OT: PGA at Kiawah

[Chin Diesel]

Is Ancer long enough? 7800+ yds. Longest in major history. His ball striking is elite but his short game, specifically his putting really holds him back. I like him a lot and am pulling for him to break through soon, but he always falls short because of the putting. Not sure this is the setup for him.

I like Hovland a lot this week. Berger is a solid pick and JT always is. Could also be a good setup for Xander to finally break through.

I became a believer of Ancer at Augusta. He was able to hold his irons and hit to the correct part of the greens at Augusta and that's good enough for me.

As for his putting the paspalum grass on the greens supposedly grows up and doesn't grow with a side grain so I think it is going to level the field in terms of reading the greens and their speed.

Also, while listed at 7890 yards or so, the course will supposedly be set up 150-200 yards less than that each day depending on wind direction. Some holes might play be 500 yards on Thursday because it's downwind and 425 on Friday because it's in to the wind.

 

[LIuconn]

It has 500+ people in it and I’m in a race to the bottom

I like Reed this week for his short game and putting but my picks have been trash

 

[NJHusky]

I like Reed this week for his short game and putting but my picks have been trash

Don't forget his 'skills' improving his position in the sand....

Go to 1:35

 

[storrsroars]

Don't forget his 'skills' improving his position in the sand....

Go to 1:35

Heard you the first time.

First rule of comedy: read the room. If a joke flops, don't do second on the exact same thing.

 

[storrsroars]

I became a believer of Ancer at Augusta. He was able to hold his irons and hit to the correct part of the greens at Augusta and that's good enough for me.

As for his putting the paspalum grass on the greens supposedly grows up and doesn't grow with a side grain so I think it is going to level the field in terms of reading the greens and their speed.

Also, while listed at 7890 yards or so, the course will supposedly be set up 150-200 yards less than that each day depending on wind direction. Some holes might play be 500 yards on Thursday because it's downwind and 425 on Friday because it's in to the wind.

Mike Wier won at Augusta after it was Tiger-proofed. Agree that Ancer has a chance.

 

[storrsroars]

I'm going to stick with my original premise that the top 5 will be at most 2 US players and 3-4 non-US.

I'll go totally weird here. My two US will be Xander and Thomas.
My three non-US will be Rahm, Niemann and McIlroy.

I'm liking Rahm to win the thing.

Rest of top 10 will be Ancer, Hovland, Reed, Cam Smith, and Rose.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I'm going to stick with my original premise that the top 5 will be at most 2 US players and 3-4 non-US.

I'll go totally weird here. My two US will be Xander and Thomas.
My three non-US will be Rahm, Niemann and McIlroy.

I'm liking Rahm to win the thing.

Rest of top 10 will be Ancer, Hovland, Reed, Cam Smith, and Rose.

Rahm hasn't done doodoo since becoming a new dad. Priorities.

Which means he probably wins. His game definitely checks off all the boxes needed to conquer Kiawah.


Another name I keep convincing myself can't win is Scottie Scheffler. And I keep having trouble with dismissing him.

I'll go on a limb and say Scheffler gets a major win before Schauffele.

 

[BrysonDeMan]

Rahm hasn't done doodoo since becoming a new dad. Priorities.

Which means he probably wins. His game definitely checks off all the boxes needed to conquer Kiawah.


Another name I keep convincing myself can't win is Scottie Scheffler. And I keep having trouble with dismissing him.

I'll go on a limb and say Scheffler gets a major win before Schauffele.

i agree that Scheffler will win one before Xander ... but i don't see it this week.
my 5:

1. Justin Thomas (he is just a bulldog)

2. Jon Rahm (good wind player)

3. Webb Simpson (been cold lately but i'm betting on him breaking thru)

4. Sungjae Im (hate that he plays every week though)

5. Corey Conners

want to pick Bryson but his occasional way-off drives will be landing in crap not long rough this week.

Joaquin Niemann as a wild card​

 

[storrsroars]

Rahm hasn't done doodoo since becoming a new dad. Priorities.

Which means he probably wins. His game definitely checks off all the boxes needed to conquer Kiawah.


Another name I keep convincing myself can't win is Scottie Scheffler. And I keep having trouble with dismissing him.

I'll go on a limb and say Scheffler gets a major win before Schauffele.

And I keep thinking Zalatoris will be a factor again, even though you don't.

 

[Chin Diesel]

And I keep thinking Zalatoris will be a factor again, even though you don't.

I'm not unsure he doesn't get in top 10. Really like Zalatoris.

And his ball striking says he can be a factor.

End of the day I won't be the who goes in for every player in top 20. I have my five and I"m going with Zalatoris.

 

[mauconnfan]

I'm calling dibs on @uconngb and two of his buddies in the next Boneyard golf outing!

That’s a good move to grab 2nd place behind Team Fishy!

 

[QDOG5]

It has 500+ people in it and I’m in a race to the bottom

I like Reed this week for his short game and putting but my picks have been trash

Ours has about 75 people and I'm stuck in the middle. My only winner was the Aussies at Zurich. One season I made every cut. It paid nothing but I lobbied for a rule change @mauconnfan second place is a dream for any team I'm on.

 

[J187Money]

Holy crap! I don't think I'll ever get to a handicap of 8....let alone a combined 8....I'm impressed

At my best I would need the other 3 guys to be a +2 combined

 

[storrsroars]

At my best I would need the other 3 guys to be a +2 combined

I don't think I'm an 8 in putt-putt.

 

[DadBod24]

Will be working down here for the rest of the week. Wind is crazy at some parts of the course and the gators appear well fed.

 

[J187Money]

Winds have been 15-30 this week in Cabo - and there are no "trees" to speak of. Trying to deal with winds / length like that with tree lined fairways? Sign me up for triple digits easy.

 

[XLCenterFan]

For big guns I like Xander, Hovland, and Finau.

Sleepers are Schwartzel, Leish, Niemann, Kokrak, Keegan, or Kuch.

Long bombs shots are Cink or Dahmen.

 

[TyroneShoo]

In my pool- (you pick one from each 10 player ranking tier) I went with
1- Mcilroy
2- Hovland
3- Zalatoris
4- Leishman
5-Rose
6-Jones

Spieth’s ranking puts him in tier 3. So, a ton of people will take him.

 

[Palatine]

Nobody is hotter than Burns.

I have no idea who is adept at flighting the ball in a low trajectory. If I did I would pick that person.

 

[storrsroars]

I was looking to see when Golf Channel's coverage would start today. There is none until 7pm after it's over, which I find odd. Is that an ESPN contractual thing I wonder?

 

[Drew]

I was looking to see when Golf Channel's coverage would start today. There is none until 7pm after it's over, which I find odd. Is that an ESPN contractual thing I wonder?

Probably. The early rounds are on ESPN at 1pm and you can stream via ESPN+ now

 

[LIuconn]

ESPN+ and ESPN have 7a-7p ET coverage
I picked Spieth
The 17th hole is going to be wild all week

 

[Pawsox]

What a difference 4 years make. Went to the PGA at Quail Hollow in 2017 when Justin Thomas won. They had a ton of guys policing cell phone use. If you had your cell phone out on the course recording or taking pictures, you were given a sticker on your badge. If you were caught twice with your phone out, you were escorted off of the premises. Just watching the coverage today and everyone has their phone out taking pictures. As long as it is muted, I don't see a problem.

 

[storrsroars]

Looks like JT and Rory will have some work to do tomorrow.

 

[jleves]

My top 4 favorites are a combined +7, the best being Rahm at even. I was ungood on my picks.