Floor It
FedExCup Playoffs III
BMW Championship
Conway Farms Golf Club
Lake Forest, Illinois
Conway Farms
Twitter: @bmwchamps
Yards: 7,216 as per the scorecard
Par: 71 (36-35)
Greens: Bentgrass; 5,000 square feet on average.
Stimpmeter: 12”
Rough: Kentucky bluegrass at 3”; Fescue in places
Bunkers: 88
Water Hazards: 5
Course Architects: Tom Fazio (1989)
Purse: $8,000,000
Winner’s Share: $1,440,000
FexExCup Points: 2,500 to the winner
Defending Champion: Rory McIlroy won for the second consecutive week at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind., as he defeated Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood by two shots.
Dates: September 12-15
Notes: The top 70 players will play 72 holes this week without a cut. The top 30 at the conclusion of play on Sunday will advance to The TOUR Championship next week in Atlanta. #goforbroke
History Lessons
Conway Farms is Luke Donald’s home course and is hosting its first-ever TOUR event.
The BMW Championship was played at Cog Hill in Lemont, Ill., before being rotated out during the FedExCup Playoffs. Last year the event was outside Indianapolis and next year, it heads to Cherry Hills outside of Denver. What does this mean? It means horses-for-courses and previous results in this event have little to no meaning this week. It’s not very difficult. Big-time players win Playoff events and this week is not any different.
With his T6 at The Barclays, Jim Furyk now has the most top 10 finishes in Playoff history, 11.
Hunter Mahan has now played every possible playoff event. #consistency
Steve Stricker, Mickelson and Mahan are the only three players to play The TOUR Championship in all six Playoff seasons. They enter this week No. 8, No. 6 and No. 18 respectively and look to make it all SEVEN seasons.
There have been 38 tournaments this season. The Stars and Stripes have won 30 of them. The rest of the world, Australia and Sweden, have won the first two playoff events. McIlroy and Justin Rose are the last two winners of the BMW.
There have been 12, first-time winners this season and just five players with multiple victories (Woods, Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker and Scott).
The winners on TOUR have been Johnson, D (28), Henley (24), Gay (41), Woods FIVE times (37), Mickelson (42) TWICE, Snedeker (32) TWICE, Merrick (30) Kuchar TWICE (34),Thompson, M (27) Brown (29), Streelman (34), Points (36), Laird (30), Scott (32) TWICE, G-Mac (33), Horschel (26), Ernst (22), Bae (26), Weekley (39) English (23), Rose (32), Duke (44) Haas (31), Blixt (29), Austin (49), Woodland (29), Dufner (34), Reed (23), Stenson (37) and 19-year old Jordan Spieth. The young folks (30 and younger) now have 14 victories; the 30-somethings have racked up 19 victories, and the “old folks” (40 and up) have FIVE wins.
In the six seasons of the Playoffs, a rookie has played in The TOUR Championship each season. There has been one each year. That’s weird. Jordan Spieth, who finished T4 last week, DROPPED from No. 9 to No. 10 is the only rookie inside the top 30 as of Monday.
Of Course
Conway Farms Golf Club was completed by noted architect Tom Fazio in 1991 and opened that year in August. The club is used as the “home course” for Luke Donald when he spends his time in Chicago during the warm months of the year. This tells me two things: Donald doesn’t think it’s too long and it must be a course where short game matters as that is his bread and butter. The greens are only 5,000 square feet, undulating and running 12’ on the Stimpmeter. They will be defended by Kentucky bluegrass rough, 88 bunkers and fescue which will punish those on the inaccurate side.
According to Indiana University Golf Coach Mike Mayer, a friend of mine whose teams have played this course in tournament play, this design is a combination of links-style holes, which are wide open, mixed with some target golf holes as trees and doglegs come into play. He describes it as a combination of parkland/farmland and links style course and a very fair test of golf. He also remarked that if the weather is benign and the greens are soft, guys can get after it and post low numbers. That being said, if the wind kicks up and the greens are kept at 12’ he could see scoring being more difficult. He concluded the winner would be a player who has a very steady, all-around game and one who can navigate around the greens.
