Fantasy Golf Disappointments
This a great article by Michael Arkus from, Yahoo! Sports about some of this years poor performances from some supposedly great players. This is a must read if you're playing Super 6 Fantasy Golf
While the year is still young – only one of four majors is in the books – it’s not too soon to notice the marquee players and promising young talents who have yet to perform at the level so many anticipated. With the Players Championship, the Memorial, and the U.S. Open among the great challenges over the next eight weeks, they will have plenty of opportunities to turn their seasons around.
1. Sergio Garcia: In six appearances, Garcia has yet to break into the Top 10, with 11 of his 17 rounds at 70 or above. It would be absurd to write him off but he’s 28, and has not come close to realizing his potential. In his last five majors, he has made it through the whole weekend only once, squandering the Claret Jug he clearly should have won. The problem is familiar: He ranks 115th in putting average.
2. Adam Scott: As with Garcia, Scott is a wonderful ball striker but a very inconsistent putter; he ranks 43rd in putting average. His inability to consistently compete in major championships remains one of the game’s most surprising developments – in 28 starts, he has recorded only four top 10s. Perhaps the Players, where he won in 2004, will be where he rebounds.
3. Phil Mickelson: Hasn’t he won at Riviera and posted three other top 10s? Yes, but he is Phil Mickelson and much more is expected from the No. 2 player in the world. In three of the most important events of the year – Augusta, Bay Hill, Doral – Mickelson was not a major factor on Sunday afternoon. He and Butch Harmon have been together for about a year. They must produce now, and in a big way.
4. Charles Howell III: Back in 2002, when Howell captured his first tour event in Virginia, nobody would ever have imagined that in over 150 starts since, he’d add only one more victory to that total. This year is no different: In 12 starts, he has recorded only four Top 20s. He’s not hitting enough fairways, reaching enough greens, and converting enough putts.
5. Justin Rose: Granted, he’s teed it up only seven times on American soil this season. Still, the fact he has yet to record a single top 10 is a major disappointment. Amazingly, Rose, widely regarded as one of the premier talents under the age of 30, hasn’t won in the United States. If he keeps this up, he’ll be this generation’s Monty. Failing to break par in his last three rounds at Augusta was the latest poor showing.
6. Hunter Mahan: So much was expected this year of Mahan, 25, who started a new workout regimen last fall. However, he’s missed four cuts in 11 appearances, and hasn’t broken 70 since the final round at Bay Hill. Last year, he didn’t really get on track until late June when he broke through for his first victory in Hartford. He’ll need a similar torrid stretch this summer.
7. Jim Furyk: Like Mickelson, Furyk has certainly had his moments – a tie for second at Doral, a fourth at Hilton Head – but he, too, has been way back in the pack too many times. Most notably, he tied for 33rd at Augusta, and lost in the second round of the Match Play. Surprisingly, he ranks 67th in putting average. Furyk, about to turn 38, should have at least a few more productive campaigns.
8. Rory Sabbatini: He’s the one who is suddenly more “beatable” than ever. After two promising performances early on in Hawaii and San Diego, Sabbatini hasn’t finished in the top 30 since. One statistic that stands out: His greens-in-regulation percentage from 75 to 100 yards is only 70 percent, which ranks 179th. He’s also had a lot of trouble in trying to scramble for par – he ranks 153rd.
9. Camilo Villegas: Finally, he emerged in South Carolina to post his first top 10 of 2008. The question is: Was this a one-week aberration or a sign of better things to come? Villegas, after all, is another who possesses enormous talent. Yet he, like Rose, is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory. Villegas has to improve on his driving accuracy and greens in regulation.
10. Paul Casey: What happened to him in the final round at Augusta National – he shot a disastrous 79 to fall out of contention – is typical of what has been a very disappointing year. He missed the cut at Bay Hill and tied for 51st at Doral. Conversely, in 10 appearances last year in the U.S., he compiled four top 10s. He ranks only 118th in greens in regulation.
While the year is still young – only one of four majors is in the books – it’s not too soon to notice the marquee players and promising young talents who have yet to perform at the level so many anticipated. With the Players Championship, the Memorial, and the U.S. Open among the great challenges over the next eight weeks, they will have plenty of opportunities to turn their seasons around.
1. Sergio Garcia: In six appearances, Garcia has yet to break into the Top 10, with 11 of his 17 rounds at 70 or above. It would be absurd to write him off but he’s 28, and has not come close to realizing his potential. In his last five majors, he has made it through the whole weekend only once, squandering the Claret Jug he clearly should have won. The problem is familiar: He ranks 115th in putting average.
2. Adam Scott: As with Garcia, Scott is a wonderful ball striker but a very inconsistent putter; he ranks 43rd in putting average. His inability to consistently compete in major championships remains one of the game’s most surprising developments – in 28 starts, he has recorded only four top 10s. Perhaps the Players, where he won in 2004, will be where he rebounds.
3. Phil Mickelson: Hasn’t he won at Riviera and posted three other top 10s? Yes, but he is Phil Mickelson and much more is expected from the No. 2 player in the world. In three of the most important events of the year – Augusta, Bay Hill, Doral – Mickelson was not a major factor on Sunday afternoon. He and Butch Harmon have been together for about a year. They must produce now, and in a big way.
4. Charles Howell III: Back in 2002, when Howell captured his first tour event in Virginia, nobody would ever have imagined that in over 150 starts since, he’d add only one more victory to that total. This year is no different: In 12 starts, he has recorded only four Top 20s. He’s not hitting enough fairways, reaching enough greens, and converting enough putts.
5. Justin Rose: Granted, he’s teed it up only seven times on American soil this season. Still, the fact he has yet to record a single top 10 is a major disappointment. Amazingly, Rose, widely regarded as one of the premier talents under the age of 30, hasn’t won in the United States. If he keeps this up, he’ll be this generation’s Monty. Failing to break par in his last three rounds at Augusta was the latest poor showing.
6. Hunter Mahan: So much was expected this year of Mahan, 25, who started a new workout regimen last fall. However, he’s missed four cuts in 11 appearances, and hasn’t broken 70 since the final round at Bay Hill. Last year, he didn’t really get on track until late June when he broke through for his first victory in Hartford. He’ll need a similar torrid stretch this summer.
7. Jim Furyk: Like Mickelson, Furyk has certainly had his moments – a tie for second at Doral, a fourth at Hilton Head – but he, too, has been way back in the pack too many times. Most notably, he tied for 33rd at Augusta, and lost in the second round of the Match Play. Surprisingly, he ranks 67th in putting average. Furyk, about to turn 38, should have at least a few more productive campaigns.
8. Rory Sabbatini: He’s the one who is suddenly more “beatable” than ever. After two promising performances early on in Hawaii and San Diego, Sabbatini hasn’t finished in the top 30 since. One statistic that stands out: His greens-in-regulation percentage from 75 to 100 yards is only 70 percent, which ranks 179th. He’s also had a lot of trouble in trying to scramble for par – he ranks 153rd.
9. Camilo Villegas: Finally, he emerged in South Carolina to post his first top 10 of 2008. The question is: Was this a one-week aberration or a sign of better things to come? Villegas, after all, is another who possesses enormous talent. Yet he, like Rose, is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory. Villegas has to improve on his driving accuracy and greens in regulation.
10. Paul Casey: What happened to him in the final round at Augusta National – he shot a disastrous 79 to fall out of contention – is typical of what has been a very disappointing year. He missed the cut at Bay Hill and tied for 51st at Doral. Conversely, in 10 appearances last year in the U.S., he compiled four top 10s. He ranks only 118th in greens in regulation.
posted by tourspingolf at
8:56 PM
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