This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
Last year it was Si Woo Kim, this year Webb Simpson. Neither golfer had a track record success at TPC Sawgrass, yet each of them decimated the course and turned the tournament into a runaway. While the 2017 version of The Players might not have held much entertainment value if the leader failed to separate, the 2018 version would have been one for the ages had Simpson not turned Sawgrass in the Bob Hope Classic.
It's always strange when one guy pulls away from the pack, especially at a big event and especially when the pack is made up of Tiger Woods and Jason Day. The focus seems to move from the leader, to anything that might be of interest. Simpson rarely gave anyone much hope Sunday, so we were forced to look elsewhere for a story. Fortunately, Woods made a lot of noise, just one day after, well, making a lot of noise. Woods' Sunday run turned into a consolation prize for the viewers as the event itself was never really in question. For the second consecutive year, one guy was just too damn good and turned the Players into a pretty boring few days.
This is usually the point where I would offer up some suggestions on how to fix this problem, but the fact of the matter is, runaways happen from time to time and it's just something you live with. Unfortunately, the Players has fallen victim in consecutive years, three if you count Jason Day's four-stroke
Last year it was Si Woo Kim, this year Webb Simpson. Neither golfer had a track record success at TPC Sawgrass, yet each of them decimated the course and turned the tournament into a runaway. While the 2017 version of The Players might not have held much entertainment value if the leader failed to separate, the 2018 version would have been one for the ages had Simpson not turned Sawgrass in the Bob Hope Classic.
It's always strange when one guy pulls away from the pack, especially at a big event and especially when the pack is made up of Tiger Woods and Jason Day. The focus seems to move from the leader, to anything that might be of interest. Simpson rarely gave anyone much hope Sunday, so we were forced to look elsewhere for a story. Fortunately, Woods made a lot of noise, just one day after, well, making a lot of noise. Woods' Sunday run turned into a consolation prize for the viewers as the event itself was never really in question. For the second consecutive year, one guy was just too damn good and turned the Players into a pretty boring few days.
This is usually the point where I would offer up some suggestions on how to fix this problem, but the fact of the matter is, runaways happen from time to time and it's just something you live with. Unfortunately, the Players has fallen victim in consecutive years, three if you count Jason Day's four-stroke victory in 2016, but there's nothing in particular about this course or this event that lends itself to blowouts, so we simply hope for the best next season.
Speaking of next season, the Players returns to March, which if memory serves, makes for a much more interesting week as the weather tends to be more of a factor. Between the law of averages and the possibility for some extra wind, next year's Players Championship is bound to be a classic.
This week: AT&T Byron Nelson - Trinity Forest Club, Dallas
Last Year: Billy Horschel shot a final round 69 on his way to a playoff victory over Jason Day.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Jordan Spieth
we have a new venue this week, which means all event history can be tossed. The field is thin and Spieth's name sticks out like a sore thumb. He's a native Texan, who loves this event, so motivation will not be an issue. He's also had a chance to play the course prior, which obviously gives him an edge as well. Oh, and did I mention he's the best player in the field?
Jimmy Walker
You could try to figure out the theme of the top 5 this week or I could just tell you. The course has no trees, is wide open with no water and is defenseless against wind, which means we are looking for Texans and Aussies, who are used to playing in these conditions. Walker, as a Texan certainly qualifies, and the fact that he played very well last week at the Players is just a bonus.
Beau Hossler
Remember this guy? He nearly won in Houston earlier this season and is playing his home track this week. Nobody in the field will have more course knowledge than Hossler, and although he hasn't repeated his Houston form recently, he's played well enough to think he can finish high again this week. Hossler likely will be a popular sleeper pick this week.
Adam Scott
The first Aussie on the list is not the higher-rated Marc Leishman, but instead it's Scott, who played well last week at the Players and should fare well on this layout. Scott is not the golfer we are accustomed, but he showed some flashes last week against a stellar field and if he carries any of that form with him into this week, then he can surely get on top of most of the guys in this field.
Andrew Putnam
A bit of a stretch here as Putnam hasn't played full time on the PGA Tour this season, but there's no rule against those without full playing privileges playing well or even winning. Putnam is not from Texas, but most of his best finishes on the PGA Tour have come in the state of Texas. Putnam scored a T25 at the 2015 Houston Open, a T8 at the Valero Texas Open this season. It's not much to go on, but this sets up as a strange week with almost everyone in the field playing this course for the first time.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Hudson Swafford
Swafford has yet to build on the momentum this season that he gained from his first PGA Tour win last season. Swafford has missed four of his last six cuts, and the two weekends he's played over that stretch have resulted in a pair of T75s. Perhaps the wildly different setup this week is just what he needs, but there's no reason to take a chance here.
Russell Knox
Knox missed the cut in three of his last five starts and has only one top-10 this year when not playing with a teammate. Knox is not having a disastrous season, but he's playing well below expectations. He should be able to turn it around at some point this season, but there are no signs that it will be this week.
Nick Taylor
Taylor finished with a top-10 here last year, but as we've discussed, that was at a different venue, so it can safely ignored. Taylor is on this list because he comes in with perhaps the worst form of anyone in the field. Taylor missed the cut in six of his last seven starts, and the only cut he did make resulted in a T79.
Harris English
It wasn't that long ago that English was pegged as one of the up and comers on the PGA Tour, but English has faded into obscurity this season with his play. English missed the cut in his first five starts last fall and it hasn't gotten much better since the calendar flipped. English enters this week having missed his previous two cuts on the PGA Tour.
Brandt Snedeker
This was supposed to be the year that Snedeker finally stayed healthy and got back to his old form. Well, he's stayed healthy. Snedeker showed some flashes early in the season that his game might be on its way back, but for the most part, he's struggled. Like English, he also enters this week having missed the cut in his past two starts.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Jason Day (T5) - $418,000; Season - $5,495,123
This week: Beau Hossler - I've spent this season not holding back when it comes to taking the big guns, but with no big guns worthy this week (Spieth was used at the Masters), I have to look elsewhere. Hossler isn't merely a leftover, though I do like him this week and I'd be surprised if he weren't in the mix come Sunday.
PGATOUR.COM PICKS
This Week:
Starters: Jordan Spieth, Beau Hossler, Jimmy Walker, Adam Scott
Bench: Andrew Putnam, Chesson Hadley
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Ian Poulter - (T11); Streak - 1
This week: Beau Hossler - Again, Spieth was burnt earlier this season and outside of him, there is no sure thing this week. With that in mind, I'll go with Hossler here as well as his familiarity with the course should at minimum result in a made cut.
