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<subtitle type="text">Golf Channel Mobile Feed: Fantasy Central</subtitle> | |
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<entry type="article"> <title>Stat attack!: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial review</title> | |
<link rel="alternate" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-crowne-plaza-invitational-colonial-review/" /> | |
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[ Adam Scott joined rare company by winning the Crowne Plaza Colonial despite shooting a one-over 71 in the first round ]]></summary> | |
<comments>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-crowne-plaza-invitational-colonial-review/#comments</comments> | |
<enclosure url="http://golfchannel.local/sites/golfchannel.prod.acquia-sites.com/files/styles/mobile_feed_thumbnail/public/scott_304_colonial14_d4_trophy_wide.jpg" length="22294" type="image/jpeg" /> | |
<id>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-crowne-plaza-invitational-colonial-review/</id> | |
<published>2014-05-26T01:19:00Z</published> | |
<updated>2014-05-26T02:21:00Z</updated> | |
<content type="html"> <p>Now, that’s more like it.</p> | |
<p>After nine holes Thursday in the first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, Adam Scott certainly didn’t play like the No. 1 golfer in the world.</p> | |
<p>He began the week with a four-bogey 39 on his first nine holes before completing an opening 71 at Colonial CC. As if he sensed his stay at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking was going to be a short one if he didn’t kick into high gear, Scott followed with rounds of 68-66-66 to become the sixth player in the last three years to begin a PGA Tour event with an over-par round and win.</p> | |
<p>He also came from farthest behind after 18 holes – Scott was T-64 Thursday night – to win in 2013-14, and he became the fifth player in the last 25 years to win Colonial despite shooting at least one round over par.</p> | |
<p><strong>Players who shot over par in round one and went on to win: 2012-14</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>First-round score</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Par</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2014 Crowne Plaza Colonial</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Adam Scott</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">70</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2014 Valspar Championship</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">John Senden</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">72</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2013 U.S. Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Justin Rose </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">70 </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2013 Tampa Bay Championship</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Kevin Streelman </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">73 </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71 </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012 U.S. Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Webb Simpson </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">72</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">70 </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012 Northern Trust Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Bill Haas </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">72 </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71 </td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><p><strong>PGA Tour winners in 2013-14 who were in the highest position on the leader board after day one</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Tournament</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Position after round one</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Adam Scott</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Crowne Plaza Colonial</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-64</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Scott Stallings</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Farmers Insurance Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-63</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> John Senden</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Valspar Championship</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-45</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Bubba Watson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Northern Trust Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-35</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Jimmy Walker</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Frys.com Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-34</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Colonial winners with at least one over-par round: 1990-2014</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Winner</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Over-par score</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2014</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Adam Scott</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71 in round one</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Zach Johnson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">72 in round four</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2011</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">David Toms</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">74 in round three</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 1999</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Olin Browne</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">73 in round one</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 1990</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Ben Crenshaw</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">72 in round three</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Scott wasn’t the only player who rebounded with a strong week. Five players who were over par on Thursday finished in the top 10 at Colonial. Crowne Plaza, the Valspar Championship and the WGC-Cadillac Championship are the only tournaments this season with five or more players finishing in the top 10 who were over par on day one.</p> | |
<p><strong>Colonial top-10 finishers who were over par on Thursday</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Finish</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Round one</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Rest of week</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Adam Scott</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">68-66-66</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> T-5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">David Lingmerth</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">72</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">69-66-66</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><span data-mce-mark="1"> T-5</span></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">John Senden</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">68-66-68</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><span data-mce-mark="1"> T-5</span></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">David Toms</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">72</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">66-65-70</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> T-10</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Michael Thompson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">73</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">66-69-66</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>As first mentioned in the Colonial Stat Attack preview, Scott was one of 13 players who had won three of the four current Texas events on the PGA Tour. Now he stands alone, becoming the only player to win the Tour stops in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth.</p> | |
<p><strong>Adam Scott’s Texas Grand Slam</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Tournament</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Scores</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Result</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2014 Crowne Plaza Colonial</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71-68-66-66—271</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Beat Jason Dufner in a playoff</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010 Valero Texas Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71-70-66-67—274</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Beat Freddie Jacobson by one</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2008 Byron Nelson Championship</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">68-67-67-71—273</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Beat Ryan Moore in a playoff</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2007 Shell Houston Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">69-71-65-66—271</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Beat Bubba Watson by three</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><p>Adam Scott in Texas events</p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Tournament</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Starts</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Top 10s</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Cuts made</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Best</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Colonial</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">3</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">3</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won in 2014</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Nelson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">4</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won in 2008</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Houston</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">6</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won in 2007</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Texas</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won in 2010</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Totals</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">15</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">6</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">12</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Four wins</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>We also mentioned in the preview how important ball striking was at Colonial. Hitting fairways and greens played an important role in Scott’s victory. He was T-8 in driving accuracy and T-10 in greens in regulation to become the fourth Colonial winner in the last five years to finish in the top-10 in both statistics.</p> | |
<p><strong>Accuracy and GIR rank of Colonial winner: 2008-2013</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Accuracy rank</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>GIR rank</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2014</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Adam Scott</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-8</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-10</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2013</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Boo Weekley</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-6</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Zach Johnson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-26</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-37</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2011</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">David Toms</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-4</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-4</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Zach Johnson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-10</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2009</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Steve Stricker</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-15</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-6</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2008</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Phil Mickelson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-33</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Finally, it’s worth noticing the performance of HP Byron Nelson Championship winner Brendon Todd. With his T-5 at Colonial, Todd became the third player in 2013-14 to follow a victory with another top-10 finish a week later.</p> | |
