Fantasy Golf: The Greenbrier Classic Preview

The Italians have totally checked out on sports since they got bounced from the World Cup and as a result, I'm only getting about half of the coverage soccer. When they do actually televise the games, we get an Italian announcing team that sounds like the Howard Stern Show complete with the random insertion of sound effects and music clips. For instance, everytime Mexico did anything against Brazil, they would play La Cucaracha or Tequila. (Makes those allegations of racist slurs at Italian soccer games kind of hard to believe doesn't it?) We're keeping our fingers crossed for coverage of USA-Belgium tonight if for no other reason, I want to hear what they play to mock us. If I don't hear James Brown at least once, I'm going to be very disappointed. 

And if the soccer coverage is spotty, you can forget about a PGA Tour event. Therefore I did not catch a single shot of Justin Rose's overtime win at Congressional but maybe some absence from the game is what I needed as FGR pick Brendon Todd finished a solid 5th. This week we head to the Greenbrier for some resort living and a bunch of biridies. I've been hanging-on to Jimmy Walker for this event because he loves the course and has pretty much established himself as one of the ten best players on tour so now is the time to let him rip. 

Last Week's Report Card: B +

The three stages of the Italian World
Cup experiance. Step 1 - "Euphoria"

1. Brendon Todd - T5th
2. Jason Day - M/C
3. Jordan Spieth - T11th
4. Justin Rose - 1st
5. Brandt Snedeker - T21st
6. Horschel Billy - T11th

The Lost in Italy Report

Hyundai: Gary Woodland - $ 130,000
Sony: Chris Kirk - $ 604,800
Humana: Charles Howell III - $ 12,198

Farmers: Bill Haas - $ 20,740
WM Phoenix: Billy Hörschel - M/C
Pebble Beach: Russell Knox - $ 46,860

Northern Trust: Dustin Johnson - $ 723,600
Match Play: Hunter Mahan - $ 148,000
Honda Classic: Graeme McDowell - $ 15,600
WGC-Cadillac: Rory McIlroy - $ 76,000

Step 2 - "Anguish"

Valspar: Harris Inglese - $ 23,940
Palmer: Justin Rose - M/C
Texas Open: Kevin Chappell - M/C
Houston Open: Keegan Bradley - $ 18,374
Masters: Matt Kuchar - $ 342,000
Heritage: Jim Furyk - $ 187,050
Zurich: Graham DeLaet - $ 44,200
Wells Fargo: Webb Simpson - $ 28,980
The Players: Adam Scott - $ 38,000
Byron Nelson: Jason Dufner - $ 17,327
Colonial: Zach Johnson - $ 12,416
Memorial: Charl Schwartzel - $ 167,400
FedEx St. Jude: Lee Westwood - M/C
U.S. Open: Jason Day - $ 326,310
Quicken Loans: Brendon Todd - $ 237,250

Season Total: $ 3,253,641

The Greenbrier Classic Favorites

Step 3 - "Acceptance"

1. Jimmy Walker - 12 to 1
1. Bubba Watson - 12 to 1
3. Webb Simpson - 22 to 1
3. Bill Haas - 22 to 1
5. Brendon Todd - 25 to 1
6. Keegan Bradley - 28 to 1

The FGR One and Done Picks

1. Jimmy Walker
2. Brendon Todd
3. Marc Leishman
4. Bill Haas
5. Brendan Steele
6. Scott Langley

Fantasy Golf: The Quicken Loans Preview

The Fantasy Golf Report is going to be a little thin for the next few weeks because the FGR has left the country (without giving it away, I may or may not have played shirtless Bocce with the Molinari brothers last night).* The conundrum that this presents is that I have the time and the freedom of mind and spirit to get some serious writing done. That is, however, being countered by some technological obstacles and a deep desire to not do jack squat all day and night other than drink copious amounts of wine and sleep. The result will probably be some random posts that have little or nothing to do with golf. Fortunately we are in one of the bigger lulls of the season between the U.S. Open and the British Open and not even to return by Tiger would move the needle at this point (he wait ... what?). Um, like I said, the Fantasy Golf Report is going to be a little thin for the near future.

But before we check out for the day, let's at least the basics for a complete tournament preview starting with a brief review of a return to middling picks last week. If you're a glass half full guy, the rankings were solid as they implicitly advised you to avoid Matt Kuchar who was two for a below average performance at best (he tied for 31st.) If you're a glass half empty guy, you might focus on the fact that I went chalk with my top three picks and they all tied for 31st. The result was a bright glistening "C".

Last Week's Report Card: C

We made ​​them put their clothes back
on for the trophy ceremony. I thought
the gold jackets were a little much.

1. Bubba Watson - T31st
2. Keegan Bradley - T31st
3. Dustin Johnson - T31st
4. Marc Leishman - T11th
5. Ryan Moore - T5th

Back to Reality Report

Hyundai: Gary Woodland - $ 130,000
Sony: Chris Kirk - $ 604,800
Humana: Charles Howell III - $ 12,198

Farmers: Bill Haas - $ 20,740
WM Phoenix: Billy Hörschel - M / C
Pebble Beach: Russell Knox - $ 46,860

Northern Trust: Dustin Johnson - $ 723,600
Match Play: Hunter Mahan - $ 148,000
Honda Classic: Graeme McDowell - $ 15,600
WGC-Cadillac: Rory McIlroy - $ 76,000

Here's me renting a Fiat. 
Best Avis agent ever.

