Ah the dreaded short week with the 2:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting followed by a 5:30 p.m. tennis match. It's a set of circumstances that has plagued fantasy golf writers for decades. Especially those of us who sit around all day on Monday lamenting the fact that we really should get a jump on writing but instead watch a lacrosse game and about fifteen minutes of seven different movies. (Oooh The Martian).
Don't fret, however, as you will find all of the necessary information below to make an educated decision. Thank God for that big dumb chart I came up with because it's instant content when the well is otherwise dry. It's times like this when I would like to channel a younger more churlish FGR sitting in a Chili's during the 16th round of a fantasy football draft when my friend Matt asked if he could take a look at my list of kickers and I responded "do your own fucking research." Alas I have slightly matured and now feel obliged to offer my keen insight. But first, this.
GOLFBABES TWEET OF THE WEEK
THIS WEEK'S ANALYSIS
The Memorial used to be one of the more reliable events on tour back in the days when a top tier player like Tiger Woods, Tom Lehman, Greg Norman or Tom Watson would win it every year. Kenny Perry would pop-in for a title every now and then but we came to accept that as part of the deal for this tournament being the best non-major on tour (yeah that's right). But then in 2005, journeyman Bart Bryant won it and the cherubic Swede Carl Pettersson followed that by taking the title in 2006.
Things got back on track from 2007 through 2014 as Tiger won it twice with solid players like Justin Rose, Matt Kuchar and Hideki Matsuyama also getting it done but then it happened again in 2015 and 2016 with back to back wins by David Lingmerth and William McGirt. And that's about the time when Jack Nicklaus started leveraging his brand by selling freakin' ice cream. My goddamn head was spinning. We've righted the ship a bit since then with Jason Dufner and Bryson DeChambeau but clearly still have a ways to go before this event returns to its previous glory. I'm going to be optimistic and bet that we continue on that upward trend. I mean what in the hell else am I supposed to do? Pick Adam Fucking Hadwin? He's Canadian for Chrissakes!
I've been waiting for the right moment to pick Rickie Fowler and suddenly here we are. He's got a great track record at Muirfield but, more importantly, this is one of those tournaments that can feel like a major without actually being a major so it's right in his wheelhouse. If he wins here, I look forward to more discussion of the new BIG ELEVEN to include him, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy and as many other guys as you need to throw into the mix to include Rickie in a BIG something. (For the record, I really like Rickie . . . just not as much as those who REALLY like Rickie).
The rest of the picks kind of make themselves because they have to as I have a noon shotgun start and need to begin my meticulous and grueling three hour pre-tournament routine. There is gaping hole in my trophy case where the Baltimore County Bar Association Golf Tournament trophy should be and I intend to fill it.
One and Done Pick: Rickie Fowler
Other Guy I'd Pick: Matt Kuchar
Sleeper Pick: Bill Haas
DraftKings Top Ten Values
A couple things worth noting on the historical performance chart. First, Jason Day hasn't done squat which is surprising considering the course would seem to suit his game. You could make the case that he's due but that record would indicate a disconnect between golfer and layout. Second, over the last four years, Marc Leishman, Kevin Streelman and David Lingmerth have combined for eight top 20's and a win proving that the key is to keep it in play for four days and just hang around. See also Matt Kuchar, Kevin Kisner and Bill Haas. (I'm so fucking lazy this week that I lifted this whole paragraph straight-out of last year's preview . . . at least I'm honest).
THE JACK NICKLAUS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH
ICE CREAM HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE CHART
Email the Fantasy Golf Report at fgr@fantasygolfreport.com.
Don't fret, however, as you will find all of the necessary information below to make an educated decision. Thank God for that big dumb chart I came up with because it's instant content when the well is otherwise dry. It's times like this when I would like to channel a younger more churlish FGR sitting in a Chili's during the 16th round of a fantasy football draft when my friend Matt asked if he could take a look at my list of kickers and I responded "do your own fucking research." Alas I have slightly matured and now feel obliged to offer my keen insight. But first, this.
