Welcome to Playing the Tips!
Each week this will be the one-stop resource to soak in all the picks from our group of fantasy staffers from Rotoworld.com. We’ll have all of our selections from the GolfChannel.com, Yahoo! Fantasy Golf plus my new expanded feature on my weekly selection for One-and-Done players.
GolfChannel.com Fantasy Golf
Shell Houston Open
Glass ($7,379,960; Rank: 5,329)
After seeing the way Jordan Spieth started last week, there was no #SpiethBoner to be had but he played his last three rounds in seven-under-par to back-door the top 10. Whew. Ryan Palmer began the final round in fifth place but a hip injury led to 82. Cameron Tringale and J.B. Holmes both made the cut but were T46. All four of us had J.B. Holmes in Group 4 and that NEVER works out!
Group 1: Dustin Johnson
Group 2: Keegan Bradley
Group 3: Brian Davis
Group 4: Stuart Appleby
ANALYSIS: I’ll stick to my guns and play my No. 1 player again this week without hesitation. Everyone will have Bradley in Group 2 so that shouldn’t be a surprise. My surprise this week is horse-for-course Brian Davis in Group 3. I’ve seen much worse picks in Group 4 than Appleby. I went with premium players leading the line and experience on the back half. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG???
Rob Bolton ($8,269,716; Rank: 2,336)
Group 1: Dustin Johnson
Group 2: Keegan Bradley
Group 3: Jason Kokrak
Group 4: J.B. Holmes
ANALYSIS: For the second week in a row, we match Group 1 but Rob will be even more excited that he matched Ned player-for-player picks 1-3. I was the only one not on Holmes this week. Congrats J.B. on your first win in a while!!!
Ryan O’ Sullivan ($7,980,739; Rank: 3,104)
Group 1: Dustin Johnson
Group 2: Keegan Bradley
Group 3: Daniel Summerhays
Group 4: J.B. Holmes
ANALYSIS: Summerhays is his wild card this week as he matches Rob and Ned in Group 1, 2 and 4. Furyk and Hoffman gave O the best week of the bunch last week!
Ned Brown ($10,477,351; Rank: 108)
Group 1: Henrik Stenson
Group 2: Keegan Bradley
Group 3: Jason Kokrak
Group 4: J.B. Holmes
ANALYSIS: Ned was bitten by the Mickelson WD last week but remaining in and around the top 100 is quite awesome. We’ve all gone with Bradley in Group 2 so you all know the drill. Playing one of my favorite theories, Ned sneaks Jason Kokrak into Group 3 and repeats with Holmes in Group 4.
Kraft Nabisco Championship
Glass
Group 1: Stacy Lewis
Group 2: Lexi Thompson
Group 3: Jody Ewart-Shadoff
Group 4: Christel Boeljon
Rob
Group 1: Paula Creamer
Group 2: Anna Nordqvist
Group 3: Hee Kyung Seo
Group 4: Mirim Lee
O
Group 1: Inbee Park
Group 2: Anna Nordqvist
Group 3: Jodi Ewart-Shadoff
Group 4: Haeji King
Ned
Group 1: Karrie Webb
Group 2: Anna Nordqvist
Group 3: Charley Hull
Group 4: Mirim Lee
Yahoo! Fantasy Golf
Ned Brown is a long-time contributor for Rotoworld Golf. He’s had documented success in Yahoo!’s game for years. Even if you’re confident in your selections for that game, give his insight a read. He’ll lead us off each week in the Yahoo! game.
“Pure Spin”
Valero Points: 148
Winter Segment Points: 1,928
Ranking: 6,669
Group A
Henrik Stenson: His game has come back together recently with a T16 at Doral and a T5 last time out at the API. He also has done well at the SHO with two top 3s (T3 '09, T2 last year) in three career starts.
Matt Kuchar: I really thought that Kuchar was going to win last week, but he was put on the clock for slow play and notched three bogeys on the back nine to settle into a tie for fourth place. Still, it was his four top 10 of the new year and he has two T8 finishes (in '11 and '10) in his last two visits to the SHO.
SUPER SUBS
Luke Donald, Charles Howell II, Brian Davis
Group B
Dustin Johnson: He’s played great this new year, with four top 6 results in four stroke-play events, and he will go into the Masters as one of the favorites. He used to have a tough time in the SHO, but last year he played well and finished in a tie for fourth place.
Rory McIlroy: He played well at the start of the year on the European Tour and then played well here with the highpoint being a T2 at The Honda Classic. His record at the SHO isn't as strong as I would like it to be, so he is really about going with his recent play.
Jordan Spieth: He was 6-over-par at one time in his opening round at the VTO and proceeded to claw his way back over the next 3 1/2 rounds to a tenth place finish. It was real impressive stuff. Spieth has only one start at the SHO (T50 last year), so he another player that you are trying to capitalize on his recent play.
Keegan Bradley: There are a lot of guys you can go with in this spot but I'm going with Bradley. He finished in second place at the API and has top 10s (T4 in '12, T10 last year) in his last two starts at the SHO.
