This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
It is said that the older you get, the faster time appears to move. That must be true because I can never remember a PGA Tour season going by this fast. It seems like just weeks ago that the PGA Tour season began and now it's already over. What's that? Oh, apparently it's not over, we're just taking a break.
OK, so the PGA Tour season started and after this week it stops, then it starts again in a couple months. So the break within the season is actually longer than the break between seasons? Whatever works. Like I've said the last few weeks, the new schedule is starting to grow on me, and I'm definitely a fan of the longer break in November and December.
For those of us old folks who can remember back to 2012, things used to be quite different. The fall season seemed to go on forever and just when it looked like you could catch your breath it was time for Q-School. Don't get me wrong, I love me some golf, but too much golf is, well, too much. It holds true for any sport. Heck, it holds true for just about everything in life. The November-December break is necessary, it gives us time to enjoy winter, and right when the snow and cold are about to drive us mad, we get visions of the Hawaiian Islands and suddenly our thoughts turn to our own spring that's on the horizon. In fact, blink and
It is said that the older you get, the faster time appears to move. That must be true because I can never remember a PGA Tour season going by this fast. It seems like just weeks ago that the PGA Tour season began and now it's already over. What's that? Oh, apparently it's not over, we're just taking a break.
OK, so the PGA Tour season started and after this week it stops, then it starts again in a couple months. So the break within the season is actually longer than the break between seasons? Whatever works. Like I've said the last few weeks, the new schedule is starting to grow on me, and I'm definitely a fan of the longer break in November and December.
For those of us old folks who can remember back to 2012, things used to be quite different. The fall season seemed to go on forever and just when it looked like you could catch your breath it was time for Q-School. Don't get me wrong, I love me some golf, but too much golf is, well, too much. It holds true for any sport. Heck, it holds true for just about everything in life. The November-December break is necessary, it gives us time to enjoy winter, and right when the snow and cold are about to drive us mad, we get visions of the Hawaiian Islands and suddenly our thoughts turn to our own spring that's on the horizon. In fact, blink and spring will be here. Don't believe me? Give it some time.
This week: Mayakoba Classic - El Camaleon, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Last Year: Harris English shot a final-round 67 on his way to a one-stroke victory over Brian Stuard.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Chris Stroud
If the pattern from the last three years continues this week, Stroud will either finish second or sixth. Either way, he'd be worth a pick this week. Stroud had finished third, fourth and fifth the last three years here.
Harris English
Even though this event was moved to fall and is no longer an opposite-field event, the field is still thin. Only a handful of players stand out, and English, as one who could be on his way to the next level, is one of those guys. Oh, and he's the defending champ as well, so he knows how to get around the course.
Brian Stuard
There's a pretty clear divide between the haves and have nots this week, and Stuard is on the proper side of the course history battle. Stuard has only played here twice, but he's finished runner-up both times.
Robert Streb
Streb might be the hottest player on the planet. Sure, he didn't have to battle the best players in the world last week at the WGC event, but a top-10 is a top-10, which he earned on the opposite-event last week. Streb enters this week on a streak of three consecutive top-10s.
Charles Howell III
Let's face it, there aren't a lot of quality options this week, and Howell III usually thrives in those conditions. Howell III also played well here last year when he posted a top-10.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Cameron Beckman
Beckman won this event in 2010, but he's simply not the same player he was then. To be honest, he wasn't the greatest player in 2010 either, but he's really fallen since.
Robert Allenby
Allenby posted a runner-up finish here just a few years ago, and he earned a top-20 here last year, but he's a man whose skills are fading with age. Perhaps he has one good run in him, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Johnson Wagner
Wagner was once a man who could be counted on in certain spots each year, you know, a "horses for courses" kind of guy, but he's not even that anymore. He won here in 2011, but hasn't had much luck here since.
Jerry Kelly
Kelly ended last season on a nice run, and he's playing decently heading into this week's event. But he hasn't had much luck at this event, especially the last three years where he's cracked the top 50 just once.
Fred Funk
50-year-old Fred Funk won his event in 2007, and for those who aren't that great at math, that makes Funk 57. For those who don't follow golf, it's tough to compete professionally when you are 57.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Ian Poulter (T13) - $213,667; Season - $453,967
This week: Chris Stroud - Stroud's track record here the last three years is impressive, and I have a hard time believing he'll fall out of the top 10 this week.
YAHOO PICKS
Yahoo's fantasy game does not use the fall season, beginning in January for the traditional start of the PGA Tour season.
Last Season:
Points: 5,516
Rank: 15,723
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: N/A; Streak - 0
This week: Chris Stroud - The question for Stroud this week is not, "will he make the cut," but rather, "will he finish in the top 5 again."
