Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation in La Quinta, California.
Purse – $5.6 million
Winner Share – $1,008,000
FedEx Cup Points – 500
Courses – La Quinta CC; PGA West (Arnold Palmer Private); PGA West (Jack Nicklaus Private)
Par: 72 on all three courses
Defending Champ: Jhonattan Vegas
Tournament Record – 59: David Duval (1999)
The Bob Hope Classic has found itself a new sponsor, Humana, and more notably, 42nd president Bill Clinton. While it should make for some nice photo ops, expanded media coverage, and cheap, but deserved wise cracks; there is only one significant change that matters for Fantasy purposes: the tournament has been shortened from five rounds to four.
Five rounds provided some inflated weekly Fantasy scores in the past, but more importantly, every golfer had the opportunity to play at least three rounds before a cut sent half the field to an extended stop at the bar.
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| Phil can still crush the ball off the tee when he gets all his weight behind it. Photo Credit: minds-eye |
Last year, the Bob Hope put the spotlight on three breakout players: Jhonattan Vegas, Bill Haas and Gary Woodland. Each finished deadlocked after 90 holes at 27-under par. A playoff was needed to break the tie, with Vegas upending Woodland on the second playoff hole, claiming the first novelty check of his young career. It seemed like Jhonny Vegas was well on his way to becoming the breakout star of 2011, but it wasn’t to be. After another month of solid play, the 27-year-old Venezuelan fizzled out in the season’s second half.
After his second place showing in La Quinta, Woodland would crack the Top 15 another 11 times, including a win at the Transitions Championship; good for a spot in the Fed Ex Cup Finals, and a total of $3,448,591 in earnings for the year. He also picked up a devoted fan base with his Happy Gilmore type length off the tee.
And that leaves Haas. There were many ebbs and flows to his season. He started out hot with three Top 10s in his first three tournaments, then cooled dramatically. Haas could only muster three more Top 10s over his next 22 events, but it didn’t matter. Haas pulled off one of the most improbable shots in golf history, an up and down from the green side pond, on his way to a victory at the season ending TOUR Championship and a hefty $10 million dollar payday.
Over the years, this tournament has been an excellent platform for young players to break through onto the PGA scene, begging the question, who will it be this year?
PICKS
Phil Mickelson – Another year on the links for hefty Lefty, and another year of continued back pain caused by a lack of support in his ever expanding chest region. Through my vitriolic words, I am throwing my support his way. Phil’s the top ranked golfer in the field, and has two wins (’02,’04) here under his size 72 belt.
Charley Hoffman – Hoffman notched his first career victory here in 2007 and desperately needs a return to familiar places. Coming off a breakout 2010, Hoffman struggled his way through a tough 2011, but definitely has the skills to get back on track.
Dustin Johnson – The big-hitting South Carolina native laces up the spikes for the first time this year, and gets a perfect place to showcase his long drive ability. Both the Nicklaus and Palmer courses play less than 7,000 yards and should leave DJ ample opportunities to score at any moment.
Bill Haas – As mentioned, Haas brought home a silver last year. But don’t forget, that was a follow-up to his win at the Bob Hope the year before.
Matt Kuchar – Consistency – that about sums up Kuchar’s play. And in a field that lacks star power, the Georgia Tech product is a safe play considering he’s missed just four cuts in the past two years.
Martin Laird – The Scotsman produced in his first outing in 2012, and has the type of complete game that will let him adapt to all three courses.
Sang-Moon Bae – Bae was in the mix last week at the Sony Open until a final round 73 derailed what would have been a Top 10 showing. He’s still getting acclimated with American courses, but will find himself near the top of the leaderboard more often than not.
Brandt Snedeker – “Whitey” was horrendous at the season opening Tournament of Champions, but I’ll give him a mulligan, as he’s been one of the Tour’s most consistent players over the past two years. He’s going to fire at every pin and barely line up his putts, which, surprisingly has generated some tremendous results.
LEAVE ‘EM ON THE BENCH
Johnson Wagner – Wagner made me look foolish in this space last week when I provided sufficient evidence that he’d churn out a miserable week. How’d he reward me? With his third career PGA win, of course! For his crime of ruining my credibility, I’m condemning him to the “Dead to me” list, joining perpetual withdrawer Lucas Glover. How ya like Johnson? I hear Glover is terrible conversation.
Jhonattan Vegas – I’m banking on his almost year-long slump to continue at the place where he achieved his biggest career triumph.
David Duval – Don’t get too caught up on the fact that the former world’s No. 1 holds the tournament record, it’s been a decade since he’s been relevant.
Pat Mayo has nominated by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association for both Golf Writer of the Year and Humor Artcile of the Year in 2011, but came away empty handed. EIther way, don’t let that stop you from listening to him on RotoExperts’ Fantasy War Room, Thursdays at 8pm ET.
Have a question? Need to complain? Send it to patmayo@rotoexperts.com or Tweet Pat @thepme.
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