WGC Bridgestone Invitational – Fantasy Golf Picks
What to do with Adam Scott? That’s the big question facing fantasy golf players this weekeend. Adam Scott is coming off a gut-wrenching collapse at the British Open two weeks ago and returns stateside for one of the WGC’s annual powerhouse tournaments. The best golfers in the world will head to Firestone Country Club in Ohio, the longest par-70 on tour this season.
It’s a return by the tour to the United States after two weeks abroad for the British and Canadian Opens. Last week’s win by Scott Piercy rewarded Bushwood Bomber who was one of three owners in our FantasyCPR group who had Piercy on the roster. Another was our overall leader “^^^^MT CUP^^^^ (Winter)” who has 4,589 points on the season. In the summer segment, it’s “Ty Webb, eh?” who holds the lead. My entry fared ok, with plenty of my team making the cut but none finishing in the top three.
Here’s who I like this week, and you’ll notice the absence of a certain defending champion Australian:
A-List
Steve Stricker : Stricker’s late season excellence will make him a regular selection for me the rest of the season. I have seven Stricker starts left and there are seven weeks left. He’s been in the top 15 at the Bridgestone the last three years. Stricker is in good form coming into this tournament as well with four top 25’s in his last four tournaments
Zach Johnson : Johnson is one of the hottest golfers on tour following up his win at the John Deere with a top 10 at Royal Lytham. He isn’t a long hitter but has had success here in the past despite that fact. He finished t6 last year for his best showing at Firestone in his career… A quick note: I had Adam Scott at the Open Championship when few people picked him. He’s in good form and is a fine selection here despite the unsatisfying end to his Open. I’m not down on Scott; I’m just more sure of Johnson and Stricker right now even though Adam is the defending champ at the Bridgestone. I hope he does well, but I’m going to pass on him for my team this week.
B-List
Bubba Watson : He has two career starts here and two top-25’s. After winning the Masters, he missed a couple cuts, but seems to be back in form with a t2 at the Travelers and a t23 at the British Open. If I had to pick just one golfer to get the win this week, he’d be my pick.
Tiger Woods : Tiger’s another fascinating option this week. I’m going all-in with him even though I only have three Tiger plays left this season. There’s basically one reason I don’t feel like I can not have him this week: He’s won this event seven (7, SEVEN) times before.
Dustin Johnson : In just 13 tournaments this season, Johnson has five top-10’s. He’s always one of my favorites and I like him to follow up his t9 at Royal Lytham with another top 10 this week. He’s finished in the top 25 in two of his three trips to Firestone.
Nicolas Colsaerts : Colsaerts is my sleeper pick for the week. Many will go with Rory or Westwood here and they are fine picks, but I’m taking the Belgian. He finished t7 at the British and in five PGA Tour starts this year his worst finish is a t35. He definitely has the length to take on Firestone, but hasn’t ever played this event before.
C List
Graeme McDowell : After the Adam Scott question in the A-List and the Tiger question in the B-List, the C-list is almost devoid of standout options. McDowell is a good pick though with a t5 in the British Open and a t2 in the US Open in his last two starts. The reason he’s not a slam dunk? History: He doesn’t have a top 20 in his four times at the tournament. There’s no cut to worry about, and I think McDowell is in good form and could go low a day or two.
Martin Laird : Laird has a better history here with a t11 last year and two top 20’s in the last two years. Recently he’s been up-and-down with his best finish a t11 at the AT&T.