Valspar: Harris Inglese - $ 23,940
Palmer: Justin Rose - M / C
Texas Open: Kevin Chappell - M / C
Houston Open: Keegan Bradley - $ 18,374
Masters: Matt Kuchar - $ 342,000
Heritage: Jim Furyk - $ 187,050
Zurich: Graham DeLaet - $ 44,200
Wells Fargo: Webb Simpson - $ 28,980
The Players: Adam Scott - $ 38,000
Byron Nelson: Jason Dufner - $ 17,327
Colonial: Zach Johnson - $ 12,416
Memorial: Charl Schwartzel - $ 167,400
FedEx St. Jude: Lee Westwood - M / C
U.S. Open: Jason Day - $ 326,310

Travelers: Bubba Watson - $ 32,296

Season Total: $ 3,016,391

This week we head to the Congressional which is right down Route 95 from FGR headquarters. It's too bad that I'm not there because with Tiger's return and an otherwise solid field, it may not have been worth a visit to one of the cooler venues spectating I've encountered (assuming you get access rooftop patio overlooking the 10th tee of course.) The last two winners were Bill Haas and Tiger with Roberto Castro and Bo Van Pelt taking the runner-up spots. The two years before that, this event was held at Aronimink so those results kind of go out the window to the extent they would have been instructive. Congressional demands a solid all-around game with a premium on ball striking as evidenced by Rory McIlroy's blistering of the course at the U.S. Open. Brendon Todd has been on a roll since his win at the Byron Nelson and he should be relatively fresh after taking last week off. And speaking of taking time off, that's about all I have in me this morning as I have a firm appointment to do nothing for two hours starting in twelve minutes. 

The Quicken Loans Favorites

"... Avis We Try Harder." . . indeed.

1. Jason Day - 15 to 1

2. Jordan Spieth - 15 to 1

3. Tiger Woods - 16 to 1

4. Justin Rose - 16 to 1

5. Brandt Snedeker - 26 to 1

6. Keegan Bradley - 29 to 1

The FGR One and Done Picks

1. Brendon Todd
2. Jason Day

3. Jordan Spieth
4. Justin Rose

5. Brandt Snedeker

6. Horschel Billy 

Footnote

* One byproduct of writing in my current location is that I'm dealing with an auto-correct situation that wants to capitalize the first letter of every other freaking word, rearrange my sentences and change all of the commas to periods in my numbers. (Note the previous section that I fixed results about seven times before giving up). Come on Google, get your head out of your ass.

Email the Fantasy Golf Report at fgr@fantasygolfreport.com.

Fantasy Golf: The Travelers Preview

Bubba Watson won the Travelers Championship in 2010 and he should have won it again last year but he finished two shots back after dumping his tee shot into the water on 16 and making a triple bogey. Judging by his reaction, it was his caddie's fault for helping him pick the club that he used to hit his ball into the water. I was on the fence about Bubba until that moment. I am not anymore but I never let my personal preferences impair my picking ability (yeah right) so Bubba has a chance to redeem himself in my eyes this week. I'm sure that's just the motivation he needs. By the way, we're giving Matt Kuchar the week off even though he refuses to take one himself. If he was your coworker, you'd be telling him to slow down and stop making everyone else look bad by now.

The Travelers Favorites

"Why didn't you tell me that would
come-up short if I hit it thin?!?!"

1. Matt Kuchar - 12 to 1
2. Bubba Watson - 12 to 1
3. Dustin Johnson - 14 to 1
4. Jason Day - 16 to 1
5. Sergio Garcia - 22 to 1

The FGR One and Done Picks

1. Bubba Watson
2. Keegan Bradley
3. Dustin Johnson
4. Marc Leishman
5. Ryan Moore

Email the Fantasy Golf Report at fgr@fantasygolfreport.com.

Footnote

* In an effort to accomplish something that is not immediately clear, the Golf Channel occasionally tacks-on a European or women's event to its weekly fantasy game. This week they have included the women's U.S. Open so the picks in the sidebar include the FGR's selections from the Golf Channel's four categories for that event. I actually spent five minutes doing research on it so don't ever say I'm not here for you . . . because I am.

Fantasy Golf: The U.S. Open Wrap-Up

The U.S. Open wrap-up is going to be a bit brief because, between you and me, I didn't watch the final round past the 9th hole. What can I say? It was a beautiful day, I was hanging with my kids and it was pretty obvious how the back nine was going to play-out. I did record it with the intention of speed watching it later but by 8:30 the basketball game was on so I asked my son to check my phone and tell me whether anyone finished within three strokes of Martin Kaymer. I figured three strokes would at least make it worth a cursory look at halftime but he took a glance at the leaderboard and said "nope . . . he won by eight" and that was that.

