RBC Heritage
Other Key Picks: Honda Classic, Wyndham Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: RBC Heritage
#141 – Harold Varner III
Key Choice: Wyndham Championship
Other Key Picks: no pick
#143 – Mac Hughes
Key Choice: AT&T Pebble Beach
Other Key Picks: no pick
#145 – Austin Cook
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#146 – Stewart Cink
Key Choice: FedEx St. Jude Classic
Other Key Picks: no pick
#149 – Padraig Harrington
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#152 – Robert Streb
Key Choice: The Greenbrier Classic,
Other Key Picks: Farmers Insurance Open
#157 – Kevin Streelman
Key Choice: Travelers Championship
Other Key Picks: CareerBuilder Challenge
#161 – Daniel Summerhays
Key Choice: Valero Texas Open,
Other Key Picks: John Deere Classic
#165 – Jim Herman
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#170 – Patrick Rodgers
Key Choice: John Deere Classic,
Other Key Picks: no pick
#177 – Jim Furyk
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#182 – Ryan Armour
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#183 – Graeme McDowell
Key Choice: Honda Classic
Other Key Picks: no pick
#184 – Chris Kirk
Key Choice: Dean & Deluca Invitational,
Other Key Picks: Players Championship
#188 – Ryan Palmer
Key Choice: Valero Texas Open,
Other Key Picks: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship
#189 – Thongchai Jaidee
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#191 – Chris Stroud
Key Choice: Puerto Rico
Other Key Picks: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship
#192 – Morgan Hoffmann
Key Choice: Honda Classic
Other Key Picks: no pick
#193 – Kevin Tway
Key Choice: John Deere
Other Key Picks: no pick
#195 – Alex Cejka
Key Choice: Puerto Rico
Other Key Picks: Barbasol Championship
#197 – Nick Taylor
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: AT&T Byron Nelson
#199 – Brian Gay
Key Choice: Barbasol Championship
Other Key Picks: Sony Open in Hawaii
#212 – Aaron Baddeley
Key Choice: Barbasol Championship
Other Key Picks: Valero Texas Open, RBC Heritage
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Barbasol Championship
#226 – Billy Hurley III
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#232 – Smylie Kaufman
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#233 – Robert Garrigus
Key Choice: Barbasol Championship,
Other Key Picks: no pick
#243 – Chad Campbell
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#244 – Harris English
Key Choice: Farmers Insurance Open
Other Key Picks: FedEx St.Jude Classic
#247 – Rod Pampling
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#250 – Ben Martin
Key Choice: Barracuda Championship,
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Barracuda Championship
253 – Jonathan Randolph
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
257 – Sam Ryder
Key Choice: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship,
Other Key Picks: no pick
260 – Sam Saunders
Key Choice: Puerto Rico Open,
Other Key Picks: Barracuda Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Puerto Rico Open
274 – Jonas Blixt
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
282 – Martin Flores
Key Choice: Barracuda Championship
Other Key Picks: Puerto RIco
284 – Jonathan Byrd
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
285 – J.T. Poston
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
291 – Scott Stallings
Key Choice: CareerBuilder Challenge
Other Key Picks: Barbasol Championship
292 – D.A. Points
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
297 – Martin Piller
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
305 – Beau Hossler
Key Choice: CareerBuilder Challenge
Other Key Picks: no pick
309 – Geoff Ogilvy
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
310 – Cody Gribble
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
348 – Ricky Barnes
Key Choice: Barbasol Championship,
Other Key Picks: RBC Canadian Open,
358 – Camilo Villegas
Key Choice: Honda Classic
Other Key Picks: no pick
385 – Tyler Duncan
Key Choice: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship,
Other Key Picks: no pick
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship
388 – Retief Goosen
Key Choice: Puerto Rico Open,
Other Key Picks: no pick
403 – Greg Owen
Key Choice: Barracuda Championship,
Other Key Picks: no pick
584 – Ernie Els
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
618 – Will Mackenzie
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
643 – Hunter Mahan
Key Choice: no pick
Other Key Picks: no pick
#664 – Tiger Woods
Key Choice: Genesis Open, Masters, U.S. Open, British Open
Other Key Picks: Farmers Insurance Open, Memorial Tournament, Dell Technologies Championship
Was my 2018 pick for this event: Genesis Open
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