This was the list of winners of Playoff events before last week. We add Henrik Stenson to the list so not much has changed. Big players win big tournaments at the biggest time of the year.
2009: Stricker (DBC), Woods (BMW) and Mickelson (TC)
2010: Matt Kuchar (Barclays), Charley Hoffman (DBC), Dustin Johnson (BMW) and Jim Furyk (TC)
2011: Johnson (Barclays), Webb Simpson (DBC), Justin Rose (BMW) and Bill Haas (TC)
2012: Nick Watney (Barclays), Rory McIlroy (DBC, BMW) and Brandt Snedeker (TC)
2013: Adam Scott (Barclays), Henrik Stenson (DBC)
The Chalk
Here are the top 24, based on points, entering the penultimate week.
The players in ITALICS should be on your radar this week.
Henrik Stenson (1): The folks who might have thought that Stenson burned out at The Barclays might not have seen the total picture by just looking at his T43 finish. As I mentioned, he had four bad holes that week and that was it. He bounced back quite nicely at DBC with a tournament-record tying 22-under-par winning score. His T43 is the ONLY finish in his last SIX tournaments world-wide where he’s NOT been on the podium. That’s Tiger Woods-ian, that is.
Tiger Woods (2): He played with a bad back all week at Liberty National and missed an 18-foot putt for a playoff. He was healthy last week at DBC where he shreds yet he finished T65 so that kinda killed the “horse-for-course” theory with Woods. That theory will be tested again this week but the opposite direction. The simple strategy at this point is to leave him until East Lake because he’s familiar with the track. When the money is on the table, there’s no chance I’m leaving him out. None.
Adam Scott (3): The Masters champ backed that finish up with T3 at The Open and T5 at the PGA so his pedigree is without question this year. Sadly for gamers, he cashed one week early at The Barclays instead of saving that performance for the DBC where he has raked it in in the past. He’s absolute class and there’s no reason I can find to write him off in ANY tournament. If he’s in, I’m on board.
Matt Kuchar (4): He was one shot of the lead heading into Saturday at the PGA before a Saturday 76 knocked him back. He was in the final group on Sunday at The Barclays before a final round 78 knocked him back to T19. He fired 66 three times at DBC to hit the top five (T4). I hear you knocking, Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch.
Graham DeLaet (5): He’s first in ball striking and total driving and also ranks inside the top 50 in total putting. HOW HAS HE NOT WON A TOURNAMENT YET? After finishing 83rd at The Open he MC at the RBC Canadian, his country’s national open and he MC at the PGA. He didn’t handle the pressure of his country’s national open but he’s responded in the playoffs with T2 at The Barclays and a solo third at the DBC. Those two finishes vaulted him up the ladder from No. 34 to No. 5. He’s fired at 65 at the Barclays and 62 last week so I’m not sure if he can keep that up. I’m not sure anyone can.
Phil Mickelson (6): Are you ready? Here’s the last 10 for Mickelson: third, MC, T2, T2, MC, WIN, T21, T72, T6 and T41 at DBC after opening with 63. Yep, just about what we gamers expect. He needs to post a number this week if he would like to guarantee himself a chance at $10 million next week in Atlanta. Remember, only the top five entering next week will win the $10 million with a victory; everyone else will need help. You think he’s going to bottle it with a chance for $10 million on the line? No. Way.
Justin Rose (7): His worst finish on U.S. soil this season is T33 at the PGA. He had a putt to win the Barclays and finished T16 last week. He’s my horse for Atlanta but remember he won this event in 2011 at Cog Hill on the south side of Chicago. He’s won a FEC event, a WGC event, a Ryder Cup singles match and a major in the last three years. Giddy. Freaking. Up.
Steve Stricker (8): If he’s playing, I’m buying. He shot his best round of the year, 63, last time out at DBC to finish second and clinch a spot on the Presidents Cup team. I guess he likes his new limited schedule!
