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: 

For all those that emailed last week with your concerns, I am happy to report your online intervention has worked.  I am now off the CRACK.  Did I really pick Phil Mickelson last week over Tiger?  Sometimes I let my personal wishful thinking cloud my judgement.  Mix in a little crack and you get bad prognostication.  Well, no more crack, no more cloudy judgement.  I’m back on focus to get to that 111 point mark.  I’ve got five weeks to get 19 points.  Time to get back to work.  From this point forward we will never mention my 2009 PGA Championship picks again.  It will be our little secret.

What we won’t keep secret however is how much our valued partner AimPointGolf.com is dominating this season.  Once again the AimPoint PGA Tour Picks gets another major sleeper in Yang that was not on many people’s radar (just like Glover at the U.S. Open).  Very impressive!   

So what does last weekend mean in the golf world?  I’ve been pondering that question all week long and to be honest I’m still not sure.  To see Yang step up and beat Tiger head-to-head on Sunday was a dream come true.  If you are a long time reader of my blog you know I’ve been calling for this for years.  Infact here’s an excerpt from my 2009 U.S. Open preview:

“Tiger has not been as intimidating on Sunday’s as in years past (see Players Championship or Quail Hollow),  so the door might be open for someone to step up and beat Tiger on the lead……on a Sunday………….at a major.  I would like to see it at least once in my lifetime.”

Well now we’ve seen it.  Tiger CAN be beat when he’s on his game.  It was just a matter of time.  It’s simple probability.  Congrats to Y.E. Yang for not only winning his first major but for helping to grow the game in Asia and around the world.  His win will have a bigger benefit for the game, especially with the 2016 Olympics looming, then if Tiger would have hung on. 

Plus it was sooooooooooooo damn great to see Tiger lose on a lead……on a Sunday.    ;o )

This week: 

We are just one week away from the FedEx Cup Playoffs and many golfers have some work to do this week to get in.  Current golfers in the field at Greensboro and not in the Top 125 in FedEx Cup points include Ken Duke, Stuart Appleby and Rocco Mediate.  The field is rather weak, with only one Top 10 World Ranked golfer (Sergio) and only two in the World Top 25 as many take a rest before the playoffs.

1.  Lucas Glover

The only other Top 25 golfer in the world playing this week, Glover should be getting tired with the schedule he’s played this year, but is showing no signs of wear.  With another Top 10 last week, his fifth this year, it is easily his best season on tour.  Glover plays well at the Wyndam, never missing a cut in five starts with one Top 10 in 2006.  It seems Glover’s missed cut at the Open Championship actually gave his battery a bit of a recharge.  Don’t expect Lucas to hit the wall anytime soon.  Another Top 10 if not a win this week and watch Glover be a factor in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

2.  Tim Clark

Timmy is past due.  Playing perhaps the best golf of his career with only one missed cut this year (the brutal Open Championship), Clark is easily the best player on tour without a PGA Tour win.  Any day now.  With a T16 last week Clark should be in good company in this field.  With two Top 10s in this event in his last three starts this may be as good as chance as any to get that elusive win.  If nothing else his performance this weekend will dictate my own playoff hopes as Clark will be my #2 this week in Rotoff Golf where I am desperately holding on to the #6 seed and final playoff spot.  Here’s to you Timmy, get’r done!

3.  Michael Letzig

Letzig got one of his few Top 10s last season here (T9).  And coming in with two straight Top 10s (T8 Canadian Open, T6 Buick Open) Letzig should continue to play well.  Since turning pro in 2003, Letzig has broke the $1 million in earnings mark just once which was last year.  He is well on his way to doing it again this season.  Expect Letzig to contend on a familiar course. 

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:  49 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  2.23 Points

Last week: 

Sometimes I wonder how much of a Phil homer I really am.  Sure he’s my favorite golfer but I’d like to think I pick him when he’s got a shot to win, except I always think he can win.  After watching his play this weekend I’m going to go against my heart and you won’t be seeing his name in my U.S. Open picks.  His game right now does not appear worthy for Beth Page.

Another week with no points as Phil and Villegas did not impress.  Defending champion Leonard shot a dismal +6 in round one and missed the cut for just the third time in eleven starts in Memphis.

This week: 

Summer is just around the corner and the PGA season is just starting to get good.  With Brian Gay’s victory last weekend, there are now five golfers on tour with two wins in 2009.  Can you name the other four?* 

The rest of the golf world has caught up some while Tiger was away.  When you consider that Tiger (who was recently “slumping” with only one win and five straight Top 10s) may be just starting to figure out his adjusted swing, we may have another epic U.S. Open on the horizon.  Think about it.  Tiger has not been as intimidating on Sunday’s as in years past (see Players Championship or Quail Hollow),  so the door might be open for someone to step up and beat Tiger on the lead……on a Sunday………….at a major.  I would like to see it at least once in my lifetime.

