News
Fantasy Cheat Sheet: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
I really have no desire to watch Kid Rock play golf. Fall off a Pacific cliff while attempting to swing a club? To quote the movie Django Unchained, “Gentlemen, you had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.”
And if we’re involving musicians and movie stars whose talent on the links is questionable at best, it must be time for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
What’s not to love about this tournament? Split between three beautiful courses (Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill, Monterey Peninsula) for the first 54-holes when pros and amateurs will be paired off prior to a cut, the scenery alone is entertaining. Although without Bill Murray in the celebrity field, I do feel a void that cannot be filled unless surfer Kelly Slater performs some kind of trick shot while riding a killer wave.
The professional field includes a lineup of past champions, such as last year’s winner Brandt Snedeker or Phil Mickelson, who will be looking for win No. 5 at this tournament.
With three days of play at different courses each day, and the courses of unequal par, any fantasy owners in leagues that require day-to-day changes should be aware of how each course plays, but also not be scared off by a higher score on one day. Ride your selection like Slater does a pipeline, and let’s take a look at some of the rocky dangers out there on the way to euphoria. It’s Risk, Reward, Ruin.
RISK
Recent form has changed how many may view several of my risky selections, but by no means does that mean don’t use them. Rather, it’s sort of a “buyer beware” tag that must be read before indulgence. In fact, I have no problem running out any of these five this week, and two actually do make many of my lineups.
Brandt Snedeker
As I outlined, Snedeker is the defending champion, and if you’ve read this column in past weeks, you’d know I’m still high on Snedeker despite his slow start to this season. Recently, he said he is 100 percent healthy after the freak knee injury suffered last November. It’s taken time for Snedeker to get going this year, unlike last, when he blistered courses for six straight weeks, culminating in a win at Pebble. He isn’t likely to duplicate that this week, but his touch with the flat stick means he can’t be discounted if everything begins clicking with his now-healed lower body.
Phil Mickelson
Lefty is one of those guys who can play bad for a couple weeks and will give us a quote such as, “I feel like my game is coming around and I’m really driving the ball well. I’m just not scoring well.” One week he’s off the radar and the next he wins a tournament. This could set up like 2012 when Mickelson performed ho-hum at the Waste Management Phoenix Open then won at Pebble Beach. And since the four-time Pebble champion has historically played well here even regardless of victory, there’s little to shy from. Oh, except for that back issue, which did allow him to play four days in Phoenix. There’s your risk.
Graeme McDowell
This will be McDowell’s first start of the calendar year and his first since early December. He’s played well in two unofficial PGA Tour events and well at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in November. Now he returns to the site of his only major championship title, the 2010 U.S. Open. But he hasn’t played Pebble Beach since then, and he’s only played the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on one occasion— 2006 when he missed the cut. I don’t like that he tends to hover near even-par and doesn’t shoot particularly low, especially for consecutive days. He’s a solid golfer to say the least, just don’t let the U.S. Open win fool you.
Jim Furyk
If Furyk can eliminate the one high round he shoots at this tournament, which typically occurs as the course rotation does, you could be looking at a top-10 finish. The last two years, it was a round in the mid-70’s that ballooned his finish. Even back in 2007, when he finished T6 at 11-under, it was a 76 on Saturday that ruined the 67, 65 and final-round 69 he put together. But seriously, how solid is Furyk’s game? He’s had a Hall of Fame career and even at 43-years old keeps posting strings of top-10 finishes.
Charlie Wi
This could be one of those “horse for the course” picks, but I get it if you don’t use him. He missed the cut last week and he’s been moderately successful in the weeks prior. But then you look at his history at Pebble Beach and you just wonder how it clicks as well as it does for him there. A T16 last year, solo second in 2012, and a host of other strong rounds mixed in throughout the years. And, yes, in his second-place finish he shot a Monterey Peninsula course-record 61 on the opening day. I may go for broke on Monterey with him and switch for other rounds to someone stable like Jimmy Walker, who has been just as much a horse for the course in his career (T3 last year, T9 twice before that).