Brandt Snedeker (9): His best finish in his last six events is T33. He’s in a slump, plain and simple. I’d save him for next week if he’s in your plans as he hasn’t had a round lower than 68 since his victory in Canada.
Jordan Spieth (10): In his last eight events he’s won, lost in a playoff, fired a final round 62 to finish T4 at DBC and posted solo sixth at AT&T. He was also a captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup. He’s been 20 for just over a month. How’s your summer been?
Keegan Bradley (11): Bradley hasn’t been able to find the winner’s circle in 2013 but his pair of second place finishes and five other top 10s have kept him hovering around the top 10. If you need a solid pick this week, I can’t argue against Bradley.
Jason Day (12): When the going gets going Day is usually in the middle of it and this summer hasn’t been much different. He backed up his three top 10s in majors this season with T25 at The Barclays and T13 at the DBC. He’s made over $3 million this season and the only thing that’s missing is a victory. Yes, please.
Jason Dufner (13): Better late than never for the PGA champion as his season didn’t get jump-started until his T4 at the U.S. Open. He waited longer than Zach Johnson to start paying back gamers in 2013 but he’s been simmering ever since. His T4 the week before the PGA was just a preview and his T9 at the DBC (after a closing round 71) shows that he’s found it. He was T56 GIR and third in strokes gained-putting at the DBC. That’s backwards.
Gary Woodland (14): His steady play from mid-March through July saw him rack up 13 of 14 weekends but not a single finish inside the top 15. His victory at Reno-Tahoe changed all of that. Three weeks later he racked up T2 at The Barclays and he was on his way. His T41 last week cemented his trip to Atlanta so he can swing it pretty freely this week. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Jim Furyk (15): What a whirlwind 18 months for Furyk. So many close calls, a Ryder Cup disappointment and a Presidents Cup snub plus a ton of top 10s have kept gamers on their toes. His final round 73 at DBC knocked him out of a fifth straight top 10 finish. Furyk is a resilient grinder and it’s no wonder why he has the most top 10s in Playoff history.
Kevin Streelman (16): His breakout season saw him post a win, second and a third in a six tournament stretch from St. Patrick’s Day through Mother’s day. In his next 10 events, he’s made six cuts and has only two finishes inside the top 40, T12 (PGA) and T19 at The Barclays. In a field of only 70 players with no cut you can do much worse.
Bill Haas (17): After taking three weeks off after back-to-back MCs in May, Haas caught fire in June with T4 at Memorial, WIN at AT&T, T9 at Greenbrier and T7 at WGC-BI. In his last four events he’s been T25 twice, T20 and MC last week at an easy set up in Boston. He might be out of gas. I’ll let you decide.
Hunter Mahan (18): His only finish this summer outside the top 25 was T57 at the PGA when a 78 on Saturday sank any chance he had of posting a solid finish. With T25 at the Barclays and T13 last week, he’s showing why he’s played in the most consecutive Playoff events and is heading to Atlanta for the 6th season in a row. His game travels so I’m aboard this week and next.
Boo Weekley (19): He’s only found the top 25 once in his last seven starts and that was T12 at the PGA. If you would have told me in January that Weekley would have been above Simpson, Johnson & Johnson and Garcia heading into the third Playoff event, well, I would have giggled. This is his best season since 2007 but his putter scares me to death.
Webb Simpson (20): Another solid if not spectacular season from the 2012 U.S. Open champion sees him with a foot firmly in the door for next week. At the DBC he was in the bottom five in GIR and strokes gained-putting and was T58 in driving accuracy. He can’t possibly be worse this week, right?
D.A. Points (21): He’s made 13 cuts and missed 13 cuts in 2013. So is that lucky 13 or unlucky 13. If I can’t figure that out, there’s no way I’m endorsing him this week. His T6 at Barclays was backed up by MC at DBC. He’s never made it to Atlanta.
Billy Horschel (22): His wonderful 2013 has come to a screeching halt since his T4 at the U.S. Open. In the eight events he’s played following that fantastic performance, he’s made five cuts and he has one finish, T30, better than T44. He fired three rounds OVER par last week on one of the easiest courses on TOUR.