GOLFBABES TWEET OF THE WEEK
KLPGA pro Wonju Jang https://t.co/PLJ2OliT11 pic.twitter.com/o1YDPS1WrP— Golf Babes (@golfbabes) May 26, 2019
THIS WEEK'S ANALYSIS
The Memorial used to be one of the more reliable events on tour back in the days when a top tier player like Tiger Woods, Tom Lehman, Greg Norman or Tom Watson would win it every year. Kenny Perry would pop-in for a title every now and then but we came to accept that as part of the deal for this tournament being the best non-major on tour (yeah that's right). But then in 2005, journeyman Bart Bryant won it and the cherubic Swede Carl Pettersson followed that by taking the title in 2006.
Things got back on track from 2007 through 2014 as Tiger won it twice with solid players like Justin Rose, Matt Kuchar and Hideki Matsuyama also getting it done but then it happened again in 2015 and 2016 with back to back wins by David Lingmerth and William McGirt. And that's about the time when Jack Nicklaus started leveraging his brand by selling freakin' ice cream. My goddamn head was spinning. We've righted the ship a bit since then with Jason Dufner and Bryson DeChambeau but clearly still have a ways to go before this event returns to its previous glory. I'm going to be optimistic and bet that we continue on that upward trend. I mean what in the hell else am I supposed to do? Pick Adam Fucking Hadwin? He's Canadian for Chrissakes!
I've been waiting for the right moment to pick Rickie Fowler and suddenly here we are. He's got a great track record at Muirfield but, more importantly, this is one of those tournaments that can feel like a major without actually being a major so it's right in his wheelhouse. If he wins here, I look forward to more discussion of the new BIG ELEVEN to include him, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy and as many other guys as you need to throw into the mix to include Rickie in a BIG something. (For the record, I really like Rickie . . . just not as much as those who REALLY like Rickie).
The rest of the picks kind of make themselves because they have to as I have a noon shotgun start and need to begin my meticulous and grueling three hour pre-tournament routine. There is gaping hole in my trophy case where the Baltimore County Bar Association Golf Tournament trophy should be and I intend to fill it.
I had to start putting pictures of golf courses here because people on Reddit mistook this for a soft core porn/golf site. Maybe they're onto something. |
Other Guy I'd Pick: Matt Kuchar
Sleeper Pick: Bill Haas
DraftKings Top Ten Values
Rickie Fowler
|
$10,600
|
Patrick Cantlay
|
$10,200
|
Matt Kuchar
|
$9,400
|
Hideki Matsuyama
|
$9,100
|
Adam Scott
|
$8,700
|
Marc Leishman
|
$8,000
|
Emiliano Grillo
|
$7,900
|
Byeon Hun An
|
$7,400
|
Bill Haas
|
$6,700
|
David Lingmerth
|
$6,300
|
A couple things worth noting on the historical performance chart. First, Jason Day hasn't done squat which is surprising considering the course would seem to suit his game. You could make the case that he's due but that record would indicate a disconnect between golfer and layout. Second, over the last four years, Marc Leishman, Kevin Streelman and David Lingmerth have combined for eight top 20's and a win proving that the key is to keep it in play for four days and just hang around. See also Matt Kuchar, Kevin Kisner and Bill Haas. (I'm so fucking lazy this week that I lifted this whole paragraph straight-out of last year's preview . . . at least I'm honest).
