AT&T Byron Nelson Preview: Rust Gone, Sergio Ready

As I watched the Players Championship coverage, both during and after the event, a couple questions popped into my head. The first occurred while monitoring Twitter and witnessing what appeared to be excitement for what was transpiring during the final round. My question, of course, was -- are these guy watching the same event that I am? Sure, it was the Players, and Sawgrass is as exciting as it gets, but with the absence of any big names on the first couple pages of the leader board (and no, Ian Poulter does not count) it was like watching college baseball when all you want is to watch MLB.

I'm not saying the contenders Sunday are bad, but there wasn't a single guy that could be classified as "fun to watch." Sergio was a contender early Sunday, but with his slide out of the top 10, there was just nothing left to root for or against. Ian Poulter? J.B. Holmes? Kyle Stanley? Si Woo Kim? The commentators sure tried their best to make things interesting, but there wasn't a single interesting angle. And this "youngest player to win the PLAYERS" angle? Really? That's the kind of nugget that's fun to bring up when watching an event at a bar with friends, but it's often met with a, "who cares?"

Which leads to my second question. Do the folks that comment on golf, present company excluded, have amnesia? I wrote about this when everyone was gushing over Justin Thomas earlier this season. Why does every golfer under age 30 who looks really good for four days have to be the next big thing or in the group of the elite players now? Is Justin Thomas in the class of DJ, Rory or Spieth? Heck no, but some overreact so much that it's like they forget what they said a couple months earlier.

Is Si Woo Kim going to be elite? Maybe, but to base your opinion on one event is ridiculous. Kim played very well last week, but to even bring up his name when talking about the next big thing is an insult to golfers who have accomplished great things at the highest level. Win a big event, then win three more times and we can talk. Until then, Si Woo Kim is no better than Craig Perks or Stephen Ames, guys who looked elite for four days once upon a time.

This week: AT&T Byron Nelson - TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas

Last Year: Sergio Garcia shot a final-round 68 on his way to a playoff victory over Brooks Koepka.

PLAYERS TO CONSIDER

Sergio Garcia

It's not often that the Players Championship is used to get rid of some rust, but that's what Garcia accomplished last week. Now, that certainly wasn't the goal for Garcia, but after a rough start, Garcia found his game, and although he faded down the stretch, it looks like he's ready to win again on the PGA Tour. Garcia is the defending champion here and posted a pair of top-20s in his previous two starts at this event.

Dustin Johnson

Last week was a good test to see just how good DJ has become. He entered last week with a terrible record at Sawgrass, and while he didn't contend, he managed to fight his way into a T12. This week he returns to an event where he has played well, and odds are he tees off late on Sunday again this week. DJ has yet to win here, but he has six top-20s in just seven starts at this event.

Jason Day

Day understandably has not been the same player this year he was in previous years, but it looks like he might be creeping back to his old form. With Day, it's not the way he finishes, but the little glimpses of fantastic play that are usually a precursor of better things to come. I saw a few things in his game last week that have me thinking he might be ready to get back to that elite level again soon.

Jason Dufner

There are certainly some quality high-end options this week, but if you are looking just below that level, Dufner could be your man. Dufner has a solid track record at this event with three top-10s in his last six starts here, including a win in 2012.

Ryan Palmer

With plenty of big names in the field this week, it might be hard to pull the trigger on a guy like Palmer, but he has a lot going for him this week. Although he missed the cut at the Players last week, he played well in his three previous starts, with two top-10s and a top-15. His track record at this event is solid as well, with three top-10s in his last six starts.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Steven Bowditch

If ever there was a golfer who simply got hot one week and won an event, it was Bowditch here in 2015. In five starts outside that win, Bowditch has failed to crack the top 60 at this event. Add to that Bowditch's results this season, which are something out of horror movie. Entering this week he's missed 13 consecutive cuts.

Spencer Levin

Levin finished in the top 5 here last year, which is what first caught my eye, but when looking at his current form, it made it impossible to take him this week. Levin has missed the cut in four of his last five events, and his best finish this season was a T23 at the Houston Open.

Brendan Todd

Brendan Todd is another former champion here that looks to have little to no chance of contending this week. Todd won this event in 2014, but he's missed the cut here in his two starts since that victory. His form is much like Bowditch in that his cut streak is lengthy. Todd has missed five consecutive cuts, but that's only because he's had just five starts this season.

Hunter Mahan

Hunter Mahan made a couple cuts earlier this season and hopes were high that maybe, just maybe, he was working his way back to his old form. We are now halfway through the season and it looks like another lost season for Mahan. In 15 starts this season, Mahan has made only five cuts and has failed to crack the top-50 in any start.

Brandt Snedeker

A curious decision by Snedeker to skip the Players last week because of a hand injury, but play just a week later. Snedeker didn't want to jeopardize his chance to play at the U.S. Open next month, so he passed on the Players, but why play a week later then? Odds are, he's fine, but I wouldn't want to burn a guy like Snedeker during a week when a WD is a real possibility.

ONE AND DONE GOLFER

Last week: Rickie Fowler (T60) - $22,680; Season - $6,120,996

This week: Ryan Palmer - My decision again came down to Sergio and another golfer. In this case it was Ryan Palmer and like last week, the non-Sergio option won out. Palmer is not only a solid option because of his recent play and his track record here, but he provides the opportunity to gain on your competition as he will likely be under the radar.

YAHOO PICKS

Points: 2,356
Rank: 22,403

This Week:

Group A: Dustin Johnson, Jason Day

Group B: Matt Kuchar, Charley Hoffman, Sung Kang, Ryan Moore

Group C: Sergio Garcia, Jason Dufner

SURVIVOR PICK

Last week: Sergio Garcia - (T30); Streak - 1

This week: Gary Woodland - Woodland doesn't have the high-end finishes here that would justify a selection in other types of pools, but in a survivor format, there aren't many better picks this week. Woodland has made seven consecutive cuts at this event.