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:  55 Points

2010 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  1.72 Points

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

Mad Props to Cal for being one of a very few (in the world) to pick Martin Kaymer to win the PGA Championship.  Cal’s money pick shoots him into 4th on the BTE LB, a little bit closer to the #1 spot.  Very impressive.

Beat the Expert Leaderboard

Last Week:

At one point early in round 3 all five of my picks were in the Top 25, with three in the Top 5.  But that’s why they play 72 holes.  In the end I’m happy to get 3 points for Rory McIlroy’s T3 finish and just one shot out of a playoff.  Ernie Els and Jim Furyk both disappeared on Sunday while sleepers J.B Holmes and Vijay Singh played very well in spurts finishing T24 and T39 respectively.  Winning the BTE contest is not gonna happen for me this year but my goal now is to finish in the Top 3.  It won’t be easy as everyone’s picks have been solid week in and week out.

It was unfortunate that bunkergate is how we’ll remember this PGA Championship, but honestly if not for bunkergate we probably wouldn’t remember this one at all.  With all due respect to Martin Kaymer who is at the top of his game at the right time, Dustin Johnson’s blunder will never be forgotten, even more so had he just gone on to win.  Probably not the immortality that DJ was looking for but a good controversey none the less.  I can’t wait for the 30 minute special on bunkergate when the PGA returns to Whistling Straits in another 5 years.  Maybe by then the course will change the $%^# rule.

This week:

This week we put the majors for 2010 behind us and set our sites on the Playoffs.  With only one golfer in the Top 20 World Rankings in the field this week, it wont be the star fest we’ve been used to the last few weeks.   The Wyndham Championship has a long history going back to 1938 and is one of the older tournaments on tour.  Expect lots of birdies and maybe even a run at a third 59 on tour this year as the average winning score the last three years  has been -19.

1.  Lucas Glover

It’s no suprise that Lucas Glover has struggled a bit this year, one year removed from his best year on tour.  He has only two Top 10s in nineteen starts this season.  On the positive side he has only missed five cuts which shows he’s at least been consistent.  And though one of those missed cuts came just last week, Glover is a stud at this event.  Since 2005 he has finished no worse then T24 with one Top 10.  One of only a handful of major winners in the field this week, look for Glover to make some noise.

2.  Jerry Kelly

Like Glover, Jerry Kelly has a great track record at the Wyndham.  He has three Top 10s here in his last four starts with only two missed cuts in twelve career starts.  Kelly got his first Top 10 of 2010 just two weeks ago so the stars are aligned for him to play well this week.  Top 10 or bust.

3.  Brandt Snedeker

Brandt Snedeker tends to play his best golf in August and September.  Already a winner at this event in 2007, Sneds is showing signs of golf life again with three Top 20 finishes in his last five starts including a T8 at the U.S. Open.  Snedeker is a tricky golfer fantasy wise as he has yet to find the consistency that others from the class of 2007 have found.  If he can put together another good run through the end of September he just may sneak into the Top 25 Fantasy Rankings once again.

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:  52 Points

2010 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  1.67 Points

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

There was no weekly winner last week but congrats to Dr. Peerless (Steve Stricker, Rory McIlroy) and Brad (Jim Furyk and Stricker) who both tied with 2 points.  It was enough to give Brad a slight cushion in his #1 spot atop the BTE LB.  It should definitely be interesting down the stretch run as just six weeks remain in the PGA Tour season and Brad holding a slight four point lead over #2 McClung. 

Beat the Expert Leaderboard

Last Week:

What the hell happened?  Tiger Woods looked like Sir Charles out there.  Forget the women, forget the “mental” part of the game, there’s something else going on here.  And not very many are talking about it.  Tiger’s body (and game) have completely broken down.  Now that may be a bold statement but even if it’s not adjusting to golf without PEDs, there is something else besides a “mental” block going on behind the curtain.  How do you go from super-human to sub-par?  Most likely we’ll never know.  Odds are good that Tiger bounces back from this someday but that day appears later then sooner (and not this week).