DK Price
|
2018
|
2017
|
2016
|
2015
|
2014
|
|
Rory McIlroy
|
$11,500
|
T8
|
DNP
|
T4
|
DNP
|
T15
|
Tiger Woods
|
$11,200
|
T23
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
71st
|
DNP
|
Justin Rose
|
$10,800
|
T6
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
2nd
|
MC
|
Rickie Fowler
|
$10,600
|
T8
|
T2
|
MC
|
MC
|
MC
|
Patrick Cantlay
|
$10,200
|
4th
|
T35
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Jordan Spieth
|
$9,900
|
MC
|
T13
|
T57
|
T3
|
T19
|
Tony Finau
|
$9,600
|
T13
|
T40
|
T11
|
T8
|
DNP
|
Matt Kuchar
|
$9,400
|
T13
|
T4
|
T4
|
T26
|
T15
|
Justin Thomas
|
$9,300
|
T8
|
T4
|
MC
|
MC
|
T37
|
Jason Day
|
$9,200
|
T44
|
T15
|
T27
|
MC
|
T37
|
Hideki Matsuyama
|
$9,100
|
T13
|
T45
|
MC
|
T5
|
1st
|
Xander Schauffele
|
$9,000
|
MC
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Bryson DeChambeau
|
$8,900
|
1st
|
DNP
|
T38
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Gary Woodland
|
$8,800
|
T23
|
T49
|
T4
|
MC
|
T57
|
Adam Scott
|
$8,700
|
T35
|
T31
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Louis Oosthuizen
|
$8,600
|
T13
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Henrik Stenson
|
$8,500
|
T13
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Rory Sabbatini
|
$8,300
|
T44
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
T24
|
MC
|
Phil Mickelson
|
$8,100
|
T13
|
T22
|
T20
|
T65
|
T49
|
Marc Leishman
|
$8,000
|
T62
|
T15
|
T11
|
T5
|
T37
|
Emiliano Grillo
|
$7,900
|
T23
|
T40
|
T11
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Kevin Kisner
|
$7,900
|
T74
|
T6
|
MC
|
T8
|
T46
|
Kyle Stanley
|
$7,800
|
T2
|
T6
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
74
|
Lucas Glover
|
$7,800
|
T52
|
T45
|
T33
|
T68
|
T69
|
Billy Horschel
|
$7,700
|
MC
|
MC
|
DNP
|
T11
|
T15
|
Sung Kang
|
$7,700
|
T57
|
75th
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Tyrrell Hatton
|
$7,700
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Keegan Bradley
|
$7,600
|
T23
|
MC
|
T8
|
T8
|
T37
|
Luke List
|
$7,600
|
T37
|
MC
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Matthew Fitzpatrick
|
$7,600
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Hao-Tong Li
|
$7,500
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Jim Furyk
|
$7,500
|
MC
|
MC
|
T52
|
T5
|
T19
|
Byeon Hun An
|
$7,400
|
T2
|
T25
|
T11
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Charley Hoffman
|
$7,400
|
MC
|
T45
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
T19
|
Jason Dufner
|
$7,400
|
MC
|
1st
|
T33
|
T24
|
T19
|
Kevin Streelman
|
$7,400
|
T44
|
T13
|
T8
|
T18
|
MC
|
Charles Howell, III
|
$7,300
|
T65
|
DNP
|
T48
|
T31
|
T57
|
Joaquin Niemann
|
$7,300
|
T6
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Ryan Moore
|
$7,300
|
T13
|
MC
|
T48
|
T18
|
T19
|
Peter Uihlein
|
$7,200
|
5th
|
T25
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Adam Hadwin
|
$7,100
|
T74
|
MC
|
T11
|
T57
|
DNP
|
Keith Mitchell
|
$7,100
|
MC
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Russell Knox
|
$7,100
|
T44
|
T65
|
64th
|
T18
|
MC
|
Cameron Smith
|
$7,000
|
MC
|
T65
|
DNP
|
MC
|
DNP
|
Joel Dahmen
|
$7,000
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Danny Lee
|
$6,900
|
MC
|
T49
|
T52
|
MC
|
DNP
|
J.B. Holmes
|
$6,900
|
T13
|
MC
|
T4
|
DNP
|
T75
|
Bill Haas
|
$6,700
|
T57
|
T25
|
MC
|
T18
|
T8
|
Anirban Lahiri
|
$6,600
|
T37
|
T2
|
T61
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
David Lingmerth
|
$6,300
|
T29
|
T15
|
T27
|
1st
|
T49
|
Email the Fantasy Golf Report at fgr@fantasygolfreport.com.