This Week In Golf - The PLAYERS Championship

Last Year

Tim Clark shot a final round 67 to beat Robert Allenby by one stroke. Lucas Glover took third place.

Fantasy Breakdown

Players to Think About

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Phil Mickelson: Phil is a smart choice again this week. He tied for 9^th last week and was in the top 5 in driving distance and putts per round. Phil’s one area of concern is driving accuracy. If Phil can keep it in the fairway, he will deadly. Even if he can’t hit the short grass, Phil should still be somewhere around the top 20.

Luke Donald: Luke Donald is the smart, safe play this week. Donald has placed in the top 10 in his last six tournaments and leads the PGA Tour in scoring average (69.08). His history at The Players isn’t great, but he is the best player in the world right now.

Ian Poulter: Poulter hasn’t finished in the top 10 on the PGA Tour since January, but he has been consistently placing in the top 40 or lower in every tournament. Poulter missed the cut here last year, but did place 2^nd in 2009. I am going with my gut on this one and saying that Poulter will finish in the top 20.

Players to Stay Away From

Dustin Johnson: One of my favorite players on tour is Dustin Johnson. He hits the ball long and is fearless on the course. However, Dustin hasn’t been playing very well as of late. He missed the cut last week and his driving accuracy for the tournament was just over 39 percent. Johnson will struggle this week if he can’t hit the fairway. There are much better options than Dustin Johnson for this week.



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Bubba Watson: Bubba Watson is having a great year that includes two victories already. Bubba is first in greens in regulation and second in driving distance on tour. My problem with Bubba this week is his history at this event. He has missed the cut at TPC Sawgrass twice in the last three years. Bubba may make the cut, but I would be surprised to see him in contention on the weekend.

Charles Howell III: It’s been a solid year for Charles Howell. He has been a bit inconsistent, but has recorded six top 15’s. Having said that, I don’t expect Howell to play well this week. He failed to shoot in the 60’s last week and doesn’t have a good track record at this event. Howell has missed the cut in the last three years and his best round is a 73. I would be surprised to see Howell make the cut this week.

My Picks

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 Tiger Woods: This may be wishful thinking, but I have a feeling that Tiger breaks out of his slump this week. I am not predicting a victory, but I think he will be in contention on Sunday. Tiger hasn’t won this tournament since 2001, but did place 8^th two years ago. I am hoping that Tiger finally wins this week.

Ben Crane: Ben Crane is the must pick of the week. In the last three years at TPC Sawgrass, Crane has tied for 4^th, tied for 5^th, and tied for 6^th. Anything outside of the top 10 would be a disappointment. A bad week for Crane should still mean a top 20. You need to have Ben Crane in your lineup this week.

Sergio Garcia: Sergio was a pretty easy pick for me this week. His worst finish this year is a tie for 35^th and he won here in 2008. I think Sergio has a great chance to contend this week and at the worst finish in the top 25.

Booth’s Golf Tip of the Week – Course Management

If you want to shave a few strokes off your score, try improving your course management. So many players walk up to every par 4 and every par 5 with a driver in their hand or just aim at the pin every hole. Playing smart golf can easily shave a few strokes off you scorecard every round. Hitting a 3 wood on shorter holes can improve your accuracy and give you full shots into the greens instead of 50 or 60 yard wedge shots. And instead of aiming at every flagstick, try aiming for the center of the green sometimes and go for the two-putt.

I am not saying to never shoot at pins or never hit driver on a short par 4, but make sure you pick your battles. If the pin is in the middle of the green, maybe take a shot at it. But if the pin is tucked in the front left part of the green with a bunker in front and water to the left, hit it in the middle of the green and take the par. Playing smart can drastically improve your game.

all stats from pgatour.com