Dustin Johnson (23): I’ve given up. I can’t figure him out so I’m leaving him alone. He has the old Mickelson mojo right now where it’s top 10 or rubbish. He has the talent to win every time he tees it up. This is a recording.
Sergio Garcia (24): He played spectacularly for three rounds last time out at the DBC as he played himself from No. 55 to No. 24 with his T4 finish. Garcia has enjoyed golf around the Chicago area as evidenced by the Ryder Cup last year, the 1999 PGA, 2003 U.S. Open and his times at Cog Hill. He’s staying at Luke Donald’s place and he knows quite a bit about this track!
The Bubble
The players in ITALICS should be on your radar this week
Roberto Castro (25): In his last five events Castro has racked up T6, T12, MC and T25 and T9 in the first two Playoff events. I can’t ignore form like this but he was right in the fight at the DBC before a quiet 68-71 finish AND he led the tournament in putts per GIR. He sits at No. 166 in total putting on the season so this was the exception, not the rule. #unchartedwaters
Brendon de Jonge (26): He’s played himself into the Presidents Cup and in to the top 30. He’s pushing 30 events for the fifth season in a row so he’s used to this grind. He’s shown his mettle by finishes of T19 and T9 in the first two Playoff events. He won’t want to let down countryman and captain Nick Price after he was picked as a wild card last week.
Zach Johnson (27): His streak of five consecutive events inside the top EIGHT ended last week as he wound up T27 after missing the Barclays for his brother’s wedding. I’m not discouraged as he’s never posted at top 10 at TPC Boston and he ended the week 67-66 so he hasn’t “lost it”. I’m in!
Harris English (28): His sophomore season has seen him pick up his first win in Memphis and make the weekend in 20 of 25 starts. He’s long and strong and his next step is dealing with the pressure of heading to Atlanta. Not having a cut this week will help the young, go-for-broke kids!
Charl Schwartzel (29): The story of his season has been encapsulated in the Playoffs as Schwartzel has played well but nothing near great. He hasn’t finished outside of the top 28 since early May but he only has one top 10 in that stretch. He’s a premium player that has been delivering decent results and that frustrates gamers.
Lee Westwood (30): This is in the only the second time that Westwood has been in the FedExCup Playoffs. Last season he went T5, T13 and T2 before finishing last in Atlanta. He’s no stranger to big fields and big events.
Charles Howell III (31): Last week he led the field in pars and only made three bogeys yet he was last in driving accuracy, 69th in putts per GIR and 54th in strokes gained putting. His last top 25 was at the Memorial. He’ll need something better than that this week.
Kevin Stadler (32): After beginning the Playoffs at No. 87, Stadler has posted THREE rounds of 64 in the eight rounds of Playoff golf so far. He’s needed every shot and his T4 last week in Boston has now put him on the cusp to make Atlanta. Last year, he was T10 at DBC and T10 at BMW as he just fell short of Atlanta. A T10 this year easily punches his ticket.
Kevin Chappell (33): His results of T15 and T22 have taken the former UCLA man from No. 58 to No. 33. In first two Playoff events he’s fired a 62 at Liberty National and 64 at TPC Boston so he’s embracing the challenge. This is the first time he’s made it to the third event of the Playoffs so I’m interested to see how handles it.
Nick Watney (34): He entered the Playoffs at No. 63 but his T9 finish at the Barclays vaulted him towards THE BUBBLE. Watney is now working with Todd Anderson after severing ties with Butch Harmon earlier in the summer. His putter has been the club holding him back this season and that makes me nervous coming down the stretch on Sunday.
Scott Piercy (35): He backed up his T5 at the PGA with T43 at the Barclays and T13 last week in Boston so he’s coming to life at the right time of the season. He led the field in putting last week and a hot putter is good problem to have when you have to move it on up!
Rickie Fowler (36): The cruelty that is the Playoffs reared its ugly head again last week as Fowler, who finished T9 at the Barclays, MC at the DBC to drop from No. 23 to No. 36. ALLRIGHTYTHEN! He’s made seven of his last nine and his worst finish in those made cuts are T21. He should be fired up for this week.
