This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
If you are ever in need of a reality check or perhaps you feel you've become a little too confident in your prognosticating skills, give golf a try. No, I'm not talking about playing the game; for as frustrating as that can be at times, I offer that trying to figure out what the professionals will do on a weekly basis can be just as, if not more frustrating than actually playing.
Take for example, last week's event in Kuala Lumpur, the defending champion, Ryan Moore entered the week in awful shape, not physically mind you, but his golf game was in need of a Christmas vacation. With that in mind, I, along with many I would guess, surmised that Moore, though he was the defending champion, might struggle considering the state of his game. In case you didn't hear, not only did Moore play well, but he won. So much for the state of his game entering the week.
Moore's performance once again brought up the question of just how important momentum is in the game of golf. Without getting too in-depth, I can simply state that it's very important ... unless it's not. Hey, maybe this game is easier to figure out than I thought.
This week: WGC HSBC Championship - Sheshen International Golf Club, Shanghai, China
Last Year: Dustin Johnson shot a final-round 66 on his way to a three-stroke victory over Ian Poulter.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Sergio Garcia
Garcia has played some pretty good golf the
If you are ever in need of a reality check or perhaps you feel you've become a little too confident in your prognosticating skills, give golf a try. No, I'm not talking about playing the game; for as frustrating as that can be at times, I offer that trying to figure out what the professionals will do on a weekly basis can be just as, if not more frustrating than actually playing.
Take for example, last week's event in Kuala Lumpur, the defending champion, Ryan Moore entered the week in awful shape, not physically mind you, but his golf game was in need of a Christmas vacation. With that in mind, I, along with many I would guess, surmised that Moore, though he was the defending champion, might struggle considering the state of his game. In case you didn't hear, not only did Moore play well, but he won. So much for the state of his game entering the week.
Moore's performance once again brought up the question of just how important momentum is in the game of golf. Without getting too in-depth, I can simply state that it's very important ... unless it's not. Hey, maybe this game is easier to figure out than I thought.
This week: WGC HSBC Championship - Sheshen International Golf Club, Shanghai, China
Last Year: Dustin Johnson shot a final-round 66 on his way to a three-stroke victory over Ian Poulter.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Sergio Garcia
Garcia has played some pretty good golf the last couple months and that trend should continue this week as he fared well at this event, on this course last year when he finished solo fourth.
Martin Kaymer
There are only a couple events during fall with a field as loaded as this one, but even the tough field hasn't slowed Kaymer down here. The last two times this event has been held on this course he's finished first and T8.
Ian Poulter
Poulter's been tough to figure the last couple years, but he's been pretty consistent at this event over the last four years, three of which have been held at this location. During those three events he's earned three top-15s, including a runner-up in 2013.
Justin Rose
It's difficult to get a gauge on a guy's mindset this time of year, is he playing out the string or if he really trying to get something accomplished? For Rose, it appears as though he's trying to get something accomplished ... at least here he is. His last two tries here have resulted in a T7 and a solo-5th.
Lee Westwood
Until his most recent outing here, Westwood was the model of consistency at this event, but considering the number of top-10s he's had here, we can forgive one bad performance. Look for Westwood to get back on track in China this week and score another top-10.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Jordan Spieth
Spieth was unstoppable early in the 2014 season, but reality set in later in the year. He still seems to be struggling to find that upper-level consistency, and although he should find it at some point, I don't expect to see it until the calendar is flipped.
Graham DeLaet
DeLaet played well in his only start here last time out, but he's coming off a WD last week in Kuala Lumpur, and it's always wise to avoid anyone who pulled out the week prior, especially anyone who had back issues, like DeLaet.
Miguel Angel Jimenez
There's no cut at this event and the field is limited, so the fact that Jimenez has never cracked the top-30 here is concerning. I don't see any reason for Jimenez to suddenly figure out this track this week.
Billy Horschel
I mentioned last week that it looked like Horschel's run was over, and although he didn't play horribly last week, he sure didn't give us any indication that he's about to go on another run this fall.
Patrick Reed
I picked Reed last week as my "one and done" golfer, and although he didn't play that bad, he didn't show the form that he displayed the week prior. You know, the form which made him a top-5 player? The point is this, if he's not at the top of his game, then there's no reason to use him.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Patrick Reed (T26) - $49,700; Season - $237,300
This week: Ian Poulter - Poulter is the perfect pick this week. He's an international player, who's had success at this event before, and the best part is, there's no regret about burning him during this part of the season.
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: The 80-man event does not have a cut.
