Shriners Open Preview: Walker's Way

Emiliano Grillo. In five starts on the PGA Tour last season, Grillo carded three top-25s and two top-10s, including a runner-up showing at the Puerto Rico Open, but he's not getting confused with Jordan Spieth anytime soon. He's exactly the type of player who can thrive during the fall season.

As much as the PGA Tour season has evolved in the last two seasons, some things remain the same, such as the immense opportunity for lesser-known players to thrive or in the case of Grillo, young players. The big difference since the wrap-around schedule was instituted two years ago is the quality of the field, but even though you see some big names in the fields during fall, there aren't any events that mirror the types of fields we see during a major or a WGC event. What this means is, more opportunity for guys like Grillo, who was able to overcome the likes of Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy last week. Would he have been able to overcome the likes of Jason Day and Jordan Spieth if they were in the field last week? There's no way to tell, but thanks to the wrap-around season, Grillo doesn't have to find out.

We learned of guys like Robert Streb and Brooks Koepka last fall and know we can add another name to that list, Emiliano Grillo. He's not the first golfer to break through during fall, and he won't be the last.

This week: Shriner's Hospital for Children Open - TPC at Summerlin, Las Vegas

Last Year: Ben Martin shot a final-round 68 on his way to a two-stroke victory over Kevin Streelman.

PLAYERS TO CONSIDER

Webb Simpson

Simpson has played well in the years since his major breakthrough, but he hasn't taken his game to the next level. With that in mind, this might be the best time to take a player like Simpson, who's fared very well at this event in his last three starts here, with a win and two additional top-5s.

Scott Piercy

Piercy is exactly the type of golfer I would expect to win during this six-week stretch. Piercy's had some success during the regular season the last couple years, but a lot of success has come in fall, particularly at this event, where he's finished in the top-10 in three of his last four starts.

Jimmy Walker

Perhaps no golfer has taken more advantage of the wrap-around season the last two years than Jimmy Walker. Walker has used the new schedule to elevate his standing on the PGA Tour, and if history tells us anything, it's that he'll have success the remaining five weeks.

Jason Bohn

Bohn has a lot going for him entering this week. His track record at this event is solid with three consecutive top-20s here and is coming off a nice showing last week at the Frys.com Open where he finished T3.

Kevin Na

Na we typically think of during the West Coast Swing, but he's proven to be quite effective during the fall portion of the season, as well. He won this event in 2011 and is coming off a nice effort last week at the Frys.com Open.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Rickie Fowler

Justin Rose occupied this spot last week, and although he finished in the top 10, I dare say anyone who used him in a one-and-done format last week was disappointed with a T6 from Rose. Same theory in-play with Fowler here this week. He's too good to burn during this portion of the season.

Geoff Ogilvy

Ogilvy seemed to find his game for a stretch last season, but by the end of the season, we were left wondering once again if Ogilvy would ever find his way back to the form that helped him win a U.S. Open. If last week's showing is any indication, he's not going to find that form anytime soon.

Zac Blair

Blair was one of the surprises that popped up late in the 2014-15 season, but it looks like he may have lost all of his late-season momentum as his showing last week at the Frys.com Open was less than inspired. Blair also struggled here last year on his way to a 75th-place finish.

Tim Clark

Whereas Jason Bohn has a lot going for him this week, with a good track record and solid form entering this week, Clark has quite the opposite with a poor track record here and a missed cut in his recent history. Clark has missed the cut here in two of his last three tries and missed the cut at the Frys.com Open last week.

Ben Martin

Martin had a fantastic 2014-15 season, picking up a win and more than $2.7 million in earnings, but he'll be doing something new this week, defending a title, and that's always tricky. Some golfers handle this situation with ease, some struggle, but until he goes through this once, we don't know how Martin will respond.

ONE AND DONE GOLFER

Last week: Robert Streb (MC) - $0; Season - $0

This week: Jason Bohn - Webb Simpson is atop my list this week, but his missed cut last week is scaring me a bit, so I'm going to go with Bohn, who's got the track record here and looks to be in good form, as well.

SURVIVOR PICK

Last week: Robert Streb (MC); Streak - 0

This week: Kevin Streelman - I was already burned in the new season by doubling up last week with Robert Streb, so I'm going to take a different approach this week. Streelman is 5-5 here making the cut and finished runner-up at this event last year. He seems like a safe bet to make the cut this week.