[2020 PGA Championship]

So, finally the first major of the year even though it is August. With a field so stacked and some potential weather in Northern California, this should be a really fun week of golf. I expect TPC Harding Park to favor the bomb & gouge technique you see from many of the American players but at the same time, that rough and wind can be unforgiving. While there's room for going all DeChambeau off every tee, I still feel more comfortable with strong approach players and guys I can *mostly* trust to hit fairways. All of my picks are here but I am going to list them anyway. 

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Xander Schuaffele (+2000): I don't know if any top player is more due for a major than X. I know Fader liked him last week and he did not disappoint, going top 10 once again. He's got five top-six major finishes in 11 tries and being a California native, I think he feels right at home. 0.5 units

Gary Woodland (+5000): This is a guy who has won majors on the West Coast before (2019 US Open) and is a big hitter than can also club down to hit fairways with the hybrid clubs. Feature a stinger that should get through the weather. An underrated scramble player for when he winds up in the rough, and ranks 25th in SG: Putting, which is higher than I expected to find. 0.2 units

Sungjae Im (+8500): Im is one of my favorite golfers on tour, so it is more so a pick based on that. I certainly love his demeanor and the way he hunts for every pin, but that could get him into danger here. Simply, +8500 is too high for the 2019 PGA rookie of the year and he's got enough talent for a tiny dart throw. 0.2 units

A few others I thought about: Brooks Koepka (+1100), Daniel Berger (+3000), Rickie Fowler (+3500) -- has to happen sometime, no?, 

FINISHING POSITION

2U Rory McIlroy Top 10 (+175) - I don't know, Rory and Top 10s seem to go together pretty well. I am looking to fade both Brooks and Bryson just based on value, but not McIlroy. 

3U Xander Schauffele Top 20 (-110) 

2U Gary Woodland Top 30 (+150)

3U Collin Morikawa Top 30 (+110) - Northern California native coming back home to play in his first major. one of the best approach players on tour, would also consider him for an outright bet. 

2U Jason Day Top 30 (+120) - Three straight top 10s. Even with parting with his swing coach, Day looks healthy. Also worth a look as top Aussie. 

1U Tony Finau Top 30 (+138) - Tony can't close but he continues to impress and up until WGC, was putting up strong finishes. Thing he's good enough this week to compete in that upper part of the leaderboard. 

MATCHUPS 

Justin Thomas (-143) vs. Jon Rahm 

 

I will have some more I am sure. Good luck to everyone getting into the action this week! 

[WGC St Jude]

Nice picks Fader ... i think Schauffele is definitely a player to watch, this week and next at the PGA Championship. 

With the small field, no cut line and a major event next week, it's tough to figure out where to go with the St. Jude this year. In the end, I am foregoing all outright selections and just doing some finisghing position wagers, all at modest odds, all .5 units, until we go much bigger next week. 

 

Justin Thomas Top 10 (+110)

Xander Schauffele Top 20 (+100) 

Sungjae Im Top 30 (+120)

Tommy Fleetwood Top 20 (+125)

Max Homa Top 40 (-105)

[The Memorial Tournament]

Thank you Fader! Even with some of the bumps, an incredible year for you so far. 

What a strange week of golf. So many names with awful performances (Dustin Johnson, Fowler, Matsuyama), honorable mention to Bryson's meltdown on Friday. Then you have the Gary Woodlands of the world who were hot at the start and completely melted. Then there's Xander, who goes +6 and winds up with a miracle T20. Jordan Spieth plays decent and Tony Finau drops six shots on Sunday and still manages a top 10. Just a wild event, but I suppose it's more entertaining than the normal bit we see every week normally. 

I was so-so on finishing positions, with Schauffele somehow getting T13 but Cantlay managing himself out of a sure-fire top 20 spot. In total, would up ahead about 0.75 units.

Obviously having Jon Rahm is what saved me. Even at just 0.25 units, it's a +5.5 profit at 22/1, so that's going to result in a positive week at +5.75 total. Anytime that happens (especially after the Workday event), I'll take it. Onto the next one, where things should be much easier! 

[The Memorial Tournament]

Love the picks! Thank you for sharing. Definitely agree that Thomas and Morikawa would be players to avoid this week after the drama that unfolded last Sunday. Definitely hard to predict this field, much deeper than we've seen in recent weeks. 

I'm right there with you on Cantlay. Between his previous performance at this course and how he closed out last week, there's so much to like there. I grabbed him at 14/1 as well, with small plays on Jon Rahm (22/1) after his -8 on Sunday and Xander Shauffele to win (28/1). Staking just .25 on each since I don't much enjoy betting on outright winners. 

Would also agree that each way/finishing position bets are the way to go this week. Here are some others I like based off key stats and past performance at Muirfield (apologies for listing the odds the American way):

 

Xander Schauffele Top 20 Finish (+125) 2 units

Patrick Cantlay Top 20 Finish (+100) 2 units

Jason Day Top 40 Finish (+100) 1 unit

Rickie Fowler Top 30 Finish (+110) 1 unit

Tony Finau Top 30 Finish (+125) 1 unit

Justin Rose Top 40 Finish (-120) 1 unit --- Even after last week's disaster, Rosie's history here is too good for me to pass on. 

 

Best of luck to all those getting in on the action at the Memorial this week! 

[Workday Charity Open Picks]

Looking to lock in some selections for the first of two tournaments at Muirfield Village this week....a few I like (lines will vary?

Patrick Cantlay +1300 (13/1) ... 0.5 unit 

Justin Rose +2600 (26/1) ... 0.5 unit 

Hideki Matsuyama Top 20 +100 (1/1) ... 1 unit

All three players with huge success in the past at the Memorial Tournament, which is also held at this course every year. Could see these guys near the top of the board come Sunday. Will be sure to add finishing position wagers before Thursday as well!