<p><strong>PGA Tour winners in 2013-14 with a top-10 finish the following week</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Win</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Following week</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Zach Johnson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Hyundai T of C</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-8, Sony Open</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Bubba Watson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Northern Trust Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-9, WGC-Match Play</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Brendon Todd</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">HP Byron Nelson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5, Colonial</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table> </content> | |
<link rel="replies" thr:count="0" type="text/html" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-crowne-plaza-invitational-colonial-review/#comments" /> | |
<author> <name>John Antonini</name> | |
<uri>http://golfchannel.local/about/bio/john-antonini/</uri> | |
</author> | |
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<entry type="article"> <title>Expert Picks: 2014 Crowne Plaza Invitational</title> | |
<link rel="alternate" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-crowne-plaza-invitational/" /> | |
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[ See who our experts think will survive the "Horrible Horseshoe" and contend this week at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. ]]></summary> | |
<comments>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-crowne-plaza-invitational/#comments</comments> | |
<enclosure url="http://golfchannel.local/sites/golfchannel.prod.acquia-sites.com/files/styles/mobile_feed_thumbnail/public/kuchar_304_players14_d1_drive.jpg" length="14787" type="image/jpeg" /> | |
<id>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-crowne-plaza-invitational/</id> | |
<published>2014-05-21T14:55:00Z</published> | |
<updated>2014-05-21T15:05:00Z</updated> | |
<content type="html"> <p>This week marks the 28th event of the 2013-14 <a href="news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-players-championship/topics/tour/pga-tour.htm" class="r_link">PGA Tour</a> season, as players head to Fort Worth for the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Each week, a panel of experts will offer up their picks from four groups of players, based on Golf Channel's fantasy game, <a href="http://fantasy.golfchannel.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Fantasy Challenge</strong></a>. We will also keep track of their scores and standings. The panel includes: senior writers Rex Hoggard, Randall Mell and Jason Sobel; contributors John Hawkins and John Antonini; editorial director Jay Coffin; '<a href="news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-players-championship/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-wells-fargo-championship/topics/shows/morning-drive.htm" class="r_link">Morning Drive</a>' host <a href="news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-players-championship/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-wells-fargo-championship/topics/people/gary-williams.htm" class="r_link">Gary Williams</a>; staff writer Ryan Lavner and defending fantasy champion Charlie Rymer.</p> | |
<div align="center"><hr size="2" width="100%" /></div> | |
<p><strong>Rex Hoggard<br /></strong></p> | |
<p><strong>Group 1: Matt Kuchar: </strong>Another top-10 finish at the Byron Nelson Championship, another reason to make Kuchar an automatic pick every week. The man is a cash machine and after another week with his swing coach Chris O’Connell in Dallas he’s only going to get better.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 2: Ryan Palmer: </strong>He’s a member at Colonial, his caddie (James Edmondson) is a former club champion there, and he’s fresh off a T-22 finish at the Nelson.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 3: Steven Bowditch: </strong>He’s already won once in Texas this year (Texas Open) and his swing coach, Scott Hamilton, is on an impressive run following Brendon Todd’s victory last week at the Nelson.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 4: Kevin Kisner: </strong>The University of Georgia product finished T-16 (Byron Nelson Championship) and T-6 (Wells Fargo Championship) in his last two starts and this is the year of the Bulldog (see Brendon Todd and Bubba Watson).</p> | |
<div align="center"><hr size="2" width="100%" /></div> | |
<p><strong>Jason Sobel<br /></strong></p> | |
<p><strong>Group 1: Matt Kuchar: </strong>Got a chance to speak with Kuch before he left the Nelson. Told me he loves how Colonial sets up for him. ‘Nuff said.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 2: Rickie Fowler: </strong>Since I’m already name-dropping, Fowler has hinted a few times in the last month that a big week is coming soon.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 3: Daniel Summerhays: </strong>Underrated and underappreciated, but a solid ball-striker who already has a runner-up in Texas this year.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 4: Mark Wilson: </strong>There aren’t many courses where a short hitter like Wilson can contend very often, so he’ll need to take advantage here.</p> | |
<div align="center"><hr size="2" width="100%" /></div> | |
<p><strong>John Antonini<br /></strong></p> | |
<p><strong>Group 1: Matt Kuchar: </strong>Kuchar is one the hottest players on Tour, and lost by a stroke to Boo Weekley at Colonial a year ago. He'll be in contention all week, but it remains to be seen how he plays in the final round, which has cost him at times this season.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 2: Graham DeLaet: </strong>Colonial's tight fairways require precise tee shots and ball striking will be at a premium. DeLaet is the PGA Tour leader in that statistic.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 3: John Huh: </strong>Huh was T-5 and T-11 at Colonial the last two years. Coupled with his T-16 performance last week at the Nelson, he's a solid choice this week in Fort Worth.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 4: James Hahn: </strong>He doesn't have a record of any kind at Colonial but he was T-5 at week ago at the Nelson. Three of his four best finishes this year have come in the state of Texas.</p> </content> | |
<link rel="replies" thr:count="0" type="text/html" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-crowne-plaza-invitational/#comments" /> | |
<author> <name>Golf Channel Digital</name> | |
<uri>http://golfchannel.local/about/bio/golf-channel-digital/</uri> | |
<image>http://golfchannel.local/sites/golfchannel.prod.acquia-sites.com/files/styles/gfc_author_bio_118x98/public/gcauthbio_118x98v2_0.jpg</image> | |
</author> | |
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<gc:localId>455241</gc:localId> | |
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<entry type="article"> <title>Stat attack!: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial preview</title> | |
<link rel="alternate" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-crowne-plaza-invitational-colonial-preview/" /> | |
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[ Matt Kuchar and Graham DeLaet are solid picks at Colonial, but Adam Scott can do something this week that no one on Tour has ever accomplished ]]></summary> | |
<comments>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-crowne-plaza-invitational-colonial-preview/#comments</comments> | |
<enclosure url="http://golfchannel.local/sites/golfchannel.prod.acquia-sites.com/files/styles/mobile_feed_thumbnail/public/9/8/C/%7B98C0A036-B0F9-4427-930B-EE6DCFB48F14%7D169535585_10.jpg" length="167252" type="image/jpeg" /> | |
<id>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-crowne-plaza-invitational-colonial-preview/</id> | |
<published>2014-05-21T01:43:00Z</published> | |
<updated>2014-05-21T02:09:00Z</updated> | |
<content type="html"> <p>If there is to be a break in the pattern of PGA Tour winners coming from the middle regions of the Official World Golf Ranking, might it come at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial? Not a tournament that has offered world-class fields in recent years, the Colonial has, nevertheless, identified very accomplished winners. Since 2000, six winners have won major championships and all but two players who have donned the plaid jacket given to the winner have played in a Ryder or Presidents Cup. A year ago, Boo Weekley outdueled Matt Kuchar, winning by a stroke after weekend rounds of 66-66. And although, Weekley (pictured) returns to defend his title, we first turn our attention toward Kuchar. One of the hottest golfers in the world, Kooch, who has never missed the cut in seven starts at Colonial, has his sights set on more than just a victory. The No. 1 spot on the World Ranking is within reach. </p> | |
<p><strong>Matt Kuchar’s PGA Tour record since the beginning of March</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Tournament</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Place</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Scores</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Earnings</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> <a href="https://stats.pgatourhq.com/prod/trnsummary.cfm?t=R&year=2014&trnpn=473&trnsn=210">WGC-Cadillac Championship</a></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-13</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">69-74-74-74—291</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">$110,000</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> <a href="https://stats.pgatourhq.com/prod/trnsummary.cfm?t=R&year=2014&trnpn=475&trnsn=220">Valspar Championship</a></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-38</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">73-71-69-74—287</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">23,940</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> <a href="https://stats.pgatourhq.com/prod/trnsummary.cfm?t=R&year=2014&trnpn=041&trnsn=240">Valero Texas Open</a></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-4</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">70-72-65-75—282</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">272,800</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Shell Houston Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">66-67-68-72—273</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">691,200</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Masters</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">73-71-68-74—286</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">342,000</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Heritage</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">66-73-70-64—273</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1,044,000</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Players</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-17</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71-71-69-71—282</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">135,333</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> HP Byron Nelson Championship</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-7</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">69-67-68-68—272</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">207,862</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><p>Another player to focus on this week is Graham DeLaet, the PGA Tour leader in ball striking. Colonial CC isn’t a bomber’s paradise. Its tight fairways require precise tee shots and ball striking will be at a premium. The PGA Tour’s ball-striking stat – a combination of a player’s rank in greens in regulation and total driving (which is itself a combination driving distance and driving accuracy) – gives us a look at who might succeed.</p> | |
