Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.
Perhaps no team in the NFL did more than the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason to improve what had been an absolutely dismal team. New Head Coach in the form of Andy Reid was brought in to join a new quarterback – Alex Smith who showed signs last year of being a legitimate franchise starting QB.
The PGA Pros move from England to Canada this week for the second straight National Open. The RBC Canadian Open will take place at a familiar spot – Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario where the Canadian Open has been held 25 times.
The third major of the year is upon us and if the first two were any indication of what we are in for – I, like many simply can’t wait. Muirfield will host the world’s best for the 16th time – wind and rain were certainly a factor the last time the Open was played here in 2002.
The PGA Pros head to Illinois this week for the 2013 edition of the John Deere Classic. TPC at Deere Run hosts a slightly watered-down field on the easiest of the par-71s on TOUR.
The PGA TOR moves to West Virginia this week and the Greenbrier Classic – one of the newest stops on TOUR. The Old White TPC will host The Greebrier Classic for the fourth time in as many years. The Greenbrier Classic is the only tournament over the last two years at which a rookie won.
2013 Greenbrier Classic
Location: White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, United States
Course: Greenbrier – The Old White Course
Date: Jul 4-7, 2013
Total Purse: US $ 6,100,000
Winner’s Share: US $ 1,098,000 (18% of total purse)
Odds from Bovada
Defending Champion: Ted Potter Jr ($1,098,000)
After Scott Stallings broke through in 2011, Ted Potter Jr. won last year and defends this week. Add in the fact that Scott Appleby won in the first year this tournament was held and it is safe to say that looking at a potential first time winner this week is a decent bet.
The Old White TPC should see its share of birdies this week – is middle of the pack statistically for the TOUR pros. Scrambling is something that the Pros have excelled at in this event and a hot putter, as always will help the victor’s cause.
Here is a look at some of the names to watch and what should play out at the 2013 Greenbrier Classic.
The Favorites:
Phil Mickelson 12/1
Phil is simply one of the hardest players on TOUR to figure out. He is coming off a very good but somewhat disappointing (for him) T2 at the US Open two weeks ago and could be motivated for a rebound here. But he also could just be going through the motions as well. He is 0/2 at The Greenbrier and hasn’t cracked par but he does lead the TOUR in par-breakers – something essential on this track. Phil has five top 3s already this year but you never know which Phil you are going to get!
Webb Simpson 14/1
Had a T9 in ’11 and a T7 in ’12 in this tournament and enters in good form – off a T5 at the Travelers and he does have four top 10s on the season. He hasn’t won since the 2012 US Open but is far too talented to be denied. He is going to break through some time and this week could be it.
Bubba Watson 18/1
Has never played this event before but is coming off a T4 at the Travelers where he was in contention the whole way – nice to see. He is fourth on TOUR in greens in regulation, fourth in par breakers and first in par 4 birdie or better and 37th in adjusted scoring. Bubba is a threat each and every week and looks very much like a golfer on the cusp of a win.
The Contenders:
Bill Haas 20/1
Won the AT&T National last week after a sizzling 66 in the final round and he did finish T2 here in 2011. He has seven top 10s already this year and has quietly been the most consistent guy on TOUR. He is ninth on TOUR in greens hit and T1 in par-4 scoring but will be hard pressed to perform the rare back-to-back win on TOUR. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Billy Horschel 22/1
Should be motivated after an awful T61 last week on a course he should have done very well on. He is third in par breakers on TOUR, ninth in the all-around and second in par 4 birdie or better. He has made the cut here in both appearances but has never finished inside the top 30. Look for a bounce back this week for Billy!
Graham DeLaet 25/1
The string of first time winners could continue this week in the form of Mr. DeLaet who finished T8 at the AT&T National – his second straight top 8 on TOUR. He was 12th here last year and is at or near the top of the PGA TOUR in a ton of categories including 1st in greens in regulation. Things are certainly trending upward for DeLaet who looks great to break through this week.
Jordan Speith 33/1
Is coming off a sixth at Congressional but if his putter was on and he avoided just a couple of mistakes he would have ran away with the tournament. He has 5 top 10s in the last four months and could be that guy (like DeLaet) that surprises the field and becomes a winner for the first time.
Scott Stallings 40/1
Won this tournament in 2011 and looked good prior to the US Open – finished inside the top four in his three starts prior to that. Although he has cooled off from a torrid Spring pace, he could emerge this week as well.
Boo Weekley 40/1
This will be his first start since missing the cut at the US open but he does own a win on TOUR this year at Colonial. He is 19th on TOUR in fairways hit, fifth in GIR and 47th in adjusted scoring and he did have a ninth place finish here in 2010.
