Tour News
Fantasy Cheat Sheet: Humana Challenge
One of the more unique playing formats to hit the PGA Tour takes place this week as 156 professionals and paired amateurs will touch down in southern California for the three-course, 54-hole cut tournament at the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation.
Because of the pro-am rotation on courses Palmer Private at PGA West, Nicklaus Private and La Quinta Country Club, it presents a dilemma when picking fantasy golfers. And since the cut last year was 10-under, in order to reap the reward of final round points, you will need golfers that can go low.
Last year, Brian Gay won a three-man playoff over David Lingmerth and Charles Howell III, each reaching 25-under. Let’s breakdown who can or can’t navigate the first three days and make it to the final round at Palmer Private. It’s Risk, Reward, Ruin.
RISK
You will want scorers this week and it’s not a week to be shy about wasting starts as the tournament sets up really well for about 10 golfers barring surprises. Again, I’m looking this week at guys who can shoot 63 in one of the first three rounds and get low. Conditions will be perfect for scoring all week in La Quinta.
Keegan Bradley
The risk involved is he’s making his first start this calendar year after netting $300k in two starts in October (10th, T11), but that’s about it. He’s coming off a strong season last year that saw him reach the Tour Championship and make the Presidents Cup, and he’s getting due for a win with his last coming at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August 2012. He last played this tournament in his rookie year of 2011 when he shot 23-under and tied for seventh.
Gary Woodland
Swing changes can take a while to manifest. One of the longest drivers on Tour, Woodland had just one win and a host of bad tournaments on his resume until the middle of last year. And then the swing changes he had gone through began to solidify in his tournament play. It culminated with a win at the Reno-Tahoe open and jumpstarted a run to the Tour Championship. Along the way he finished T2 at The Barclays. Now he’s out to prove he belongs near the top and already has a second-place finish this year and a round of 11-under at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions (T13). He missed the cut last year (swing changes), but shot 27-under in 2011 to nab second place.
Nicolas Colsaerts
The verdict is still out for the pro from Belgium who aspires to play more on the PGA Tour than the European Tour. Making the European Ryder Cup team in 2012 signified he could play, but his 2013 season failed to live up to the hype. This will be his first start of the new wrap-around schedule and his scoring average was fairly high last year. I’d take a wait-and-see approach to gage how his offseason went.
Robert Garrigus
At 36-years old, Garrigus won’t turn many heads unless he’s using the infamous “child’s putter” he used two years ago. But if you want a guy who can post a couple low rounds, he’s more than capable. He’s had two solid rounds this season already, granted they were in October, and last year he shot 20-under (T16). The year before, he shot 61 in the third round (making up for a first round 73) and tied for second at 22-under par. Previous to that he’s had a strong history at this event, even when it was known as the Bob Hope Classic.
Rickie Fowler
You could make the argument that Fowler is not a risk. But people are enamored by his orange and the idea that he’ll one day live up to his lofty potential. But so far, he’s not and I’m not using him until he can show consistency or maturity (or the British Open comes around, since that seems to be his best event). He also hasn’t played a tournament since early November, and he hasn’t exactly killed it in those first two starts either, shooting just one round in the 60’s in eight rounds of golf. He has the capability to go low in one round, but I wouldn’t wager on him to finish in the top 20.
REWARD
There are five golfers to be had this week that everyone will want on their roster. The thing is, we’re getting to the point early in the season where you could start burning through three or four starts before we’ve even hit February. And for one of these golfers, his hot streak suggests a strong season in a weak category for Yahoo gamers. Plan accordingly when using the chalk.
Zach Johnson
No player has changed his perception more in the last year than Johnson. He’s on fire and with his win at the Hyundai TOC has claimed elite status and garnered talk of making the Hall of Fame upon retirement for his now 11 wins and counting. Ranked No. 6 in the Official World Golf Rankings, Johnson is again a front runner this week. His meticulous approach and methodical treading around a course should serve him well with the venue rotation. He’s shot 19-under the last two years here.
Harris English
Strategy is important when factoring in a long fantasy season. And looking down the list of Yahoo group C golfers out there, Harris’ strong finish to last year, including his first Tour win at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, and superb start this year, complete with a win at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba, a joint win with Matt Kuchar at the non-sanctioned Franklin Templeton Shootout and a T4 at last week’s Sony Open suggests big things for the former Georgia All-American. But beware the urge to use him so often early. This could be a good week to use a risky pick if you’ve already used him a few times. He’s played decent (T19, 2012; T65, 2013) here in his only two appearances.
Brandt Snedeker
With a solid Hyundai TOC under his belt two weeks ago, this is my pick to win this week. A notoriously good putter, Snedeker can get the birdies flowing. He shot 19-under last year without going lower than 67, of which he’s completely capable. In 2012, he opened with a 64 and finished T8. He should be ready to unleash a run like he did to start last season when for five weeks he looked to be the best golfer in the world.
