Fantasy Golf Picks

I’m giving myself points for picking winners.  Hopefully my picks can help you win your fantasy golf league this season.  My goal is to get to 111 points for the season, or the equivlant of picking a Top 3 finisher or better each week, based on the point scale below:

Winner = 10 points

2nd Place = 5 points

3rd Place = 3 points

Top 10 = 1 point

2010 Fantasy Golf Picks Total:  38 Points

2010 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  1.58 Points

Think you can pick better?  Leave a comment with your 5 picks for the 2010 Travelers Championship.  If you Beat The Expert in any week you will win a FREE 2010 Rotoff Golf Draft Kit (a $9.99 value) with one possible Grand Prize winner at the end of the FedEx Cup season.  See here for official BTE rules.

Beat the Expert Leaderboard

It’s been a super hectic week as we get ready to launch Rotoff.com later this year.  Unfortunately my blog this week will be lacking in substance but the BTE Contest must go on!  Look for my recaps of the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship next week.  Better late then never and nothing. 

1.  Justin Rose

2.  Ricky Barnes

3.  Hunter Mahan

It has been a great PGA Tour season, if not somewhat unpredictable.  I hope everyone enjoyed my analysis this year.  I will be stepping it up even more for next season’s weekly blog including a Survival Golf game for our loyal readers.  I will be taking a small blog vacation as we at Shlink Lincoln Sports begin work on the 2010 Rotoff Golf Draft Kit (which BTW is going to be amazing).  Check back here at the end of November for more details and in between now and then I will be posting occasional Rotoff Golf 101 articles.

Enjoy the off season.  The 2010 PGA Tour season starts in just a few short months! 

Fantasy Golf Picks

I’m giving myself points for picking winners.  Hopefully my picks can help you win your fantasy golf league this season.  My goal is to get to 111 points for the season, or the equivlant of picking a Top 3 finisher or better each week.

Winner = 10 points

2nd Place = 5 points

3rd Place = 3 points

Top 10 = 1 point

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Final Total:  109 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  2.95 Points

Last week: 

I was a week early in my prediction that Phil would turn it around.  It was a great finish to a hectic season for Mickelson who shot three staight rounds in the 60s (with a 65 on Sunday) to wrap up his 2009 PGA Tour campaign. 

I finish just shy of my 111 point goal, with 109.  Tiger gave me 5 points for his 2nd place finish and I got another point for Jerry Kelly’s T10.  Here is my complete pick points breakdown:

2009 Mercedes-Benz Championship – Anthony Kim T2 (5 points)

2009 Sony Open - Zach Johnson Win, Charles Howell III 4th (11 points)

2009 Bob Hope Classic - (0 points)

2009 FBR Open - (0 points)

2009 Buick Invitational - (0 points)

2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am - (0 points)

2009 Northern Trust - (0 points)

2009 WGC-Accenture Match Play - (0 points)

2009 Honda Classic - (0 points)

2009 WGC-CA Championship - Jim Furyk T3, Tiger Woods T9 (4 points)

2009 Transitions Championship - (0 points)

2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Tiger Woods Win (10 points)

2009 Shell Houston Open - Geoff Ogilvy T6 (1 point)

2009 Masters - Phil Mickelson 5th, Tiger Woods T6 (2 points)

2009 Verizon Heritage - (0 points)

2009 Zurich Classic - Rory Sabbatini T2 (5 points)

2009 Quall Hollow Championship - Tiger Woods 4th (1 point)

2009 Players Championship - (0 points)

2009 Valero Texas Open - (0 points)

2009 HP Byron Nelson Championship - (0 points)

2009 Crowne Plaza Invitational - Tim Clark T2 (5 points)

2009 Memorial Tournament - Jim Furyk 2nd (5 points)

2009 St. Jude Classic - (0 points)

2009 U.S. Open - Tiger Woods T6 (1 point)

2009 Travelers Championshp - Hunter Mahan T4 (1 point)

2009 AT&T National - Tiger Woods Win (10 points)

2009 John Deere Classic - Brandt Snedeker T2 (5 points)

2009 Open Championship - Lee Westwood 3rd, Ernie Els T8 (4 points)

2009 Canadian Open - Jerry Kelly T5 (1 point)

2009 Buick Open - Tiger Woods Win (10 points)

2009 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational - Tiger Woods Win, Lee Westwood 9th (11 points)

2009 PGA Championship - (0 points)

2009 Wyndam Championship - (0 points)

2009 Barclays - Tiger Woods T2 (5 points)

2009 Deutsche Bank Championship - Jim Furyk T8 (1 point)

2009 BMW Championship - Jim Furyk T2 (5 points)

2009 Tour Championship - Tiger Woods 2nd, Jerry Kelly T10 (6 points)

AimPoint PGA Tour Picks

Fantasy Golf Picks

I’m giving myself points for picking winners.  Hopefully my picks can help you win your fantasy golf league this season.  My goal is to get to 111 points for the season, or the equivlant of picking a Top 3 finisher or better each week.

