This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
A playoff is always a good thing in golf. Well check that, a playoff between Jordan Spieth and, say, Greg Owen with Owen coming out on top, is not a good thing for golf; golf would be much better just having Spieth win in regulation, but I'm getting off track here. The point is, a playoff can turn the fortunes of just about any event around. Case in point, the 2015 Greenbrier Classic.
This year's Greenbrier certainly wasn't lacking drama -- heck, there were half-dozen players with a chance to win over the final few holes -- but what it was lacking was star power. There were a couple interesting storylines down the stretch, including Robert Streb's wedge-putter and Greg Owen's Open Championship fate, a topic which was broached prior to nearly every putt on the 72nd hole, but without any big names in the mix, the only possible saving grace was a playoff ... and that's just what we got.
To makes matters just a little more interesting, Robert Streb was part of the four-man playoff, though his wedge-putter was not. Streb, however, exited early along with Kevin Kisner who each missed the green on the first playoff hole and regressed into 18-handicaps when trying to get up and down. It was at this point that Danny Lee and David Hearn took over the spotlight, but their battle wouldn't last long as Lee managed a par on the second playoff hole while Hearn could not. The finish to the
A playoff is always a good thing in golf. Well check that, a playoff between Jordan Spieth and, say, Greg Owen with Owen coming out on top, is not a good thing for golf; golf would be much better just having Spieth win in regulation, but I'm getting off track here. The point is, a playoff can turn the fortunes of just about any event around. Case in point, the 2015 Greenbrier Classic.
This year's Greenbrier certainly wasn't lacking drama -- heck, there were half-dozen players with a chance to win over the final few holes -- but what it was lacking was star power. There were a couple interesting storylines down the stretch, including Robert Streb's wedge-putter and Greg Owen's Open Championship fate, a topic which was broached prior to nearly every putt on the 72nd hole, but without any big names in the mix, the only possible saving grace was a playoff ... and that's just what we got.
To makes matters just a little more interesting, Robert Streb was part of the four-man playoff, though his wedge-putter was not. Streb, however, exited early along with Kevin Kisner who each missed the green on the first playoff hole and regressed into 18-handicaps when trying to get up and down. It was at this point that Danny Lee and David Hearn took over the spotlight, but their battle wouldn't last long as Lee managed a par on the second playoff hole while Hearn could not. The finish to the 2015 Greenbrier proved that you don't need big names to be entertaining, you just need some drama ... and continual updates on Greg Owen's Open Championship status.
This week: John Deere Classic - TPC at Deere Run, Silvis, Ill.
Last Year: Brian Harman shot a final-round 66 on his way to a one-stroke victory over Zach Johnson.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Zach Johnson
There was a time when Johnson didn't absolutely dominate this event, but that hasn't been the case for a while now. Since a T69 in 2008, Johnson has finished T2, T21, T3, 1st and T2. I'm no statistician, but that looks like a trend. If you haven't burned him yet, this is the week to use him.
Jordan Spieth
Believe it or not, Spieth's inclusion on this list was not an easy decision. Yes, he is the best player in the field this week, and he's a former champion here, but the purse at the John Deere is one of the smallest on the PGA Tour and even if he wins this week, you might be wasting him. That said, he has a great chance to win, and if you think his major run ends next week, then by all means ...
Steve Stricker
Before Zach Johnson took ownership of this event, Stricker was the sole owner. In fact, as good as Johnson's track record is here, Stricker's puts it to shame. Stricker won this event three consecutive years from 2009-2011. In the three years since, he's finished T5, T10 and T11. If you don't have Johnson available, then Stricker's your man.
Jerry Kelly
There's something about the Midwesterners at this event. From Johnson, to Stricker to Kelly, they tend to show up for their hometown fans more often than not. Kelly's record isn't nearly as impressive as the others mentioned, but he comes into the 2015 John Deere on a streak of consecutive top-5s here.
David Hearn
The final pick on this list comes not from the Midwest nor from the United States; he comes from Canada and he's in pretty good form. Hearn had a couple chances to win at the Greenbrier, but it wasn't to be. This week he should be in the mix again as he appears to be at the top of his game. He's also played well here with a runner-up in 2013.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Kyle Stanley
Stanley has a decent track record at this event, but he's struggled here the last couple years and is not consistent enough to merit a selection in a one-and-done pool.
Brian Davis
Davis has missed only one cut in seven tries here, but the problem is his play on the weekends. Although he's made the weekend six times, he's never finished inside the top 30.
Camilo Villegas
Villegas is a lot like Davis in that he's had little trouble making the weekend but has had even more difficulty on the weekend than David. Villegas has made the weekend five times, but he's never cracked the top 40.
Jonathan Byrd
Byrd is a tough guy to pick against because he's very erratic, but he doesn't appear to be on top of his game and hasn't really played well at this event since winning in 2007.
Pat Perez
Perez has never been a "big name" on the PGA Tour, but he is fairly recognizable to most PGA Tour fans, which makes it all the more confusing as to why he's struggled at this event, of all places. In 12 starts, Perez has made the cut here six times.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Paul Casey (T37) - $22,850; Season - $4,579,651
This week: David Hearn - Johnson is the obvious play this week, but I've already used him. Stricker is the next choice, but I've used him too. My selection comes down to Hearn or Jerry Kelly. Kelly has the better track record, but Hearn's game seems to be in better shape.
YAHOO PICKS
Points: 4,055
Rank: 6,391
This Week:
Group A: Steve Stricker, Harris English
Group B: Zach Johnson, Kevin Kisner, Jordan Spieth, Aaron Baddeley
Group C: David Hearn, Jerry Kelly
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Bill Haas (MC); Streak - 0
This week: Zach Johnson - Two missed cuts in a row, so now it's time to go with a "sure thing." Although I've burnt Johnson in the one-and-done format, I've yet to use him in the survivor format, so he's the obvious play this week.