REWARD
I’m not sure why Graham DeLaet isn’t playing this week, but given that Snedeker scored second at the WMPO last year and walked out of Pebble with a win the week after, the Canadian would be as close to a sure thing this week with his recent stretch of upward-trending hot play. But since he’s not, four big names takes center stage and one recent winner in this week’s batch of Reward selections.
Hunter Mahan
Sean Foley pupils just seem to need a few tournaments under their belt before they really begin swinging the club well from tee box to green. Like Tiger Woods, Mahan is one such pupil whose mechanics seem to be catching up to his talent. He opened his 2013-14 season in strong fashion at the WMPO and now looks to grab a victory at a spot where he’s had three consecutive years of top-20 finishes. This includes a solo second result in 2011. Last year, Mahan won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships and the Shell Houston Open following weeks of casual results. I like him to finish in the top-10 and to me he’s the most secure golfer to navigate any course irregularities through consistent iron work.
Dustin Johnson
Born on the Eastern coast in South Carolina where he also attended college, Johnson seems to be at home on courses where the wind can blow and views of the ocean can be see. He already has a win in his first start of the season (World Golf Championships-HSBC CHampions), and he finished T6 at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions after a month break so there’s zero worry now with this being the first tournament he’s played since the first week of January. Johnson may be the longest driver on Tour and has really compartmentalized his height into a consistent approach near the greens. Oh, by the way, he’s also a two-time champion at Pebble Beach (’09, ’10) and has a T5 (’12) since then. He’s my pick to win, yet again.
Jason Day
Though he has just one PGA Tour win to his name, Day has developed a reputation as a high-stakes player. If it’s a major, Day is usually in contention. And while this isn’t a major, what it does tell you is the Aussie is supremely close to being an every-day elite golfer. He finished sixth last year at 13-under and finished T14 in his go-round in ’09. He also didn’t miss a single cut last year and finished T2 at the Farmers Insurance Open two weeks ago at Torrey Pines.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth showed the golf world he should not be taken lightly by finishing second at the Hyundai TOC in January. He missed the cut at the Sony Open before putting together a top-20 at the Farmers despite a sore ankle. Now properly rested, Spieth is ready to tackle the course where he finished T22 in his second Tour start. He could get white hot any time and obliterate any notion of a sophomore slump.
Patrick Reed
Reed keeps building off of last year’s dream run to the FedEx Cup finale. If you haven’t read anything about him, I’ll spare the recap, but it’s still phenomenal to think how the former NCAA champion at Augusta State has put together two wins in such a short span of time with a wife as his caddy and Monday qualifiers as last year’s best friend. We’re now three tournaments removed from the site of his second victory at the Humana Challenge, but Reed shows no signs of slowing down. He finished T19 last week after a week to rest his ribs and he’s been such a great scorer recently it could be near impossible to leave him off a lineup this week for fear he could go super low once again. He shot 12-under last year, good for T7 in his debut at Pebble Beach.
RUIN
Many times, this Ruin bit is really for fantasy leagues such as Golf Channel’s where your Group 4 could have several names you’re unfamiliar with and you think “Oh hell, I’ll just take this guy.” It could be those little decisions that cost several hundred thousand in fictional winnings, especially through the course of year. Don’t think of any pick as a throwaway because history can tell you a lot. And a missed cut gets you nowhere fast.
George McNeill
Ranked 294th in the world, McNeill hung a T7 in his first start of the season at the Frys.com Open. But since he’s had a string of subpar outcomes, including a missed cut last week. At Pebble Beach in 2012, the year he won the Puerto Rico Open, he missed the cut, as he did the year before. Two MC’s in two tries? You can do much better.
Chris Stroud
Stroud just turned 31 a couple days ago and ranks 84th in the world. With T3 finishes twice this year and two-20’s, including last week’s WMPO, he may still have a solid career and get that first Tour victory. But Pebble Beach hasn’t been kind to Stroud. He’s missed the cut the last four years since a T6 in 2009 broke a string off two MC’s before that.