Winner = 10 points

2nd Place = 5 points

3rd Place = 3 points

Top 10 = 1 point

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Total:  103 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  2.86 Points

Last week: 

(Well actually two weeks ago) I got 5 more points to my total on Furyk’s 2nd place finish.  Both Mick and Strick played terrible for most of the tournament and especially on Sunday, with a 76 and 77 respectively.  Now sitting at 103 points for the season I basically need to pick the winner this week to reach my season long goal of 111 (a 2nd and 3rd will also do).  I’m feeling confident. 

This week: 

<YAWN>The playoffs heat up this week as five golfers have a shot to win the FedEx cup.  Tiger, Stricker, Furyk, ZJ and Slocum all could be crowned Fed Ex Cup champion with Top 3 finishes, depending how the field fairs.  And while it will be enteraining to see these five dual it out at East Lake, it’s hard to think that the PGA has their playoffs right.  A true playoff would give the winner of the Tour Championship the FedEx Cup.  As it stands now there are twenty five other golfers that could win this Sunday and not be the playoff champion.  Let’s just call the FedEx Cup what it really is, a reason for Tiger to play in September. 

How would I change the format if I were commish?  Make it more urgent, more sudden death.  One Hundred Twenty Five man field, and four weeks of golf craziness.  You miss the cut, you go home.  All cuts would come after four rounds.  125 down to 100, 100 down to 75, 75 down to 30 and the winner of the Tour Championship is the FedEx Cup champion.  That would be must see golf T.V and would be no different then any other major sports league.  Baseball, Basketball, Football and Hockey, the regular season means nothing once the playoffs start.  You can go 82-0 in the NBA regular season and if you lose in the first round of the playoffs you go home.  Why should a golf playoff be any different?</YAWN> 

Michael Arkush also has some great suggestions for spicing up the FedEx Cup.

1.  Tiger Woods

As much as it pains me to say it, this might just be another laugher like we had at the BMW.  Tiger has one win (2007) and five Top 10s in six starts at East Lake, including three 2nd place finishes.  Don’t think he’s come this far just to putt away the FedEx Cup.  Winning the Cup won’t erase his major drought but it will make him $10 million richer.  And no one needs the money more then Tiger.  Seriously though, Tiger will win just so no one else can.   

2.  Retief Goosen

Goosen, #15 in FedEx Cup points, can’t win the whole thing but don’t expect that to put a damper on his play.  Goose, like Tiger, has a great track record as East Lake, try one win (2004) and four Top 10s in four starts.  Already with one Top 10 in these playoffs (Duetsche Bank) expect the Top 10 trend to continue for Retief on a couse that he knows well. 

3.  Jerry Kelly

2009 will go down as one of the best PGA Tour seasons for Jerry Kelly.  A win, four Top 10s and only one missed cut since the end of May, Kelly also has good history here.  Albeit only two career starts here, he has finshed 3rd and 4th.  He was just outside the Top 10 in Boston before a T49 finish two weeks ago.  This is definately a sleeper pick as there are others with more on the line this week, but that just might work in Mr. Kelly’s favor.

AimPoint PGA Tour Picks

Fantasy Golf Picks

I’m giving myself points for picking winners.  Hopefully my picks can help you win your fantasy golf league this season.  My goal is to get to 111 points for the season, or the equivlant of picking a Top 3 finisher or better each week.

Winner = 10 points

2nd Place = 5 points

3rd Place = 3 points

Top 10 = 1 point

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Total:  98 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  2.80 Points

Last week: 

Furyk held the lead through 36 holes only to falter on Sunday (which would have been Saturday), still I get 1 point for his Top 10 finish.  Ernie Els stunk, missing the cut and Jacobson was no where near the super sleeper pick that I envisioned, finishing 69 (dudes!).  I’ve got two weeks left to get 13 points.  With the smaller fields my odds are better but I’m not holding my breath.  I know I need to come strong this week.

My only regret was forgeting to edit Furyk into my Yahoo! Golf lineup as my season long goal to be the best Expert will now be a tough task.  My only saving grace is I have one start left for Tiger……..who just may have found his putting stoke………..stay tuned next week.

This week: 

Just two more tournaments until the FedEx Cup champion is crowned.  And the roller coaster ride continues at Cog Hill in Chicago.  With his win last week, FedEx Cup #1 Steve Stricker overtook World #1 Tiger Woods in the FedEx Cup standings.  It feels like a showdown is brewin (or just maybe Jason Dufner wins the FedEx Cup and we put this wacky season to rest).

1.  Phil Mickelson

Did you really think Phil, the World #2, hotel pimp extrodinaire and addmitted SLS favorite would just ride off into the sunset without a peep?  How ’bout a 66 last Sunday….er…Monday?  It reminded me of the Phil that won two tournments this season, a confident Phil with a confident putter.  There are many golfers with a better track record here (Phil has no Top 10s at this event in eleven starts) but I don’t think Phil is going to just disappear without a fight.  Probably won’t win but should get a Top 10 finish to position himself for the Tour Championship.  Don’t let me down.

