Week #5 - Fantasy Golf - Waste Management Open - TPC Scottsdale - January 30-February 2, 2014

Field for the Waste Management Open

Top Picks
Chuck's Picks:  Webb Simpson, Bill Haas, Bubba Watson
Matt's Picks:  Webb Simpson, Keegan Bradley, Graham DeLaet
Drew's Picks: Phil Mickelson, Ryan Moore, Ryan Palmer
Jeremy's Picks:  Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley, Martin Kaymer
Cathy's Picks: Lee Westwood, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler

Dark Horses
Chucks's Picks:  Ryan Palmer, Mark Leishman, Chris Kirk
Matt's Picks:  Brian Harman, Ryan Palmer, Charley Hoffman
Drew's Picks: Chris Kirk, Nicholas Colsaerts, Mark Leishman
Jeremy's Picks:  Gary Woodland, Nicholas Colsaerts, JB Holmes
Cathy's Picks: KJ Choi, Erik Compton, Kyle Stanley

Chuck's Picks:
Webb Simpson – Top tens in his last two trips to Scottsdale and four top tens already this year. Has to be considered the man to beat this week.

Bill Haas – 29th, 19th 6th are his last three results at this venue. If this trend continues a top five finish this week is a possibility

Bubba Watson – Bubba knocked off some rust last week and returns to a course he can go low on. Should be a fan favorite this week and contend.

Dark Horses:
Ryan Palmer – 2nd at the Humana a couple weeks ago and 5th here last year. Ride the hot hand.

Marc Leishman – I’m going with Leishman two weeks in a row after his 2nd place finish last week.

Chris Kirk – Is on quite a roll this year pocketing over $1,500,000 already. Likes this course and should keep on rolling this week in Scottsdale

Matt's Picks:
Webb Simpson  
Webb Simpson currently leads the Tour in greens hit and strokes gained putting. Those two stats will be key at TPC Scottsdale, as the last three winners of this event has finished 3rd or better in one of those two stats. Simpson finished T8 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in 2011 and 2012. He has yet to miss a cut on the current season, or finish outside of the top twenty-five for that matter.  

Keegan Bradley  
Keegan Bradley has started out 2014 in great form. He has four consecutive top twenties to start out the season with his best finish being 10th at the CIMB Classic. Bradley currently ranks 9th in strokes gained putting. In two trips to the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Bradley has finished T24 and T15. I'm expecting him to crack the top ten once again this week. 

Graham DeLaet  
Graham DeLaet hasn't had much for success on TPC Scottsdale, but his recent play warrants his spot on my list this week. He currently ranks 14th in greens in regulation and 17th in putting. He has three consecutive top tens coming into this event, with his most recent being a runner-up last week at Torrey Pines. DeLaet's best finish in this event was a T55 in 2012. 

Dark Horses:
Brian Harman has started out the 2013-2014 PGA Tour season by making the cut in five of his first six events. He already has two top ten finishes and ranks 29th in strokes gained putting. Harman played in this event last season, shooting three rounds in the 60's and earning a T32 finish.

Ryan Palmer
In his last start, Ryan Palmer finished the Humana Challenge with a solo runner-up.  He earned a T8 in the Sony Open in his previous start before that.  Palmer ranks 1st in eagles, 5th in strokes gained putting, and 5th in all-around.  He has made the trip to the Waste Management Phoenix Open the last four years, earning a 5th place finish last season and a T14 in 2010.

Charley Hoffman
Hoffman placed 2nd at this event in 2009 and finished T29 in 2011.  He has yet to miss a cut on the season, and has two consecutive top tens coming into this event.  He currently sits in 16th place on the FedEx standings. 

Drew's Picks:
Phil Mickelson:
The Phoenix Open is Phil's "happy place", maybe more so than the Master's.  I make him my top pick this week, if his back allows him to start.  "Where there's a Phil, there's a way" to play.  If he doesn't start, I take a "provisional" and change this pick to Grahm DeLaet, who played well last week.
 
Ryan Moore:
Ryan shot 22 under last year for fourth place, not bad.  He should be well rested after a 10th at Kapalua, and ready for the excitement in Arizona.
 
Ryan Palmer:
Ryan #2 finished fifth here last year, behind Ryan #1.  He has an 8th and a 2nd in 2014, on a roll.  His putting and driving stats are excellent so far this year.  Expect a top 5.

Dark Horses:
Marc Leishman:
Marc has a 2nd and a 5th so far in 2014.  I think he will continue his good play this week. Although his past performance in Phoenix hasn't been stellar, he's in a different zone right now. 
 
Chris Kirk:
  Chris Kirk has finishes of 1st, 16th, and 2nd in his last three tournaments, another momentum play.  He's third on the money and second in FedEx points so far this year. 
 
Nicolas Colsaerts:
I like how the "Belgian Bomber" played last week, even though it was just a T19th.  If Nicolas can keep his drives out of the desert, his putter and scrambling might get him a top 10 this week. 

Jeremy's Picks:
Bubba Watson - A big hitter that has played this course well.  The excitement he brings fits in well with the atmosphere surrounding this tournament.
 
Keegan Bradley -  Playing really solid golf right now, this would be a great place for him to end his drought.
 
Martin Kaymer - After disappearing off the face of the earth the former #1 player in the world has found his game again.  He seems to be a natural when it comes to desert golf.  


Dark Horses:
Gary Woodland - Oh so close last week. He is ready to win and the TPC of Scottsdale is a place that sets up well for the big hitter.
 
Nicolas Colsaerts - Big hitter...I think you can see a theme here.
 
JB Holmes - A former champion who is also capable of hitting the long ball.

Cathy's Picks:
Lee Westwood - I didn't find any history here for Westwood, so this is partly a gut shot pick.  But I've got a feeling he might have multiple wins on Tour this year and this might be the first one!

Keegan Bradley - He's done no worse than T18 in 4 events so far this year and has had 2 T24 or better at the WMO in the past few years.  It's hard not to think he is a solid pick this week.

Rickie Fowler - I guess I'm feeling like a few gut shots are worth it this week!  I'm hoping this is bounce back week after missing the cut at the Farmers.

Dark Horses:
KJ Choi - It's hard for me to believe that KJ was 128th on the OWGR (12/1/13).  Solid T2 finish last week gives me hope that he'll have another great week.

Erik Compton - heart pick of the week!!  No history here at the TPC, but I'm going on his T19 finish last week as a cue that he's got another good finish in him thi.s week at the WMO.


Kyle Stanley - I'm hoping he has good memories from his 2012 win here to make another nice finish in AZ.  Not sure his play has warranted a top pick, but hoping he might surprise.