Chris Kirk (37): His T16, his best finish since early July, vaulted him up 10 spots to No. 37 this week. He’ll need another similar performance this week to see Atlanta. If this course ends up playing easy, Kirk will be licking his chops because he loves making birdies and eagles. He was T12 last year at Crooked Stick so this shows me he can get low when the pressure is on.
John Huh (38): What if John Huh would be paired with Angelo Que? What? Eh? He should be on your list this week as his ball-striking has led him to finishes of T3, T15 and T22 in his last three TOUR events. He made Atlanta as a rookie last year so he should be well aware of the gravitas of the situation this week.
Chris Stroud (39): I would have liked him more in June. He’s posted T37, T33 and T35 in his last three starts. That’s nothing good and nothing bad. Abstain.
Bubba Watson (40): He has three top 10s in 20 events this season. If you need any more information than that, you’re already lost.
Rory McIlroy (41): A flash of “returning” after T8 at the PGA and T19 at the Barclays but McIlroy only broke par twice on a course he won on in 2012 at the DBC. Sure he had a 64 at the Barclays and a 65 at the DBC but those were his only two rounds in the 60s in two tournaments. I beg you not to buy on name and “due-ness”. There is no rule that says McIlroy must play in Atlanta.
Daniel Summerhays (42): If you are looking for an outsider to jump up this week, Summerhays would not surprise me. Since July he’s racked up T9, T4, P2, MC, MC and T15 and T22 to open the playoffs. He’s quietly flying beneath noise but has been steady.
Russell Henley (43): His best finish in his last 10 starts is T27. There are bright days ahead for Henley but it looks as though he’s run out of gas on his first year on TOUR.
John Merrick (44): Since his T6 at the RBC Canadian, he’s racked up T19, T47, T50 and T53. You’re going the wrong way!
Jimmy Walker (45): Since finishing 73rd at the Memorial Dynomite has been Dynoshite as he’s made two cuts in eight events. Those finishes were T2 at Greenbrier and T54 at the Barclays.
Brian Gay (46): He has one top 10 and two top 25s in 2013. I’m going to stop typing now.
The Outsiders
The players in ITALICS should be on your radar this week
Patrick Reed (47): Here’s an interesting angle on the youngster who won at the Wyndham: His T7 at Pebble Beach was after a week off. His solo fifth at FESJC was after a week off. His T9 at RBC Canadian was after a week off. His victory at Wyndham was after three weeks off. Well, he, and everyone else, I know, had last week off! That’s a cool stat that I would use late in a draft/pick to fill out a roster. He’ll have some large hurdles to leap to hit the top 10 this week.
Graeme McDowell (48): With three wins on the season worldwide he obviously has the class to beat a field of this caliber. His best finish in his last six events was T12 at the PGA and T40 is the next best one. His form is more discouraging than his class.
Brian Davis (49): He jumped from No. 80 to No. 59, 21 spots, last week after finishing solo eighth. He’ll need to jump a minimum of 19 spots this week to reach the TOUR Championship so he’ll need another top eight or so. He missed four straight before his finish at DBC so I’m not entirely optimistic this week.
Jonas Blixt (50): His only top 25 since his victory at the Greenbrier was his fourth place finish at the PGA. He was T26 and T59 before that and T58 and T53 after. You let me know when you get him figured out!
Matt Jones (51): Only one round of six in the 60s since his closing 62 at the Wyndham but he does have three top sevens or better in his last six. He’s 16th in the all-around game and he can really putt as well. He’s a rank outsider in this field but he’s been close over the last two months. If you need to make a move or a Hail Mary, I wouldn’t talk you out of him even though he doesn’t fit the profile. Gotta take a chance!
Ian Poulter (52): Every time I write him off he never fails to post a top 10. Every time I endorse him he never fails to stink up the joint. I should be on his payroll! Remember, he doubled the 72nd hole, his only blemish on Monday, to finish T9 instead of T4. He can’t afford that slip this week as he’ll need a monster to move into the top 30. His worst round in the last five is 69. A big field won’t bother him one bit.
