Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Fantasy Golf: The BMW Championship Preview

At one point during the final round telecast of the Deutsche Bank Championship, NBC lead announcer Dan Hicks, who is indefatigable in his relentless pom poming for the FedEx Cup, cut loose maybe his most creative cheer to date when he noted that current leader, Chris Kirk, had never had a top ten finish in a major, a WGC event OR a FedEx Cup playoff event. Nice try Dan you sneaky devil but in your effort to bolster the Cup's credit, you sounded like a waiter announcing tonight's specials as "the lobster thermador, crab cakes and a corn dog." Wait what?

Let me poke just a couple holes in Dan's pitch along with the FedEx Cup playoffs in general. First, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia aren't blowing-off a major or a WGC event as casually as they blew-off the Deutsche. Second, when a truly significant tournament hits the final nine with that many guys in the hunt including the best player in the world, you can feel the drama in your gut. Did anyone feel the drama in their gut yesterday? Yeah, me neither. And finally, I think it's time for another overhaul of the format. I have to wonder if Dan realized how much he was indirectly slaughtering his sacred cow by pointing-out that it's new leader has never contended in a tournament that matters. I'm sure the prospect of having Chris Kirk and Cameron Tringale go down to the wire for the $10M first prize has prompted FedEx to have its annual, "who's fucking idea was this?" meeting. Apparently someone got a bit over their skis after the successful product placement in Castaway.*

And speaking of bad ideas, let's check-out this week's FGR picks. At least there's no cut so I can't completely botch it (yeah but your guy could always withdraw . . . .) DOH!

The BMW Championship Favorites

1. Rory McIlroy - 9 to 2
2. Adam Scott - 12 to 1
And in other news this week . . . ***
3. Justin Rose - 16 to 1
4. Jason Day - 16 to 1
5. Henrik Stenson - 18 to 1

The FGR One and Done Picks

1. Martin Kaymer**
2. Rory McIlroy
3. Jim Furyk
4. Sergio Garcia
5. Justin Rose

Last Week's Report Card: D+

1. Ryan Moore - 73rd
2. Jason Day - T7th
3. Rory McIlroy - T5th
4. Adam Scott - T16th
5. Rickie Fowler - T23rd

Footnotes

* Still to me the most baffling well-received movie ever along with everything ever made featuring Tim Allen or Whoopi Goldberg.

** Why Martin Kaymer? Well, to quote John Blutarski, "why not?"

*** I apologize for the brief slideshow this week but I'm trolling for images while sitting in an aisle seat on a plane next to the FGW and I can feel everyone waiting for the bathroom looking over my shoulder. Kind of fitting that I'm on my way to San Diego. STAY CLASSY FGR!!!

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