Week #17 ~ Fantasy Golf ~Zurich Classic, April 24-27, 2014

Top Picks

Matt's Picks: John Senden, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler
Chuck's Picks: Rickie Fowler, Graham DeLaet, Matt Every
Jeremy's Picks:  Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose, Matt Every
Drew's Picks: Graham DeLaet, Rickie Fowler, Ryan Palmer
Cathy's Picks:  Billy Horschel, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler

Dark Horses (dark horse criteria= outside top 50 on OWGR as of 2/24/14)

Matt's Picks:  JB Holmes, Cameron Tringale, Nicholas Thompson
Chuck's Picks: Will McGirt, Charles Howell III, Chris Stroud
Jeremy's Picks: Kevin Stadler, Ryan Palmer, Charley Hoffman
Drew's Picks: Kevin Stadler, Freddie Jacobson, Lucas Glover
Cathy's Picks: Erik Compton, Jerry Kelly, Brendan Steele

Read here to see why we picked who we did!

Chuck's Picks:
Rickie Fowler – 5th at Houston and 6th at Augusta, Rickie is clearly playing well right now. Can hit the ball right to left which is important at this Pete Dye track.

Graham Delaet – One of the top ranked players is this week’s depleted field. Has been knocking on the door all year and can hit greens in his sleep. It will come down to putting but I like his chances.

Matt Every – Already a winner this year at Bay Hill and playing great golf at the moment. Doesn’t seem to suffering any hangovers after finishing 12th last week in Hilton Head.

William McGirt – Fresh off his 9th place finish last week at Harbour Town. Tends to play well on Pete Dye tracks (including the Cardinal CC in Greensboro where I watched him while still an amateur). Makes a lot of birdies and well rested.

Charles Howell III – Good track here in NOLA and says he loves this course.  Has cooled off a bit lately but does have 5 top 10’s this year. I think he’ll be in the hunt this week for sure.

Chris Stroud – This venue seems to favor first time winners on tour and Stroud fits the bill. Has been playing really steady golf this year while flying under the radar. I really like his chances this week.

Matt's Picks:
John Senden  
Senden has survived six consecutive cuts coming into the Zurich Classic. He recently finished T8 at Augusta and earned his first career victory at the Valspar Championship. In his last nine trips to New Orleans, Senden has earned eight paychecks including four top twenties. 

Justin Rose  
Justin Rose has entered this event the last five consecutive years. In his previous two trips, Rose finished tied for 15th and tied for 10th. He has two top fifteen finishes in his last three starts, with his most recent being a T14 at The Masters. 

Rickie Fowler  
After a slow start to the season, Fowler has found his form as of late. He landed in 6th place at the Shell Houston Open and finished tied for 5th at the Masters. Fowler has made the trip to New Orleans the last three years, earning money every year. He finished 2012 in a tie for 10th. 


J.B. Holmes  
J.B. Holmes is quietly putting up good results this season. He has made nine cuts in ten events and has earned four top twenties in his last four starts. Holmes is one for two at TPC Louisiana, finishing T13 in 2012.  

Cameron Tringale  
Tringale missed the cut last year at the Zurich Classic, but finished T28 or better in his previous three visits before that. He finished T7 here in 2012. Tringale has made ten of his last eleven cuts and has four top fifteens in that stretch. He recently finished 4th at the Shell Houston Open. 

Nicholas Thompson  
Thompson has made the cut in four of his last five starts. Thompson owns top-25's in each of his past two events; including T12 at last week's RBC Heritage. Thompson is 3 for 4 with two top-10's at TPC Louisiana. Thompson T4 in 2008 and T7 in 2010.  

Drew's Picks:
Graham DeLaet:
I think this could be the week for DeLaet to get his first PGA win.  He has a mixed record here; a MC in 2010, a 4th in 2012, and a 47th last year.  The relatively short rough this week, combined with wide fairways should reward his length vs lack of accuracy off the tee.  He's 3rd in GIR, just needs his putter to get hot.

Ricky Fowler:
Ricky's record here is nothing to get excited about, but his current form of 5th and 6th in his last two starts is.  A momentum pick this week.

Ryan Palmer:
If pure stats could determine a winner, Ryan Palmer would be my top choice this week.  He's 15th in Driving Distance and GIR, 6th in Par 4 Scoring Average, and 7th in Par 5 Scoring Average.  

Dark Horses:

Kevin Stadler:
Mini-Walrus is coming off a T8 at the Masters and a T8 here last year.  I should consult my Magic 8 Ball, but I can't find it!  Kevin's 20th in GIR, 10th in Total Driving, and 12th in Birdie Average.  His good play should continue in Louisiana this week.

Freddie "Junkman" Jacobson:
Freddie is playing very well, all top 20's in his last 5 starts.  His putter is smokin' and that will help this week on the undulating greens in NOLA.

Lucas Glover:
Lucas says he loves this course and tournament.  He has a 3rd, 4th, 7th and 8th in his last 7 starts at the Zurich.  I can't find anyone else with better course form than that this week, all he needs is a win!