<p><strong>PGA Tour leaders in ball striking</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Rank</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>In Colonial field</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Best finsih</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Graham DeLaet</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Yes</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-22 in 2013</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Boo Weekley</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Yes</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won in 2013</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 3</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Hudson Swafford</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">No</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 4 </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Billy Horschel</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">No</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Bubba Watson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">No</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 6</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Kevin Stadler</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Yes</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">7<sup>th</sup> in 2011</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 7</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Justin Hicks</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Yes</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-62 in 2013</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 8</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Harris English</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Yes</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5 in 2012</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 9</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">John Senden</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Yes</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-8 in 2011</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 10</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Ryan Palmer</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Yes</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5 in 2012</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>DeLaet, is an intriguing player. A two-time runner-up 2013-14, the Canadian member of the 2013 International Presidents Cup team has yet to win on the PGA Tour. Although the Colonial hasn’t crowned a first-time PGA Tour winner since Sergio Garcia in 2001, the three previous Texas events on Tour this year had not raised any hardware. Could this be the week DeLaet finally wins his first event? He has slowed down from his hot start – he had four straight top-10s earlier this year including his T-2s at San Diego and Phoenix. But despite poor performances at the Masters and the Players, he turned it around with a T-7 at last week’s Nelson. Here’s a look at the players in the top-10 at the Nelson who are in the Colonial field and how they fare in the Tour’s ball-striking stat and at Colonial.</p> | |
<p><strong>How the Byron Nelson contenders have fared at the Colonial</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Nelson finish</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Ball striking rank</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Best Colonial</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Brendon Todd</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-73 in 2012</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Marc Leishman </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-3</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-86</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-44 in 2011</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> James Hahn</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">75</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">No cuts made</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Boo Weekley</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won in 2013</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Graham DeLaet</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-7</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-22 in 2013</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Dustin Johnson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-7</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">11</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-74 in 2008</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Matt Kuchar</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-7</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">41</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Second in 2013</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>For additional proof of the importance of ball striking, a year ago Weekley was T-6 in fairways hit and T-5 in greens in regulation at Colonial. In the past six years, the winner of the Colonial has finished in the top 15 in both stats four times.</p> | |
<p><strong>Accuracy and GIR rank of Colonial winner: 2008-2013</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Accuracy rank</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>GIR rank</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2013</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Boo Weekley</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-6</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Zach Johnson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-27</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-37</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2011</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">David Toms</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-4</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-4</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Zach Johnson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-10</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2009</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Steve Stricker</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-15</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-6</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2008</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Phil Mickelson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-33</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>If DeLaet – or Kuchar or Weekley or anyone else from the top of the Nelson leader board were to play well this week - they’d join this list of players who have tackled the Texas Two-step with consecutive top-10s in the Metroplex.</p> | |
<p><strong>Players with top-10 finishes at the Nelson and the Colonial since 2010</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Nelson finish</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Colonial finish</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Jason Dufner</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Jonas Blixt</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-3</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-10</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Ryan Palmer</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-9</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2011</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Rod Pampling</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-8</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-10</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Ben Crane</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> T-7</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-3</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Jeff Overton</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-3</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Scott Verplank</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>One name we haven’t mentioned is new World No. 1 Adam Scott, who’s playing in Fort Worth for the first time since a T-65 in 2011. Scott could make history this week. The Colonial is the only Texas event that he has not won, and he is looking to become the first player in PGA Tour history to win all four of the current PGA Tour events in the state of Texas.</p> | |
<p><strong>Adam Scott in Texas events</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Tournament</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Starts</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Top-10s</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Cuts made</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Best</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Colonial</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">0</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-64 in 2009</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Byron Nelson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">4</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won in 2008</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Houston</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">6</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won in 2007</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Texas Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won in 2010</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p><strong>Players with wins in three of the four Texas tournaments</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Colonial win</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Texas win</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Nelson win</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Houston win</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Ben Crenshaw</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1977, 90</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1973, 86</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1983</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> | |
<p> Bruce Crampton</p> | |
</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1965</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1964</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1973, 1975</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Bruce Devlin</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1966</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1969</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1972</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Ben Hogan</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1946, 47, 52, 53, 59</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1946</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1946</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Gene Littler</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1971</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1956</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1977</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Phil Mickelson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2000, 08</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1996</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2011</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Byron Nelson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1940</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1944</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1946</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Arnold Palmer </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1962</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1960, 61, 62</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1957, 66</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Corey Pavin</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1985, 96</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1988</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1984</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Nick Price</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1994, 02</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1992</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1991</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Adam Scott</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2008</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2007</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Sam Snead</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1950</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1948, 50</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1945, 57, 58</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Mike Souchak</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1956</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1955</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1955, 64</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Scott is already in select company, eight of the other 12 players are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. A victory at Colonial would put him in a class by himself. It’s certainly something worthy of No. 1.</p> | |
<p> </p> </content> | |
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<author> <name>John Antonini</name> | |
<uri>http://golfchannel.local/about/bio/john-antonini/</uri> | |
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<entry type="article"> <title>Power Rankings: 2014 BMW PGA Championship</title> | |
<link rel="alternate" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-bmw-pga-championship/" /> | |
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[ See which 10 players you should watch for this week during the European Tour's flagship event at Wentworth. ]]></summary> | |
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<id>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-bmw-pga-championship/</id> | |
<published>2014-05-20T23:10:00Z</published> | |
<updated>2014-05-20T23:45:00Z</updated> | |
<content type="html"> <p>This week is a two-event week for fantasy. While the PGA Tour tees it up at the Crowne Plaza Invitational (Power Rankings can be <a href="http://www.golfchannel.com/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-crowne-plaza-invitational/" target="_blank">viewed here</a>), the European Tour hosts the BMW PGA Championship. A field of 156 players will tee it up this week at Wentworth Golf Club, where the best in Europe will contest the circuit's flagship event.</p> | |