Geoff Ogilvy
There have been a couple times over the past year where Ogilvy, a seven-time champion, has resembled the golfer of his prime (mustache excluded). But to this point this season, he has missed two cuts and been a non-factor. A T29 at the WMPO last week was nice and netted him a little money, but with MC’s in two of his last three trips to Pebble, there’s nothing to suggest picking him is anything other than a tip of the cap to his career standing, not his current form.
J.J. Henry
Henry has missed his last two cuts, which is a significant trend downward with seven tournaments already under his belt this season. Last year at Pebble, he finished T69, and the year before missed the cut. And aside from a T15 finish in 2011, he has missed the cut five other times with no standout rounds dating back to the beginning of his career.
Vijay Singh
Looking back on history, Singh has had one truly good Tournament at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. That came in 2008 when he finished second in a playoff. But since then the 34-time Tour winner has done nothing of note, other than hover around the cutline. At 50, his best years are undoubtedly behind him.
As always, you can find me on Twitter @bricmiller if you want to talk about the tournament or if you have any fantasy lineup inquiries. Good luck!
This week’s picks
Yahoo!
A: P. Mickelson (S), P. Reed
B: H. Mahan (S), D. Johnson (S), J. Day, J. Spieth
C: C. Wi (S), J. Walker
(Last week: 184 points; Winter segment: 860 points; Rank: 3,508)
PGATour.com
D. Johnson, J. Day, H. Mahan, J. Spieth
(Last week: 535 points; Season: 1,909; Rank: 4,268)
Golf Channel
Group 1: D. Johnson
Group 2: P. Reed
Group 3: C. Wi
Group 4: T. van Aswegen
(Last week: $726,764; Season: $2,438,239; Mulligan: $63,115; Rank: 10,133)
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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News
Morning 9: Tiger’s TGL teammates | Woosnam’s criticism of Cantlay | Rory’s return to tour policy board
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News
Tour Rundown: Six-pack of tourneys follows Masters
Brazil and Texas were kindred souls this week, at least when it came to weather. Both regions experienced torrential delays, and three tournaments were held up. The LPGA, PGA Tour Americas, and PGA Tour Champions were compelled to reduce play or work extra holes into Sunday. As if that weren’t enough, South Carolina and the PGA Tour fell victim to nature’s wrath, with lightning postponing the conclusion of the event to Monday.
The year’s first women’s major championship was celebrated in Texas. The Chevron is gaining a bit of tradition in its second year after relocation. This year’s event culminated in the continued coronation of the game’s current best. The Korn Ferry Tour saw a top-twenty performance from a 15-year old amateur, while the second event of the week on the big tour found a winner in the Dominican Republic. Six events is more than a handful, so let’s get right to it, with this week’s (delayed) Tour Rundown.
LPGA @ Chevron Championship: Korda corrals second major title
The winter of 2022-2023 seems so distant for current Nelly Korda. A mysterious ailment sapped all of her energy, just as the world appeared to have finally emerged from the pandemic. We never quite secured the complete information that we desired, but no one can say that any of us deserved to know more than Nelly wished to share. One thing is for certain: Nelly Korda has returned to top form, and the world number one golfer is at least one level above anyone else on tour.
Korda began her 2024 campaign with a January victory in the Drive One Championship. In her next start, in March, she continued her assault on the record books, with a win at the Se Ri Pak. She won again the following week, at the Ford, then defeated Leona Maguire in the final match at the T-Mobile Match Play, for a fourth consecutive victory. Would the increased hype around a major championship have an impact on her game? Well, no.
Korda began play at the Chevron Championship with a score of 68. She trailed Lauren Coughlin by two after 18 holes, but caught her with a second-round 69. Coughlin would ultimately tie for third spot with Brooke Henderson. Henderson played with Korda on day four, but the middle third of the round was her undoing. Making a late move was Maja Stark. House Stark closed with birdies at 17 and 18 to reach 11 under par. Both Korda and Strak played the final three days in identical numbers: 69 each day.