1. Tiger Woods

That said, if Tiger gets out to an early lead this thing may be over before it’s over.  The last time the U.S. Open was at Beth Page Black in 2002, Tiger shot a R1 67 and never looked back, winning by three shots.  The last few years Tiger has gotten off to slow starts in majors only to charge back on the weekend.  Since 2005 El Tigre has only finished outside of the Top 10 in a major twice, a missed cut in 2006 at the U.S. Open and T12 at the 2007 Open Championship.  We all remember last year’s Open at Torrey Pines, one of the best ever.  So how could Tiger top 2008?  How about coming back from a four shot dececit on Sunday?  Tiger still has yet to win a major when trailing after 54 holes.  Whatever he has in store for us this weekend, I just can’t imagine a scenario where he finishes outside the Top 10, even if he hurts his knee.

 2. Tim Clark

To say Clark is close is an understatement.  He was looking his first career PGA Tour victory in the eyes just a few weeks back at Colonial, only to have his glance repelled  (the phrase may look weird now, but very well could soon become a popular sports cliche).  Nothing would be more rewarding for Clark then redemption at Beth Page.  He did not play here in 2002, but does have three Top 20s in the U.S. Open since 2003.  As long as he keeps knocking on the door, it’s bound to open.  This course requires patience, fairways and greens.  Currently 24th in GIR, if Timmy can stay near the top of the field in GIR this weekend he will fair very well.

3. David Toms

Toms is on fire.  He’s coming off a T2 last weekend and now has six straight rounds in the 60s, including a 65 last Sunday.  Already a major winner, Toms finished T45 at Beth Page in 2002 and has five Top 20 finishes at the U.S. Open this decade.  He’ll need to get off to a good start but if he does he has the experience to hang on when the conditions get nasty on Saturday and Sunday.   Don’t be suprised to see him at the top of the Leaderboard in the early going.

Sleepers:  Ian Poulter, Dustin Johnson

I should disclose that I will be placing a few bets myself this week.  I’ve been playing around with this awesome Golf Predictor the last few days and have found some super value bets in Poulter (66-1) and Dustin Johnson (125-1).  Both are longshots but I expect them to play well.  A few good bounces in their favor and who knows.

I would like to wish everyone a Happy U.S. Open Sunday!  I will be glued to the TV all week long.

*ZJ, Mickelson, Ogilvy, Woods

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:  1.95 Points

Last week: 

After touting Poulter for his weekend playing ability, he goes and misses his second cut of the year.  Hoffman got hot on Friday and Saturday but couldn’t make a charge in the final round, finishing T23.  There was a DL3 sighting in round 2 (a 64) but I’m still trying to verify if he actually played.  Oh wait, there he is, T53.  My drought is starting to wear, I need a winner.

Speaking of winners, congrats to Rory Sabbatini who gets off the snide with his first win since 2007.  The win will not only move him up the world rankings but he should be amongst the top of the U.S. Open odds table.

This week: 

Unfortunately Phil will not be defending this week at Colonial.  All of my love to Amy, Phil and the Mickelson family in this trying time.

A decent field gathers this week on the last of three stops in Texas.  Four of the World Top 10 are playing this week including FedEx cup #2 Geoff Ogilvy, playing his first tournament since the Players.  Two of the last three years this tournament has seen a playoff so expect some golf drama come Sunday afternoon.

1. Geoff Ogilvy

Ogilvy has not played well at Colonial historically but did finish T7 last year.  Quickly becoming an elite player, he should be an automatic Top 10 here and may even get his third win of the season.  In ten starts this season Ogilvy has yet to miss the cut and is shooting in the 60s in 43% of his rounds played.  Last year he opened with a 72 before finishing with three straight rounds in the 60s, including a 64 on Friday.  No suprise pick here, Ogilvy has been playing lights out all season long.

 2. Ben Crane

Crane has been solid if not unspectacular in 2009.  A graduate of Beaverton High (my high school’s main rival), he’s a local guy who I always root for.  Already with three Top 10s, one less then he had all of last season, Ben has also missed four cuts in thirteen starts.  Crane briefly held the lead on Sunday at the Players and finished 3rd at the Honda Classic in March.  He’s been knocking on the door and this week may just be his chance to break through on a course where he has two straight Top 10 finishes. 

3. Tim Clark

Of all the golfers yet to win on the PGA Tour, Clark has got to be one of the best.  With over $15 Million in career earnings and more then a handful of major Top 10 finishes, odds are Clark will get that elusive win sooner then later.  He was close here last year, finishing one shot off the win.  In five starts in Fort Worth, Tim has just one missed cut and has finished no worse then T21.  Like Crane, Clark has three Top 10s already this season including the Players Championship.  He is playing good golf so don’t be suprised to see him in contention this weekend.