The short wait is over. Ready or not, year number two of the PGA wrap around season begins this week at the Silverado Country Club in Napa, California with the Frys.com Open.
This event served as a springboard to an excellent season for defending champion Jimmy Walker last year. Amazingly, Walker hoisted the trophy despite only hitting 22 of CordeValle’s (last year’s venue) fairways all week.
A $6 million purse is up for grabs along with over $1 million and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner as the events moves to Silverado this year.
A new venue to start a new season leaves it difficult to pick favorites. The course is described as long (7368 yards, par 71) but not a huge challenge on the greens, so the longer, accurate drivers should be the first choices.
This season, Johnny G and I are playing fantasy golf here in the 3 Jack Almanac league (spots still available if you’re interested in joining us). We get to choose 4 golfers each week, but can only choose any one golfer a maximum of 10 times throughout the season. This tournament seems like a perfect time to save the big names and test out some up-and-coming players I think will have good years (or are coming off a hot streak from the end of last season).
My Picks:
Welcome to the Tour full time, Brooks Koepka. The Florida State alum averaged 307 with the driver last year with 40% of his drives over 300 yards. He ranked in the top 20 in both eagles and birdie average last year in only 16 events. He made 12 cuts last year including a T3 finish at last year’s Frys.com Open.
Jason Kokrak finished his 2014 season with a T16 at the Deutsche Bank. The 6’4″ Canadian averaged 303 in driving distance last year with top 25’s in eagles, birdie average, and total strokes gained. He’s long and fairly accurate with his irons. Even only a halfway decent showing with the putter should get him on the first page of the leader board.
Ranking #1 in “Smash Factor” last year was Chris Stroud. I have no idea what that means. I’m not even entirely certain it’s a good thing, but he was tops at it. He’s not as long as my other players, but he was top 20 in par 3 and par 4 performance for the 2014 season. He was strong in the earlier part of the season with top 3’s in two of his first four tournaments and I’m counting on that again.
My final pick finished 20th in the FedEx Cup standings. Cameron Tringale finished 2nd at The Barclays and 15th in the Tour Championship. He’s deadly with the short irons, ranking 4th overall on approach shots inside 125 yards. He finished strong and I’m guessing he’s happy to get back out there already.
Honorable Mention: Justin Thomas might be worth a flyer at 66-1. The 2012 NCAA Player of the Year blitzed the Web.com tour last year finishing 3rd and earning his card. A win in his first start would continue the “Rising Superstar” storyline. You could see it happening, couldn’t you?
Good luck!
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