Poor golf just can't get out of its own way these days. Pinehurst No. 2 looked spectacular on TV and was ready for survival of the fittest on Sunday but someone dropped a pirahna into the exotic fish tank. Take a look at the list of players who would have finished within three shots of the lead if that sandbagging son of bitch Kaymer hadn't shown-up: Rickie Fowler and Erik Compton at -1 . . . Keegan Bradley, Jason Day, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson at +1 . . . Adam Scott, Jimmy Walker and Brandt Snedeker at +2. Considering that those are all "A" list players other than Compton who has had not one but two heart transplants and Koepka who would have played Cinderella, and that would have made for the kind of epic Sunday that golf so desperately needs in the wake of Tiger's absence and Phil's swoon. But just like the Spieth/Watson duel we were supposed to get at Augusta, it was not meant to be.

And before we move on, a few words to the golf purists who are bitching all over talk radio and the internet about how we wouldn't have called that tournament boring if it had been Tiger Woods giving the field an eight shot wedgie. You're right and shut up. Tiger is arguably the most iconic and dominant athlete of all-time. If he's not, then he's certainly in the top five with Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky and whomever you want to put in the other two spots (because we're not having that discussion today).* So yeah, we do stop and take notice when he's at the top of his game because his best is the best there ever was. Martin Kaymer played phenomenally well at Pinehurst and he is showing signs that he could win two or three more majors which would make him a historically significant player like Ernie Els and Raymond Floyd but today he's just a guy with one less major than Padraig Harrington so spare me the outrage.

While the tour was pulling-down TV ratings that would have made the WNBA cringe,** the FGR was actually having a pretty good week. Maybe we're the Rickie Fowler of fantasy golf websites in that we only play well on tough courses and we're charming. Our top pick, Jason Day, was solid throughout and wound-up tied for 4th thanks to a final round 68. We also had Kaymer ranked 6th and went so far as to say "[t]hen you have guys like Martin Kaymer and Graham DeLaet who currently rank 4th and 5th in total driving (I like them both this week . . .). Of course DeLaet missed the cut but what do you want from me? Blood? The way my season's going, I'm surprised I didn't have ball swapping Hunter Mahan and Jamie Donaldson in my top ten. (That sounds a bit suggestive so allow me to clarify that they hit each other's balls on Friday . . . I mean they got their balls mixed-up . . . you know what I mean).

This week's Fantasy Golf Report 2014 summer
movie preview features Deliver Us From Evil
starring FGR favorite Olivia Munn and . . . 

Last Week's FGR Report Card: B+

1. Jason Day - T4th
2. Matt Kuchar - T12th
3. Jim Furyk - T12th
4. Sergio Garcia - T35th
5. Rory McIlroy - T23rd
6. Martin Kaymer - 1st
7. Adam Scott - T9th
8. Graham DeLaet - M/C
9. Bubba Watson - M/C
10. Victor Dubuisson - T28th

The Second Half Momentum Report

Hyundai: Gary Woodland - $130,000
Sony: Chris Kirk - $604,800
Humana: Charles Howell, III - $12,198

Farmers: Bill Haas - $20,740
WM Phoenix: Billy Horschel - M/C
Pebble Beach: Russell Knox - $46,860

. . . um, Olivia Munn.

Northern Trust: Dustin Johnson - $723,600
Match Play: Hunter Mahan - $148,000
Honda Classic: Graeme McDowell - $15,600
WGC-Cadillac: Rory McIlroy - $76,000
Valspar: Harris English - $23,940
Palmer: Justin Rose - M/C
Texas Open: Kevin Chappell - M/C
Houston Open: Keegan Bradley - $18,374
Masters: Matt Kuchar - $342,000
Heritage: Jim Furyk - $187,050
Zurich: Graham DeLaet - $44,200
Wells Fargo: Webb Simpson - $28,980
The Players: Adam Scott - $38,000
Byron Nelson: Jason Dufner - $17,327
Colonial: Zach Johnson - $12,416
Memorial: Charl Schwartzel - $167,400
FedEx St. Jude: Lee Westwood - M/C
U.S. Open: Jason Day - $326,310

Season Total: $2,983,795

Footnote

* Everyone has a different formula for the greatest athlete of all-time but mine is a combination of individual greatness, titles, breathtaking athleticism and someone who would impress your kids if you told them that you got to see him/her play live. Unfortunately, Bo Jackson never won anything as a pro and his career was cut short by injury because, from a breathtaking athleticism standpoint, he would be a runaway number one. The rest of my top five would include Pelé and either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. Sorry but boxers, baseball players and swimmers just don't do it for me from a "breathtaking athleticism" standpoint but, like I said, we're not having this discussion today. 

** The overnight rating for the final round was a 3.3 - down 46 percent from Justin Rose's win last year. That's not much better than the 2.8 for the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship where Tiger finished tied for 25th (the last time he played four rounds). It goes back to one of my favorite polls ever in which it was revealed that the majority of viewers would prefer coverage of Tiger leaning on his putter over that of any other playing actually hitting a shot. Sad? Yes. But also true.  

Email the Fantasy Golf Report at fgr@fantasygolfreport.com.