Charley Hoffman (53): The good news he’s 18 of 22 this season but his last top 10 was at the Travelers in mid-June. If he didn’t get that something special last week on a course he loves, I find it hard to fathom that he’ll find it this week.
Luke Donald (54): If there is ever a week to have confidence in a player who is treading water in the mid-50s, well, this is it. It’s his home course and he should have a huge advantage with his course knowledge and being able to sleep in his own bed.
Scott Stallings (55): Since his T2 at FESJC Stallings has missed five of nine cuts and his best finish during that stretch was T23 at the Greenbrier.
David Lynn (56): He wins the award for funniest, most-vile, sick sense of humour on Twitter (@davidlynndawg) but he only has one round under 69 since his return to the TOUR in July. He’s Tweeter of the Year in my book!
Matt Every (57): After finishes of T5 at Wyndham and T9 at Barclays, Every only posted one round in the 60s last week on one of the easiest courses on TOUR. Every always plays well in spurts but this step up in class will prove to be too much.
Marc Leishman (58): After being selected by Captain Nick Price as a captain’s pick for the 2013 Presidents Cup, Leishman should be free as a kangaroo drinking a Fosters this week. He sandwiched a finish of 71 at the Barclays between T12 at the PGA and T16 last time out at DBC.
Nicholas Thompson (59): Since MC at Memorial, Thompson, Nicholas has made 11 of 12 cuts but only four of those have resulted in Top 25 or better. His ball-striking has been very solid but he can’t avoid that one big round each week. His last Sunday round in the 60s was the second event of the year, the Humana Challenge.
Rory Sabbatini (60): He was T17 or better in the five events leading up to the DBC so his form is bang on. He fired rounds of 70-71-69-68 last week so don’t let the T53 sway you away. He’s been playing great. I’ll be moving him way up the board this week.
Ken Duke (61): Since his win at The Travelers his best finish in eight events is T48.
David Hearn (62): His best finish since missing a 4’11” putt to win the JDC was T35 last week at DBC. His only other top 10 finish, which he will need this week, was at an opposite field event in Puerto Rico. Nope.
Michael Thompson (63): His last top 10 was the first week of June at Memorial. The upside is he did post his lowest round, 66, in round four at the DBC since he posted 65 in his win in the first week of March at Honda.
Jason Kokrak (64): He needed a low one at The Barclays and got it with T9. He’ll need to replicate that again this week. It’s too much pressure to have to achieve this twice in four weeks for me.
Ryan Moore (65): He’s made seven cuts on the bounce but his best finish in that streak was seven events ago when he finished T7. #seven. His best finish in the last two months was T22. That won’t be enough this week.
Bryce Molder (66): Survived again last week at the DBC and that makes THREE times that he’s done this in the Playoffs. In eight Playoff rounds he’s chalked up four in the 60s. He doesn’t have a top 10 in 2013.
Sang-Moon Bae (67): In 11 events after winning the HBBNC, Bae has made four cuts and has only one finish in the top 50. No, thank you.
Angel Cabrera (68): He was No. 40 at one point but since WD in the second round of the PGA, he’s been sliding in the wrong direction. His 75-77 at the Barclays and DFL at the DBC don’t lend any confidence. Omit.
Brendan Steele (69): He’s made one-third of his money for the season in three of the last four weeks which include finishes of T4, T11, MC and T20 last week at DBC so that tells me he’s hot. He only has eight top 10s in the last three years and he’ll need a top five this week as well to move on.
Ernie Els (70): He hasn’t finished better than T20 in his last seven starts in the States. That’s not good when you need a top five to advance to the final stop but he has the pedigree to make it happen.
Rookie of the Week Last Week
I keep an eye on the young’uns each week to see who is making the most noise.