Korda held a firm hand on the tournament over the course of the final day. She stood minus-four for the round through ten holes, before a bit of sloppy play made things competitive again. Bogeys at 11 and 15 opened the door a wee bit for Stark. Korda was equal to the test, however, and closed stylishly with birdie at 18.
Safely around the green on the 72nd hole
Watch @NellyKorda‘s historic finish now on NBC! pic.twitter.com/1zaAYtbaCz
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 21, 2024
PGA Tour 1 @ RBC: Scottie, so hottie!
Nelly isn’t the only golfer on fire, although Scottie Scheffler still has a ways to go to match her. Scheffler proved this week that he has a game for all courses. After winning comfortably at lengthy Augusta National, Scheffler shifted gears and game to the wee Sea Pines course, and won again. That’s two weeks in a row for the man from New Jersey/Texas, so let’s learn how he did it.
Scheffler totaled 69 on day one, and found himself six shots behind leader J.T. Poston. Scheffler revealed that his teacher, Randy Smith, would tell him that he didn’t need to be the best 15 year-old; just the best 25 year-old. It was easy, then, to play the long game and consider all 72 holes, instead of just 18. Scheffler improved to 65 on Friday, and then went even lower on Saturday. His 63 moved him to the top of the board, and caused the golfverse to wonder if Scheffler would win for a second consecutive week.
Sunday saw all the chasers fall away. Scores between 70 and 72 from Patrick Rodgers, Collin Morikawa, and Sepp Straka meant that others would need to seize the day, if Scheffler were to do more than coast. Wyndham Clark and Justin Thomas each moved inside the top five with fourth-round 65s, but no one ever got close enough to the world number one. The win was Scheffler’s 10th on tour, and made him the betting favorite for next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Scottie Scheffler can save par from just about anywhere.
Including the water ?
(Presented by @CDWCorp) pic.twitter.com/RUqL2sBrr9
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 22, 2024
PGA Tour 2 @ Corales Puntacana: Baton Boy claims 8th Tour triumph
If you’ve ever seen Billy Horschel toss a club, you know that he doesn’t do so in anger. More likely is a calculated, soaring arc, paired with a look of fractured disbelief, followed by a quick catch of the cudgel. Ergo, Baton Boy. This week on the island of Hispaniola, the native of Grant, Florida, outworked and outhustled everyone else on Sunday. Horschel gathered seven birdies and an eagle, on the way to a 63 and a 23-under par total.
The former Florida Gator zipped past the four golfers in front of him, and left the remaining field in the rear-view mirror. Horschel’s round was two shots better than anyone else, and moved him two shots ahead of third-round leader Wesley Bryan. One of the famed Bryan Brothers, Wes closed with birdie at the last to post a 68 that would have won the week on any other day.
Walking it in with a fist pump ?@BillyHo_Golf is 9-under on the day and leads by two @CoralesChamp. pic.twitter.com/N6rjL1GGGA
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 21, 2024
Korn Ferry Tour @ LeCom Suncoast: It’s Widing in extra holes
Miles Russell probably won’t have to serve detention for ditching class on Thursday and Friday. The high school freshman made his KFT debut, survived the 36-hole cut, and toyed with a top-ten finish. He ultimately tied for 20th at 14-under par, six shots behind the three co-leaders. My guess is that Epstein’s Mom will write him a note, and he’ll get a pass. By finishing top-25, Russell earned a spot in next week’s event. Yikes!
Back to the top of the board. Patrick Cover, Steven Fisk, and Tim Widing all found their way to the magic number of -20. Fisk made birdie at the last, after bogeys at 16 and 17. Cover had three bogeys on the back nine, but a birdie at 14 was enough to get him to overtime. Widing was plus-one on the day through four, but played interstellar golf over the final 14. Six birdies moved him from Russell-ville to extra time.
The trio scurried to the 18th tee, where Cover drove into a fairway bunker. He was unable to reach the green with his approach, made bogey, and exited the overtime session. Widing and Fisk returned to the final deck once more, and matters were resolved. Fisk was unable to convert a long par putt, and Widing (pronounced VEE-ding) tapped in for his first KFT title.