2.  Jim Furyk

I still stick by what I said last week, Jimmy is close.  As mentioned above he held a 36 hole lead last week before a disappointing 73 on Sunday in round 3.  Even still a 68 final round is a good sign.  An even better sign is Furyk has won in this event on this course in 2005 and has eight Top 10s here in thirteen starts.  Though winless on Tour since 2007, not many have made more money then Jimmy last last two years with well over $6 million.  A win this week would not only add to that impressive total but would make him a top favorite to take home the FedEx Cup trophy.  I think he just may get it done this week.

3.  Steve Stricker

I know what you’re thinking.  Where the hell was this pick the last few weeks?  Well it’s better late then never I hope.  We’ve seen this kind playoff play from Stricker before, who won the very first FedEx playoff event in 2007 to cement another Comeback Player of the Year award.  The only difference this year is Steve won’t be sneaking up on anyone, and won’t have too.  There is no one playing better golf, tee to green, then Stricker right now.  He has not missed a cut since early April and has eight Top 10s (two wins) in his last twelve starts.  Ouch.  I’m kicking myself for not exploiting these trends earlier.  With a 2nd place and a Win in these 2009 Playoffs, Stricker not only has a real shot at the $10 million FedEx Cup first prize but an outside shot at Comeback Player of the Year.  Well maybe not the last part.  Stricker won this event when it was the Western Open (and yes still the same course) in 1996 and has finished in the Top 10 here the last two years.

P.S.  Please forgive the Ace of Base search reference.  What started out as a silly joke has now esculated into that damn song being burned into my mind, stuck in my head.  I’ve even caught myself singing it a bit.  Quick, anyone know the cure for ACE of BASE?

AimPoint PGA Tour Picks

Fantasy Golf Picks

I’m giving myself points for picking winners.  Hopefully my picks can help you win your fantasy golf league this season.  My goal is to get to 111 points for the season, or the equivlant of picking a Top 3 finisher or better each week.

Winner = 10 points

2nd Place = 5 points

3rd Place = 3 points

Top 10 = 1 point

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Total:  97 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  2.85 Points

Last week: 

I’ll take the 5 points for Tiger and move on.  Both Garcia (-6) and Streelman (-3) got off to great starts on Thursday but could only manage one round in the 60s (Streelman 69 in R3) between the two of them the rest of the tournament.  I’ve been noticing a funny thing the last month or so.  Is it just me or has that feeling that Tiger will just find a way to win disappeared?  It used to be if Tiger was within two shots of the lead on Sunday you just knew he’d come back and win.  As close as Tiger got last weekend I never felt that he was going to win.

That said, I never felt like Slocum would win either.  As the final groups approached the back nine I was sure Stricker would take it home.  But that is what is so great about golf, and this year in particular, it’s been like an indie movie with the unpredictable ending.  And it’s kept us watching.  I get the feeling the rest of the FedEx Cup race will be much of the same.  Congrats to Heath Slocum for getting his first win since 2005.

This week: 

The FedEx Cup Playoffs continue in Boston over Labor day weekend (Friday-Monday golf).  The field of 125 from last week has been cut to 100.  I’m staying away from Tiger this week but not due to his play here.  He has four Top 10s including a win here in five starts.  However Tiger has not been putting well for months now and that will bite him on this course.  Am I saying he won’t finish in the Top 10?  Not so much, I just don’t see a win this week from El Tigre. 

1.  Ernie Els

Ernie finished T3 here last year in his only appearance at TPC of Boston.  Mix in a T2 last week and there should be no suprise to see Els get back into the win column for the first time since early 2008.  There may be no one outside of Tiger playing better golf then the Big Easy as of late.  With four Top 10s in his last six starts this may be a harbinger of FedEx cup glory.  Anything less then a Top 10 this week will be a disappointment.

2.  Jim Furyk

Normally a force in the summer time, Furyk has not managed a Top 10 finish since early July.  A 69 last Sunday is a good sign and his T15 last week was his best finish in months.  Jimmy is winless on Tour since 2007 and is due.  Even in his struggles he only has two missed cuts on the year, in twenty starts.  Furyk finished T7 here a year ago and has never missed the cut in four starts.  Sitting 18th in the FedEx Cup standings I expect Jimmy to contend all weekend long.

3.  Fredrik Jacobson

At this point in the season to be making your first appearance in the Rotoff Golf picks means you are playing good golf.  So is the case with Fredrik Jacobson who has stepped up his game for the playoffs.  With six of his last eight rounds in the 60s, including a 64 on Sunday at the Wyndham, Jacobson has finished T17 and T6 in these playoffs.  In 2007 he finished T9 on this course so it’s not out of the question for Jacobson to continue his rise up the FedEx Cup standings and who knows, maybe his first PGA Tour win.  In this year of indie movie endings you just never know.