Both Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia looked good in spurts, finishing T22.  I missed a golden opportunity to gain ground on the field and with just a handful of events left in the PGA Tour regular and playoff season my performance this season is no where near my pace from 2009. 

This week:

The PGA Championship returns to Whistling Straits for the first time since 2004, ironically the last year Tiger was not #1 in the World Golf Rankings.  This is about as wide open a major as I can remember in the Tiger era.  And the first time that Tiger is not the odds on favorite out of Vegas.  The whole golf world is changing before our very eyes.  While it may hurt for the short term I compare it to (not to get political) America’s dependance on oil.  It might be time for the PGA Tour to ween itself off it’s Tiger dependancy. 

Sure a winning Tiger is good for ratings and good for golf.  Hell, part of me wants to see Tiger get back to somekind of dominance.  But on the other hand it might be time for the PGA Tour to come up with another game plan.  Tiger won’t be around forever and the dropping ratings this season are just the beginning of their worries.  Let’s not kid ourselves.  Golf is entering a brand new world.  And just in time for Glory’s Last Shot.  I’ll be honest.  I have no idea how this weekend will turn out.

1.  Rory McIlroy

Ah to be young again.  You might say the glass is half full if Rory McIlroy could get the win on Sunday.  In his only appearance in the PGA Championship last season, Rory finished T3.  He already has a Top 3 major finish this year (T3 at the British) and is coming off a Top 10 last week.  It would be one hell of a story if Rory could pull out a major win at the young age of 21.  Something not accomplished since Tiger at the 1997 Masters.  It would almost be too perfect.

2.  Ernie Els

Ernie Els has two Top 10s in the PGA in his last four tries, including a T6 last year.  Don’t be fooled by Ernie’s disappearing act last Sunday.  He is playing as well as anyone on tour right now and has the experience to handle the weekend pressure at a major championship.  Several years ago when Mr. Els set his goal to be #1 in the world many thought the idea absurd.  A win this week and that once lofty goal would be in his sights.  Expect at least another Top 10 from Ernie.

3.  Jim Furyk

It just makes sense to round out my picks with the seasoned pro.  Jim Furyk is enjoying a career year.  Even though he has not faired well in this event recently (no Top 10s the last seven years), he is coming off two straight Top 10 finshes.  With only three missed cuts this season you can count on Jimmy to be around on the weekend.

Sleepers (outside World Top 50):  J.B. Holmes and Vijay Singh

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:  52 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 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.  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.

Before I get to last week’s winner I want to send a very special THANK YOU to Eric McClung who came to the rescue of Shlink Lincoln Sports on very short notice, and who produced some awesome expert results.  I know it won’t be the last time we see Mr. McClung contributing on this site and our new (not quite ready) site at Rotoff.com.  Thanks again E. 

Beat the Expert Leaderboard

Last Week:

Not a bad way to return from blogcation.  The weekly win goes to yours truly with 6 points (Jeff Overton 5 points, Jim Furyk 1 point).  It’s nice to be back somewhat near the top of the BTE LB, though this year has been a dissappointing one for me with only one winner picked.  With only seven weeks left in the competition it’s time for me to prove my “expert” self.   

This week:

Don’t start thinking about College Football just yet.  We still have seven awesome weeks of golf ahead, including the final major of the year next week at Whistling Straits.  But lets not forget Firestone.  Another star studded yet small field takes the course on Thursday including our first Anthony Kim sighting in months.  The FedEx cup title has never been more wide open and the winner this week will get a good chunk of FedEx cup points. 

1.  Tiger Woods

Does anyone else notice the great big elephant in the room?  HGH or no HGH, it’s hard to argue with Tiger Woods record at this event.  With seven wins in ten career starts and finishing no worse then T4, this is a great time for Tiger to get “healthy.”  When the season began what do you think the Vegas odds were that Tiger would go winless in 2010?  Well don’t look now but there’s only seven more chances for El Tigre.  Not that I think it will happen.  If Tiger is going to win at all this year it will be this weekend. 

