The new season is underway, and golfers aren’t vacationing on the ski slopes just yet. This week’s Shriner’s Hospital for Children Open in Las Vegas is sure to provide an exciting finish. Birdies abound in the desert, with an average winning score of 20 under par the last ten years. Over that span, 9 tournaments were decided by less than 2 strokes. Recent graduates from the Web.com Tour and veterans looking for a hot start to the season fill up the field, and a few top names (Spieth, Fowler, Dechambeau) are looking to rebound from the Ryder Cup loss a few weeks ago.
Greg’s Pick of the Week: Tony Finau
Finau is bound for a win, plain and simple. He’s garnered 12 top tens since the beginning of last season with 4 second place finishes. He’s also finished in the top-25 an incredible 72% of the time. Apart from recent form, TPC Summerlin should fit his length and ball-striking ability. It was a tough choice between Finau and Cameron Champ, who won in Mississippi this past Sunday, but the extra fire in Finau’s belly from not closing the deal last week should be enough to get him back in the winner’s circle.
Back to the Range: Satoshi Kodaira
I’ve followed Kodaira since his win at Hilton Head last April. I really thought his short game would propel him to more success, but he’s missed 8 of his last 14 cuts with no finishes better than T-20. Last season, he was 191st in strokes-gained overall, and only made an average of 3 birdies per round. If you’re selecting him for your fantasy roster this week, hope that Kodaira found some form and confidence the last two months. Range session: NEEDED
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