Sony: Russell Henley WIN
Humana: David Lingmerth P2
Farmers: Brad Fritsch T9
WMPO: James Hahn T16
AT&T: James Hahn T3
NTO: Luke Guthrie T21
WGC-Match Play: Russell Henley 2nd round
Honda: Luke Guthrie 3rd
WGC-Cadillac: Russell Henley T28
Puerto Rico: Jordan Spieth 2nd
Tampa Bay: Jordan Spieth T7; Shawn Stefani T7; Ben Kohles T7
Arnold Palmer: Ben Kohles T14
Shell Houston Open: Robert Streb T22
Valero Texas Open: Ben Kohles T37
Masters: Russell Henley MC
RBC Heritage: Russell Henley T6
Zurich Classic: D. H. Lee T8
Wells Fargo Championship: Derek Ernst WIN
THE PLAYERS: David Lingmerth T2. Great back-to-back weeks for the rookies on TOUR!
HPBNC: Morgan Hoffmann T5
Colonial: Jordan Spieth, yep, him again, T7
Memorial: Russell Henley T6
FESJC: Patrick Reed Fifth
U.S. Open: David Lingmerth T17; special mentions for Hideki Matsuyama T10 and Michael Kim T17.
Travelers: Morgan Hoffmann T9
AT&T National: D.H. Lee T3; Jordan Spieth 6th; Morgan Hoffmann T8
Greenbrier: David Lingmerth and D.H. Lee both T9
John Deere: Jordan Spieth WIN
The Open Championship: Jordan Spieth T44
Sanderson Farms: Steve LeBrun T26
RBC Canadian: Patrick Reed T9
WGC-BI: Russell Henley T27
Reno-Tahoe: Scott Langley T21
PGA Championship: Hideki Matsuyama T19. #forreal
Wyndham: Jordan Spieth P2. #forrealreal
The Barclays: Jordan Spieth T19. He’s currently No. 9 in the Playoffs.
Deutsche Bank Championship: Jordan Spieth finished T4 after a final round 62.
One-and-Done
SEASON TOTAL: $6,672,565
HTOC: Steve Stricker (2nd; $665,000)
Sony: Charles Howell III (T3; $324,800)
Humana: Tim Clark (MC)
Farmers: Rickie Fowler (T6; $204,350)
WMPO: Jason Dufner (MC)
AT&T Pebble: Hunter Mahan (T16; $94,250)
Northern Trust: Bill Haas (T3; $343,200)
WGC-Match Play: Charl Schwartzel (T33; $46,000)
Honda: Lee Westwood (T9; $156,000)
WGC-Cadillac Championship: Matt Kuchar (T35; $68,500)
Tampa Bay: Jim Furyk (T7; $148,892)
Bay Hill: Sergio Garcia (WD after three rounds)
Shell Houston: Jimmy Walker (T50; $14,838)
Valero: Cameron Tringale (MC)
Masters: Phil Mickelson (T54; $18,320)
RBC Heritage: Luke Donald (T3; $336,400)
Zurich Classic: Bubba Watson (T15; $102,500)
Wells Fargo: Webb Simpson (T32; $37,073)
THE PLAYERS: Nick Watney (MC)
HPBNC: Jason Day (T27; $46,565)
Colonial: Kevin Streelman (MC)
Memorial: K.J. Choi (T21; $58,202)
FESJC: Ryan Palmer (4th; $273,600)
US Open: Graeme McDowell (MC)
Travelers: John Rollins (MDF; $11,041)
AT&T National: Billy Horschel (T61; $14,040)
The Greenbrier Classic: Graham DeLaet (T30; $36,618)
John Deere Classic: Jordan Spieth (WIN; $828,000)
The Open Championship: Adam Scott (T3; $428,776)
RBC Canadian: Chris Kirk (T21; $54,160)
WGC-BI: Tiger Woods (WIN; $1,500,000)
PGA Championship: Henrik Stenson (3rd; $545,000)
Wyndham Championship: Zach Johnson (T5; $193,450)
The Barclays: Brandt Snedeker (MC)
DBC: Keegan Bradley (T16; $124,000)
BMW: Dustin Johnson
The TOUR Championship: Justin Rose
GolfChannel.com Fantasy Challenge
BMW Championship
I play as “Glass” for ALL fantasy games
Mike Glasscott (Rank: 2,856; $21,257,250)
Group 1: Adam Scott
Group 2: Steve Stricker
Group 3: Brendon de Jonge
Group 4: Kevin Stadler
Ryan O’Sullivan (Rank: 5,625; $19,726,209)
Group 1: Phil Mickelson
Group 2: Lee Westwood
Group 3: Harris English
Group 4: Kevin Chappell
Ned Brown (Rank 1,665: $22,253,202) “Pure Spin”
Group 1: Adam Scott
