Bad Fantasy Picks: WGC Cadillac

| | 0

The Honda Classic

scott1

(Getty Images: David Cannon)

 

The takeaway from the Honda Classic is that not picking anyone at all would have only produced a slightly worse result, and blindly picking 4 people randomly would have likely worked better. I think fantasy golf can be kind of hard when you have so many players to choose from who seem like they are primed for a good week, while in reality performance can greatly fluctuate from week to week for no apparent reason. On the other hand, earning as little money as I did also seems to be statistically very hard to accomplish.

 

Therefore, if you are a fantasy golf player and have been pursuing a strategy of not picking any player that I pick, you are probably doing a great job! Also, if you are a fantasy golf player, you probably know very few other people who play. If you are looking for a league to join, shoot me a message and I’ll send you an invite!

 

Honda Classic Earnings

CLV: $24,034

PAR: $51,995

 

Group 1

CLV: Hideki Matsuyama (WD)

PAR: Rory McIlroy (MC)

Best: Adam Scott (1)

 

The dreaded mid-tournament WD. I really think that you should be able to pick another player if you get a mid-tourney WD. Think of the strategy behind it: You can pick someone who is known for a high number of WD’s as a risk-reward play. If the player is not good but doesn’t WD that week, you are stuck with the result they put up. If the player does WD, though, you can then pick whoever is at the top of the leaderboard at the time. It opens up a whole other layer to the game!

 

Group 2

CLV: Kevin Kisner (T70)

PAR: Russell Knox (T26)

Best: Sergio Garcia (2)

 

This is classic fantasy golf. I pick Sergio last week, with several signs indicating that he might play well at Riviera, and he misses the cut. The next week he is within one shot of a playoff. It never makes sense. Also, can we talk about Sergio on 16 and 17 at the Honda? Among the 4 worst shots I have ever seen in crunch time. It even elicited the dreaded “Nerves” comment from Johnny Miller. It’s tough to get the nerves comment from Johnny when you aren’t even over 40 yet!

 

Group 3

CLV: Jim Herman (MC)

PAR: Russell Henley (MC)

Best: Graeme McDowell (5)

 

Jim Herman?! Stop overthinking this thing Craig. Graeme doing well in Florida gets me excited, though. I feel a McDowell pick at the WGC coming on!

 

Group 4

CLV: Tyrone van Aswegan (T72)

PAR: Ernie Els (T70)

Best: Blayne Barber (T3)

 

Oh, Blayne Barber! How did I not see that one coming?! Let’s face it, picking group 4 each week sucks.

 

 

WGC – Cadillac Championship

Dustin-Johnson-Donald-Trump-Doral

(Yep, strategically cropped)

 

Last year’s controversy over the newly renovated course unfairly rewarding longer hitters has apparently been addressed. That may not matter, though, as we all know the event coverage will be dominated by talk of the course owner.

 

I’m going with the big hitters anyways, and I feel great about my team this week! It’s a WGC week with a loaded field, so I’m sure everyone feels great this week, too. The best part, though, is no cut. Those four T60’s that I will probably put up are going to be awesome!

 

Group 1

CLV: Jason Day

The safe pick in this group based on momentum, course history, and being a long hitter is Bubba Watson. So I’m going with Jason Day.

 

PAR: Rory McIlroy

World #3 will roar back from a MC for a T5 finish. Book it.

 

Group 2

CLV: Dustin Johnson

 

I remember last year’s ace from DJ, which is the main reason I wanted to pick him. I actually forgot for a minute that he is the returning champ. The course sets up well for him, he’s in form with a recent T4 at Riviera, and he’s due for a win.

 

PAR: Dustin Johnson

 

Steady start to the year. Power suits him well at this course.

 

Group 3

CLV: J.B. Holmes

 

I remember his ace on the same hole as DJ just a few groups later from last year. His power suits him well at the course. And he’s been solid during the early part of the season. I feel like I could have just copied and pasted my DJ comments here.

 

PAR: Justin Thomas

 

Surely stewing from his near miss, Thomas will ride his hot back nine at the Honda to a T10 here.

 

Group 4

CLV: Graeme McDowell

 

WGC events are great because group 4 is finally fun to pick. Graeme should be riding momentum from his 5th place finish at the Honda, which got him into the event. He’s comfortable playing in Florida, and he’s hopefully finding his game and becoming relevant again.

 

PAR: Anirban Lahiri

 

Seems to show up in the big events so will give him a pass on the MC last week.
Posted in General and tagged

Leave a Comment