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:  92 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  2.88 Points

Last week: 

A swing and a whiff!  Last week’s picks were embarrassing.  Clark WD in the first round, Letzig missed the cut and Glover finished T24.  Still stuck on 92 points but I’m confident I can get back into the win column.

Ryan Moore got his first career PGA Tour victory and should be a factor in the FedEx Cup playoffs, though I don’t see him winning anytime soon when the fields are as deep as they will be over the next four weeks. 

This week: 

Ok, this is another one of those weeks when Tiger should run away from the field.  Coming off another major disappointment, Woods has two wins and a T4 in his tournaments following majors this year.  All majors that he didn’t win.  That Tiger choked (HA, love it, Tiger and choke in the same sentence.  Eat your heart out Greg Norman) can only mean he will win the FedEx Cup.  The first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs begin on Thursday. 

1.  Tiger Woods

Do I need to explain further?  Well ok, maybe I do.  Tiger has played The Barclays only three times in his professional career and has finished no better then T13 (2003).  It’s one of the only events that Tiger does not have a Top 10.  I’m going to go out on a limb and say he breaks that streak. 

2.  Sergio Garcia

While were on the subject of choke (and I know that word gets thrown around way to often in golf) how about Sergio last weekend?  A 64 on Saturday puts him on the lead heading into the final round followed by an even par on Sunday, settling for a 4th place finish.  Doesn’t it seem like we’re watching the same movie over and over again.  Will the “tragic hero” ever get a happy ending?  It was only his second Top 10 of the year.  Sergio, who was ranked #2 early this year and within shouting distance of that elusive #1 World Golf Rank, is now ranked #7.  But now that he is showing signs of life it’s hard to pick against him this week, two wins, a 2nd, 3rd and 4th in nine career starts here with no missed cuts. 

3.  Kevin Streelman

Speaking of signs of life (man, I’m getting good at this transition thing) how about Streels?  After a roller coaster first half to his sophmore season, Kevin has made six of the last seven cuts.  He sputtered a bit last weekend after shooting 65 and 68 on Thursday and Friday but gets on the radar this week based on his finish at the Barclays last year.  Though they are playing on a new course this year I’ve seen enough from Kevin over the last month to sugest he’s on the rise.  This is very much a sleeper pick so buyer beware.

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:  81 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  2.70 Points

Last week: 

Was there ever any doubt?  Ok so the 71 on Thursday was suspect but 63 on Friday was just insane.  Not that he ever really went away………..but Tiger is back.  I’ll take the 10 points for the win ad just like that my goal of 111 for the season is very much in reach.  Not sure what happened to Verplank who looked so good the week before but missed just his fourth cut on the season.  Furyk was a let down on a course that he usually goes real low, finishing T25.

This week: 

Two words.  Tiger Woods.  Three more words.  Phil Mickelon returns.  Four more little words.  Must see golf T.V. 

 Keep in mind there is no cut this week which bodes well for points in both Yahoo! and Rotoff leagues.

1. Tiger Woods

It almost feels like cheating in picking Tiger, but much last last week Tiger is playing a couse that he has absolutely dominated, try six wins in nine starts.  The three years he didn’t win he finished T2, T4 and 4th.  Add in that he is coming off a win and the PGA Championship is next week and I find it hard to see a scenario in which Tiger doesn’t wi again this weekend. 

 2. Lee Westwood

Westwood finished T2 here last year and the last time we saw him finished T3 at the Open Championship.  It should be noted that in nine starts at Firestone Country Club Westwood has just two top 10s, however Westwood is playing arguably the best golf of his career and anything less then a Top 10 this week will be a dissapointment.

3. Retief Goosen

The Goose has had a resurection of late.  With only two Top 10s in 2008, Retief has already doubled that total in 2009 including his first win since 2005.  This week he comes in with two straight Top 10 finishes and an almost win at the RBC Canadian Open.  Goosen finished 4th here last year and has two Top 10s in eight starts. 

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:  71 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  2.45 Points

Last week: 

At one point early Friday morning Villegas and Kelly were tied for first and I was looking like a genius.  But of course that was Friday.  By the time Saturday rolled around I was no longer a genius (though a little drunk) but I did manage to get 1 point for Kelly’s Top 10, while Villegas dropped off again during the weekend and O’Hair missed the cut. 