The Sleepers (50/1 or higher):
Roberto Castro 50/1
Is coming off a second place finish at the AT&T National – impressive. He finished T7 here last year and had a very nice 63 on his card. He could go either way – build on what he did last week or fade after a career best performance.
Gary Woodland 50/1
Finished T4 here in 2011 and is coming off a T16 at the AT&T National. He now has three top 20s in his last four starts overall. Woodland has the game to contend here and although I would have liked to see him 66/1 or higher, 50/1 is still not a bad price. I am a tad wary of his back issues however.
Charlie Wi 66/1
Finished T3 here last year and is coming off his season best performance – a seventh last week at the AT&T National. He’s 20th in par breakers, fifth in par 4 birdie or better and ninth in one-putt percentage and looks like the best of the sleepers on the board.
The Pick:
My pick this week Graham DeLaet at 25/1. He has never shot over par on this track and enters as one of the more consistent guys on TOUR. He’s been knocking on the door for a while and this week the door is answered.
My sleeper is Charlie Wi at 66/1. He looks to be in his best form since this tournament last year and his game is well suited for this track.
PHIL MICKELSON 12/1
WEBB SIMPSON 15/1
BUBBA WATSON 20/1
BILL HAAS 20/1
BILLY HORSCHEL 25/1
GRAHAM DeLAET 25/1
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN 30/1
SCOTT STALLINGS 30/1
JORDAN SPIETH 40/1
RUSSELL HENLEY 40/1
BRENDON DE JONGE 40/1
JIMMY WALKER 40/1
SCOTT PIERCY 40/1
RYAN PALMER 40/1
NICK WATNEY 50/1
PETER HANSON 50/1
GARY WOODLAND 50/1
BOO WEEKLEY 50/1
ROBERTO CASTRO 50/1
KEVIN CHAPPELL 50/1
KYLE STANLEY 50/1
MICHAEL KIM 150/1
RYO ISHIKAWA 200/1
FIELD (all others) 7/4
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Arguably the greatest mixed martial arts practitioner in history returns to the Octagon Saturday against an opponent that most feel will be his toughest test to date – the undefeated Chris Weidman.
The PGA Pros move to Bethesda, Maryland this week and the famed Congressional Country Club where the 2013 AT&T National will be contested. Congressional serves as the second longest track that the PGA TOUR will visit this year – 7,569 yards meaning that total driving and ball striking will be at a premium this week.
NFL – An Early Look at Some Week 1 Games
The NFL schedule has been released, the Draft is over and the offseason workouts are in full swing as the sports world eagerly awaits the start of the 2013 football season. A look at the Week 1 docket reveals some quality games and some interesting Betting opportunities.
The Stanley Cup Final moves back to Boston on Monday night with the Bruins facing elimination after the Chicago Blackhawks dictated the pace and walked away with Game 5 on Saturday night. While attention should be directed to the players suiting up in the elimination game, most of the ink has been absorbed by the players who may be forced to sit out Game 6 because of injury.
A most unpredictable Stanley Cup Final resumes in Chicago Saturday night on the heels of the highest scoring and likely most exciting Finals game in years. The Chicago Blackhawks bucked the odds and came up with their best effort in Game 4 which proves again the adage that there simply is no momentum in the Stanley Cup Final.
Bruins Look For Stranglehold in Cup Final
Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night was by far the least competitive game of the series so far – it was the only game that hasn’t needed extra time to determine a winner. The Chicago Blackhawks will be looking for a strong bounce back effort on Wednesday night when they try to even the Cup Final on the heels of a sound beating in Game 3 in every aspect of the game.
The PGA pros move to Hartford Connecticut this week after one of the most difficult, scintillating tournaments in quite some time. While TPC River Highlands is the second straight under 7000 yard course that the pros will play this week figures to be much, much easier that we saw in the US Open.
Stanley Cup Final Moves to Boston for Game 3
The Stanley Cup Final makes its first appearance in Boston in two years Monday night when the Bruins, who evened the series Saturday night, look to take control over the hard-luck Chicago Blackhawks who had their chances but were unable to solve Tuukka Rask in Game 2.
The 113th edition of the US Open returns to Merion Golf Club for the first time since 1981 this week. Golf`s biggest names will be after one of the four most prestigious prizes on the planet when they tee it up Thursday.
It’s June – never too early to talk about the NFL and what could play out when the season starts in September. Offseason workouts have begun and things are starting to take shape including the oddmakers’ views of who should thrive and who could tumble this upcoming season.
The FedEx Cup point race keeps chugging along and although we haven’t seen a ton of change at the top, we have begun to notice the obvious paths that each individual golfer has taken in order to win the most lucrative prize on the PGA TOUR.