Group 2: Steve Stricker
Group 3: Charl Schwartzel
Group 4: Chris Kirk
Rob Bolton (Rank: 3,835; $20,655,809)
Group 1: Tiger Woods
Group 2: Luke Donald
Group 3: Harris English
Group 4: Chris Kirk
Evian Championship – LPGA 5th Major
Mike Glasscott
Group 1: Na Yeon Choi
Group 2: Ai Miyazato
Group 3: Carlota Ciganda
Group 4: Ryann O’Toole
Ryan O’Sullivan
Group 1: Suzanne Pettersen
Group 2: Jessica Korda
Group 3: Michelle Wie
Group 4: Charley Hull
Ned Brown
Group 1: Stacy Lewis
Group 2: Ai Miyazato
Group 3: Jody Ewart-Shadoff
Group 4: Charley Hull
Rob Bolton
Group 1: Stacy Lewis
Group 2: Anna Nordqvist
Group 3: Natalie Gulbis
Group 4: Maria Hjorth
Ned said, “…
Group A
Sergio Garcia-- I've used up my starts on Phil and Tiger, but if I have only one start left on either I would wait until next week in Atlanta. Garcia finally woke up last time out with a T4 finish at the Deutsche Bank and I'm hoping that momentum carries over.
Jason Dufner-- The PGA Champion had an understandable let down after his first major title, however he looked good last time out in his T9 result at the Deutsche Bank.
SUPER SUBS
Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Chris Kirk
Group B
Steve Stricker-- Group B is by far the hardest group this week due to the number of quality golfers. Stricker looked great last time out in his second place finish in Boston and he will be, with Luke Donald, local favorites to win this week.
Matt Kuchar-- The big question this week is how everyone will play a new course. Kuchar looked great in his T4 finish at the Deutsche Bank and, even though this is my last start with Kuchar, I think he is a better fit here than in Atlanta.
Justin Rose-- He has played very well in the Playoffs with at T2 at The Barclays and a T12 at the Deutsche Bank. Rose has played well in Chicago in the past and I think this course might fit his eye.
Graham DeLaet-- For months, I've had Luke Donald penciled in for a spot this week, but his form just isn't good enough to give him the nod. Jim Furyk does have the form, but being left off the Presidents Cup has to be a heavy blow for him. Instead, I'm going with one of the hottest golfers in here by using Graham DeLaet. He came into the Playoffs in off-form, but then found something to finish T2 at The Barclays and in third place at the Deutsche Bank.
SUPER SUBS
Jim Furyk, Luke Donald, Hunter Mahan, Dustin Johnson
Group C
Henrik Stenson-- I faded Stenson last time out and paid the price because almost everyone in the Top 100 had him. It's a bit much for him to win two weeks in-a-row, but overall he has played the best over the last six weeks on the TOUR.
Adam Scott-- I thought about saving my last start for Scott for the TOUR Championship, however his recent record in Atlanta is so-so. He did look average last time out, but he opened the Playoffs with a championship at The Barclays.
“Pure Spin”
Points last week: 122
Points this year: 5,737
Overall Ranking: (217; 99th percentile)
Coming Wednesday
And the analysis doesn't end here. Rotoworld's Rob Bolton and I will be co-hosting a one-hour live chat WEDNESDAY at NOON ET. We will be breaking down the field at the BMW and answering your questions. Simply return to the golf home page to join in on the chatter. Don’t forget to follow Rob (http://twitter.com/RobBoltonGolf) and Glass (http://twitter.com/GlassWGCL) on Twitter