<p>Be sure to join the <a href="news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-crowne-plaza-invitational/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-players-championship/fantasy" target="_blank">Golf Channel Fantasy Challenge</a> to test yourself against our panel of experts, including defending champion Charlie Rymer. <a href="news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-crowne-plaza-invitational/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-players-championship/news/fantasy-central/" target="_blank">Click here</a> for full fantasy assistance, including stats and picks.</p> | |
<p>Matteo Manassero returns to defend the title he won a year ago in a playoff over Simon Khan and Marc Warren. Here are 10 players to watch this week in England:</p> | |
<p><strong>1. Luke Donald: </strong>The King of Wentworth. Donald followed a runner-up finish in 2010 with back-to-back wins in 2011 and 2012, and the Englishman has five top-10 finishes here since 2007. After nearly winning at Hilton Head last month, Donald should have another back week back on the "proper" side of the Pond.</p> | |
<p><strong>2. Sergio Garcia: </strong>The Spaniard tied for 19th a year ago and continues to be one of the best players on the planet for the early part of 2014. Garcia has three top-10 finishes in his last five starts on the PGA Tour, including a third-place showing earlier this month at TPC Sawgrass.</p> | |
<p><strong>3. Justin Rose: </strong>Rose has been feast or famine in this event, with a pair of runner-ups and a T-10 sprinkled around two missed cuts and last year's T-50 finish. As his defense of the U.S. Open approaches, Rose is looking to round into form and appears to be doing just that, with three straight top-10 finishes overall.</p> | |
<p><strong>4. Miguel Angel Jimenez: </strong>Who is hotter than Jimenez right now? After a top-10 finish at the Masters, the 50-year-old won his Champions Tour debut, then last week won his national open at the Open de Espana. Oh, and in between he got married. Jimenez won here in 2008 and tied for fourth last year.</p> | |
<p><strong>5. Ernie Els: </strong>Els has a solid track record at Wentworth, with eight top-25 finishes since 2003. While he has eight top 10s here dating back to 1994, Els has never won the event despite no shortage of opportunities to contend. The South African has struggled to find his groove this season, but his history at this event could help him break out of his pseudo-slump.</p> | |
<p><strong>6. Martin Kaymer: </strong>Kaymer has kept up the momentum after his breakthrough win at TPC Sawgrass, though he faded a bit over the weekend en route to a T-29 finish in Dallas. The German now has four straight top-30 finishes overall and his record at Wentworth includes three top-20 finishes since 2008.</p> | |
<p><strong>7. Lee Westwood: </strong>Westwood has three top-10 finishes in this event over the past four years, including a runner-up showing in 2011. The Englishman's tie for sixth at TPC Sawgrass was his third top-20 finish in his last four PGA Tour starts, with a win in Malaysia sandwiched in between.</p> | |
<p><strong>8. Francesco Molinari: </strong>Molinari watched his fellow Italian win a year ago, but he also boasts back-to-back top-10 finishes at Wentworth. The Ryder Cup veteran acquitted himself well en route to a T-6 finish at The Players Championship and also tied for fifth earlier this season at Bay Hill.</p> | |
<p><strong>9. Matteo Manassero: </strong>The defending champ has struggled to rekindle his form in 2014, but his record at Wentworth includes three top-20s and no finish worse than T-43 in four career starts. Manassero has broken par in 10 of 16 career rounds at Wentworth and he did notch a pair of top-15 finishes during the PGA Tour's Florida Swing.</p> | |
<p><strong>10. Simon Khan: </strong>Khan was a bit of a surprise contender last year, but he also won in 2010 and finished second in 2006, so clearly Wentworth suits him. Overall, Khan has seven finishes of T-27 or better here since 2004 and, while he missed the cut in his last start in Asia, he clearly has a tendency to play some of his best golf at this event.</p> </content> | |
<link rel="replies" thr:count="0" type="text/html" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-bmw-pga-championship/#comments" /> | |
<author> <name>Will Gray</name> | |
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<entry type="article"> <title>Power Rankings: 2014 Crowne Plaza Invitational</title> | |
<link rel="alternate" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-crowne-plaza-invitational/" /> | |
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[ See which players you should keep an eye on this week as the PGA Tour heads to Colonial, the fourth and final Texas event of the year. ]]></summary> | |
<comments>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-crowne-plaza-invitational/#comments</comments> | |
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<id>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-crowne-plaza-invitational/</id> | |
<published>2014-05-20T19:10:00Z</published> | |
<updated>2014-05-21T00:23:00Z</updated> | |
<content type="html"> <p>This week marks the 28th event of the 2013-14 <a href="news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-players-championship/topics/tour/pga-tour.htm">PGA Tour</a> season, as the Tour stays in the Lone Star State for the Crowne Plaza Invitational. A field of 123 players will tee it up this week at Colonial Country Club, where the "Horrible Horseshoe" will test even the game's best.</p> | |
<p>Be sure to join the <a href="news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-players-championship/fantasy" target="_blank">Golf Channel Fantasy Challenge</a> to test yourself against our panel of experts, including defending champion Charlie Rymer. <a href="news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-players-championship/news/fantasy-central/" target="_blank">Click here</a> for full fantasy assistance, including stats and picks.</p> | |
<p>Boo Weekley returns to defend the title he won here a year ago by one shot over Matt Kuchar. Here are 10 players to watch this week in Fort Worth:</p> | |
<p><strong>1. Matt Kuchar: </strong>Last year's runner-up continues to roll right along in 2014, with his T-7 finish last week in Dallas marking his ninth top-10 finish in only 13 starts this season. Kuchar was also ninth here in 2008 and T-16 in 2011, and his 69.4 stroke average continues to lead the Tour this season. With a win, he could move to No. 1 in the world.</p> | |
<p><strong>2. Zach Johnson: </strong>Few players have dominated a venue like Johnson has at Colonial since 2009: two wins - including the tournament scoring record - two more top-five finishes and no result worse than T-9. Johnson clearly feels comfortable at Colonial, and his tee-to-green game has paid dividends in recent years. Expect another strong week from a player who has won three times since September.</p> | |
<hr /><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border: 0; padding: 0; margin: 0;" src="http://player.theplatform.com/p/BxmELC/gc_player/select/Ff3CrPtW26N8?&parentUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.golfchannel.com%2Fmedia%2Ffantasy-crowne-plaza-colonial%2F&params=mbr%3Dtrue%26zone%3Dmedia_golfcentral&originalReferrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.golfchannel.com%2Fnews%2F#playerurl=http%3A//www.golfchannel.com/media/fantasy-crowne-plaza-colonial/" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="560" height="380"></iframe></p> | |
<hr /><p><strong>3. Jim Furyk: </strong>Furyk is teeing it up for the first time since back-to-back runner-up finishes at Quail Hollow and TPC Sawgrass, and rides a streak of six straight top-20 finishes overall. Furyk has twice been a runner-up at Colonial (1998, 2007) and finished fourth as recently as 2012. He currently ranks 10th on Tour in driving accuracy and 12th in scoring average.</p> | |
<p><strong>4. Graham DeLaet: </strong>He has to win at some point...right? DeLaet's T-7 result in Dallas was his sixth top-10 finish this season and 19th since 2010. The Canadian currently leads the Tour in both ball-striking and GIR percentage and sits eighth in total driving, cementing his spot as one of the best tee-to-green players around. He tied for 22nd last year, opening with a 64 but closing with a disappointing 74.</p> | |
<p><strong>5. Jordan Spieth: </strong>Spieth had an off week while playing in front of hometown fans in Dallas, but this week should get back on track just down the road in Ft. Worth. He tied for seventh last year in his Colonial debut, including a 65-67 start, and this season has surpassed nearly every expectation with six top-10 finishes, highlighted by his runner-up at the Masters.</p> | |
<p><strong>6. Adam Scott: </strong>The new world No. 1 wastes no time in putting his ranking to use this week, and the course should favor his consistent game. But this is just the third career appearance at Colonial for the Aussie, and he failed to crack the top 60 in either of his two previous attempts. After moving to No. 1 while on the couch, though, he'll be eager to back up his new (mathematical) standing atop the game of golf.</p> | |
<p><strong>7. Kevin Na: </strong>Na continues to have a strong year in his return from injury, with eight top-25 finishes this season. He has been quietly consistent at Colonial, with four top-25 finishes from 2007-2012, and currently ranks 10th on Tour in scoring average and 14th in strokes gained putting. With almost $2 million already in the bank this season, he's in position to make a good year a great one with a big week in Texas.</p> | |
<p><strong>8. Paul Casey: </strong>Don't look now, but the Englishman is rounding back into form after injuries forced him out of the spotlight in recent years. Casey garnered headlines with a back-nine 27 during the second round last week at TPC Four Seasons, and his T-16 finish was his third straight top-20 result overall. Casey hasn't played Colonial in four years, but his two prior trips netted a fifth (2009) and T-13 (2010).</p> | |
<p><strong>9. Chris Kirk: </strong>A winner earlier this season at Sea Island, Kirk has been quietly consistent in 2014, making the cut in each of his 16 starts, and he tied for 13th at the Players Championship in his most recent start after a Sunday 67. Kirk tied for fifth here in 2012 and was T-16 the year prior, so he knows his way around Colonial.</p> | |
<p><strong>10. Ryan Palmer: </strong>Palmer tied for 22nd last week in Dallas despite playing the weekend over par, and as a Texas native should have some home crowds behind him this week in Ft. Worth. He is 11th on Tour in birdie average and has cracked the top 15 each of the last two years at Colonial, finishing T-5 in 2012 and T-14 in 2013.</p> </content> | |
<link rel="replies" thr:count="0" type="text/html" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-crowne-plaza-invitational/#comments" /> | |
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<entry type="article"> <title>Stat attack!: HP Byron Nelson Championship review</title> | |
<link rel="alternate" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-hp-byron-nelson-championship-review/" /> | |
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[ HP Byron Nelson Championship winner Brendon Todd didn't hit many greens during the tournament, but he didn't have to. ]]></summary> | |
<comments>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-hp-byron-nelson-championship-review/#comments</comments> | |
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<id>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-hp-byron-nelson-championship-review/</id> | |
<published>2014-05-19T02:29:00Z</published> | |
<updated>2014-05-19T02:56:00Z</updated> | |
<content type="html"> <p>Brendon Todd’s first career victory, a two-stroke win over Mike Weir Sunday at the HP Byron Nelson Championship certainly wasn’t accomplished in a conventional fashion. Todd became the eighth first-time winner on the PGA Tour this season – and the third in three events in the state of Texas – by hitting fairways and missing greens. He became the first player since Louis Oosthuizen in the 2010 British Open to win the same week he led the field in driving accuracy and he is one of two players in 2013-14 to win a tournament despite hitting fewer than 60 percent of the greens in regulation.</p> | |
<p><strong>PGA Tour winners since 2008 who also led the field in driving accuracy</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Tournament</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Brendon Todd</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2014 HP Byron Nelson Championship</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Louis Oosthuizen</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2010 British Open</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Nathan Green</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2009 Canadian Open</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Sergio Garcia</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2008 Players</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Trevor Immelman</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2008 Masters</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Driving accuracy has become passe in the era of the big hitter, and is such a relatively unessential statistic that only two of the top-10 players on Tour in fairways hit are in the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings (Zach Johnson and Jim Furyk). Todd is one of just six players in 2013-14 to lead an event in accuracy off the tee and still finish in the top five of a tournament.</p> | |