Webb Simpson
Leading the FedEx Cup points race in a very, very early season, Simpson has piled on four top-10 finishes in four starts, which included a win at the Shriners Open. He finished T3 at the Hyundai TOC and can post low scores on back-to-back days to open a big lead. His 2013 Humana didn’t go as planned, but from 2009-11 put up low numbers at the Bob Hope Classic.
Bill Haas
The thing about Haas, the 2011 FedEx Cup champion, is he’ll just come out of nowhere and win a tournament when you least expect it. That’s kind of how I feel this week. He doesn’t tend to shoot particularly low on and given day and he’s more of a grinder with a game suited for tough courses. His reputation at Humana is about the same grab bag of mixed results. Last year, missed cut. The year before, made cut, middling finish. The year prior to that one, 27-under par (over five days) and a second-place finish after losing in a playoff. And back in 2010, he won the whole thing at 30-under par (over five days). So do we see the guy who demolished the course for four straight years starting in 2009 or the one who will hover a few strokes under par?
RUIN
With any week of fantasy selections, there are names you just don’t go near. In fact, I’m sometimes baffled by the amount of people who will just throw caution and better judgment to the wind in search of being the guy who can say “See! I told you [insert obscure golfer] would win!” To me, your first object should be to win your season, then a segment, and if you win weeks along the way, it will usually be because you calculated your selections thoughtfully instead of trying to be Mr. Sleeper Pick.
Aaron Baddeley
If you want to hitch your wagon to a guy who missed 14 of 24 cuts last year, including 10 in a row, be my guest. Baddeley has the talent as proven by a win at the Northern Trust Open in 2011, but he’s got a mental block going on right now that may take some time to unkink.
Mike Weir
Would you believe Weir has already made $110k on Tour this year? That’s nearly better than his entire total from last year when he missed 13 cuts in 22 events played. One of those MC’s came at the Humana. The year prior, he missed all but one cut. The former Masters champion is playing better, but there are much better picks out there.
Jhonattan Vegas
In three starts this season, Vegas has actually posted several decent rounds in the 60’s, but this is also coming on the heels of a 2013 year when he suffered injury and missed most of the year (following three MC’s) and played the Web.com Tour for the month of September when he returned. He didn’t fair so well there either. Whether the 2011 Bob Hope Classic champion can ever return to his low-scoring ways remains to be seen, but this is not the week to guess.
Chesson Hadley
Last year’s Web.com Tour champion rode that success into the beginning of the new PGA Tour wrap-around schedule, grabbing a T5 finish at the Shriners Open and netting himself a nice payday to his rookie season. But since it’s been a run of three straight MC’s including last week’s Sony Open.
Ken Duke
He’s a favorite among Tour players and fans alike, but his game can be streaky. So far this year he has made every cut, but he’s not going to score you many points. He also MC’d last year at the Humana, shooting just one good round as the tournament made its rotation from course to course. Hard to feel safe with some guys and changing layouts. He’s one.
As always, you can find me on Twitter @bricmiller if you want to talk about the tournament, discuss the Abu Dhabi HSBC Gof Championship or if you have any fantasy lineup inquiries. Good luck!
This week’s picks
Yahoo!
A: B. Snedeker (S), G. Woodland
B: Z. Johnson (S), B. Haas (S), W. Simpson, M. Laird
C: H. English (S), N. Colsaerts
(Last week: 200 points; Winter segment: 397 points; Rank: 13,929)
PGATour.com
B. Haas, B. Snedeker, K. Bradley, Z. Johnson
(Last week: 192 points; Season: 1,029; Rank: 6,427)
Golf Channel
Group 1: B. Snedeker
Group 2: G. Woodland
Group 3: J. Overton
Group 4: H. Swafford
(Last week: $463,680; Season: $836,000; Mulligan: $436,680; Rank: 12,876)
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
Group 1: H. Stenson
Group 2: K. Aphibarnrat
Group 3: P. Harrington
Group 4: R. Karlsson
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Players Championship
On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.
We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.
Check out our photos below!
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist 2 wood – 2024 The Players Championship
- Cam Young testing Titleist’s new 2-wood – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Hole Nos. 17 and 18 – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Toulon Small Batch Texas putter – 2024 The Players Championship
- Swag Golf custom headcovers – 2024 The Players Championship
- New Ping PLD staff bags – 2024 The Players Championship
- SuperStroke St. Patrick’s Day putter grip – 2024 The Players Championship
- Taylor Montgomery using PuttView X training goggles – 2024 The Players Championship
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.
We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.
General Albums
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #3
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1 (thanks, bvmagic!)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #3 (bvmagic)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2 (bvmagic)
WITB Albums
- Matt (LFG) Every – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sahith Theegala – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Luke List – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Taylor Moore – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- David Ford – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Pullout Albums
- New Cameron putters (and new “LD” grip) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Bettinardi MB & CB irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Bettinardi API putter cover – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Swag API covers – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New PXG putters – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler putter change – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sepp Straka – shaft change to new Ventus blue – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Rickie Fowler’s new Cobra Darkspeed X driver and Denali shaft (and Radspeed 3-wood) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Justin Rose testing Srixon Z Forged II irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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