Justin Thomas led everyone in Strokes Gained Tee To Green last week at The Valspar.
J.T. shot rounds of 69-71-67-70 (seven-under) and tied for 13th. He missed a lot of putts, not by a lot, he basically burned a lot of lips. Remember, this is a game of micro-inches, after all.
Which brings us to this week’s PGA Tour stop at Quail Hollow — the Wells Fargo — and it was the course where J.T. won his major — the 2017 PGA Championship.
Since the PGA Tour has now dipped itself heavily into the slimy tank of sports betting, we’ve got weekly odds for every event and J.T. isn’t the favorite this week. He was last week at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead course but the flat-stick simply didn’t treat him right.
This week’s field will be the final test for most of the world’s top players with the PGA Championship at Kiawah’s Ocean Course in two weeks.
You’ve got most if not all of the world’s top 10 and the bookies kinda like distance-obsessed, driver-crushing, rules arguing, U.S. Open-winning, Masters-floundering Bryson DeChambeau to finish on top at Quail Hollow, which is a tried and tested big boy golf course.
Problem for us is we haven’t seen Bryson since The Masters where he simply couldn’t get his carry distances correct at Augusta National. Damn those downhill lies.
No one’s excited about No. 1 this week, especially after a fairly lame performance at The Valspar that saw him tie for 48th at two-under. At least D.J. beat Koepka, even if it was Chase.
No. 3 Jon Rahm is playing, No. 4 Xander Schauffele, No. 5, previously-mentioned BAD (Bryson), seventh-ranked Patrick Reed and Quail Hollow member, No. 9 Webb Simpson. Absent are Collin Morikawa (6th), Tyrrell Hatton (8th) and Brooks Koepka (10th). Morikawa can’t find his putter, Hatton is in COVID quarantine after testing positive last week and Brooks has a very sore knee.
It’s pretty much a packed, loaded field.
Hard not to pick Webbie, after all, who knows the course better than Simpson? He plays it often and has plenty of skills to handle what Quail Hollow dishes out. You think he knows the greens pretty well?
The bookies always like Tony Finau but if he were a race horse, we’d pick him to show, not win, not place.
Rahm’s game is suited to this layout. Same for star-in-the-making Will Zalatoris.
But we keep coming back to J.T.
After all, putters are week-to-week and its the putters turn to heat up.
Former Premier Golf League (now Super Golf League) Offering World’s Best $30 Million Contracts?:
That rumored Premier Golf League doesn’t sound like it’s going away.
A report out of the UK this week said the now “Super Golf League” (fomerly known as the Premier Golf League) backed by Saudi money, had offered $30 million contracts to some of the world’s best players, including Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Justin Rose.
Well, The Sheriff Of Nottingham (aka PGA Tour commish Jay Monahan) isn’t taking too kindly to that. He has emphasized that any player who joins that circuit will face immediate suspension and likely permanent expulsion from the PGA Tour.
Problem for such a startup is the lack of recognition in the Official World Golf Rankings, and it is those high rankings that bring in a lot of money to those guys in the top 10.
6 Comments
baxter cepeda
You came back to Rahm also in the article; which is where My head keeps coming back to this week.
Rahm is coming off a nice showing at the Masters and a solid defense in the team event.
He seems due to win as one of the top players in the world. And this place really does seem suited for him.
As you know JT is ‘ my golfer’ but micro blocks miss by micro inches. I’m not into this being super hopeful because a guy burned every edge. It’s arguable missing by micro inches are signs of needing to fix the putter by microns, which is easier said then done.
Rahm is making putts. And obviously life is good after the baby. But more importantly he is increasingly able to refocus on his golf since the birth.
Tom Edrington
Jon hasn’t played since The Masters and I believe the new arrival has taken up a lot of his attention. I wouldn’t discount Quail Hollow member Webb Simpson.
baxter cepeda
Rahm played the team event; and did pretty well. Jon’s young and still very hungry. I’m sure he’s more focused on his game than diapers whether he is playing or not.
Yawn on Webb. But I agree. Webb’s due for something. He’s only 35 but feels like he’s 45 sometimes; which causes one to think his downward trend is coming. While he is still young, unlike Rahm, Webb is old enough and with a growing family where things can get tricky to win moving forward like before. Simpson will always be an atm machine; that’s for sure; but winning is different.
Tom Edrington
Jon’s putting has not impressed me in a while.
baxter cepeda
Agree about jons putting not impressing lately. But he is always solid in every phase.
I’m definitely not the biggest Jon fan although he has been growing on me.
Regardless of personal feeling the man is undeniably world class and can win at any time really with his simple powerful swing and well rounded game.
I’m trying not to sleep on him as you put me to sleep with Webb.
Tom Edrington
I’m with you an Jon, since I have found myself pulling for the Europeans in the last two Ryder Cups, I like Jon and he is an enormous talent. That being said, I think he should be winning more often.