<p><strong>Best finishes by the event leader in driving accuracy in 2013-14</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Tournament</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Finish</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Brendon Todd</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">HP Byron Nelson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Kevin Na</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Valspar Championship</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Second</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Zach Johnson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Humana Challenge</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-3</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Miguel A. Jimenez</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Masters</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-4</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> David Toms</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Puerto Rico Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-4</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Henrik Stenson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Arnold Palmer Inv.</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-5</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>At the TPC Four Seasons Resort, Todd hit 40 fairways, including 12 each in the first and third rounds. He hit more fairways in round one than he did greens (12 to 10). Only one other player in the top five in the field in driving accuracy also finished in the top 10 at the Nelson.</p> | |
<p><strong>Driving accuracy leaders at the HP Byron Nelson Championship</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Accuracy</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Finish</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Brendon Todd</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71.43% (40 of 56)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Won</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Charlie Wi</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">67.86 (38 of 56)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-29</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Brendon de Jonge</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">67.86 (38 of 56)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-29</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> John Senden</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">67.86 (38 of 56)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-11</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Marc Leishman</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">66.07 (37 of 56)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-3</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Brian Harman</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">66.07 (37 of 56)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-29</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>As precise as Todd was off the tee, he didn’t transfer that success to his second shots. Todd hit a paltry 43 greens in regulation, including a woeful 17 on the front nine. He ranked T-55 in the field in GIR, the worst position for a winner on the PGA Tour this year and his 59.72 percentage of greens hit was the second worse for a winner this season.</p> | |
<p><strong>Lowest GIR percentage for PGA Tour winners in 2013-14</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Tournament</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>GIR percentage</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Tournament rank</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Patrick Reed</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">WGC-Cadillac </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">58.33%</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-28</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Brendon Todd</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">HP Byron Nelson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">59.72</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-55</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Steven Bowditch</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Valero Texas Open</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">61.11</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-15</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Todd was able to recover from those missed greens with one of the better scrambling performances the folks at TPC Four Seasons Resort have seen in quite some time. He made par or better 25 of the 29 times he missed the green in regulation and his 86.21 scrambling percentage was the second-best mark at the Nelson in the last 10 years.</p> | |
<p><strong>Best scrambling percentage at the HP Byron Nelson Championship: 2005-2014</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Scrambling Pct.</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Justin Bolli</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2013</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">86.36% (19 of 22)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Brendon Todd</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2014</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">86.21 (25 of 29)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Greg Chalmers</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2009</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">84.21 (16 of 19)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Nick Price</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2005</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">84.00 (21 of 25)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Johnson Wagner</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">82.61 (19 of 23)</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Todd played better on the back nine than the front nine. As mentioned earlier, he hit just 17 greens on the front but he improved to 26 on the back. It resulted in a six-stroke difference between his front-nine and back-nine scoring. After going out in four under for the week, Todd came home in 10 under, the best score on the back nine all week. Among players within five stroke of the lead only Boo Weekley was within five strokes of Todd’s total on the inward nine.</p> | |
<p><strong>Back-nine/front-nine differential among the leaders at the Nelson</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Front nine</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Back nine</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Total </strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Brendon Todd</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-4</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-10</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-14</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Mike Weir </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-8</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-4</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-12</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Charles Howell III</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-6</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-4</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-10</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Marc Leishman</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-7</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-3</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-10</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> James Hahn</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-6</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-3</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-9</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Boo Weekley</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-3</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-6</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-9</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Todd has played well on the back nine all year, ranking sixth on Tour in scoring in those holes.</p> | |
<p><strong>Back-nine scoring leaders on Tour in 2013-14</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Rank</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Back-nine average</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Rory McIlroy</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">34.61</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Luke Donald</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">34.80</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 3</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Freddie Jacobson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">34.87</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 4</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Sergio Garcia</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">34.92</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">John Senden</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">34.93</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 6</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Brendon Todd</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">34.95</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>But unlike McIlroy or Donald, who rank 105th and 170th on Tour in front-nine scoring, respectively, Todd is having a fine time wherever he plays. He has an average of 35.08 on the front (ranked 30th), and his adjusted scoring average of 70.036 ranks 11th on Tour. It’s by far the best mark of his career.</p> | |
<hr /><p>Todd and runner-up Mike Weir led the field with 99 putts for the week. They became the fourth and fifth players to take fewer than 100 putts at the Nelson since the tournament moved to the TPC Four Seasons Resort course (originally TPC Las Colinas) in 1986.</p> | |
<p><strong>Fewest putts at the Byron Nelson Championship</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Putts</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Year</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 95</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Mark O’Meara</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1995</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 97</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Tim Herron</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2008</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 99</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Brendon Todd</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2014</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 99</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Mike Weir</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2014</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 99</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">David Graham</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1988</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>For Weir, the second-place finish was his first since the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and his first top-10 finish since a solo sixth at the 2010 Bob Hope Classic, a streak of 88 starts. He is playing in 2013-14 on a one-time exemption for being in the top 50 on the all-time PGA Tour earnings list, but the runner-up finish should allow him to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs this fall for the first time since 2009. </p> | |
<p><strong>Mike Weir’s record since 2010</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Starts</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Cuts made</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Top 10s</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>FedEx Cup rank</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Money rank</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2014</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">19</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">7</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">87</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2013</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">22</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">9</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">0</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">174</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">184</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">14</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">0</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">0</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">None</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">None</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2011</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">15</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">0</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">259</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">240</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">19</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">11</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">128</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">151</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table> </content> | |
