This article is part of our Golf Barometer series.
UPGRADE
Zach Johnson: He hasn't missed a cut all year and was in the midst of a super season before everything exploded the last few weeks. Wham, a T2 at Sawgrass. Bam, a duel with Jason Dufner at Colonial, resulting in a spirited victory. The steady ball-striker and underrated putter now stands fifth on the money list and can get into the Player of the Year discussion if he bags a major later in the year. Welcome back, ZJ.
Jason Dufner: He doesn't even like the Colonial layout (well, his past results say that) and he still runs off a second-place finish and lands just under $700K. The momentum gained from a first win is an incredible thing; Dufner's soft spikes haven't touched the ground for a month. He's now firmly in the discussion for Best Current American Player, and you'll be seeing him on all the national teams. A good watch, a fun watch.
Jim Furyk: It doesn't even feel like he's made his full move yet, and there he sits 24th on the money list, reeling off seven checks in a row (five in six figures). Furyk's steady ball striking served him well at the Colonial, and it's also a good ticket for The Memorial, where his record is solid (the 2002 win, a pair of seconds, six Top 10s).
Luke Donald: Another big win and it came over a loaded field at the BMW PGA Championship, but would it hurt the world's No. 1 player to do
UPGRADE
Zach Johnson: He hasn't missed a cut all year and was in the midst of a super season before everything exploded the last few weeks. Wham, a T2 at Sawgrass. Bam, a duel with Jason Dufner at Colonial, resulting in a spirited victory. The steady ball-striker and underrated putter now stands fifth on the money list and can get into the Player of the Year discussion if he bags a major later in the year. Welcome back, ZJ.
Jason Dufner: He doesn't even like the Colonial layout (well, his past results say that) and he still runs off a second-place finish and lands just under $700K. The momentum gained from a first win is an incredible thing; Dufner's soft spikes haven't touched the ground for a month. He's now firmly in the discussion for Best Current American Player, and you'll be seeing him on all the national teams. A good watch, a fun watch.
Jim Furyk: It doesn't even feel like he's made his full move yet, and there he sits 24th on the money list, reeling off seven checks in a row (five in six figures). Furyk's steady ball striking served him well at the Colonial, and it's also a good ticket for The Memorial, where his record is solid (the 2002 win, a pair of seconds, six Top 10s).
Luke Donald: Another big win and it came over a loaded field at the BMW PGA Championship, but would it hurt the world's No. 1 player to do more of this in the U.S.? He likes the look at The Memorial (T7, T14, T6 last three visits), so the favorite ranking for this week (over slumping Rory McIlroy and perennial tease Tiger Woods) is merited.
DOWNGRADE
Matt Every: Was the near-miss at San Antonio a good learning experience for him or a kick backward? Every hasn't made a cut, or even broken 72, in his three events since. Get back on the bench for now, Gator.
Robert Allenby: The pristine and pure swinger is 94th on the circuit in ball striking? Good grief. It's like hearing Frank Sinatra's voice crack for the first time. Allenby hasn't contended anywhere since late February, and he's approaching his 42nd birthday. The putting problems are well documented. In the end, gravity always wins.
Pat Perez: He's one of those timing plays on tour - you love him in the early events, and then duck and run later in the season. Perez started the year with seven straight checks, but he's been hit or miss (4-for-7) since. The weekends haven't been kind to Double P: he's a Top-25 scorer in the first two rounds, but he pushes back to 65th in the third round and 66th on Sundays. Need to find a closing kick.
HOLDING STEADY
Tommy Gainey: He shot three super rounds at Colonial and bagged a much-needed fourth-place finish. But it's not enough to erase the memory of five lost months. Show us one more deep run, Two Gloves, and then we'll talk.