SUPER SUBS
Graham DeLaet, Bill Haas, Jason Kokrak, Hunter Mahan
Group C
Sergio Garcia: He started to play well at the end of last season, and after wins in Thailand and the Qatar Masters, he has continued to play well here with top 10s at the WGC-Match Play and The Honda Classic. He has only played once at the SHO, so he is all about trying to capitalize on his recent play.
Louis Oosthuizen: He opened the year with a victory at the Volvo Golf Champions and a nice T5 at the WGC-Match Play, but he hasn't done much in the three stroke-play events, which is why you have to go deep into the Group C list to find him. His recent play at the SHO has been very good with a T3 in '12 and T10 last year.
SUPER SUBS
Jimmy Walker, Charley Hoffman, Charl Schwartzel, Kevin Chappell
Ryan O’Sullivan (O)
“The Golf Aficionado”
Valero Points: 138
Winter Segment Points: 2,034
Ranking: 761
Group A
Group B
Group C
Rob Bolton
“@RobBoltonGolf”
Valero Points: 158
Winter Segment Points: 2,005
Ranking: 1,571
Group A
Group B
Group C
Glass
“@MikeGlasscott”
Valero Points: 138
Winter Segment Points: 1,980
Ranking: 2,717
My decision to leave off Zach Johnson last week came back to haunt me but it was Ryan Palmer instead of Charley Hoffman on Sunday that put 82 nails into my coffin for the week. The better news was I got exactly 10 holes out of this start for Phil Mickelson before he retired.
Good Grief.
That’s the beauty of Yahoo! Some weeks you pull all the right levers and some weeks you look like an idiot. It’s not hard to find what village I was in charge of last week, sadly.
Big field this week in Houston means big names will be left out. It happens.
Group A
Henrik Stenson: The powerful Swede kick-started his 2014 season last time out at Bay Hill and I believe he’ll continue peaking towards Augusta this week as well.
Matt Kuchar: The sign of a big-time pro is squashing results from the previous week and moving on. His 65 last Saturday overshadows his back nine on Sunday. Let the cream rise to the top, I say.
Group B
Dustin Johnson: After this week I’ll be down to only five starts with Mr. Gretzky. If he wins, I’ll hardly care.
Jordan Spieth: I’ll be down to five starts for #SpiethBoner as well but what are the odds that ALL FOUR of the B Group knock it out of the park this week? #insurance
Keegan Bradley: I don’t possibly see how he can be left off any rosters this week. The easiest thing to do in fantasy golf is overthink it. Just add him to your roster and move on.
Rory McIlroy: This will be a polarizing pick this week because half of the folks will point to his failure down the stretch at Honda and “bench him”. The other half, which includes me, likes him on a wide-open course with minimal rough and birdies on the menu.
Group C
Jimmy Walker: The Texan showed me everything I needed to know last week on where he is in 2014. He opened with 76 and finished T16. #sold
Sergio Garcia: I worry that his layoff will accumulate rust but he hasn’t finished outside of the top 20 ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD in quite some time.
One-and-Done
Frys.com: Gary Woodland, MC. Well, at least I don’t have to worry about when I’m using GARY WOODLAND again!
SHFC Open: Hideki Matsuyama. Time to break through, son. Matsuyama WD with injury so he was replaced with Nick Watney. He finished T48 for $15,264
CIMB Classic: Let’s try this again: Hideki Matsuyama. There’s no cut. This pleases me. His T25 after 74 on Sunday does not please me. Oh well. Here’s $53,433 into the piggy bank.
WGC-HSBC: Martin Kaymer. There’s no other place I would consider using him and he’s the defending champ on this track. #hangsonfordearlife. Kaymer’s third round 62 dared me to dream but his T8 and $161,667 is a nice deposit.
The McGladrey Classic: David Toms. He’s finished T3 in 2010 and second last year. His recent form suggests he’s playing well and I don’t see another chance to burn him down the road. It was him or CH III. Well, BOTH of my selections finished T27. I should have listened to O…T27 was good for $39,050.
OHL Mayakoba: Brian Gay. When form meets course history… Well, that was a nice theory but it resulted in T45 and $18,060. I’m glad 2013 is now over.
HTOC: Martin Laird. Since I’m off to a woeful start I see no reason to burn a premium player. Chris Kirk was my second choice but nobody wins in back-to-back starts plus he’s just had another child. Laird is the horse-for-course. The Scot finished T20 in a 30-man field for $87,000.
Sony: Charles Howell III. He plays great in the early part of the season and his record at Waialae has everything BUT a win. If you notice, I saved most of my heavy hitters for the latter part of 2013 last year and that strategy worked out. Hey, a top 10 and $119,000! Feels like a winner!
Humana: Webb Simpson has been on fire to get 2013-14 started and going low has never been a problem. It’s time to start firing at ‘em. Sigh. Another week brings another disappointing selection as I add a whopping $57,000 to my morbid total.