The feeling of relief when you know you won. ???
Tim Widing is now a champion on the #KornFerryTour. pic.twitter.com/K0vgiZ21UG
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) April 21, 2024
PGA Tour Americas @ Brasil Open: Mr. Anderson finds a way
Golf is a funny game. Matthew Anderson held a lead with one round to play. He made six pars on Sunday, and sprinkled the rest of his card with birdies and bogeys. In complete contrast, Ollie Osborne played consistently on the day, posting four birdies and zero bogeys. Connor Godsey was not far off Osborne’s pace, with seven birdies and but two bogeys on the scorecard. So, of course, Matthew Anderson won by a stroke over Osborne and Godsey.
Not how, but how many, is another one of those platitudes that we all learn early on. Despite five bogeys through his first 14 holes, Anderson summoned the defiant grit to make birdie at the 71st and 72nd holes. After making deuce at the penultimat hole, Anderson’s swerving effort at the last looked as if it should miss low, but it had enough pace to stay inside the hole and fall for a closing four at the par-five finisher.
Birdie-birdie finish to secure the ?
Mississauga-native Matthew Anderson is your 69th ECP Brazil Open Champion. pic.twitter.com/ONE8hIUjeS
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) April 21, 2024
PGA Tour Champions @ Invited Celebrity: Broadhurst stands tall
What do you call a tournament that begins on Friday, takes Saturday off, and finishes on Sunday? Fortunate is one adjective to use. A weather system moved through Texas this weekend, and made a mess of things in Irving. After Thomas Bjorn signed for 64 on day one, rain and all things counter-productive moved through the Las Colinas resort, ensuring that Saturday would be nothing more than a rest day. When Sunday arrived, conditions had improved, and the game was on. Bjorn was unable to preserve his Friday magic, although he did record a 70 for -8. He finished in a third-place tie with Y.E. Yang.
David Toms, the 2001 PGA Championship victor, presented Sunday’s low round, and moved to 10-under par. Toms made one mistake on the day. He lived in the rough on the 9th hole, ultimately making bogey. The rest of the day was immaculate, as seven birdies came his way, resulting in a six-under par 65. Only one golfer was able to surpass Toms, and that was Paul Broadhurst.
Broadhurst nearly matched Toms for daily honors. His mistake came early, with bogey at the second. He bounced back with eagle at the third, and added three more birdies for 66 and 11-under par. Over his first three seasons on the Tour Champions, Broadhurst won five times, including two major titles. His fifth win came in 2018, making this win his first in six years. A long time coming, for sure, but well earned.
Looking at the hole is working for @PBroadhurstGolf ?
He leads by one after a clutch birdie on 15 @InvitedCC. pic.twitter.com/S0rhcVwaeE
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) April 21, 2024
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yo!
Feb 4, 2014 at 4:36 pm
This is the one golf tournament where the amateurs are the attractions and draw and the pros are the supporting cast. Unless you’re tiger or phil, people are there to watch and be entertained by the entertainers.
Brian Miller
Feb 5, 2014 at 12:59 am
I don’t think that’s entirely correct; I’d still place the majority of the draw on the pros, but the interaction between celebs and pros is certainly unique in that they have to focus on playing well while at the same time entertain and not be distracted by antics (see: anything Bill Murray does ever). That said, there’s definitely an extra benefit to purchasing a ticket knowing you’ll get to see celebs. I just wish the amateur field was stronger. Quite weak IMO.
yo!
Feb 5, 2014 at 2:27 pm
I’m not discounting the pros. I think people who go want to see both the pros and celebs. The interesting thing about this tournament is that the pros are playing with and next to the amateurs throughout their rounds as opposed to a separate pro-am day which doesn’t count much for the pros.
steve simonds
Feb 5, 2014 at 1:49 pm
i would completely agree. i go every year and no one in our pavilion really cares who WINS the pro-am but if they get to see enough of the celebrity they came out for. golf is definitely secondary.
Brian Miller
Feb 5, 2014 at 3:37 pm
What do you think of the celeb field this year?