2.  Paul Casey

Following Paul Casey’s minor collapse at THE Open Championship was a missed cut (only his 3rd of the year) at the Canadion Open.  But don’t let that fool you, Casey is a monster in WGC events.  He has six Top 10s in his last nine WGC starts.  Currently ranked #9 in the world, watch out for Sir Paul come playoff time.  It will be tough for him to win in such a deep field but a Top 10 should be a cinch.

3.  Sergio Garcia

I don’t know what I’m doing with this pick.  Everytime I pick Sergio Garcia to win he misses the cut and heckles fans.  Well at least he heckles me.  Lingering just inside the World Top 50 (ranked behind Adam Scott I might add) there is really no rhyme or reason for this insanity, other then he is on my Rotoff Golf team and he needs to pull his head out of the ass if I’m going to grab the #2 seed and a first round SLS Cup bye.  You want stats?  How about only four of his last twelve rounds have been in the 60s.  WTF am I thinking?

Fantasy Golf Picks

While Erik Planer works on the new Rotoff Fantasy Sports site, I’ll be the guest expert. In addition to leading the Beat the Expert Leaderboard for much of the season, I’ve been covering various fantasy sports for the last two years. I’m currently in the 96th percentile in the Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Golf game and finished in the 92nd percentile last year. You can follow me on Twitter @ericmcclung where I post my Y! lineup on a weekly basis.

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 Greenbrier 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.

I finally scored some points during my stint doing the expert picks. I led the way with four points: three for Luke Donald’s podium finish and one more for Matt Kuchar’s Top 10. Now just seven points behind the leader, I’m hoping to reclaim the top spot as my tenure comes to a close.

Beat the Expert Leaderboard

Last Week:

Sparked by a 10-under 60 in the third round, Carl Pettersson won the RBC Canadian Open by one stroke. The Swede missed the cut at the John Deere Classic but finished sixth at the AT&T National with a third round 65. He’s in the field this week at a course where another super-low round could win it.

Runner-up Dean Wilson fired three straight 65s before shooting +2 on Sunday to lose by a stroke. In six prior starts, Wilson had missed five cuts so this strong showing came as a shock. He’s also in the field but will need to show consistency on a regular basis before getting consideration in fantasy circles.

Luke Donald finished third by shooting all four rounds in the 60s. Going back to The Open Championship, the Brit has now shot six straight sub-70 rounds.

Nine players tied for fourth, topped by Greg Chalmers, Michael Letzig and Charley Hoffman who all shot 65s on Sunday which put them in a tie for the best score on the final day.

Paul Casey was my only pick to not record points in Canada. Things started off well with a 2-under 68 but his 3-over 73 put him just a couple of stokes outside of making the cut.

This week:

Sitting in the scenic Allegheny Mountains, The Greenbrier is an exquisite luxury resort located in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The site was built in 1778 and has hosted many presidents and noted dignitaries. During the Cold War a large underground bunker was built as an emergency shelter for the United States Congress in the event of an emergency.

In 1914, The Old White Course became the first of four golf courses to be built on the grounds. The original design was done by Charles B. Macdonald, the man who coined the term “golf architect”. Macdonald drew much of his inspiration for several of the holes from time spent touring courses in Europe.

In an effort to bring a PGA Tour event to The Greenbrier, the course was remodeled several years ago to blend it’s classic design with today’s game. The field will find large fairways and numerous short holes, which will marginalize the need for long distance drives.

1.  Matt Kuchar

I see no reason to jump off Kuchar’s bandwagon now. He’s still first in All-Around Ranking and is coming off a T4 in the RBC Canadian Open. He now has seven finishes of 14th or better in his last 11 starts and three finishes of eighth or better in his last four. Kuchar’s 114th Driving Distance rating won’t matter on this course but his seventh ranked Scoring Average, 14th ranked Greens in Regulation Percentage and 18th ranked Birdie Average will all play very nicely.