FIO: Same as last year, Rickie Fowler. He’s working with Butch Harmon to get to the next level and he’s played SoCal courses plenty in his young life. He finished up last week at Humana 67-66 and he’s finished T5, T20, T13 and T6 last year in four career starts. I’ll save Woods and Mickelson for down the road for bigger winner’s checks. Snedeker and Walker were also considered and are solid options for this week. Fowler was just as bad as the other four I had listed, save for Woods’ MDF cash. Tough week in OAD for most I’m guessing. MC $0.
WMPO: Ryan Palmer. He’s on fire, can really putt and was fifth here last year. His excellent 64 saw him make the cut but his 70-72 weekend resulted in T48 at $15,772. I finished strong last year because I had a stable full of studs from The Open Championship through the FedExCup Playoffs. I’m not panicking. Yet.
AT&T PEBBLE: Jimmy Walker is the pick this week. He’s a beast on the West Coast and he’s had time to recover from his illness after MC at Torrey Pines. BANG TRISCUITS. Winner, winner, chicken dinner and $1,188,000.
NTO: Dustin Johnson goes to bat this week for Team Glass. His form is excellent and the fact that he’s banged top 10s in half of his trips here doesn’t hurt either. Tacos for everyone! Johnson’s solo second adds $723,600 to the bank! #heatwave
WGC-Match Play: Ian Poulter will be my hedge this week. His recent starts hardly inspire but there’s no doubting his inner fortitude in Match Play. He is the 2010 champ and was fourth last year. I don’t see myself using him anywhere else this season. Hunter Mahan would be choice No. 2 but I don’t like his draw with the sizzling Zach Johnson. Don’t forget Mahan played in the last group in the U.S. Open and The Open in 2013. Ah, Poults…$48,000.
Honda Classic: Graeme McDowell is the choice this week. There has been no rust after his time off this winter and I’m encouraged after his result at Pebble and WGC-Match Play. I’m using Mickelson at Pinehurst so this is an easy play. He was three-under heading into the weekend. He was even when the weekend was over. Add $15,600 to the bank. That couldn’t cover Bolton’s Lear jet for the weekend…
WGC-CC: With a massive prize pool, I have no problem pulling the trigger on, as for reasons mentioned above, on an ultra-premium player. GO MCILROY GO! After making a birdie on No. 1 on Sunday, He was just four back. That was his last birdie of the day, sigh, T25, $76,000.
Puerto Rico: My heart says Brooks Koepka but my wallet says Chris Stroud. I’m glad I went with my wallet as Stroud hit the top 10 (T9) with $94,500.
Valspar: It was down to Furyk or Donald, but Donald had only ONE bad round last week! Go Luke Go! Donald finished T4, good for $235,600. Another cash and another top five works for me.
API: It came down to Bubba Watson and Kevin Na last week and T14 from Na never sounded so good! I added $102,300 to the kitty and another top 25 to the ledger.
VTO: It came down to Charley Hoffman and Freddie Jacobson last week and the American with the impeccable track record at Valero won the starting spot. He didn’t disappoint as he ground-out a T11 to rack up $136,400. #verynice
Shell Houston Open
This week we have multiple theories on what to do the week before a major. In recent memory, only Phil Mickelson (Scottish & The Open, 2013) and Tiger Woods (WGC-BI & PGA, 2007) have won the week before a major and gone on to win said major the following week.
The two names that jump immediately off the page to me this week are Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia. Both are excellent ball-strikers and both have the pedigree and class to contend each week. I’ll also take a look at Matt Kuchar, Charl Schwartzel and Lee Westwood.
Kuchar could be an excellent selection for Augusta especially if Woods and Mickelson are injured (and I have already burned McIlroy) so I’ll have to consider that this week.
Charl Schwartzel is an interesting angle this week but, like Kuchar, could be an excellent plan B at Augusta. Or at Byron Nelson. Or at Memorial. Or at just about any major. He’s a premium player.
Lee Westwood, based on the horse-for-course theory, makes the most sense this week but his recent form has done absolutely nothing to garner my attention.
Singles: Kuchar, Garcia, Schwartzel
Doubles: Stenson
Bottom of the ninth, walk-off, grand-slam home run: Westwood.
Decision
I only have warning track power so I’m going with Henrik Stenson this week to carry the load.
Results
SEASON TOTAL: $3,176,246; 20 events
Wins: 1; Jimmy Walker (AT&T Pebble)
Seconds: 1; Dustin Johnson (NTO)
Thirds: None
Top 5s: 3
Top 10s: 5
Top 25s: 12
MC: One
Thermometer: T11 on the heels of T14 isn’t great but I’m not banging my head against the wall either. My wall has plenty of holes…
Coming Wednesday
And the analysis doesn't end here. Rotoworld's Rob Bolton and I will be co-hosting a one-hour live chat Wednesday at NOON p.m. ET. We will be breaking down the field at the SHO and answering your questions. Simply return to the golf home page to join in on the chatter.