What a disjointed tournament, with almost daily weather delays.  Luckily for Nathan Green they were able to finish the tournament, which looked in doubt early on.  It was Green’s first PGA Tour win, after a few near misses.   

This week: 

There’s no way to sugar coat things this week.  Tiger absolutely dominates this event.  No sleepers, no suprises.  All three of my picks have played well at the Buick Open and are past winners.  With only two weeks until Glory’s Last Shot, you can bet there will be a “major” feel in Michigan this weekend.  Expect some must see golf T.V.

1. Tiger Woods

As I predicted a few weeks back, Tiger did not play well at the Open Championship, missing only his second career cut in a major.  That trend will not continue.  Tiger had never played Turnberry before.  What a difference a few weeks make.  In eight career starts at the Buick Open, Tiger has finished no worse then 11th with two wins and two runner ups.  Combined with coming off an embarasing missed cut in his last start = Tiger win.  Book it.

 2. Jim Furyk

#15 in the FedEx Cup standings, Jimmy also has a history of success here with eight Top 10s, including a win (2003), in fourteen career starts.  But even more impressive, no missed cuts in that span.  Aside from the U.S. (T33) and British Opens (T34), Furyk has four straight Top 10s.  While this tournament may feel like a major come Sunday, it will not play difficult like a major which bodes well for Jimmy.  There are lots of birdies on this course.  If he can shoot a low round on Thursday look out.  Even still I foresee at least another Top 10.

3. Scott Verplank

After a sluggish start (only one Top 10 before June), Verplank is heating up.  How about three straight Top 10s in his last three starts which includes a T8 last week?  And in that stretch he has shot 75% of his rounds in the 60s.  Verplank has played this event seventeen times since 1990, and even won way back in 1988 (I was 11).  He has not missed the cut here since 1999 to go with nine career Top 20 finishes.  While it certainly isn’t outside of the possibilities for a win, I think it is safe to assume he’ll contend all week.   

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:  51 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  2.04 Points

Last week: 

Mahan came through with a Top 10, while Kim finished just outside (T11) so just 1 point for me.  VJ shot a 66 on Thursday but came crashing down over the weekend shooting only 70 and 69 on ideal scoring conditions. 

Kenny Perry continues to amaze with his 5th win in thirteen months.  His goal to reach 20 wins doesn’t seem so far fetched now.  Another few wins this summer and odds would be in his favor to get there.  I’d love to see the Vegas line on his quest, though my various web searches have proven unsuccessful.

This week: 

Defending champ Anthony Kim looks to finish better then Tiger for the first time when they both play in the same tournament.  This is the rookie event on the PGA Tour, with just the third playing coming this week.  Don’t expect the low scoring and birdie fest that we saw last weekend.  Only two players have finished double digits under par here in two years. 

This is Tiger’s tournament and will be moving from Congressional in Washington D.C. to Philadelphia next season.  There is a decent field this week and I expect a bit of a major feel as we celebrate July 4th this weekend.  Happy 4th to all!

1. Paul Casey

Casey had a disappointing U.S. Open showing, missing the cut at +10 thru two rounds.  He has yet to play at Congressional but the old school course style suits his sharp iron play.  No longer a stranger to winning in the states, Casey has three wins this calendar year between the PGA and European tours.  Going on a hunch here, but expecting at least a Top 10.

 2. Boo Weekley

Last Thursday Weekley started his first six holes with six straight birdies.  If not for a 71 in round two, Weekley would have taken home his second Top 10 of the season.  He has only missed the cut three times this season, though his Money List standing would say otherwise (60th).  Quite frankly Boo needs a win.  A T12 finish here in 2007 mixed with a 65 last Sunday puts this week as his best opportunity to date to make it happen. 

3. Tiger Woods

Tiger has only played his own event once (2007) and amongst all the responsibilities of running a tournament managed to finish T6.  He has eight straight Top 10 finishes going back to the WGC-CA Championship and comes off a T6 finish at Beth Page two weeks ago.  That he didn’t win means one thing, he’ll be more then focused.  And that is a scary thought.  A Top 10 is guaranteed but I’m banking on an outright win.