2009 Open Championship Preview
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
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: 66 Points
2009 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average: 2.44 Points
Last week:
I’m heating up just in time for this week’s Open Championship. Snedeker’s 2nd place finish was good for 5 points and marked my seventh straight week with points. Perry got off to a great start but shot two rounds over par during the weekend to finish T59. Dufner shot a 66 on Friday but was never truly in contention, finishing T39.
Stricker’s win makes yet another golfer with multiple wins on tour this year. It should be an exciting FedEx cup chase.
This week:
The Open Championship returns to Turnberry for the first time since 1994. Tiger will be looking for his first major in 2009, fifteenth in his career. Among the many storylines this week, the most interesting to me is Padraig Harrington and the disappearance of his golf game. It’s no secret that Paddy has changed his swing but after a streak of good golf earlier this spring he has missed four of five cuts including the U.S. Open. That said this is still his event, expect him to play well but not to win.
Now that Tiger is healthy again the age old question arises, “Tiger or the Field?” While I could easily pick Tiger for the win this week I’m going Field for one reason, Tiger has yet to play this course outside of practice rounds. All that said I could easily see Tiger winning, but to keep it interesting I’m betting against him this week.
1. Lee Westwood
Westwood is coming off two straight Top 10s on the European Tour, including a T8 at last week’s Barclay’s Scottish Open. His best finish in the Open is a solo 4th place in 2004 with only four missed cuts in fourteen starts. While Lee has struggled here the last few years, his game is suited for links golf and an Open win will happen before his career is over. I’m guessing sooner then later.
2. Ernie Els
Ernie’s record in the British Open is spectacular, eleven Top 10s in seventeen starts with one win and zero missed cuts. I’ll say that again, zero missed cuts. He has been streaky in 2009 but like Westwood is coming off a good finish (T13) at the Scottish Open last weekend. Two missed cuts in majors this year makes me nervous but Ernie always gets up for this championship. I’ll take a Top 10 and if he is in contention on Sunday I’ll shake the nerves.
3. Sergio Garcia
You either love him or loathe him and for the first time this year I’m picking Sergio. It should be noted that before the season began I called for Sergio to win his first major in 2009. And though Serg has not played consitently good golf all year, he is coming off a T10 at the U.S. Open. That he is under if not off the radar this week only bodes well. Sure there are his past failures here that will be mentioned by the media but if Sergio can find a putting stroke this week look out. I know that’s a big if (so is my not picking Tiger). But Sergio is due and his six Top 10s in twelve starts should not be overlooked.
Sleepers: Rory McIlroy, Camilo Villegas
Happy Open Championship Sunday to all!
