Last Week
Another week, another tournament settled in a playoff. This time it was Bubba Watson edging out Webb Simpson in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for his second win of the season. Simpson lost a stroke on 15 after he believes his ball was moved by a gust of wind. Thankfully, the U.S. Golf Association is discussing altering this rule so that the penalty does not apply if “it was known or virtually certain that the player did not cause that ball to move.”
Although two of my picks (Pat Perez and Justin Rose) missed the cut, the rest all finished in the top-20. Jason Dufner fired a Sunday-best 66 to shoot his way up to a share of third. Luke Donald, My Must Start, finished T8. David Toms went 1-over in the final round to slide back to T18. Nick Watney ended the event T20.
This Week
Martin Kaymer
Since finishing as the runner-up in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, Kaymer has yet to make a splash stateside. Now the No. 2 golfer in the world, he finished 24th in the WGC-Cadillac Championship and T20 in the Transitions Championship before missing the cut in the Masters. In 2009, Kaymer finished T11 in this event. Due to his limited US schedule, The Germanator is a top value in many fantasy formats that are based on 2010 Tour winnings.
Phil Mickelson – Must Start
In seven Quail Hollow starts, Lefty owns six top-12 finishes, including a runner-up performance a year ago. This season, he already owns a win in the Shell Houston Open, a second-place finish in the Farmers Insurance Open and is in great position for another big run up the leaderboard. Mickelson ranks second in birdies, seventh in scoring and 16th in driving distance.
Rory McIlroy
A 10-under 62 on Sunday helped McIlroy rocket past Phil and Angel Cabrera to win at Quail Hollow last year, his first start at the course. However, highlighted by an 8-over Sunday meltdown in the Masters, finishing strong has been an issue for McIlroy this season. Still, McIlroy enters with a trio of finishes 17th or better in three stroke play events this season on Tour.
Jim Furyk
Since 2005, Furyk has a win, a runner-up result, and three other finishes of 11th or better in six starts at Quail Hollow. A few weeks ago at The Heritage, Furyk entered Sunday in second but a 5-over sent him tumbling to T21. Outside of being ninth in driving accuracy, Furyk is not a standout in any one statistic yet the veteran’s history on this course cannot be ignored.
Hunter Mahan
Prior to missing the cut in the Masters, Mahan compiled two top-10s in three starts. Now looking to rebound, Mahan heads to Quail Hollow where he’s finished 22nd or better in three straight starts. Mahan currently ranks fourth in birdies, 13th in greens and fourth in All-Around Ranking.
Brendon de Jonge
With such a stacked field there aren’t many sleepers worth reaching for. However, de Jonge is certainly one of them. He finished fourth in this event a year ago and was in position for another top-five in 2009 until a 7-over 79 on Sunday dropped him all the way down to T44. This season, the native of Zimbabwe ranks 20th in scoring and 24th in All-Around. He’s also finished 26th or better in three straight tournaments.
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