2.  Jeff Overton

In his last nine starts, Overton has six finishes of 12th or better in addition to four Top Threes. He did miss two cuts in that time so there is a small degree of risk but the potential reward is well worth it. Overton is 16th in All-Around Ranking thanks to ranks of 31st of better in Driving Distance, Eagles, Putting, Greens in Regulation, Scoring and Birdies.

3.  Charley Hoffman

Currently playing his best golf of the year, Hoffman is peaking at just the right time. In his last last five starts, he’s shot at least two rounds of every tournament in the 60s. Hoffman has set new season-best finishes in his last two outings, T7th in the John Deere Classic and T4th in last week’s RBC Canadian Open. Sitting eighth in All-Around Ranking with ranks of 12th in Eagles, 21st in Birdies and 23rd in Putting, Hoffman has every tool needed to capture this inaugural event.

Fantasy Golf Picks

While Erik Planer works on the new Rotoff Fantasy Sports site, I’ll be the guest expert for the next two PGA Tour events. In addition to leading the Beat the Expert Leaderboard for much of the season, I’ve been covering various fantasy sports for the last two years. I’m currently in the 96th 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 RBC Canadian Open.  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.

Five players picked up points last week. Mr. Planer led the way with five points for runner-up Lee Westwood. Cameron and Books got three points each for their picks of third-place shareholders Rory McIlroy and Paul Casey. Giles and Peerless each landed one point for Retief Goosen’s Top 10.

Beat the Expert Leaderboard

Last Week:

The Open Championship produced a surprise winner in Louis Oosthuizen, who had missed the cut in all five majors he had competed in prior. The South African made a killing on the par-four holes by shooting a combined 13-under, five strokes better than the nearest competitor.

In his last five majors, Lee Westwood has four Top Three finishes but has yet to breakthrough with a win. A slight tear in his calf muscle threw off his preparations for St. Andrews but no one could tell based on his results.

Rory McIlroy shot a record-tying 63 in the first round and would have challenged for Claret Jug if not for an 80 on the second day.

Paul Casey opened with duel 69s and a 67 before going off the rails with a 75 on Sunday to squash his slim chances.

My top pick, Tiger Woods, looked fine to start The Open Championship with a 5-under 67 but was unable to shoot another round under par. On Sunday, Woods ditched the new putter but to no avail.

Last week I said Ernie Els was safest play in the field; so much for that. He opened with a 3-under 69 but missed the cut after a 7-over 79. Prior to this week, Els had only missed one Open Championship cut in his career, his first ever start in the event back in 1989.

I knew Padraig Harrington was a risk but his opening rounds of 73 and 77 never gave him a chance to make the cut.

My top sleeper, Simon Dyson finished +1 and T48 while Chris Wood missed the cut.

This week:

St. George’s Golf and Country Club hasn’t hosted the Canadian Open since 1968. The course is setup to stress accuracy and features a challenging set of four final holes. Without the benefit of any past performances to review, the front-runners are the only two players in the field among the Top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

1.  Paul Casey

A shoulder injury derailed Casey’s blistering start to the season but the Englishman has clearly returned to form. In the World Ranking, Casey sits eighth and is 11th or better on Tour in Birdie Average, Eagles, Greens in Regulation and Scoring Average. Coming off a T3 in The Open Championship, Casey has the complete package to win in the Great White North.

2. Luke Donald

If not shooting +1 in the first two rounds of The Open Championship, Donald would have improved greatly on his eventual T11 finish by shooting a pair 3-under 69s in the final two rounds. St. George’s has numerous holes guarded by well-placed bunkers, so Donald’s No. 1 rank in Sand Save Percentage will be very useful. Putting is important on any course and Donald’s 12th-best Putts Per Round should play just fine.

3. Matt Kuchar

The leader in All-Around Ranking should be primed to add another Top 10 to the six he already owns this season. In 17 starts, Kuchar has 12 finishes of 27th or better and enters Canada with three straight such results. The Jack of all trades is 20th in Greens in Regulation and Birdie Average as well as 30th in Driving Accuracy Percentage and Putting Average.