Fantasy Golf Picks

While Erik Planer works on the new Rotoff Fantasy Sports site, I’ll be the guest expert for the next five PGA Tour events. In addition to leading the Beat the Expert Leaderboard, I’ve been covering various fantasy sports for the last two years. I’m currently in the 94th percentile in the Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Golf game and finished in the 92nd percentile last year. As I hold down the fort, the BTE game will continue to roll on. Here’s the point scale:

Winner = 10 points

2nd Place = 5 points

3rd Place = 3 points

Top 10 = 1 point

Think you can pick better?  Leave a comment with your 3 picks for the 2010 John Deere Classic.  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.

Last week’s AT&T National, Cal picked the red-hot Justin Rose and scored 10 points for the win. The rest of field came up empty and returns to clubhouse to regroup. Let’s see how things stand right now:

Beat the Expert Leaderboard

Last Week:

Justin Rose shot an even 70 on Sunday, which turned out to be just enough to hold off a surging Ryan Moore, who’s 5-under 65 left him as the runner-up. If not for blowing the Travelers Championship, Rose would own three straight wins. Still, he’s clearly the hottest golfer in the game right now, even considering the missed opportunity.

Jeff Overton finished two strokes behind Rose to finish third. Overton now has four Top Three finishes in his last eight starts. His performance earned him an invitation to the British Open, which is likely why he withdrew from the John Deere Classic early Tuesday.

Vijay Singh got into the Top 10 to give him three finishes of 13th or better in his last four outings.

I thought I’d squeeze at least a few points out of Sean O’Hair, a member of the Aronimink Golf Club where the AT&T National was hosted. He finished T11th and has finished 12th or 11th in four of his last five starts.

Another assumed points-paying-pick of mine was the hometown favorite, Jim Furyk. He was looking OK until he choked up a 4-over 74 on Sunday and finished T33.

With three Top Fives in four starts and coming off a runner-up performance at the Travelers Championship, Scott Verplank looked like a safe pick. He finished T62 at 8-over and failed to shoot a single round for par or better.

This week:

In last year’s John Deere Classic, Steve Stricker tied a course record with a 10-under 61 during the second round on his way to a three-stroke victory. If not for a clavicle injury that sidelined Stricker eariler this year, he would be my top pick this week. However, Stricker’s best finish in his three starts since returning is T17th at The Memorial Tournament, which he followed up with a 15-over T58 performance in the U.S. Open.

1.  Zach Johnson

As a Midwest guy from nearby Iowa, Johnson always has the crowd behind him in his event. It had never really paid off for him until last year when Johnson tied a tournament-high with 25 birdies and finished as the runner-up. His last four events this year have been uneven, but do contain a win at the  Crowne Plaza Invitational and a T12 in the St. Jude Classic. Johnson came undone during the U.S. Open, but comes to a much easier course that is perfectly suited for him to rebound.

2.  K.J. Choi

Although Choi has never played in this event, he is a very fine choice. With nine sub-70 opening rounds in 14 events, Choi often gets off to a quick start. A 69.85 scoring average puts Choi fourth in that statistic. Choi is very capable of putting together a run strong enough to put him on the private flight to the British Open. Over the last few years, the event organizers have been giving the non-stop charter to the event winner  in order to lure in a stronger field. The travel from the Midwest to the U.K. spans six time zones and keeps many golfers away from the event.

3.  Chad Campbell

Over the last two years, only one golfer has shot all eight combined rounds at the John Deere Classic in the 60s. That man is Campbell. After finishing T29 in the Quail Hollow Championship, Campbell missed three cuts in four tries. However, he’s starting to come around. In the St. Jude Classic, Campbell was only 1-over through three rounds before an ugly 12-over 82 meltdown on Sunday. He recovered with a strong showing in the Travelers Championship, finishing a season-high fifth. Campbell appears to be back in control at just the right time.

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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, 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:  26 Points

2010 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  1.73 Points

Think you can pick better?  Leave a comment with your 3 picks for the 2010 Zurich Classic.  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.

Congrats to Craig who was the only one to pick the winner (Jim Furyk) and with his 10 points moves into a tie for 3rd place on the BTE LB.  Craig, your first weekly win is worth a free 2010 Rotoff Golf Draft Kit.  Please contact me for sign up instructions. 

Beat the Expert Leaderboard

Last Week:

I’m at a loss for words.  K.J. Choi started on fire out of the gate with a 64 and a 1st round lead only to close with three straight rounds over par and a T41 finish.  Seriously WTF?  Is there an injury we don’t know about?  Scott Verplank and Vaughn Taylor both missed the cut.  I now know why my traffic numbers are up from last year.  You’re not here to gage who to pick but who NOT to pick.  If this point drought continues I might have to try my luck at LPGA Fantasy Golf Picks.

On a side note it seems I’m always a week late and dollar short.  A week after collapsing in the year’s first Major, Jimmy racks his second win of the season and looks dominant once again.  I can’t help but wonder if it’s not him but me.  Are my picks cursed?  Did I swiftly bring about a first round 80 with a few strokes of my dusty keyboard?  Odds are unlikely, however I will be keeping a close eye on this “Planer Curse.”

This week:

The Tour makes it annual stop in New Orleans this week, (never thought I’d say this) home of the Super Bowl Champion Saints.  The TPC of Louisiana is a Pete Dye course that plays a little tougher then it’s predecessor since it became the host course in 2004.  It’s a tournament never short on drama, with the winner three of the last four years winning by a lone stroke.   So sit back, relax and enjoy the birdie fest, even if the field is a little blah.

