This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
Of all the tools in the golfer's bag, it's the putter that can crush a man's spirit more than any other. For novice golfers, the putter is most often responsible for crushing their own spirit; for pros, however, the putter most often crushes an opponent's will.
A long drive off the tee is fun to watch, especially when it's shaped perfectly or it hits the backside of a mound pushing it 40, 50 or 60 yards farther. But for an opponent a drive can be overcome, for it's only as good as the next shot. In that vein, a hole is not made or broken until the putter is pulled out. The putter is the ultimate equalizer; it can turn three poor shots into a par or two poor shots into a birdie. Conversely, it can also turn two good shots into a par or three good shots into a bogey. In match play, the putter can swing momentum with one stroke. In stroke play, it can demoralize opponents in a matter of seconds.
Jordan Spieth knows what the putter can do, and for the better part of the last two seasons, he's used his putter as a weapon; not only to slay his opponents, but to defeat the course, as well. It's no coincidence that the two golfers known for making bombs on a consistent basis the last two seasons, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth, happen to be the two best players in the world now. It's also no
Of all the tools in the golfer's bag, it's the putter that can crush a man's spirit more than any other. For novice golfers, the putter is most often responsible for crushing their own spirit; for pros, however, the putter most often crushes an opponent's will.
A long drive off the tee is fun to watch, especially when it's shaped perfectly or it hits the backside of a mound pushing it 40, 50 or 60 yards farther. But for an opponent a drive can be overcome, for it's only as good as the next shot. In that vein, a hole is not made or broken until the putter is pulled out. The putter is the ultimate equalizer; it can turn three poor shots into a par or two poor shots into a birdie. Conversely, it can also turn two good shots into a par or three good shots into a bogey. In match play, the putter can swing momentum with one stroke. In stroke play, it can demoralize opponents in a matter of seconds.
Jordan Spieth knows what the putter can do, and for the better part of the last two seasons, he's used his putter as a weapon; not only to slay his opponents, but to defeat the course, as well. It's no coincidence that the two golfers known for making bombs on a consistent basis the last two seasons, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth, happen to be the two best players in the world now. It's also no coincidence that when their respective putters aren't cooperating, neither player is nearly as intimidating ... or soul crushing.
This week: The Memorial Tournament - Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio
Last Year: David Lingmerth shot a final-round 69 on his way to a playoff victory over Justin Rose.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Hideki Matsuyama
It's feast or famine for most of the golfers at this event. Either they've figured out Muirfield or they haven't (present defending champ not withstanding). Matsuyama has taken to this course quite well as evidence by his two top-5s in two starts. Matsuyama won this event in 2014 and backed it up nicely with a top 5 last year.
Matt Kuchar
Kuchar won this event in 2013 and hasn't finished worse that T26 in his last eight starts here. More impressive, of those eight starts, he's finished outside the top 15 just once. Kuchar is a great fit this week for those trying to avoid using the really big guns.
Jordan Spieth
A week ago I surmised that Spieth was near the top of his game; after his showing last week, it's clear that he is at the top of his game. Spieth struggled in his first start at this event, but has since figured out this track. He finished in the top 20 in 2014 and tied for third last year.
Charl Schwartzel
It's been a while since I went with a "gut feel" pick, but I have a feeling about Schwartzel this week. It's not out of the blue, though, he has a solid track record here with three top-20s in his last four starts and is generally pretty reliable, so maybe this isn't a "gut-feel" pick at all?
Bill Haas
A lot of big names in the field this week, but there are three majors left, so if you are looking from someone in the second or third tier, then Haas could be your guy. Haas finished T4 here in 2013 and has managed to finish inside the top 20 in the two years since.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
David Lingmerth
Lingmerth is in a tough spot this week. He's the defending champ at a high-profile event and his game is not in great shape. Defending a championship is never easy, but I have to imagine it will be even more difficult for Lingmerth this week because he hasn't played well since January.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler has been all over the map this season, which is a bit disappointing considering he's one of a few guys knocking on the door of the big three, but he's always a threat to win. that said, he's struggled for the most part here since a T2 in his first start at Muirfield in 2010.
Jim Furyk
Part of me wants to take a flyer on Furyk this week because of his impressive track record here, but his results since returning to the PGA Tour a few weeks ago are a little troubling. There's no way to tell how he's feeling, but judging by his results, he's not 100 percent back yet.
Phil Mickelson
Mickelson has three top-10s here, which on the surface is impressive, but consider it's taken 15 starts to accumulate those top-10s and suddenly it doesn't look quite as good. Mickelson has struggled lately at this event as well, and although he's playing well this season, it doesn't feel like a Mickelson week to me.
Hunter Mahan
Mahan has four top-20s here in his last six starts, so if there's a spot where he could break out of his funk, then this might be it. But he's so far gone, I have to wonder if he'll need an entire offseason to figure it out.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Zach Johnson (T17) - $93,800; Season - $6,692,789
This week: Matt Kuchar - Kuchar seems to be rounding into form and returns to an event where he's had plenty of success, so there's a decent chance he finds the winner's circle this week. Beyond the winner's circle, there is a great chance that he, at minimum, contends.
YAHOO PICKS
Points: 2,971
Rank: 22,435
This Week:
Group A: Jordan Spieth, Jason Day
Group B: Hideki Matsuyama, Francesco Molinari, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed
Group C: Matt Kuchar, Charl Schwartzel
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Zach Johnson (T17); Streak - 1
This week: Matt Kuchar - Like Johnson last week, it would be a shock to see Kuchar miss the cut this week. Kuchar has missed the cut here just once in 10 starts, and that missed cut occurred more than a decade ago.
