This article is part of our PGA Tour Stats Review series.
Well that was a fun PGA Tour offseason, huh? Nothing like a Ryder Cup that was dwarfed in drama by the losers' press conference that followed it. So while the PGA of America continues to figure out how to proceed following the failed captaincy of Tom Watson, the 2014-15 PGA Tour season will get going this week with the Frys.com Open. And with that, here's our stats preview:
Opening Disclaimer!
Ah yes, nothing like our fall disclaimer: we have players with different agendas playing this week. Take, for example, the defending champion Jimmy Walker. He and all the Ryder Cuppers in the field (see below) are obviously on form (albeit possibly tired from a busy stretch of golf). Meanwhile, someone like Charlie Beljan hasn't played on the PGA Tour since the Wyndham Championship in August. So beware when you make your picks, as not all players are in the same shape.
History Lesson
The defending champion of this event is Walker. However, this event is moving to a new location for this year: the North Course at Johnny Miller's Silverado Country Club in Napa, and thus the history lesson is irrelevant.
Who's Hot, Ryder Cup Edition
Walker, Patrick Reed, Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar and Lee Westwood are all in this week's field. Needless to say it's been a long year and some of these guys are probably exhausted. But if you want to pick one, go with Reed. He looked absolutely rejuvenated at Gleneagles and also had a hot putter.
Well that was a fun PGA Tour offseason, huh? Nothing like a Ryder Cup that was dwarfed in drama by the losers' press conference that followed it. So while the PGA of America continues to figure out how to proceed following the failed captaincy of Tom Watson, the 2014-15 PGA Tour season will get going this week with the Frys.com Open. And with that, here's our stats preview:
Opening Disclaimer!
Ah yes, nothing like our fall disclaimer: we have players with different agendas playing this week. Take, for example, the defending champion Jimmy Walker. He and all the Ryder Cuppers in the field (see below) are obviously on form (albeit possibly tired from a busy stretch of golf). Meanwhile, someone like Charlie Beljan hasn't played on the PGA Tour since the Wyndham Championship in August. So beware when you make your picks, as not all players are in the same shape.
History Lesson
The defending champion of this event is Walker. However, this event is moving to a new location for this year: the North Course at Johnny Miller's Silverado Country Club in Napa, and thus the history lesson is irrelevant.
Who's Hot, Ryder Cup Edition
Walker, Patrick Reed, Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar and Lee Westwood are all in this week's field. Needless to say it's been a long year and some of these guys are probably exhausted. But if you want to pick one, go with Reed. He looked absolutely rejuvenated at Gleneagles and also had a hot putter.
Who's Hot, Web.com Tour Edition
We're only a little more than two weeks removed from the Web.com Tour Championship. With all 50 PGA Tour cards now decided, those players can hop onto the PGA Tour for this week. Everyone will look at the Battlefield Promotion winner Carlos Ortiz as the player to watch, but don't forget about Adam Hadwin. He won the second Web.com Tour Finals event, the Chiquita Classic, and went MC-1-T10-T7 overall in the Finals. With full exempt status he can let it go knowing he can pick his own schedule, and having ranked seventh in total driving and eighth in all-around ranking on the Web.com Tour last year, Hadwin is our recommended pick for this week.
Another player in this category to watch is Nick Taylor who shot a 63 in the final-round of the Web.com Tour Championship to clinch his card, knowing his back was up against the wall. Also fitting the bill: Justin Thomas.
Who Else?
One other name to watch for is Brooks Koepka, who now holds cards on both the PGA and European Tours, nearly won this event last year (albeit at a different venue), and finished T9 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last week. He ranked sixth in driving distance and 19th in scoring average on the PGA Tour last season in just 16 starts. Jarrod Lyle is the feel good story, as the two-time leukemia survivor returns to the PGA Tour this week after Monday qualifying his way into the Frys.com Open.