<link rel="replies" thr:count="0" type="text/html" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-hp-byron-nelson-championship-review/#comments" /> | |
<author> <name>John Antonini</name> | |
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<entry type="article"> <title>Expert Picks: 2014 HP Byron Nelson Championship</title> | |
<link rel="alternate" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/" /> | |
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[ See who our experts think will contend for the title this week at TPC Four Seasons. ]]></summary> | |
<comments>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/#comments</comments> | |
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<id>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/</id> | |
<published>2014-05-14T15:05:00Z</published> | |
<updated>2014-05-14T15:16:00Z</updated> | |
<content type="html"> <p>This week marks the 27th event of the 2013-14 <a href="news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-players-championship/topics/tour/pga-tour.htm" class="r_link">PGA Tour</a> season, as players head to Dallas for the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Each week, a panel of experts will offer up their picks from four groups of players, based on Golf Channel's fantasy game, <a href="http://fantasy.golfchannel.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Fantasy Challenge</strong></a>. We will also keep track of their scores and standings. The panel includes: senior writers Rex Hoggard, Randall Mell and Jason Sobel; contributors John Hawkins and John Antonini; editorial director Jay Coffin; '<a href="news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-players-championship/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-wells-fargo-championship/topics/shows/morning-drive.htm" class="r_link">Morning Drive</a>' host <a href="news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-players-championship/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-wells-fargo-championship/topics/people/gary-williams.htm" class="r_link">Gary Williams</a>; staff writer Ryan Lavner and defending fantasy champion Charlie Rymer.</p> | |
<div align="center"><hr size="2" width="100%" /></div> | |
<p><strong>Rex Hoggard<br /></strong></p> | |
<p><strong>Group 1: Jordan Spieth: </strong>The 20-year-old has proven in his short career that he is extremely talented, as well as resilient. Besides, the Byron Nelson Championship is the one PGA Tour event where he actually has some history, with three starts and no missed cuts in Big D.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 2: Gary Woodland: </strong>The bomber continues to play stellar golf following his tie for 11th last week at TPC Sawgrass. In 13 events this season he hasn’t missed a cut since his season opener...in October at the Frys.com Open.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 3: John Peterson: </strong>The rookie made his first cut in six starts last week at The Players and looks as if he’s finally turned the corner after a difficult start to his year both on and off the golf course.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 4: Colt Knost: </strong>This week will be his first start on the PGA Tour this season and he was solid last year at Four Seasons Resort when he finished tied for 21<sup>st</sup>. The Dallas resident will also have plenty of support.</p> | |
<div align="center"><hr size="2" width="100%" /></div> | |
<p><strong>Jason Sobel<br /></strong></p> | |
<p><strong>Group 1: Jordan Spieth: </strong>Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me for a year, that’s why I’m in last place.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 2: Gary Woodland: </strong>Another top-15 at the Players shows he’s on the verge of putting it all together for a win very soon.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 3: Robert Streb: </strong>Played really well in New Orleans a few weeks ago and should be able to continue it this week.</p> | |
<p><strong>Group 4: Patrick Cantlay: </strong>In his last start back in August, he was injured and finished second. Now he’s healthy. You do the math.</p> </content> | |
<link rel="replies" thr:count="0" type="text/html" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/expert-picks-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/#comments" /> | |
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<entry type="article"> <title>Stat attack!: HP Byron Nelson Championship preview</title> | |
<link rel="alternate" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-hp-byron-nelson-championship-preview/" /> | |
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[ Hitting fairways and greens at the TPC Four Seasons Resort isn't easy, but Sang Moon Bae was up to the task when he won a year ago. Can he do it again? ]]></summary> | |
<comments>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-hp-byron-nelson-championship-preview/#comments</comments> | |
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<id>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-hp-byron-nelson-championship-preview/</id> | |
<published>2014-05-14T02:12:00Z</published> | |
<updated>2014-05-14T02:43:00Z</updated> | |
<content type="html"> <p>At the HP Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC Four Seasons Course at Las Colinas, it’s not so much how many greens you hit, but how close you can hit your approaches. Failing to put the ball in the right position on the large, undulating putting surfaces can take birdie out of the equation. Knocking at pins is more important than just hitting greens, so there's more of an emphasis on proximity to the hole on approach shots than there would be on a course with smallish greens. If you can hit it close and still make the long putts, you’ll go a long way toward winning.</p> | |
<p>That’s the recipe Sang-Moon Bae used last year to win his first PGA Tour event. The Korean was T-9 in greens in regulation, T-13 in proximity to the hole and T-1 in putting from more than 10 feet.</p> | |
<p><strong>Key stats by winners of the Byron Nelson Championship</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>GIR (rank)</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Proximity to</strong><br /><strong> hole (rank)</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Putting from</strong><br /><strong> 10+ feet (rank)</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2013</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Sang-Moon Bae</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">73.61% (T-9)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">31' 1" (T-13)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">12/43; 27.91% (T-1)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Jason Dufner</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">80.56 (1)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">27' 0" (1)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">8/46; 17.39 (T-24)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2011</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Keegan Bradley</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">65.28 (T-6)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">37' 7" (T-32)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">3/43; 6.98 (T-71)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Jason Day</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">59.72 (T-50)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">37' 9" (53)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">10/38; 26.32 (T-2)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2009</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Rory Sabbatini</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">68.06 (T-38)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">30' 0" (T-11)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">10/34; 29.41 (1)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2008</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Adam Scott</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">63.89 (T-9)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">39' 8" (33)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">10/40; 25.00 (5)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2007</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Scott Verplank</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">73.61 (T-5)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">26' 10" (5)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">6/29; 20.69 (17)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2006</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Brett Wetterich</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><span>75.00 (T-3)</span></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><span>29’ 0”(2)</span></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><span>5/36; 13.89 (T-44)</span></td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><p>Bae’s percentages in the above stats were better than his season averages, going a long way toward explaining how a player who had just one top-25 finish all year could post four rounds in the 60s. In 2014, Bae hasn’t shown much seasonal improvement in the three statistics.</p> | |
<p><strong>Bae’s statistical ranking at the Nelson, and on Tour in 2013</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>GIR</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Proximity to hole</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Putting from 10+ feet</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Nelson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">73.61% (T-9)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">31' 1" (T-13)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">27.91% (T-1)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2013 season</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">63.72 (127)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">35’ 3” (T-103)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">18.70 (6)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2014 season</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">62.29 (T-166)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">39’ 2” (T-177)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">17.73 (16)</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><p> </p> | |
<p>It was Bae’s first visit to the Byron Nelson Championship and he became the third player in four years (with Keegan Bradley in 2011 and Jason Day in 2010) to win in his first appearance at TPC Four Seasons. They are among the 11 players who claimed their first career wins at the Byron Nelson Championship. Six of them have done so since 2000.</p> | |
<p><strong>Players who got their first win at the Byron Nelson Championship</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2013</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Sang Moon Bae</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2011</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Keegan Bradley</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Jason Day</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2006</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Brett Wetterich</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2005</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Ted Purdy</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2001</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Robert Damron</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><p>The greens at TPC Four Seasons might be larger than most, but they’re not necessarily easy to hit. The field averaged 65.45 percent in 2013, which was the highest percentage in the last six years. The fairways also ranked among the hardest to hit since 2008.</p> | |
<p><strong>GIR and Fairways hit percentage at the Nelson: 2008-2013</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>GIR Pct.</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Acuracy Pct.</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2013</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">65.45% (23)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">55.53% (9)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">62.40 (17)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">52.47 (8)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2011</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">56.22 (3)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">52.74 (6)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">62.01 (13)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">48.94 (2)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2009</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">65.06 (26)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">55.05 (9)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2008</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">53.68 (4)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">54.95 (10)</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Most of the top players on the Official World Golf Ranking are taking the week off, with only 14 of the top 50 players in the world making the trip from Ponte Vedra Beach. The best of this group has had success at Las Colinas. Fifth-ranked Matt Kuchar, eighth-ranked Jordan Spieth and 14<sup>th</sup>-ranked Dustin Johnson have never missed the cut at the Nelson.</p> | |
