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:  39 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  2.29 Points

Last week: 

Note to self.  No more picking Adam Scott unless he actually wins a tournament this year.  Seriously, what has happened to Mr. Scott?  As noted last week he had never missed the cut at Quail Hollow, well until I pick him for my weekly picks.  I did get a point for Tiger’s Top 10 finish, my second straight week with points, and was quite suprised that he couldn’t close on Sunday.  Marino was tied for 2nd after the first round and it appeared I was on my way to genius status, but alas reality set in with his T38 finish.

It’s good for golf that Sean O’Hair is becoming an elite player, with his third career win last weekend.  A major win may be forth coming.  Although I’m not picking him this week expect him to play well.

This week: 

Everyone is playing this week at the best non-major event on the PGA Tour Schedule.  The Players Championship tees off on Thursday for the 36th time.  The Players is played at TPC Sawgrass known for it’s island 17th green, and is one of the most entertaining tournaments to watch on T.V.  Sergio will defend (the biggest win of his career) this week against a fully loaded field.  As always the weekend will have a major field and expect some major players to step up to the spotlight. 

1. Phil Mickelson

Phil is close, if he could just put four consecutive rounds of solid play together.  That he got out of the gate early with a 67 in round one last week is a good sign.  That he shot a 75 on Saturday is not suprising, if not frustrating for Phil fans.  Followed by a 67 on Sunday.  In other words, a roller coaster ride (and still a T5 finish at Quail Hollow).  Having won this event in 2007, the ride should be more stable this weekend and Phil’s short game will keep him in contention.  Another Players win for Phil is highly likely come Sunday.

 2. Retief Goosen

With five missed cuts in his first six starts at TPC Sawgrass (1998-2004) Retief has not missed the cut here since, including a 2nd place finish in 2006.  Goosen appears to be back in top form after playing below his potential the last few years.  Retief settled for a T11 finish last week after being tied for the lead through 36 holes, derailed by 72 and 73 over the weekend.  Like Phil, Retief is close to putting together four great rounds in a row.  Don’t be suprised if it happens sooner then later. 

3. Boo Weekley

Consistentcy has been with Boo in 2009 with only one missed cut in eleven starts.  This one is pure hunch.  Boo has finished just outside the Top 10 in his last three starts, including a T11 last weekend after a 68 on Sunday.  He has only played this event twice with his best finish a T21 last season (that included a 77 on Sunday).  If nothing else Boo should be playing the weekend, and who knows maybe he breaks through for his second Top 10 of the season.

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:  31 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Preview Weekly Average:  2.21 Points

Last week: 

Glover almost made me look like a genius by flirting with the win late on Sunday but a double bogey, triple bogey, double bogey stretch on his back nine brought us both back to reality.  Els played well on Sunday and almost cracked the Top 10. I did manage to get 1 point for Ogilvy’s Top 10 finish.  Early on it looked like Ogilvy would cruise to a win but I think the weather delays (When was the last time a tournament was postponed for wind?) were a drain on everyone, not that Ogilvy needs excuses.  His final round 75 was dissapointing but in the end I was happy to see Paul Casey get his first PGA Tour victory.

This week: 

Is it just me or does it feel like the stars are aligning for something special this weekend?  It may seem like a cop out on my part in picking World #1 and #2 as my top two picks this week but I think we may just have the much anticipated Tiger/Phil major duel on Sunday.  Sure, it’s a little bit of wishful thinking, (and if you’re a regular reader of my previews you know that I talk about this every April) but with Tiger’s recent win at Bayhill and Phil’s two wins already this season we may just be heading for that epic major clash.

1. Tiger Woods

Not much explanation needed here.  He’s back.  Since his first win at Augusta in 1997, Tiger has finished outside the Top 10 only twice in eleven starts.  And in that same span he has never finished outside the Top 25.  With a win under his belt already in 2009 it’s hard to pick against Tiger this week.  He’s been thinking about his “next major” since his summer surgery.  That said he won’t roll like he did in 97, he’ll definately have to earn it.  But that should make for great Masters Sunday viewing. 

 2. Phil Mickelson

Yeah, Phil missed the cut last week at the Shell Houston Open, but that bodes well for him.  It was obvious Mickelson’s mind was somewhere else last week.  The early exit left more practice time.  Yes, we are talking practice.  Phil’s record at Augusta is Tigeresque, only one missed cut and eleven Top 10s in thirteen starts since 1995.  If Phil can find his putting stroke (and why shouldn’t he on familiar greens) we just may have our dream final pairing.

3. Justin Leonard

Somewhat off the rader, Justin Leonard is putting together a solid season.  He’s got three Top 10s in eight events and was headed for another last week before a final round 76 in tough weather.  Leonard has only missed the cut here once since 1996 but has not finished in the Top 10 since 1998.  This year he has played his best golf in early rounds and if this holds up he has the game and experience to contend into Sunday, probably won’t win but a Top 10 would not suprise. 

Happy Masters Sunday to all!

AimPoint PGA Tour Picks

Fantasy Golf Preview

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 80 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 Preview Total:  16 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Preview Weekly Average:  5.3 Points

Last week: 

Got shut out last week in a wild tournament for scoring.  Congrats to Pat Perez for his first PGA Tour win.  -33?  Are you kidding me?  Props to the Golf Channel for improving on their Bob Hope coverage, people really do tune in to watch golfers and not celebrities golfing.

This week:

1. Phil Mickelson

How can you not go with Lefty this week?  TPC Scottsdale is his home course and he has ten Top 10s here, including 2 wins, since 1994.  There is a lot of talk about Phil being on the down side of his career.  As a Phil fan it’s hard for me to be objective about this.  I’d like to think that Phil has a few more major wins left in him.  One thing is for sure, it’s time for him to start taking advantage of Tiger’s absence.  Look for a Sunday contention this week from Phil and at least a Top 10 finish.

2. Stephen Ames

Ames shot a final round 63 last Sunday and finished T5 at the Bob Hope.  Just two weeks ago it was Zach Johnson who had an awesome low final round and won the following week.  Not a rocket science formula I know, but something to note.  Ames does have four CUTS here in eight starts and has never finished in the Top 10, however he is putting lights out which bodes well for him this week on the firm greens.  Expect a second straight Top 10 (or better) for Ames at the FBR Open.

3. Kevin Streelman

You may remember Streelman’s Saturday pairing with Tiger at last year’s Buick Invitational, almost one year ago.  Overall Streelman put together a solid rookie season in 2008 with three Top 10s, including the 54 hole lead at The Barclays.  Streelman has only played this event once, a CUT in 2005, so nothing about his performance here indicates he will play well.  I’m going purely on gut with this pick.  Take it or leave it.