Northern Trust Open Preview: Going Back to the DJ Well

The stars were aligned. Phil Mickelson was playing well heading into the week and was returning to the site where he had plenty of good memories ... and he was in great position to win on Sunday afternoon ... and then he flubbed a chip and missed a makeable putt. That's not how it was supposed to go down, but such is life on the PGA Tour when you aren't a force of nature anymore.

There's no denying Phil Mickelson is not the player he was five years ago, but it wasn't that long ago that he was competing for major titles, so it wasn't far-fetched to think that a win last week could propel him back into an "elite" category on the PGA Tour. There's still time for Mick to get all the way back, but mistakes like he made on the 72nd hole last week need to go away -- and fast.
This isn't to say that Phil has blown his only chance to get back to the top, he's certainly capable of using this result as a building block, but if he is to falter this week, and the next and the next, then the doubts will creep back in and he'll have only a runner-up showing at the AT&T to point to, instead of a win, and then it becomes a big difference. Then again, maybe I'm reading this all wrong, maybe the stars are aligned for his next start.

This week: Northern Trust Open - Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Last Year: James Hahn shot a final-round 69 on his way to a playoff victory over Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey.

PLAYERS TO CONSIDER

Dustin Johnson

For those of us who used Johnson last week, he's no longer an option, but if you still have him, he is again, one of the better options this week. He certainly disappointed his owners last week, but odds are, he bounces back this week. DJ has finished in the top 5 here in three of his last five starts.

Charl Schwartzel

We haven't seen Schwartzel on the PGA Tour in quite a while, but he does come into this week in good form, fresh off a win on the European Tour last week. His track record here is also solid, with top-5s in two of his three starts at this event.

Sergio Garcia

Although not on par with the likes of Dustin Johnson or Charl Schwartzel, Garcia's history here is pretty impressive. Garcia has finished inside the top 15 here in four of his five starts, two of which were top-5s.

Keegan Bradley

Bradley has been one of the more frustrating players on the PGA Tour the last couple years as his play has dropped as expectations have risen. He's now in a spot where expectations have fallen again, so it might be the right time to strike. His track record here is sound, and he's managed to play well here even when his form was off.

Freddie Jacobson

Certainly a sleeper, Jacobson's prospects actually look pretty promising this week. He's coming off a nice showing last week at the AT&T and his history is pretty sound, with top-15s in two of his last three starts here.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Jordan Spieth

I learned the hard way last year to never doubt Jordan Spieth. Even when it seems like he's going through the motions, he usually finds a way to contend. But that wasn't the case last week, and although he's bound to turn it around very soon, his value remains much higher for any of the four majors left on the schedule.

Bubba Watson

Watson won here just two years ago, but if you've followed Watson closely the last few years, you know there are much better places to use him coming up shortly on the schedule. That, and his form isn't the greatest coming into this week.

Hunter Mahan

Mahan remains in a funk, and although he's played well at this event, it's unlikely he pulls out of it this week on a very tough track. I expect Mahan to have a solid season, but the positive results will have to wait at least one more week.

Padraig Harrington

When Harrington was in his prime, he fared pretty well at this event, but as his game has fallen he's failed to do anything here. He's missed the cut in four of his last seven starts here and has failed to crack the top 40 in that time, as well.

Ben Crane

Crane hopes to turn things around this season, and while he's off to a good start, he'll likely hit a bump in the road this week as he's never played well at this event. Crane has failed to crack the top 50 in any of his last six starts here.

ONE AND DONE GOLFER

Last week: Dustin Johnson (T41) - $22,652; Season - $3,573,293

This week: Charl Schwartzel - Temptations abound this week as many of the top players in the world are active, but Schwartzel looks like the best value pick. He's not a guy I would save for a major, so this looks like the best spot to use him.

YAHOO PICKS

Points: 768
Rank: 31,174

This Week:

Group A: Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia

Group B: Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Jimmy Walker

Group C: Charl Schwartzel, Freddie Jacobson

SURVIVOR PICK

Last week: Dustin Johnson (T41); Streak - 7

This week: Charl Schwartzel - I thought about taking a chance on Jacobson this week, but I don't want to risk a streak of seven weeks. Schwartzel seems like a lock to make the cut this week. He's in good form and is familiar with this track.