<p><strong>Kuchar, Spieth and Johnson at the Byron Nelson Championship</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>2013</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>2012</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>2011</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>2010</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>2009</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>2008</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>2007</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Matt Kuchar</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-33</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-15</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-6 </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-39</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-42</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-39</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Jordan Spieth</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-68</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-32</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-16</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Dustin Johnson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-20</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-7</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-4</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-63</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>But it isn’t the top-ranked players who have been winning on Tour in 2013-14, has it? Even Martin Kaymer, for all his world-class talent, was ranked just 61st in the world before winning last week’s Players. That’s a ranking that fits right in with who has been lifting trophies this season. Only three Tour winners were ranked in the top 20 in the world at the time of their victory, seven ranked between 21 and 50, and eight ranked between 51 and 100. Here’s a look at the nine players in this week’s field who rank between 51 and 100.</p> | |
<p><strong>Players in the Nelson field ranked between 51-100 on the world ranking</strong></p> | |
<table style="border: 0px solid #000000;" border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Rank</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Nelson starts</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Best finish</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 71</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Marc Leishman</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">6</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-3, 2012</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 73</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Boo Weekley</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-63, 2012</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 77 </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Peter Hanson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">None</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 78</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Charles Howell III</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">11</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-7, 2013</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 83</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Brendon de Jonge</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">3</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-51, 2007</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 84</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Brooks Koepka</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">None</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 85 </td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Ryo Ishikawa</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> </td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 86</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Angel Cabrera</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-10, 2013</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 95</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Paul Casey</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">None</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-12, 2013</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>One final thought: Although Americans have dominated the PGA Tour in 2013-14, at least in the heavy lifting categories – trophies and paychecks – and players from only four countries have won this year, the Nelson’s roll of champions has a cosmopolitan feel. Since 2000, players from eight different countries have won the Nelson, with six Americans leading the way. There have been two Australian champs and one winner from Sweden, Japan, Fiji, Spain, South Africa and South Korea.</p> </content> | |
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<entry type="article"> <title>Power Rankings: 2014 HP Byron Nelson Championship</title> | |
<link rel="alternate" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/" /> | |
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[ See which players you should keep an eye on this week in Dallas as the PGA Tour heads back to the Lone Star State. ]]></summary> | |
<comments>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/#comments</comments> | |
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<id>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-hp-byron-nelson-championship/</id> | |
<published>2014-05-13T19:28:00Z</published> | |
<updated>2014-05-13T20:42:00Z</updated> | |
<content type="html"> <p>This week marks the 27th event of the 2013-14 <a href="news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-players-championship/topics/tour/pga-tour.htm">PGA Tour</a> season, as the Tour heads back to the Lone Star State for the HP Byron Nelson Championship. A field of 156 players will tee it up this week at TPC Four Seasons, where low scores are expected.</p> | |
<p>Be sure to join the <a href="news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-players-championship/fantasy" target="_blank">Golf Channel Fantasy Challenge</a> to test yourself against our panel of experts, including defending champion Charlie Rymer. <a href="news/fantasy-central/power-rankings-2014-players-championship/news/fantasy-central/" target="_blank">Click here</a> for full fantasy assistance, including stats and picks.</p> | |
<p>Sang-Moon Bae returns to defend the title he won here a year ago by two shots over Keegan Bradley.. Here are 10 players to watch this week in Dallas:</p> | |
<p><strong>1. Keegan Bradley: </strong>Bradley notched his first PGA Tour win here in 2011 and nearly went wire-to-wire a year ago. While he had an uncharacteristic missed cut at TPC Sawgrass, Bradley has eight top-25 finishes in 14 starts this season and should get things back on track this week at TPC Four Seasons, where he clearly feels comfortable.</p> | |
<p><strong>2. Matt Kuchar: </strong>Kuchar "only" tied for 17th at the Players, which was his worst result in almost two months. Kuchar remains one of the most consistent players around this season and he has finished no worse than T-42 in six career appearances in Dallas. He's second on Tour in scoring average and tied for sixth here in 2011.</p> | |
<p><strong>3. Jordan Spieth: </strong>Spieth comes in off another high finish at TPC Sawgrass and has been upfront about the fact that his hometown event is close to his heart. He now has six top-10 finishes this season and is sixth on Tour in scoring average. Spieth may face an emotional letdown post-Players but he bounced back in a similar spot last month at the RBC Heritage, where he tied for 12th after the Masters.</p> | |
<p><strong>4. Jimmy Walker: </strong>Walker is another Texan and one of only four players to finish inside the top 10 at both the Masters and the Players Championship. He remains atop the FedEx Cup standings, leads the Tour in strokes gained putting and currently sits second in birdie average. Walker has missed only one cut in seven career appearances in this event.</p> | |
<p><strong>5. Dustin Johnson: </strong>DJ hasn't played in Dallas since 2011, but his most recent three appearances here all netted top-20 finishes, including a tie for fourth in 2009. While he's cooled off since his torrid streak through February and March, Johnson still ranks second on Tour in driving distance and seventh in GIR percentage.</p> | |
<p><strong>6. Marc Leishman: </strong>Leishman hasn't had a 2014 season to remember, but he did rally with a Sunday 67 at TPC Sawgrass and has a scintillating record at TPC Four Seasons. Leishman has four top-12 finishes here in the last five years and if there's one thing we've learned this season, it's not to bet against the Aussies.</p> | |
<p><strong>7. Charl Schwartzel: </strong>Schwartzel was third here a year ago and while he's made limited starts this season, he does have five top-25 finishes in eight events. The South African hasn't won in the U.S. since his major triumph more than three years ago, but the same could be said of Martin Kaymer last week.</p> | |
<p><strong>8. Ryan Palmer: </strong>Palmer is another Texan who has played well in the DFW area, with two top-10 finishes in the last three years including a playoff loss to Keegan Bradley in 2011. Palmer already has a pair of runner-up finishes to his credit this season and ranks third on Tour in the all-around.</p> | |
<p><strong>9. Harris English: </strong>One of the breakout stars of 2013-14, English already has six top-10 finishes and nine top-25s to his credit this season. He tied for 17th in Dallas a year ago, when he contended for the title before a final-round 74. English is third on Tour in GIR percentage, fifth in scoring average and sixth in birdie average.</p> | |
<p><strong>10. Graham DeLaet: </strong>DeLaet remains arguably the top player on Tour still without a win, though that drought could end this week. The Canadian tied for 10th a year ago, when he carded four straight rounds of par or better, and leads the Tour in GIR percentage this season.</p> </content> | |
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<entry type="article"> <title>Stat attack!: Players Championship review</title> | |
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<summary type="html"><![CDATA[ Martin Kaymer led from start to finish at TPC Sawgrass to join select company as winners of the Players, a major and a WGC event ]]></summary> | |
<comments>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-players-championship-review/#comments</comments> | |
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<id>http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-players-championship-review/</id> | |
<published>2014-05-12T02:08:00Z</published> | |
<updated>2014-05-12T11:57:00Z</updated> | |
<content type="html"> <p>Even though Martin Kaymer held the lead through every round of the Players Championship, he seemed almost an afterthought throughout the week.</p> | |
<p>All eyes were on the precocious Jordan Spieth, the 20-year-old Texan, threatening to become the youngest winner in Players history.</p> | |
<p>Or Adam Scott, and his quest for the No. 1 ranking. There was Bubba Watson and his bid to win the Players and the Masters in the same year.</p> | |
<p>And we had our weekly questions about Phil Mickelson, who was still searching for his first top-10 finish of the season.</p> | |
<p>But Spieth stumbled Sunday, Scott and Watson faltered and Mickelson missed the cut, the first time he would do so at the Masters and the Players in the same year since 1997.</p> | |
<p>Kaymer kept rolling along. Only the weather delay made things interesting Sunday, with Kaymer finishing at 13-under 275 to hold off Jim Fuyrk by one stroke after making a 28-foot, 6-inch putt for par on the 17<sup>th</sup> hole that turned a certain playoff — and a return to the course Monday morning — into his second PGA Tour victory.</p> | |
<p>Kaymer became the fourth player to win a major, a World Golf Championship event and a Players Championship. Yes, the math is correct. Kaymer only has two PGA Tour victories because the 2011 WGC-HSBC Champions in China, which he won, was not an official PGA Tour event at the time. He won at the Stadium Course in record-breaking fashion. His 29 on the front-nine Thursday was the first sub-30 round in Players history, and his 63 matched three others for the lowest round in Stadium course history. </p> | |