(Stricker has withdrawn Wednesday afternoon.  Changing my pick to Steve Marino)

1. Steve Stricker

Speaking of the “Curse,”  the first time I picked Steve Stricker this season he went on to lose as a #1 seed in Match Play.  Now I know I wasn’t the only one to pick Strick that week but I’m just sayin.  That said there’s no one more worthy of my pick to break the jinx.  Three missed cuts aside, Steve has never finished worse then T26 here in eleven career starts with two Top 10s.  He also has not missed a cut this season so I’m confident (GULP) he’ll be playing the weekend.   Coming off a T30 at the Masters, Stricks should be ready to join the ranks of Ernie and Jimmy as the only two time winners thus far in 2010.

2.  Charles Howell III

Forgeting the missed cut at the Masters (where he always stuggles), Charles Howell III is playing some consistent golf in 2010.  Which bodes well for Zurich where Howell Three has never missed the cut.  With four Top 10s in seven career starts it’s hard to overlook him.  Better yet he’s finished T2 in this event his last two starts.  Last week he was tied for the lead going into the weekend before a 73-71 finale.  That shouldn’t be a problem this weekend with a R3 and R4 RSA of -4.00 or better since 2007 at TPC of Louisiana.  You better bring it.

3.  K.J. Choi

I’m a glutton for punishment.  Do I let K.J. Choi burn me again?  I like to think of it more as a chance at redemption.  That Choi is in the field this week tells me he’s not hurt (though I don’t know if that makes me feel any better).  If we pretend that rounds 2-4 never happened last week (thus canceling the Furyk jinx?) then Choi is one of the hottest golfers in the world, coming off a T4 at the year’s first major.  If not for the fact that Choi won this event in 2002 (though on a different course) I may have looked the other way.  The golf ball’s in your court K.J.  If you ever want to be picked again here the rest of the year you will deliver at least a Top 10 this weekend!

(Here’s to hoping that a few childish threats can break the “Planer Curse”)

No related posts.

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, 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:  26 Points

2010 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  1.86 Points

Think you can pick better?  Leave a comment with your 3 picks for the 2010 Verizon Heritage.  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.

It was a second weekly win for (Bradley Braves Examiner) Joey Books, who shoots up the LB with 16 total points last week.  He had Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter.  Holy geez that’s some sweet pickin’.  Nice work Joe.

Beat the Expert Leaderboard

Last Week:

I was guilty of TOO much research.  My knack for trying to out think the room results in 1 total point.  That’s right.  1 point.  1 point for Ricky Barnes‘ Top 10 finish.  And while it was a sweet sleeper pick, the rest of my horses failed to cash.  Jim Furyk was abysmal shooting 80-76 and missing the cut by a mile.  Charl Schwartzel was in the mix on Thursday but failed to shoot another round in the 60s the rest of the week for a T30 finish.  Chad Campbell and sleeper Justin Leonard were no help either.  But at least my scoreless streak is over and I can concentrate on getting back to the top of the BTE LB.

Ok, now that my recap is out of the way, WHAT an AWESOME Masters.   The hour stretch on Saturday afternoon of holeouts, chip ins and deafening roars kind of spoiled us for Sunday.  I came out of my seat when Phil holed out on 14, and then again when he almost made a third straight eagle.  So what if the back 9 on Sunday was a little tame and without much drama.  For Phil to become the story after a week of Tiger talk was perfect for this Phil fan.  I rue that I didn’t have enough faith in his game to pick him.  I will never doubt Phil at Augusta again.  Just 358 days until the 2011 Masters.

I am also proud to announce that me and my teammate (thanks Danimal) were the champions of the 1st Annual Masters Beer Pong tournament.  It made for a sluggish Monday but well worth it. 

This week:

The PGA Tour shifts into cruise control as we arrive in South Carolina and the beautiful Harbour Town Golf Links.  Suprisingly there’s a nice field this week with three of the World Top 10 in attendance.  There will be a bit of a hangover after such a great week of golf in Augusta but the sites at Hilton Head will help. 

1. K.J. Choi

Slow and steady wins the race.  K.J. Choi was brilliant last week in playing side by side with Tiger for all four days and matching him shot for shot (they both finished T4).  Before back to back bogies on 13 and 14 last Sunday it appeared K.J. would be on his way to a possible first career major win.  Choi has only played this event once, way back in 2001 when he missed the cut, but it’s hard to go against him this week.  With no missed cuts in 2010 (and only two finishes outside of the Top 25 all year) I expect Choi to not only contend but win in SC.

2.  Vaughn Taylor

One stroke was all that separated Vaughn Taylor from Anthony Kim at the Shell Houston Open.  But that one stroke was huge as it cost the Georgia raised Taylor from playing in last week’s Masters.  He’s already got three Top 10s on the season and has two career Top 10s at Harbour Town in five starts.  Vaughn has always been a streaky player so go with him while the getting is good.

3.  Scott Verplank

Scott Verplank was on a record breaking pace last Sunday before a double bogey, bogey finish.  He was -7 thru 14 before settling for a 68 and a T18 finish.  Scotty has only two missed cuts in fifteen career stats in this event, though only two Top 10s.  That’s consistency.  I have a feeling his game is coming back to life as he is working on a six tournament cutless streak.  Lets hope last Sunday was the sign and not the anomoly.

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