To Scottie, or not to Scottie? That is the question. After 52 weeks of wild change in the sport of golf, much remains the same on the eve of the 50th Players Championship at Pete Dye's diabolical swampland masterpiece. The modern day Hogan finally won again at Bay Hill after months of perpetual lurkage and a fickle putter. But as the sun rises on TPC Sawgrass, GREAT SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER seems to be an obvious repeat candidate at a course which rewards the preeminent ball-strikers, and between both the PGA and LIV, no one comes close...
Not having to fend off Rahmbo, Cam, and Brooksy will certainly bolster his title defense, as will a relatively tame forecast. Scottie will likely be 40% owned in most DFS contests, and as low as 5-1 in the outright market, both alarming figures. And yet, something tells me the teflon (aka non-sticky) course history here due to danger present everywhere (in both alligator and traditional golf hazard form), will allow someone else to pocket the largest winner's purse in the sport.
And so, here are my Top Dawgs who are hungry enough to collect all the Benjis, and hoist the trophy come St. Patty's Day evening...
Thought I was going Rory didn't ya? Hehe, nope. Or perhaps Shane THE IRISH BEAR Lowry, maybe, but despite his immaculate Florida Swing form thus far, he's been grinding for three weeks straight now and although a T15 or better is certainly possible, I don't think a win is likely.
Instead I gravitate towards two men: one who has had a clear resurgence after a tumultuous 2023, and another who has surpassed the X-Man and his bff PC to be donned the "best without a major."
I'll start with the latter, my pick to win the tournament, MIGHTY MAX HOMA, a certifiable big-boy event lurker, but often not a major lurker. That changed last summer across the pond, and whether this is or isn't a major is mindless banter; it's time now, for a guy with serious win equity, albeit mainly in his native West Coast, with a strong resume here however, and coming in hot as ever off the Arnold Palmer Invitational T8. His time is now.
And the other of course, is the BLUEGRASS BANGER (new nickname alert, let me know how we like it), aka JUSTIN THOMAS. Four T12s or better in 5 starts this calendar year, with the one MC at Riv which he rarely fancies and had to contend with a sickly shanking Tiger and all that goes along with it; throw it out the window. He's already won here and we know his penchant to double-up on majors as he looks to make it a 3-peat in his native Valhalla in two months, but for now, I think a chance for him to bag his second Players' title is the best it ever may be. Oh and he's paired with the World Numero Uno who beat him last week if he needed any further motivation, and fellow Spring Breaker RICHARD FOWLER (careful now, could be sneaky)...
Meanwhile, SAMMY THE BULL and HIDEKI MATSUYAAAAMYBACKA also are primed for a big-boy title. Hideki already bagged the Genesis recently with a vintage Sunday 62, and Sammy choked away the Amex to the precocious neophyte (thanks Uncle Clyde) and T-30 Value NICK DUNLAP at another Pete Dye trek in the desert. Sammy's beautiful run of form has continued however, as he looks to win the week before venturing over to his favorite track at Innisbrook...
And let's not forget about SLICK WILLY Z, right back where he belongs among the game's upper echelon of ball-striking aficianados, we'll see if the flatstick can obey his commands unlike down the stretch at Bay Hill. A near T20 certainty no doubt, I'll give him the slight edge over WYNDHAM CLARK, he of no nickname (yet), but of Major lurkage over the past year looked ready to roll last week, and seemed decent at another "less than driver course" in Carmel-by-the-Sea firing a 60 at Pebble, and following it up with an impressive showing at another signature event, the aforementioned API just last week.
Dropping down into some HUMPDAY HAMMERS aka the Value Range, I'm going to quickly pepper a few of the guys I like best, for reasons unbeknownst to myself...
*Before the hardcore horticulturists come at me MEH IT'S NOT REAL BERMUDA MEH IT'S POA TRIV OVERSEED MEH yes I know, and yet still, I classify this course, in this area of the country, as under the GBU (Greater Bermuda Umbrella), so in the words of the late Logan Roy, well, you know...
And finally, a SICKO SPECIAL to end all sicko specials, so grab the Pepto and buckle up. TYSON "T-REX" ALEXANDER is coming off a virtuoso T16 at the Honda, er, Cognizant Classic, was Mr. Florida aka BILLY HO's college roommate in Gainesville, and rocks the visor nearly as hard as MAD DAWG MITCHELL (dark hawse), so what more can you ask for at sub-1% ownership on Draftkings?! One time.
And with that, let's enjoy what hopefully will be a lucky St. Patty's Day Sunday at Sawgrass.
So let's take dead aim as Great Uncle Harvey taught us, and as always, BOL!