<p><strong>Players who have won a major, a WGC event and the Players Championship</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Majors</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>WGCs</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Players</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Tiger Woods</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">14</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">18</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Phil Mickelson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Adam Scott</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Martin Kaymer</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Kaymer’s victory shouldn’t have been a surprise. He has not missed the cut in six Players starts, and although this was his first top-10 finish at TPC Sawgrass, he now has the lowest scoring average in history for players with at least 20 rounds at the Stadium Course.</p> | |
<p><strong>Lowest scoring average, 20+ rounds at TPC Sawgrass</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Average</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Rounds</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Martin Kaymer</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">70.92</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">24</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Henrik Stenson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71.19</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">32</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Matt Kuchar</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71.33</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">42</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Zach Johnson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71.39</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">38</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Luke Donald</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71.43</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">33</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Sergio Garcia</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">71.53</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">56</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Kaymer finished tied for third in the field in greens in regulation, becoming the ninth Players champion to finish in the top 10 in greens in regulation in the last 12 years.</p> | |
<p><strong>Players champs who were in the top 10 in GIR since 2003</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>GIR rank</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2014</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Martin Kaymer</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-3</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2013</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Tiger Woods</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-3</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Matt Kuchar</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-3</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Tim Clark</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">4</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2008</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Sergio Garcia</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2006</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Stephen Ames</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-1</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2005</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Fred Funk</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2004</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Adam Scott</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">1</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2003</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Davis Love III</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">10</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Kaymer’s long putt on the 17th hole Sunday was indicative of his week. He led the field with four putts made from more than 25 feet, none bigger than the snake he rolled in with the tournament in the balance. For the week he holed 339 feet of putts, tied for the fifth-most in the field.</p> | |
<p><strong>Distance of putts made at the Players</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Rank</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Distance of putts made</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 1</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Scott Langley</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">367 feet, 6 inches</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Francesco Molinari</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">354 feet, 9 inches</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 3</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Jim Furyk</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">350 feet, 10 inches</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 4</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Henrik Stenson</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">339 feet, 2 inches</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> T-5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Martin Kaymer</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">339 feet, 0 inches</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> T-5</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">Brian Stuard</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">339 feet, 0 inches</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>But the Players wasn’t just about Martin Kaymer. It was about Jordan Spieth repeating his Masters performance with a spectacular tournament debut before coming up short. The game within the game was about Adam Scott (and Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar) coming up short in their quest for the top spot on the World Ranking. And it was about Rory McIlroy’s third consecutive event where he made the cut on the number only to finish with a back-door top 10. For Rory, the Players was the tale of two nines. He played the front nine in 8 over and the back nine in 17 under, a difference of 25 strokes. </p> | |
<p><strong>Rory McIlroy at the Players</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Round</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Front nine</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Back nine</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> One</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">+1 (37)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-3 (33)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Two</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">+6 (42)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-4 (32)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Three</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">+2 (38)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-5 (31)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Four</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-1 (35)</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-5 (31)</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Total</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">+8</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">-17</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>McIlroy had a similar performance at the Wells Fargo Championship, where he was even par on the front nine and 8 under on the back during his T-8 finish. He also finished T-8 at the Masters but was a more equitable 1 under on the front and 1 over on the back.</p> | |
<p>Spieth finished T-4 in his first Players. As at the Masters, he was tied for the 54-hole lead. At Sawgrass he fell off the pace with a bogey on the fifth hole Sunday, his first of the week after 58 holes without one. Spieth would make four more bogeys in a final-round 74. He became the youngest player to finish in the top 10 in the Masters and the Players in the same year and was one of four players with a top 10 at both tournaments this year.</p> | |
<p><strong>Players with top-10 finishes at the Players and the Masters</strong></p> | |
<table style="border: 0px solid #000000;" border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Player</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Masters</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Players</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Jordan Spieth</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-2</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-4</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Jimmy Walker</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-8</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-6</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Rory McIlroy</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-8</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-6</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> Lee Westwood</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">7</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">T-6</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table><hr /><p>Scott needed to shoot 68 Sunday to move to No. 1 on the Official World Golf Ranking. Instead he shot 73 and finished T-38. He will overtake Woods after this week’s Byron Nelson Championship. Matt Kuchar is the only player who could surpass Scott next week, but it’s unlikely the tournament will dole out enough first-place points for him to get there. Henrik Stenson would have gotten to No. 1 if he had finished seven strokes better Sunday. He would have needed a 67 to finish T-4, but instead shot 74 to finish T-34.</p> | |
<p>Finally, no statistical analysis about the Players would be complete without a look at the par-3 17th hole, which gave up the fewest number of water balls since 2003. There were only four balls in the pond on the weekend, another tournament low.</p> | |
<p><strong>Water balls at the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass</strong></p> | |
<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong> Year</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Water balls</strong></td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"><strong>Weekend water balls</strong></td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2014</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">28</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">4</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2013</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">44</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">20</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2012</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">39</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">10</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2011</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">40</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">14</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2010</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">29</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">14</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2009</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">32</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">10</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2008</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">64</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">26</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2007</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">93</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">22</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2006</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">57</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">21</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2005</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">68</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">53</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2004</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">30</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">11</td> | |
</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid #000000;"> 2003</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">29</td> | |
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;">13</td> | |
</tr></tbody></table> </content> | |
<link rel="replies" thr:count="0" type="text/html" href="http://golfchannel.local/news/fantasy-central/stat-attack-players-championship-review/#comments" /> | |
<author> <name>John Antonini</name> | |
<uri>http://golfchannel.local/about/bio/john-antonini/</uri> | |
</author> | |
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<updated>2014-06-20T11:57:18-04:00</updated> | |
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<author> <name>Golf Channel</name> | |
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<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.golfchannel.com/" /> | |
<link rel="self" href="/rss/?feedId=mobile&name=FantasyCentral&startIndex=1&endIndex=10&atom=1" /> | |
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