Last Week

Following a 7-over 79 meltdown by Graeme McDowell on Sunday, THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass was settled in a playoff, the ninth of the season. Following a long birdie on 18 to recapture a share of the lead and force the playoff, David Toms lost in a heartbreaker to K.J. Choi by missing a 3.5 foot putt. Nick Watney had a chance to get into the mix until misfiring with consecutive bogeys to close the front nine.

The picks last week were a mixed bag. Two players did excellent (My Must Start, Luke Donald finished T4, J.B. Holmes T6), two fell a little flat (Ben Crane T45, Webb Simpson T69) and two missed the cut (Adam Scott, Bill Haas).

This Week

Jason Day

A year ago, Day came into the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial with a fourth-place result from 2009 and opened with a round of 4-under 66 to grab a share of 14th. However, he would only shoot 2-under the rest of the way sliding down to T50. Over his last three starts this season, Day has finished ninth or better, highlighted by a split of second at the Masters. He currently ranks 15th in birdies, 21st in driving distance and fourth in All-Around Ranking.

Martin Laird – Must Start

In his only start at Colonial, Laird finished T10 as his score improved with each round last year. Although his two starts in May have been uneven, Laird finished 20th or better in five prior events, including four top-10s and a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Laird currently ranks ninth in driving distance, 12th in eagles, 22nd in scoring average and 21st in All-Around.

David Toms

Since 1998, Toms has competed at Colonial a dozen times while only missing one cut. He has finished in the top 10 on four occasions, most recently in 2005. Toms best result since was a T13 a year ago, which included a 5-under 65 on Sunday. Coming off a runner-up performance at THE PLAYERS Championship, Toms has now finished fifth or better in three of his last seven starts. Toms sits second in driving accuracy and greens in regulation, 10th in strokes gained – putting, 15th in scoring and third in All-Around.

J.B. Holmes

While Holmes has missed the cut in two attempts at Colonial in the last four years, he’s been playing great in recent weeks with three straight finishes of 11th or better. Dating back to last season, Holmes has made 15 consecutive cuts, tied for the fourth-longest active streak. He ranks first in driving distance, 10th in birdies and 11th in scoring.

Kevin Na

Over the last four years, Na has finished 22nd or better on three occasions at Colonial with a pair of top-10s. Prior to missing the cut in THE PLAYERS Championship, he finished T9 in The Heritage and fifth in the Wells Fargo Championship. Na ranks seventh in strokes gained – putting.

Pat Perez

In his last five events this season, Perez has three finishes of sixth or better. However, he missed the cut in the other two starts. Perez been particularly strong at Colonial with three straight top-10s, although he skipped the event in 2009. He ranks 24th in birdies and 36th in All-Around.

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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:  36 Points

2010 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  1.80 Points

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

No weekly winner last week as four (Brad, Joe, John and Ed) tie with 1 point for each picking Dustin Johnson (T7).

Beat the Expert Leaderboard

Last Week:

After a 65 on Friday, Sean O’Hair looked to be on his way to an easy Top 10 or better.  But a one over round of 73 on Sunday saw him finish right on the cusp (T12).  Combined with poor showings by then defending champ Rory Sabatini (T43) and Brett Wetterich (T32) it’s another shut out week for Planer.  Which means I’m not f’n around this week.

This week:

The last stop of the Texas tour sets the scene for a possible new #1.  But it won’t be easy for current world #2.  This week marks one of the deeper non-major fields of the year including the return of Steve Stricker from his recent shoulder injury.  Five of the world Top 10 are teeing it up at Colonial, the second oldest tournament (behind the Masters) on the PGA Tour.

1.  Phil Mickelson

So one of the great things about this BTE contest is there are no pick limits.  Now that I’ve fallen behind my pace from last season it’s time to bring it.  I don’t feel guilty at all that this is the fifth time I’ve chosen Phil Mickelson this year, it only hurts that I don’t have more points to show for it.  I don’t need to tell you that Lefty won here in his last start (2008) or that he hasn’t missed the cut here since 1998.  There’s no suprise to hear that Phil has nine Top 25 finishes (with two wins) at Colonial in thirteen career starts.  I mean it’s mutha f’n Philly Mick, soon to be world #1.

2.  Tim Clark

Two words, two seconds.  Tim Clark has finished runner up in this event the last two years.  Since missing the cut in his first try way back in 2004, he has finished no worse then T21 in five starts.  Now that Timmy has that pesky win out of the way we just might see him get two in the same season.  It’s hard not to pick Clark in this spot, infact even Vegas likes him as a 20-1 shot, third best odds of the entire field.  Timmae!

3.  Stewart Cink

It was around this time last season that Stewart Cink started heating up, in the run up to his first major victory at last year’s Open Championship.  Stew’s never missed the cut here in twelve starts.  That’s right.  NEVER.  He has come in T22, T18 and T4 in his last three starts.  I know Cink has been struggling thus far in 2010 but I’m telling you, the summer is his time to shine.  This is where it all begins.  Look for a Top 10 from Stewie this weekend.

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.

Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Colonial Country Club – Fort Worth, Texas

Preview

Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Colonial Country Club – Ft. Worth, Texas